Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #1115 of One Piece.

Summary

• Laugh Tale, the final treasure in One Piece, may be underwater near Loguetown, as hinted at from the first chapter.
• The shift of the poles caused by a 90-degree axis shift could explain many of the series' mysteries.
• Laugh Tale being submerged may explain the need for all four Road Poneglyphs to pinpoint its exact location.

The location of the final treasure is easily one of One Piece's most trifling mysteries. Even after two decades, neither the Straw Hats nor readers, for that matter, are any closer to finding the infamous treasure. However, a popular theory hints that the answer to this elusive mystery may have been hiding in plain sight all along. In fact, Roger may have spoiled the location of the final treasure in the very first chapter of the series.

Amongst the innumerable theories about One Piece that have emerged over the years, this one by Youtuber Drop the Pizza, is most convincing. Not only does this theory fit in perfectly with Oda's tendency to drop subtle hints years in advance, but also agrees with the series' sense of humor and irony.

According to this theory, the world of One Piece is literally turned on its side due to a 90-degree shift of the planet's axis that happened at some point in the past, with the North and South poles shifting positions. This would not only connect an incredible number of mysteries in the series but also reveal the location of the final treasure. Based on this theory, the shifting of the Poles caused catastrophic changes, including a reversal of sea currents.

The One Piece Is Hidden Underwater Close to Loguetown

Roger May Have Been Sarcastic When Calling Laugh Tale the Final Island

Hence, Polestar Island (where Loguetown is situated) and Lodestar Island (the last island on the Grand Line) should have switched places. Lodestar would then be actually "Road Start", while Polestar would be the final destination via the Twin Capes. The names of the two islands also hint at Reverse Mountain being the former North Pole, as 'pole star' and 'lode star' are often used to refer to the North Star.

If so, water levels around Reverse Mountain would have been significantly lower during the past owing to centrifugal force which pushes more water towards the equator than the poles. Loguetown may thus be part of the same submerged landmass that extends across Reverse Mountain. Hence, Laugh Tale as well as the legendary One Piece treasure may actually be underwater or even under Reverse Mountain in a classic 'X marks the spot' fashion.

Ironically, that would suggest that Roger searched the entire world for the treasure only to find it near his own hometown on Polestar Island, Loguetown, fittingly known as the town of beginnings and endings. Hence, when Roger said he left his treasure 'there' in Chapter #1, he quite literally meant 'right there'.

While the word 'there' may be vague in English, the word Roger uses in Japanese, 'Soko,' is very specific and means 'right there' or a place relatively near. The treasure being near Loguetown would not only explain why Roger laughed in Chapter #967 but also his sarcastic tone when he referred to the Laugh Tale as the 'final island' that no one had been to in 800 years, which was hinted at through the emboldening of the word in the manga.

The Reversal Of The Poles Explains All Of One Piece's Mysteries

A Pole Shift Also May Have Contributed to the Rise in Sea Levels

Laugh Tale being submerged could explain why Roger's crew might have been too early, and maybe even why the explaining the ship coating process at Sabaody is one of Oda's favorites, assuming the bubble coating is the key to reaching Laugh Tale. Moreover, this possibility also draws attention to the countless submerged islands the Straw Hats have come across on the course of their adventure including Wano, Water Seven, Impel Down, and even Long Ring Long Land.

One Piece's Latest Revelations Further Hint at Laugh Tale Being Underwater

Vegapunk's Message Reveals the World of One Piece was Sunk During the Void Century

While the pole shift theory remains a very interesting possibility that could still hold some merit to it, the latest chapters of the Egghead Arc have revealed the true reason why One Piece's world is covered in oceans and it further points to Laugh Tale being underwater. Vegapunk's posthumous message to the world has revealed that the Ancient Weapons in fact caused the world to flood during the Void Century, raising the sea levels by 200 meters.

Vegapunk strongly implies that Uranus may have been responsible for sinking the world, judging by how the destruction of Lulusia caused the sea levels to rise by a meter.

In chapter #1115, Vegapunk even claims that the world as the people of One Piece know it at present is made up of mere pieces of a submerged continent, ing the theory that Lodestar and Polestar could be part of the same stretch of land. The chapter even shows a glimpse of a submerged ancient civilization, like the old Wano country, and Laugh Tale may be in a very similar state, which would explain why the World Government hasn't been able to find it all these years.

Furthermore, the fact that Rayleigh went on to become a ship coater while Crocus went on to live inside a whale after the Roger Pirates disbanded further proves that they and the rest of the crew likely knew the truth about One Piece's world all along. The Roger Pirates may even have anticipated the world being flooded in the future, with Rayleigh and Crocus taking up their new lifestyles in preparation for the same.

Laugh Tale Being Submerged Explains the Need for Four Road Poneglyphs

Considering that the One Piece is technically Joyboy's treasure, it has likely been at Laugh Tale ever since the Void Century, which means that Joyboy might have been aware that the island would sink or if it already had before his death, allowing for the Road Poneglyphs to be made accordingly.

This explains why one would need all four poneglyphs to find the final island as it would be possible to locate it otherwise. While three poneglyphs would be enough to narrow down a general area, the fourth Road Poneglyph would be crucial to pinpointing Laugh Tale's exact location and even how deep under the sea the island is.

Overall, it would certainly be a huge surprise to find out that the clue to discover the most prized treasure in the world and the biggest secret in One Piece was literally given out in the very first chapter. Nevertheless, only Oda knows what the series has in store for the finale and the location of the final treasure and regardless of how true this theory may or may not be, the ending of One Piece is sure to be epic.

One Piece is available from Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Source: Drop the Pizza /YouTube