Summary:
In the Treasure Room, Big Mom captured Brook and began stroking his head, much to his embarrassment and humiliation. She marvels at how Brook is a living skeleton and praises him for instilling such fear in her chess soldiers, but tells him that he won’t be able to defeat three homies filled with parts of her own soul: Napoleon the bicorne, Zeus the storm cloud. and Prometheus the sun. As they chat, the Shah’s soldiers declare that they have concluded their investigation: there is nothing in Brook’s clothes or cylinder, and they conclude that he did not steal anything. Big Mom laughs and apologizes to Brook for suspecting him, but notes that she would never let anyone steal her Tamatebako or her poneglyph scraps. She adds that she would look stupid if someone screwed up with those things and got to Laugh Tale a second time before her, noting that letting Roger through was a mistake. She confirms that she understands that Roger used his ability to hear the “Voice of All Things” to somehow decipher the poneglyph, but adds that she has someone else who will one day awaken the same power and allow her to be the next to reach the Story of Laughter. .
As her mother finishes her explanation, Pudding enters the treasury. Mom laughs because she was just talking about her daughter and asks if her third eye has managed to achieve true opening. Annoyed, Pudding replies that her power is all her mother ever talks about, and reminds Big Mom that she’s a half-breed, meaning there’s no guarantee she’ll ever be able to awaken her third eye. Big Mom laughs and apologizes, but is positive in her claim that Pudding has Three Eyes Tribe blood in her veins. Brook makes a mental note of Pudding’s heritage, while Pudding is surprised to see that he made it this far. Pudding then asks her mother if they could talk in private.
In the courtyard on the third floor, Pedro battles Viscount Hyoko. Pedro manages to slash through him, causing his body to shatter like an egg. The onlookers declare in shock that the next form will be Count Niwatori. A soldier watching says he goes from Baron Tamago to Viscount Hyoko to Count Niwatori, who is his most powerful form. Pedro is impatient and doesn’t want to wait for Count Niwatori. He pulls out a string of explosives and says that the cluster of soldiers is a great distraction. When the explosives explode, a shocked Pedro is saved by Carrot and Chopper, who pull him into the mirror world just in time. Chopper explains how the mirror world is only accessible through physical contact with Brûlée before asking Pedro for an update on the others’ situation. Chopper is shocked to learn that Luffy and Nami have been captured, while also worried about Brook. Carrot picks up a highly stylized mural of Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Brook, and Pedro and asks the mirrors to tell her where they are. The two mirrors answer that Nami has escaped and is with Jinbe.
Elsewhere on the third floor, Luffy is being chased by soldiers as he continues his search for Sanji, and a request to send all the ministers as reinforcements has been sent. As he walks through the infirmary, Reiju secretly grabs his arm and forcibly drags him into the room before closing the door behind her to hide him from his pursuers. Luffy recognizes Reiju and asks her what she’s doing, and Reiju informs Luffy that Sanji was in the infirmary just a moment ago. Luffy hastily tells her about Pudding’s nefarious plans before noticing Reiju’s bandaged leg and asking her if she’s okay. Amused, Reiju replies that she is fine and informs Luffy that her brother already knows about the situation; however, his continued interest in Baratie’s hostage and the Straw Hats forced him to remain on the island. After learning that Sanji was aware of the situation, Luffy thanked Reiju for bringing him up to speed and, much to Reiju’s shock, jumped out of the infirmary window. After landing at the citizen’s house, Luffy states that he will wait for Sanji at the place he promised.
Elsewhere in the castle, a lonely Sanji reflects on everything that has happened. He comes to the conclusion that there is no going back.