Chapter Summaries

Sammy informed Austin that Crocodile had been captured after clashing with Sakazuki, and that the World Government would release her if she joined the Shichibukai. Austin approved her nomination and Mihawk’s, leaving Sammy to relay his decision and contact Doflamingo.

• Sammy told Austin that Crocodile had been captured and the World Government had made joining the Shichibukai a condition of her release.
• Austin approved Crocodile’s nomination and said he would also support Mihawk joining.
• Sammy contacted Mihawk, who resisted until she explained that Austin wanted him to accept; he then agreed.
• Sammy called Doflamingo in Dressrosa and told him she was acting on Austin’s instructions.

Doflamingo learned that Austin had secured him a place among the Shichibukai, while Austin returned to Mary Geoise by floating a passenger ship over the Red Line. Lip then told Austin that he had gathered groups of three sisters for him, leaving Austin confused.

• Sammy told Doflamingo that his name was on the Shichibukai list, and Doflamingo said Austin had reserved the position for him.
• Austin boarded a passenger ship near the Red Line and learned it belonged to Umit, one of his businesses.
• Austin ordered the ship to cross the Red Line, and the captain agreed to follow his command.
• Austin floated the ship up to Mary Geoise, where Lip and a group of Cipher Pol agents welcomed him.
• Lip escorted Austin toward his villa and explained that he had brought back groups of three sisters from across the seas, leaving Austin baffled.

Austin freed nearly all the enslaved girls in his villa but kept Boa Hancock and her two sisters as his slaves, then returned to Sabaody Archipelago. He reunited with Mihawk, who wanted another swordsmanship match, but Austin reminded him that Little Sand still needed to be released.

• Lip showed Austin a villa holding hundreds of enslaved girls, many of them sisters, and Austin ordered him to release everyone except the three sisters he recognized.
• The black-haired girl identified herself as Boa Hancock, and Austin claimed Hancock and her two sisters as his slaves while forbidding Lip from capturing more slaves for him.
• At Sabaody Archipelago, Austin told Lip to inform the Five Elders that he fully supported the Shichibukai plan.
• Austin reunited with Mihawk, who described his journey challenging swordsmen and proposed another match with Austin.
• Austin reminded Mihawk that Little Sand still had not been released.

After ending his swordsmanship duel with Mihawk, Austin suggested that Mihawk fight Shanks instead and learned how Shanks and Buggy had been doing. Austin decided to visit both former companions, eager to see the Red-Haired Pirates and Uta.

• Austin stopped his swordsmanship duel with Mihawk, who objected to Austin holding back.
• Austin told Mihawk that Shanks shared his swordsmanship roots and offered him as a worthy opponent.
• At Shakky's bar, Rayleigh and the others examined Wanted Posters showing Shanks's 339-million-Beli bounty and Buggy's 9-million-Beli bounty.
• Austin decided to visit Shanks and Buggy, whom he had not seen in five or six years.

Shanks and the Red-Haired Pirates encountered Austin and Mihawk after finding a baby hidden in a treasure chest. Austin reunited with Shanks and joined the crew’s celebration, where Beckman and Mihawk commiserated over their unreliable captains.

• Shanks and Beckman discussed a newspaper report about Hawk Eyes fighting Mr. Rayleigh before Yasopp spotted an approaching pirate ship.
• The Red-Haired Pirates defeated the treasure-laden crew and found a baby in one of the chests.
• Austin appeared aboard the Red Force, surprising the crew, and Shanks joyfully recognized his old friend.
• Austin and Shanks reunited, and Shanks ordered a party to welcome him while Mihawk assessed the crew.
• Beckman and Mihawk shared their frustration with their captains as Shanks got drunk and talked excitedly with Austin.

Austin helped Shanks care for infant Uta aboard the Red Force, encouraging Shanks to embrace his role as her father while joking that he could be her godfather. Meanwhile, Yasopp resolved to challenge Austin, the legendary World's Greatest Sniper, and Hongo reluctantly let him go.

• Austin teased Shanks as he struggled to make Uta laugh, then soothed her himself and made her giggle.
• Shanks worried that life with the Red-Haired Pirates might not be the right home for Uta, but Austin reminded him that adopting her made him her father.
• Austin offered to be Uta's godfather, prompting Shanks to snatch her back and insist that he was her only father.
• Hongo noticed Yasopp staring at Austin with battle intent and tried to stop him.
• Yasopp told Hongo he wanted to challenge Austin to pursue his dream, and Hongo loosened his grip.

Yasopp challenged Austin to a sniper duel while Mihawk challenged Shanks to a swordsmanship contest, and both accepted. After Austin teleported the Red Force to an uninhabited island, Shanks invited him to join the Red-Haired Pirates, but Austin refused, saying the New Era had no ship that could carry him.

• Yasopp decided to challenge Austin despite expecting a crushing defeat, while Mihawk resolved to challenge Shanks's swordsmanship.
• Mihawk told Beckman that he wanted to compare swordsmanship alone, and Beckman agreed not to interfere.
• Mihawk challenged Shanks, and Yasopp challenged Austin; Shanks and Austin both accepted.
• Austin used his ability to teleport the Red Force to a nearby uninhabited island, impressing the crew.
• Shanks invited Austin to join the Red-Haired Pirates, but Austin refused, calling himself a remnant of the Old Era.

Austin rejected Shanks’s offer to join forces, revealed he knew Shanks’s Celestial Dragon heritage, and urged him to work hard despite his powerful family. On a deserted island, Austin defeated Yasopp in a sniper showdown, leaving Yasopp wounded but accepting the loss.

• Austin told Shanks he would not join forces with him and asked when he planned to return to the Holy Land.
• Austin revealed that he was technically a Celestial Dragon, and Shanks said he had no plans to return to the Holy Land yet.
• Austin urged Shanks to work hard, mentioning his twin brother and father, then warped himself and Yasopp to the deserted island for a sniper contest.
• Yasopp fired first, but Austin caught the bullet between two fingers and said Yasopp still had room to improve.
• Austin shot Yasopp in the right shoulder, and Yasopp accepted the wound as part of a gunfight.

After defeating Yasopp in a sniper duel, Austin watched Shanks and Mihawk begin a swordfight and predicted Mihawk would win if they limited the contest to swordsmanship. Austin proposed a wager with the Red-Haired Pirates, leaving Beckman wary as several crew members accepted.

• Austin defeated Yasopp in a quick sniper duel, and Shanks and the crew helped Yasopp tend his wounds.
• Mihawk challenged Shanks, and Austin teleported them to the island’s center to fight while the Red-Haired Pirates watched from the Red Force.
• Austin said either swordsman could win a fight to the death, but Mihawk would prevail in a swordsmanship-only match.
• A clash between Shanks and Mihawk’s attacks severed a mountain peak and sent a slash toward the Red Force, which Austin made vanish.
• Austin offered a wager: the loser would owe him a favor and grant him a request, and several Red-Haired Pirates agreed while Beckman suspected a trap.

Mihawk defeated Shanks in a swordsmanship duel, and the Red-Haired Pirates learned they owed Austin a favor after betting against him. At the banquet, Austin declined Shanks's invitation to travel together and said he was heading to East Blue to see Buggy.

• Mihawk and Shanks clashed with their swords, and Mihawk wounded Shanks more severely, winning the duel.
• Shanks accepted his loss and praised Mihawk as the World's Greatest Swordsman.
• Beckman explained that the Red-Haired Pirates owed Austin a favor, and Shanks warned them never to bet or compete against Austin.
• Austin wrapped Little Hawk in bandages, and the Red-Haired Pirates held a lively banquet despite their losses.
• Shanks invited Austin to travel with the crew, but Austin said he was going to East Blue to see Buggy.

Austin left Shanks and Mihawk, then found Buggy in an East Blue town and reunited with him. He gave Buggy treasure maps as an apology, and Buggy eagerly accepted them, trusting Austin's maps were genuine.

• Austin told Shanks that his news-delivering seagulls had helped him find Buggy, then left the Red Force with Mihawk.
• Buggy sent Mochi and Lion Rikky to deal with suspicious people near the town, but they returned badly beaten.
• Buggy examined East Blue islands where oranges grew and considered taking over Cocoyasi Village because it had few Marines nearby.
• Austin appeared at Buggy's circus tent, and Buggy recognized him and rushed to embrace him in tears.
• Austin apologized for not contacting Buggy and gave him treasure maps, which Buggy accepted with confidence.

Austin reunited with Buggy, praised his Devil Fruit ability as a counter to swordsmen, and joined the Buggy Pirates’ feast. Buggy shared the oranges he had collected for Austin and vowed to find the world’s best ones someday.

• Buggy discovered Austin’s treasure maps marked East Blue islands, unaware Austin had drawn them and arranged for treasure to be buried at each location.
• Austin introduced Buggy to Mihawk as a swordsman’s nemesis, and Mihawk tested Buggy with a slash that passed through him without injury.
• Austin explained that Buggy’s ability prevented slashes from touching his body and reconnected Buggy after the strike.
• Austin feasted with Buggy and his crew, whose members were stunned that their captain was friends with the Black Emperor.
• Buggy brought out a cartload of oranges he had collected for Austin and promised to find the world’s best oranges someday.

Austin reunited with Buggy and explained that Roger had reached Laugh Tale too early, revealing that the Great Treasure would only be obtainable in about twenty years. He showed Buggy an Eternal Pointer to Laugh Tale and offered to help him become the Pirate King.

• Austin, Buggy, Mihawk, and Buggy’s crew made orange juice together and shared a toast.
• Austin and Buggy reminisced about their lives, and Austin told Buggy about his recent encounter with Shanks.
• Austin explained that Roger had arrived at Laugh Tale too early and that the time to obtain the Great Treasure would come about twenty years later.
• Buggy questioned why Roger had passed his will to Shanks instead of Austin, and Austin said giving up the Great Treasure had been his own choice.
• Austin showed Buggy an Eternal Pointer marked Laugh Tale and asked whether Buggy wanted to become the Pirate King, promising to help him.

Austin encouraged Buggy to consider becoming Pirate King but left him time to decide, then set out with Mihawk to recruit Moria for the Shichibukai. The chapter ended with a Marine again asking imprisoned Crocodile whether she would join the Shichibukai.

• Austin told Buggy that he could become Pirate King, but Buggy doubted he was worthy and did not decide.
• Austin and Mihawk spent several days with Buggy before leaving, and Austin invited Buggy to visit Sabaody Archipelago.
• Austin said he planned to settle the Shichibukai matter and chose Gecko Moria as his next target.
• Crocodile read newspapers in Impel Down while wondering why Austin had not come to free her.
• A Marine approached Crocodile's cell and asked whether she had reconsidered joining the Shichibukai.

Sengoku persuaded Crocodile to accept a position among the Shichibukai by telling her that Mihawk had joined with Austin’s support. Austin then visited Moria to ask whether he would join the Shichibukai and bear Austin’s name to pursue revenge on Kaido.

• Sengoku tried to persuade Crocodile to join the Shichibukai, but she refused to be compared with Doflamingo.
• Sengoku told Crocodile that Mihawk had joined with Austin’s support and that Austin had not come to rescue her.
• Crocodile relented and agreed to serve as one of the Shichibukai.
• Austin froze the zombies in Moria’s territory and approached Moria’s castle.
• Moria confronted Austin, who asked whether he would join the Shichibukai and use Austin’s name to take revenge on Kaido.

Austin tried to recruit Moria, who refused and attacked him, so Austin demonstrated a spatially collapsing technique before using Perona to stop Moria's assault. The chapter ended with Austin handing the sleeping Perona to Mihawk while Moria confronted the threat to someone he cared about.

• Moria rejected Austin's offer and unleashed a swarm of shadow bats at him.
• Austin used Godly Chibaku Tensei to compress the shadows into a sphere, then threw it into the sea and blasted a vast crater into the ocean.
• Moria challenged Austin to kill him, then attacked with Giant Shadow Horn Spear after Austin taunted him.
• Austin produced the sleeping Perona, freezing Moria's attack and shocking him into stopping.
• Austin teleported Perona into Mihawk's arms, and Mihawk protested as Austin claimed she was destined to be with him.

Austin persuaded Moria to show him respect in Shichibukai matters in exchange for protecting Perona, then Mihawk accidentally woke her and was struck by her ghost ability. Mihawk quickly recovered, but Austin kept the embarrassing photographs he took.

• Austin offered to protect Perona if Moria showed him respect regarding Shichibukai matters, and Moria agreed.
• Austin told Mihawk he would be responsible for looking after Perona, while Mihawk protested.
• Perona woke in Mihawk's arms, and Mihawk panicked when she began to cry.
• Perona's ghosts passed through Mihawk and overwhelmed him with feelings of inferiority and dejection.
• Mihawk recovered within seconds, then angrily demanded that Austin delete the photographs Austin had taken; Austin refused.

Crocodile returned from Impel Down and discovered that Austin and Mihawk had sailed off together while she remained in prison. After Austin returned, she confronted him, and he realized she had been left behind while refusing to join the Shichibukai.

• Mihawk tried to seize Austin's Den Den Mushi, but Austin used his Warp Fruit ability to keep it out of reach and promised not to spread what it contained.
• Crocodile returned to Sabaody Archipelago and visited Sammy, who told her Austin and Mihawk had sailed away together two months earlier.
• Crocodile grew furious after learning Austin and Mihawk had been gone while she was imprisoned, and she spent several days in a foul mood.
• Austin and Mihawk decided to travel to Fish-Man Island to meet a future Shichibukai candidate and revisit the island.
• Crocodile grabbed Austin by the collar and demanded to know why he had forgotten her, and Austin realized she had stayed in prison while he and Mihawk were away.

Austin and Mihawk heard Crocodile’s account of meeting Douglas Bullet in Impel Down, where Bullet learned about Austin’s rise and declared him a new goal. Austin suggested Bullet might not remain imprisoned, leaving open the possibility of his return in the New Era.

• Crocodile told Mihawk that she had encountered a powerful old rival in Impel Down who might be connected to Austin.
• Crocodile recalled choosing the cell beside Bullet’s and telling him Austin would come to free her.
• Bullet recognized Austin’s name and listened as Crocodile described his rise after Roger’s death.
• Bullet celebrated Austin’s strength and declared that he finally had another goal: becoming the World’s Strongest.
• Austin said that Bullet might not stay in Impel Down because anything could happen in the New Era.

After spending an extended period overseeing his underworld businesses on Sabaody, Austin decided to sail to Fish-Man Island with Mihawk and Crocodile. He arranged for Rayleigh to coat the Oro Jackson and recruited Hachi as their guide.

• Austin inspected his organizations, approved funding for Tesoro's golden ship, and warned Sammy that the mermaid trade would likely decline as events around Fish-Man Island unfolded.
• Austin told Sammy that he and his companions were going out to sea to have some fun.
• Austin, Mihawk, and Crocodile visited Shakky's bar and asked her to have Rayleigh coat the Oro Jackson.
• Hachi arrived at the bar, tried to retreat when he saw Austin, and was invited inside.
• Austin grabbed Hachi by the collar and asked him to guide the group around Fish-Man Island.