Summary:
On a certain island in the New World, the parents of the kidnapped children ask the Marines to use their powers to search for their missing children and let them talk to Tashigi. One of the Marines finds this offensive and kicks one of the parents, saying that they are from Marine Corps Base G-5 and that they shouldn’t challenge the report if they are not satisfied. One of the other marines yells that the commodore is going too far, then starts laughing. Introduced as Commodore Yarisugi of Marine Base G-5, he shouts that all the children died in the accident and that the matter has been confirmed many times by Vice Admiral Verg. Yarisugi goes on to say that if the parents keep making a fuss, they will kill them all and set the village on fire. The Marine laughs again and says he’s gone too far, while Yarisugi complains that the parents are taking it too far and talks about Tashigi being Vice Admiral Smoker’s right-hand man from Unit 01. He yells again, saying that the citizens should continue ignore the incident that happened three years ago. I wonder if their pleas get through to Vergo, one of the parents is heard saying that he used to protect the village from pirates and that he looked like a fine marine. The remaining parents of the missing children dispute the story of their children who died in an accident at sea and believe they are alive somewhere.
Back at Punk Hazard on Usopp and Nami’s side, it is shown that all the kids have woken up and are going crazy. Nami yells at Usopp to put the kids to sleep, but it has no effect on them now as their withdrawal symptoms have overpowered Usopp’s sleeping drug. When the children approach them, they ask what they should do next. Usopp asks if he can take them out, to which Nami smacks him in the head saying that they are still children. Meanwhile, children begin to approach them who have not been restrained but are still craving the drugged candy. Caesar Clown appears out of nowhere, to which all the children are excited to see a man holding a large bag of candy that they desire. While Usopp and Nami are shocked by his sudden appearance, Caesar promises to give the children the sweets they crave and tells them to return to the research facility as it is dangerous there.
At the central lake, Zoro, Sanji, Brook, and Kin’emon run away from Smiley. Brook wonders if the slime is angry, to which Zoro replies by suggesting that it’s because the “Mini-Slimes” exploded. The group begins to notice the slime transform and watch it change shape. The slime is then revealed to have been eaten by Sara Sara no Mi, Model: Axolotl, a Zoan-type Devil Fruit. Sanji asks if it’s a frog, while Zoro disagrees, saying it’s a lizard. Smiley attacks the group again with a large poison blob-like attack, Brook shouts that he is too big to deflect and the group runs for him. Smiley continues to chase them and Kin’emon wonders if he can reproduce indefinitely, which Brook counters by saying that the other slimy body has shrunk. Sanji catches on to it and realizes that it might be projecting over the lake, and as the group escapes, they try to figure out what to do against Smiley due to their inability to attack him. Zoro says he’s going to the research facility, much to Sanji’s frustration as he has to go with him in case he gets separated or lost from Kin’emon. Brook says he would also like to see Kin’emon’s sword and the four decide to head to the research facility.
Outside the research facility, G-5 Marines are seen trying to break through the doors of the research facility in an attempt to save Smoker and Tashigi, but their attacks have no effect on the thick metal. The parts of Smiley that were projected over the lake regrouped and grew in size, forming several large bodies around each other. Stranded and running out of options, the G-5 Marines comment that all routes have been destroyed and they are unable to steal another ship.
Inside the main research facility, Vergo questions Caesar’s motives. Monet suggests that since he awakened his pet Smiley, a new experiment must begin. Monet asks Vergo if he ate a hamburger this morning, to which Vergo replies that it’s his favorite and asks how she knew. Vergo pointed to the remains on his face and it was revealed that he was a vice admiral and head of the Marine G-5 base. Vergo continues talking to Monet, commenting that he would like to see the experiment and asks if everyone outside is going to die. Monet replied that he probably would and assured Verg that he would be safe inside the research facility. Smoker interrupts the conversation and starts yelling at Vergo that the men outside are his subordinates. Knowing this, Vergo is apathetic towards them and is instead more interested in the captives being kept in a cage, referring to it as a large assembly.
Sitting inside the cage are Luffy, Robin, Franky (who is unconscious), Law, Smoker, and Tashigi. Reminiscing about the time Luffy and Smoker were locked in the same cage in Arabasta, Robin and Luffy reminisce, quickly angering Smoker, who interrupts and tells them to shut up. Tashigi asks Smoker what he should do about the feeling he’s experiencing, referring to the seastone bonds weakening Smoker’s body. Smoker starts talking about “Joker”, stating that it is the name of an underworld broker. Their captor, berating himself for not being able to catch Vergo, tells Smoker that since the day Smoker was moved; he set up the largest possible guard to protect Smoker from capture. Vergo tells him that he will finally get rid of the stress because now that Smoker and Tashigi know his true identity; meaning the two marines will have to die there, while Vergo assures them it will look like an accident. Law asks who the Joker is and explains to Luffy that he used to be a subordinate of the Joker just like Verga (as they knew each other) and reveals to the group that the Joker is just an alias he uses as a broker, but his real name is known around the world as Donquijote Doflamingo.