Summary:
The chapter starts with everyone saying that the mermaid princess has been kidnapped. Luffy asks Shirahoshi why she got out of Megal’s mouth, she apologizes and asks him not to be mad at her as she starts to cry. As someone calls Luffy dirty and heartless, Chopper urges Sanji not to turn. Sanji realizes that Chopper’s warning can only mean that the mermaid princess is right behind him. Chopper tells him that he’s right, but seeing the princess would no doubt kill him if a normal mermaid had caused him to lose so much blood before. As Sanji begins to get lost in thought, he remembers hearing that even the most beautiful woman in the world, the Pirate Empress, would pale in comparison, and realizes that his dream is now within his reach. He then tells Chopper that he chose death because of his dreams- Chopper retorts by exclaiming that he thought his dream was to find All Blue. He turns to look at her. He realizes that he is looking at something that his imagination could never comprehend, that no image could capture. He then turns to stone, much to Chopper’s shock. Luffy examines Hatchan and tries to get Hachi to tell him who attacked him. Chopper wonders if Sanji turning to stone could be a side effect of taking okama blood. Shirahoshi cries and asks Luffy what she should do, but suddenly the locals take over and tie up Luffy, Chopper, Hatchan, and the still petrified Sanji. Luffy asks them what they are doing and the locals tell him not to underestimate the warriors of Fish-Man Island. One of the locals identifies Hatchan as a former member of Arlong’s gang. Shirahoshi tries to explain to everyone that Luffy was only helping her, but the locals don’t listen and promise to cut off the pirates’ heads. Luffy then notices something and tells them that something is flying towards them from behind the crowd, but the locals ask Luffy if he really thinks they are stupid enough to fall for it.
Someone then notices that Luffy isn’t lying, and everyone is shocked to see that it’s none other than Vander Decken IX. Decken shouts that he found her, this time saying “Of course he did” instead of “I think”. The locals are shocked that he has suddenly appeared on the island after ten years of hiding, and someone yells at Shirahoshi to run for him. Decken tells Shirahoshi to answer him that she will escape death if she says yes and tells her to run away with him and marry him. The locals are shocked to hear her proposing marriage after he has made constant attempts on her life. Shirahoshi tells him she’s sorry, but he’s not her type. The locals are comically stunned to learn that this is why she won’t marry him, not his violent tendencies. Decken is devastated and actually looks emotionally hurt. He tells her that she should be ashamed of herself because he’s had feelings for her for the last ten years and she then stomps on them. He then asks her who she plans to be with. He goes on to say that now that he knows her feelings for him, her existence is an eyesore. She prepares to attack her when the local tells her to run, but Luffy tells her to wait as he has now called her a ‘scared cat’. The local grabs him by the collar and asks him if he works for Decken and if he wants the princess dead. Luffy yells that he can’t protect her if she gets too far from him, so Shirahoshi tells Luffy that she’ll stay with him. Decken then attacks Shirahoshi with another rose-painted axe. Luffy tries to help but is blocked by the locals who still think he is trying to hurt the princess. Luffy apologizes and says he has nothing against them, then knocks them out with a Haoshoku Haki blast as they are in his way. He then takes off from the ground and flies towards Decken who is still on the coral. He spins in the air and places his feet on the coral, which crashes to the ground, knocking Decken down. The locals are amazed at Luffy’s abilities even though he is tied up.
Decken asks Luffy why he is interfering with his and Shirahoshi’s love and learns that Luffy was the one who took Shirahoshi out of the palace. And Luffy realizes that Decken was the one throwing things at Shirahoshi when he was about to attack. Decken tells him that he will take both of their lives and says that they would not be a couple because they would be divided into four. Luffy then uses a new technique, Gomu Gomu no Jet Hammer, plowing Vander Decken IX head first. The locals are shocked to see that Luffy defeated Vander Decken. They then realize that Decken was still moving despite being slammed head first into the ground and decide to capture him. Luffy runs into Megalo, tells him to wake up, and asks Sanji if he’s okay. Chopper tells Luffy that Sanji used to be petrified, but now he seems happy, and most importantly, conscious. Luffy tells Shirahoshi that he has to go. Shirahoshi asks Luffy not to yell at her as all the excitement has made her quite upset. Luffy tells her that the island hates them for some reason and that they need to get out of here.
Shirahoshi unties Luffy and the locals wonder why she is helping him. He apologizes to them and tells them he will be home in time for dinner, which confuses them. The Straw Hats landed on Megalo’s back and Shirahoshi grabbed his jaws (much to his discomfort) as they got away. Just as they get away, Vander Decken IX pops his head out of the ground and blasts the people trying to grab him. Shouting that they won’t get away, he calls Wadatsumi and tells him to pound them into the ground. Wadatsumi is about to hit them, but Luffy beats him and hits him in the face with the Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol, breaking one of his teeth. Decken seems upset that they ran away.
The scene changes to Ryugu Palace, where someone informs Jones that Nami and Camie have escaped. Jones tells him to ignore it. Nami and Camie are then seen running away, with the former clinging to the latter’s back with an air bubble around her head. Camie asks if it was okay that they left the others behind, but Nami tells her to relax because nothing good can come from fear. Camie tells her that she knows they are all strong, but Hatchan tells her that Jones’ mind is more dangerous than his strength. Nami then asks her what kind of person Jinbe is. Camie replies that he is a pirate who is popular in Ryugu’s palace and can come and go as he pleases. Nami remembers that he was also in the same crew as Arlong and that Jones is the successor to Arlong’s will. He then mentions one of Jinbe’s messages to Luffy, “Don’t fight Hoda”. Nami adds that she thinks she has figured out what the message means. Camie tells her that she thought it only meant that Jones was dangerous. Nami adds that it’s okay for Zoro and the others to upset Jones. He then tells Camie that he wants to meet Jinbo and remembers that he is waiting in the Sea Forest. Nami says that the situation seems to have a long and deep history, and she feels like Jinbe knows all about it. He then asks Camie to head to the sea forest.
Back at the palace, Neptune gives orders to his guards. The soldiers tell him they will take care of Jones and the pirates. Neptune tells them not to. He tells them that even though he didn’t get a chance to fight, they all ended up as victims. He orders them to give up the castle for now, team up with Fukaboshi and prepare for revenge. The guards are shocked by the orders. Usopp and Brook are in the water. Usopp wonders what Zoro can do to fight the fish man in the water when Brook tells Usopp he can’t do it. The chapter ends with Zoro seemingly defeating Jones with a single slash and the New Fish-Man Pirates marveling at what happened to their captain, with Usopp looking on in shock.