Summary:
The Heart Pirates are still fighting the remaining marines in the auction room, tearing them apart to escape. However, they run into the Kid Pirates, most of whom are already injured because of Kuma. Shichibukai immediately identifies and attacks Law, but Law manages to dodge the attack. As the marines begin to approach from behind, Kid and Law, despite mutual resistance, tell Kumo that they are leaving and prepare to confront him. In Grove 8, Peterman was beaten up by the Straw Hats and Rosy Life Riders for his earlier kidnapping of Camie. After returning Camie’s backpack, they leave, promising to help them until they leave the island. The Straw Hats then head back to Shakky’s Bar to treat Hachi’s gunshot wounds.
When he does, he talks to Rayleigh where he reveals his relationship to Gol D. Roger, much to their surprise (Hachi apparently knew this too, but didn’t tell them because they just needed a paint job). Rayleigh also reveals how he met Hachi (Fishman saved Rayleigh’s life when he was a child and they remained friends until Hachi joined Arlong’s crew, then named the Sun Pirates). Sanji then questions how he could still be alive if Roger’s crew was captured, to which Rayleigh reveals that Roger has indeed turned himself in. The government was just faking it to show its power to the public. Rayleigh goes on to tell them the reason why. This was because four years before he was executed, Roger was diagnosed with an incurable disease. However, his crew encountered Crocus at the entrance to the Great Line and asked him to join them on Roger’s final journey to keep his illness under control.
Finally, after three years, they managed to conquer the Grand Line. This surprises the Straw Hats, especially Brook, as Crocus reveals to them that he was a pirate doctor for a time. Rayleigh even tells them that the reason Crocus joined was to find a certain pirate crew that the Straw Hats figure must be the Rumbar Pirates, which brings tears to Brook’s eyes. Rayleigh goes on to state that after they conquered the sea, Roger was dubbed the Pirate King. However, this title had no meaning as he was about to die. But Roger enjoyed it anyway because he was a man who liked to do everything in style. Eventually, Roger disbanded his crew, who quietly went their own way, fate unknown.
A year later, Roger turned himself in to the Marine Corps, who decided to carry out his public execution to strike fear into pirates around the world. However, Roger had other plans; his last words to Rayleigh were “I’m not gonna die mate”. On the fateful day of his execution, Roger delivered his famous speech to the world, which in turn created the current age of piracy. The Straw Hats are stunned by the story. Rayleigh then tells the group about Shanks and Buggy’s apprenticeship aboard Roger’s ship, the former of whom ran into Rayleigh ten years ago and told Rayleigh about Luffy, claiming to have met a kid who said the same things as their captain.
The story suddenly shifts to the harbor in Grove 27, where the pirate crew is about to set sail. Before they can, they spot a ship on the horizon that suddenly fires a cannonball with a person actually standing on it. The ball lands in a harbor among pirates, and a figure revealed to be Kizaru awaits orders from his Den Den Mushi.
Back at Shakky’s bar, Rayleigh congratulates Luffy for making it this far in the Grand Line and offers to do the paint job for free, much to the Straw Hats’ delight. Robin then questions him about the Void Century and tells Rayleigh about the note written by Roger in the Poneglyph on Skypiea. Rayleigh replies that the Roger Pirates have indeed found out the full history, though she advises her to keep looking for it on her own. Rayleigh says that maybe she could have come to different conclusions than they did. Still, he offers to tell her, but Robin politely declines, agreeing to his earlier advice. Rayleigh also reveals that Roger couldn’t decipher everything like the brilliant Clover or the other Ohara scholars. Roger simply “could hear the voice of all things”. Usopp then asks Robin if she wouldn’t want to let such an opportunity slip away, and starts asking Rayleigh about One Piece. However, Luffy stops him and demands that the secret of the treasure remain hidden, as countless pirates have risked their lives just to search for it. He then threatens to quit being a pirate if any of the crew asked Rayleigh about it, stating “I DON’T WANT TO GO ON SUCH A BORING ADVENTURE!!!”.
Usopp apologizes for his actions before Rayleigh asks Luffy if he can truly conquer the Grand Line. Luffy replies that he doesn’t really intend to conquer it, only that the person with the most freedom in the ocean would be the Pirate King, which makes Rayleigh and Shakky smile. Rayleigh then tells the crew that he will have their ship covered in three days, until then the crew will have to stay out of trouble. So the Straw Hats decide the best course of action is to split up and distract from the trade. Shakky gives each member a Vivre card so they can find their way back to Rayleigh once the paint job is done and Rayleigh decides to move the Thousand Sunny to a safer location. With that, they say goodbye to Hachi, Camie, Pappag, and Shakky for now and head back to the groves. Luffy suggests hiding in an amusement park, though the others (except Chopper and Brook) reject the idea.
However, the marines are already on the heels of the straw pirates. In Grove 27, a warship approaches causing panic. As it prepares to land, it fires a round of cannonballs. Admiral Kizaru descends into the grove on one of them in a terrifying explosion, scaring any nearby lawless pirates with his arrival. Kizaru announces his arrival on the Sabaody Archipelago back to Marine HQ via the Black Den Den Mushi on his wrist and demands a response.