## One Piece Chapter 197: The Leaders - Chapter: 197 - Pages: 0-18 - Characters: Macro, Gyaro, Tansui, Crocodile, Vivi, Kouza, Chaka, Miss All Sunday, King Cobra, Royal Guards, Rebels, Baroque Works Agent ### Summary Page 0: The title page shows the chapter title "Chapter 197 'The Leaders'". Below is a cover story illustration titled "HACHI'S OCEAN FLOOR STROLL VOL. 14 'THE MACRO FISHMEN PIRATES'". It depicts three fishmen standing together on the ocean floor. The central figure, Macro, has a large jaw and dark hair, wearing an open vest and a light-colored lower garment with a dark sash. To his left is a large, round fishman with a wide mouth, wearing a necklace. To his right is a tall, wide-eyed fishman holding a sword. Fish swim in the background around rocky formations. Page 1: Inside the palace, Crocodile looks down with a cigar clamped in his teeth, asking in a mocking tone, "Did you come by the secret path you used to use as a child...!?" Vivi, covered in sweat and dirt from her struggles, looks shocked and screams out, "KOUZA!". In a large central panel, Kouza stands in the doorway, panting heavily. He is battered, covered in dirt and blood, holding his sword loosely by his side. A heavy "DON!!" sound effect emphasizes his sudden arrival. In the bottom left panel, Crocodile looks slightly surprised by the intrusion, muttering to himself, "Am I... Seeing things...?". The tension in the room spikes as the rebel leader finally confronts the true mastermind behind the country's suffering. Page 2: Outside the grand palace entrance, Kouza stands looking up at the towering building. He says to himself, "With the intention of persuading the Royalist Forces, but... I came here...". Inside the palace walls, Kouza looks down in absolute shock at the defeated bodies of the royal guards scattered across the floor. Among them is Chaka, defeated and lying motionless on his stomach in his human-jackal hybrid form. Vivi looks distressed and worried, her face covered in sweat. Crocodile stares down at Kouza with a cold, calculating expression. Kouza, still panting heavily from his journey and the shock of the scene, mutters, "Chaka...!" as he takes in the devastating reality of the fallen guards. Page 3: Kouza's face is shown in a tight close-up, his eyes wide with horror behind his tinted glasses. He stammers, "I can hardly believe what I'm seeing... The first thing I see here is the king... About to be murdered at the hands of this 'Country's Hero'...!". Crocodile throws his head back and laughs heartily, his large coat billowing. "Kuhahaha! Isn't this an interesting turn of events!? In the midst of the rebellion's climax... To think the leaders of both sides would all come here and meet each other! It's as if this war is being fought by head-less lizards!" Crocodile then looks down at Kouza, adding, "Just imagine the worst-case scenario in your head and I'm sure you're bound to reach the correct answer." Miss All Sunday stands quietly in the background. Kouza looks confused, and Crocodile tells him, "You seem confused but it's quite simple." Page 4: Crocodile stares intently at Kouza, asking a pointed question: "DO YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY?" Kouza glares back silently, sweat dripping from his face. King Cobra, pinned against the wall by Crocodile's hook, weakly calls out, "DO NOT DOUBT THE KING, KOUZA". Vivi desperately yells, "VIVI! Kouza, you-". Kouza, tense and resolute, replies loudly, "YUP! IT'S THE COUNTRY I WAS BORN IN!" Vivi looks up at Crocodile with intense anger, tears welling in her eyes, declaring, "That's all undoubtedly the work of... THAT STOLE THIS COUNTRY'S RAIN!? JUST WHO'S THE ONE," pointing the blame directly at the Warlord for the drought and the ensuing civil war. Page 5: Crocodile grins wickedly, smoke trailing from his cigar as he reveals his grand deception. "IT WAS ME, KOUZA! ALL THE THINGS YOU REBELS THOUGHT WERE THE KING'S EVIL-DOINGS, WERE ACTUALLY TRAPS SET UP BY MY ORGANIZATION. THESE PAST TWO YEARS... HAVE BEEN MOST AMUSING, WATCHING BOTH YOU REBELS AND THE ROYALISTS DESPERATELY DANCE ABOUT ON THE PALM OF MY HAND...!" Kouza stands frozen in shock as Crocodile continues to mock him, "IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR BETTER FOR YOU, TO DIE WITHOUT FINDING OUT THE TRUTH, HOWEVER! KUHAHAHA!" Kouza looks down, trembling with rage and disbelief, muttering, "King Cobra...!" Cobra, still pinned to the wall, urges him, "Don't listen to him!" Kouza pants heavily, overwhelmed by the horrifying revelation that his entire rebellion was manipulated. Page 6: King Cobra speaks urgently to Kouza, his face strained. "There's something only you can do right now...! Go out there and save even just one more life from this needless bloodshed if you can!" Kouza looks up, surprised by the king's command, exclaiming, "WHAT!?" Crocodile glares at Cobra, annoyed by his interference. Cobra reveals a horrifying truth to the rebel leader: "IN LESS... THAN HALF AN HOUR, THE PALACE SQUARE WILL BE BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS!" Cob...