This list will contain spoilers up to the Elbaf arc in the One Piece manga.
Summary
Despite the entire series ofOne Piecebeing based around theStraw Hats' adventure to reach the One Piece treasure, nobody actually knows what it even is, or at least, not many people do. Over the course of the series, there have been several key individuals who are revealed to have, at one point in time, come face-to-face with the One Piece treasure. Needless to say, it’s always fascinating to hear a story or two from those who have managed to reach the One Piece for themselves, though unfortunately, a lot of these people are no longer around to tell the tale.
As Luffy made clear during the Sabaody arc, even if someone did know what the One Piece is, he wouldn’t want to hear it, considering the eventual reveal is all part of the adventure. That being said, though, it’s hard to resist the temptation to pick someone’s brain who has actually seen the mystical treasure with their own eyes, which includes these prolific individuals listed below.
6Crocus
Crocus Still Seems as Grumpy as Ever, Even After Finding the One Piece
It’s ironic that Luffy and the gang run into Crocus so early on in the story, considering he’s one of the few people still alive who has actually seen the One Piece for real. Of course, Crocus didn’t do this alone, as he was actually the doctor for none other than Gol D. Roger in his past life. It’s actually thanks to Crocus that Roger was even able to make it to the One Piece at all, considering his disease was rapidly killing him while the journey was still going on.
Interestingly, Crocus doesn’t seem to be all that thrilled or exhilarated by the treasure itself, since he comes across as pretty grumpy and uninterested when he’s spotted onReverse Mountain. Still, he’s a pirate who has gained quite a reputation, which is understandable considering the man he was serving under back in his prime.
5Scopper Gaban
Gaban Kept a Low Profile After Reaching the One Piece
In stark contrast to Crocus, who is seen in one of the very first arcs of the story, Gaban is a much more mysterious former member of Roger’s crew who only really became relevant very recently in theElbaf arc. Gaban has been keeping a low profile after the Roger crew was disbanded — though, as has been made clear throughout Elbaf, age certainly hasn’t slowed him down one bit, as he is still just as much of a formidable fighter as he was back in his heyday.
Gaban proved to be a vital asset to Roger along his journey, and he was rewarded for his efforts by being given the chance to gaze upon the One Piece treasure for himself. As one of only a handful of Roger’s crewmates who are still alive, Gaban is a man with plenty of secrets to share.
4Kozuki Oden
Oden’s Bizarre Journey Across the Seas Led to a Joyous Discovery
To say Oden had a bizarre journey as a pirate would be putting it mildly. After stumbling onto the crew of none other than the mighty Whitebeard, Oden would then be asked to join the crew of Gol D. Roger, since Roger needed someone who was able to readthe Poneglyphs. After years of helping out his new crew and adjusting to life on the open seas, Oden would eventually find himself standing on the legendary island of Laugh Tale.
In fact, Oden would even describe his emotions when reaching the One Piece in his journal, where he reveals that he and his crew were able to learn about many interesting topics, including the truth of the Void Century. Sadly, Oden isn’t around in the main story to answer any hot questions, but his lengthy flashback in the Wano arc still revealed more than enough to get fans excited.
3Silvers Rayleigh
Roger’s Right-Hand Man Was With Him From Beginning to End
When the Straw Hats first meet Rayleigh in Sabaody, it’s clear that he’s a man of great wisdom. After all, he wasthe right-hand man of Gol D. Rogerfor many years, resulting in him making quite a name for himself as a pirate. Rayleigh would be there when Roger’s crew managed to land on Laugh Tale and reach the One Piece treasure, and to be honest, he seems more than happy to reveal its secrets to anyone who asks.
While Luffy made it clear that he didn’t want to hear anything about the One Piece, Usopp came pretty close to finding out after asking Rayeigh directly. Then again, it’s pretty clear that Rayleigh respects Luffy’s crew and the grand adventure they’ve decided to embark on, so maybe he’s someone who would rather not spill the beans, especially given how much confidence he has that Luffy will one day become the Pirate King himself.
2Joy Boy
The Mysterious Figure Who Left the One Piece Treasure on Laugh Tale
While Joy Boy has been mentioned here and there throughout the story,barely anything is known about the man himself, aside from a few crucial details. For example, while fans still don’t know exactly what he looks like, what has been made clear is that it was Joy Boy who decided to leave the One Piece on the island of Laugh Tale in the first place.
As someone who lived during the Void Century, there’s no doubt that Joy Boy decided to leave this treasure for a purpose, though the exact reasoning for him doing so still remains unclear. Joy boy died many hundreds of years before the main story even kicks off, but he’s been leaving a few subtle hints, including through the Poneglyphs, as to what the ultimate treasure could truly be.
1Gol D. Roger
The Pirate King Gained Infamy for Embarking Across the Sea and Reaching Laugh Tale
The Pirate King himself, Gol D. Roger, is the man who single-handedly kicked off the great pirate era after giving a grand speech about the existence of the One Piece. Considering Roger was able to conquer the Grand Line with hisferocious crew of pirates, he was more than deserving to be the one to reach the treasure first, but what’s most peculiar about this is the captain’s reaction.
Upon seeing the One Piece, Roger simply laughed, along with the rest of his crew. After turning himself in to the Marines, Roger seemed somewhat jolly when he revealed to the world the existence of the treasure, despite knowing that he would be executed moments after. It really adds to the mystique of not only the One Piece, but also Roger himself, who has always been one of the most fascinating characters in the series.
