At the top of the Marine base, in the Captain's office.
Heavy curtains blocked out the sunlight, leaving the room in a gloomy chill.
"Soldier, tell me."
Captain Morgan sat behind a massive mahogany desk, half his face submerged in shadow, save for the metallic jaw grafted onto his chin that glinted coldly. "I am the greatest in this world, am I not?"
The Marine soldier standing opposite him nodded frantically. "Y-yes! Captain Morgan! Your greatness is beyond doubt!"
"Then why..." Morgan's voice dropped to a low rumble, "has the tribute from the townspeople decreased lately?"
"Uh... well..." The soldier, drenched in cold sweat, stammered out an explanation. "The town's economy is limited, and with the recent pirate harassments..."
"Hmm?" Morgan snapped his head up, his fierce eyes locking onto the soldier. "That is no excuse. The problem is their lack of awe. If they feared me enough, they would sell their own children to gather the funds."
"Captain Morgan!"
Just then, the office door was slammed open. Two soldiers—the ones previously sent by Viktor—stumbled in, their faces as pale as ghosts.
"C-Captain! Disaster!"
"What is this panic?!"
"Pirates! Pirates have broken in! They've challenged you!" one soldier cried out, gasping for air. "They said if you don't go down, they'll kill Young Master Helmeppo..."
The room fell into a deathly silence. Morgan slowly stood up, his already towering frame radiating an even more oppressive weight. He stared as if he had heard an impossible joke.
"Pirates? Challenging me?"
CRACK—BOOM!
With a violent swing of his arm, the mahogany desk was cleaved in two. The cut was as smooth as a mirror. Splinters flew, sending the nearby Marines cowering. Attached to his right arm was a massive double-edged axe, wood dust still clinging to the blade.
"Someone dares to provoke 'Axe-Hand' Morgan?!"
Morgan roared, the sound vibrating the windowpanes. "Listen well! Since I am your Captain and hold the highest rank, that means—I am the strongest and most correct person here!"
He stepped over the wreckage of his desk, his eyes glinting with malice. "Order everyone to the roof immediately! Erect my great statue! To celebrate the execution of these insolent rats, I want the entire town to gaze upon my majesty!"
"As for those pirates..." Morgan sneered, gripping his axe-arm. "I will personally take their heads!"
Meanwhile, in the corridors of the base.
"Hmm? Where is it?"
Luffy looked left and right, dangling the battered, barely-human Helmeppo by his collar. Since the guy hadn't spoken for a while, Luffy stopped and gave him a few more "slap-slap-slap" wake-up calls.
"Hey, Butt-head, wake up! Tell me where Zoro's swords are?"
Helmeppo wanted nothing more than to die. First, the red-eyed devil crushed his wrist, and now this straw-hatted lunatic was using him as a slapping bag. His face was swollen like a fermented pig's head.
"Wuu... stop... they're in my room..." Helmeppo blubbered.
Luffy sprinted up the stairs, kicked open a luxurious bedroom door, and spotted three swords leaning against the wall in the corner. One white sheath, two black.
"Found 'em! Wait, there's three? Which one is it?" He tilted his head, then beamed. "Whatever! One for each of us! So cool!"
He strapped the swords to his back and tossed Helmeppo aside like a piece of trash. Just then, a heavy rhythmic thumping of boots echoed in the hallway. A large group of Marines was chanting as they rushed toward the roof.
"Move it! Captain Morgan's orders! The statue must be up now!"
Luffy's curiosity peaked. He poked his head out. "Whoa, where's everyone going in such a hurry?"
Lying on the floor, Helmeppo saw a golden opportunity. His father was likely on the roof. If he could trick this idiot into going up there, his father would tear him to pieces!
"Cough... Mr. Pirate..." Helmeppo forced a grimace. "Up there... that's where the base's most precious treasure is hidden..."
"TREASURE?!"
Luffy's eyes instantly turned into golden Berry symbols, his tongue lolling out. "Really?! Is there meat and treasure?"
"Of course..." Helmeppo sneered internally. "Only the strong are allowed up there."
"Alright! Thanks, Butt-head!"
Luffy didn't doubt him for a second. He turned and sprinted up the stairs following the flow of soldiers.
The top roof of the Marine base.
The wind howled. Dozens of Marines were straining against thick ropes and pulleys, hoisting a massive object covered in canvas.
"ONE, TWO! PULL!"
Suddenly, a straw-hatted figure zipped up onto the ledge. "Treasure! Where's the treasure!"
Luffy scanned the area, but all he saw were exhausted Marines and a giant covered rock. "What a letdown..." He pouted at the half-erect statue. "What an ugly rock. Is this the treasure?"
He boredly walked to the edge of the roof and peered down. Below, in the courtyard, the atmosphere was at a breaking point. Viktor and Zoro stood alone against a phalanx of armed Marines. Facing them was a towering man with an axe for a hand, radiating bloodlust.
"Ah! Oops!" Luffy slapped his forehead. "I forgot Viktor was waiting! And I haven't given Zoro his swords yet!"
Jumping down would be safe for him, but too slow. Luffy's eyes darted back to the massive, unstable statue.
"Shishishi! I've got it!"
Luffy took several steps back and suddenly flung his arms forward.
"GOMU GOMU NO—"
His hands stretched out like elastic cables, wrapping tightly around the neck of the giant stone statue. The Marines pulling the ropes froze. "What the... his arms stretched?!"
Luffy didn't care. Using the recoil of his rubber body, he threw himself backward off the ledge, his body tensing like a loaded bow.
"—ROCKET!!!"
BOING!
The massive tension was released! Luffy shot toward the courtyard like an arrow. However, everyone underestimated the force of his launch—and the instability of the statue.
Under the violent jerk, the unanchored statue of Captain Morgan gave a sickening grind.
CRACK!
The ropes snapped. "AHHHH! THE STATUE! THE CAPTAIN'S STATUE IS FALLING!!"
The giant stone effigy was ripped off its pedestal by Luffy's pull. It followed Luffy's trajectory, tumbling and spinning off the roof with world-ending momentum.
Luffy flew in front, followed closely by a several-ton stone head of Captain Morgan... aiming straight for the actual Captain Morgan who was just about to start his epic villain speech!
"VIKTOR—! ZORO—! HERE I COME!!" Luffy's excited yell echoed through the air.
Below, in the center of the courtyard, Captain Morgan suddenly felt a shadow loom over him. He looked up in confusion.
"Huh?"