Chapter Summaries

Sanji read Reiju’s note reassuring him that his cooking would make their mother happy, while the departing Navy warship left him behind at Baratie. The Straw Hat crew arrived, and Xia Che wondered about events at Marine Headquarters as Teach confronted Sengoku and Garp in a Cipher Pol interrogation room.

• Reiju gave Sanji a note after criticizing Baratie’s service, then left with Xia Che and the others aboard their warship.
• Sanji discovered that Reiju’s note praised his cooking and said their mother would be happy to taste it, and he tucked it into his pocket.
• Zeff teased Sanji about worrying over his sister, then ordered him back to work without paying his wages.
• The Straw Hat crew arrived at Baratie by Sea Train, and Luffy recognized Sanji and demanded meat.
• Xia Che wondered what had happened at Marine Headquarters and whether Luffy’s grandfather was already finished.
• Teach confronted Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp in Marine Headquarters’ Cipher Pol interrogation room.

Teach interrogated Sengoku and Garp after Marine Headquarters handed them over, but neither admitted knowing about the East Blue Navy. Meanwhile, Sanji served a group of hungry men who had already gone out to sea.

• Teach told Sengoku and Garp that the Gorosei had authorized his Assassination Tactics Special Unit to question them, and demanded information about the Pirate King and the East Blue Navy.
• Sengoku and Garp denied knowing anything, so Teach left them in Lafitte’s care and privately vowed to turn Marine Headquarters’ veterans into traitors to clear the way for his ambitions.
• Garp suggested that he and Sengoku defect to the East Blue Navy, while Sengoku worried that Marine Headquarters might be finished and threatened to send Luffy to Impel Down if he became a pirate.
• Garp revealed that he had eaten the money Luffy had saved for a ship, leaving Sengoku exasperated.
• Sanji asked the hungry men at his table how long they had gone without food as they requested more fried noodles.

Luffy invited Sanji to join his crew, but Sanji refused and claimed he had given up on his dream of finding All Blue. After Luffy used an old meal voucher to cover their feast, Zeff told Sanji he was fired from Baratie.

• Sanji asked Luffy, Zoro, and the others to pay for their meal, and they admitted they had no money.
• Belmer apologized and offered to work off the debt, but Luffy produced a voucher Sanji had given him earlier.
• Sanji accepted the voucher for the four meals, while Luffy again urged him to pursue his dream and join the crew.
• Sanji insisted he was no longer interested in sailing, and Zeff challenged him about staying at Baratie for his sake.
• Zeff announced that Sanji had been fired as head chef of Baratie.

Sanji accepted Luffy’s invitation to join the crew, bid an emotional farewell to Zeff and the Baratie cooks, and left the restaurant. He then learned that the group had no ship and had run out of money, so he turned back and asked Zeff to let him stay.

• Zeff told Sanji to leave Baratie after Sanji offended a guest, then urged him not to fool himself about his dream.
• Sanji accepted Luffy’s invitation to join their adventure and become their cook.
• Sanji removed his apron, kowtowed to Zeff, and left with Luffy, Zoro, Belmer, and Usopp as the Baratie cooks called after him.
• Sanji asked where their ship was, and Belmer revealed that they had none and had traveled by Sea Train.
• Belmer explained that the group had run out of money after getting off at the Conomi Islands, so Sanji ran back toward Baratie and begged Zeff to let him stay.

Xia Che visited Old Bei and learned that the Vegapunks had developed an energy barrier to detect and block unauthorized entry, despite spending most of their two-trillion budget on researching infinite energy. He ordered a standardized gate for toll collection and reminded them about the plants delivered earlier, prompting the Vegapunks to rush out another discovery.

• Old Bei showed Xia Che an Energy Protection Curtain that could span up to one thousand kilometers between pillars and reach five hundred meters high, though it could be bypassed from above or below and might be broken by powerful people.
• Xia Che accepted the barrier as adequate for East Blue security and asked Old Bei about its height, length, and possible openings.
• Xia Che questioned the Vegapunks about spending two trillion, and they listed progress in biological modification, physics, Devil Fruits, weapons, medicine, and Sea Kings breeding before admitting most funding went to infinite-energy research.
• Xia Che proposed adding a small opening to create a toll booth, and Old Bei offered to make a standardized door for it.
• Xia Che asked whether the Vegapunks had researched the plants delivered earlier, and Vegapunk remembered them and told Pythagoras to bring out their discovery.

Xia Che learned that Old Bei had developed the dangerous but powerful third-generation Small Blue Pill, which he renamed the Small Gold Pill, and arranged for its production. At the Conomi Islands, Bonnie confided that she no longer wanted to attend school, but Xia Che immediately called Kuma to tell him.

• Old Bei showed Xia Che the third-generation pill, explaining that it could improve physical fitness and potential but might drive users mad.
• Xia Che agreed to use the pill as a training aid, and Old Bei planned to produce its formula and equipment and have the Tontatta grow the plant.
• Xia Che warned Old Bei to develop advanced weapons and manage his research funding before leaving the institute.
• Xia Che went to the Conomi Islands to discuss growing the plant and visit the Navy academy, then spotted Bonnie sitting alone on the shore.
• Bonnie told Xia Che she did not want to go to school anymore, and he immediately called Kuma to report that she was rebellious.

Xia Che learned that Bonnie wanted to leave school and adventure with her busy father, Kuma, and encouraged her to say what she dreamed of doing. He brought her to the Conomi Islands, where she revealed that Kuma called Xia Che Joy Boy, and the chapter ended as they heard Luffy eating up the fried rice they were trying to sell.

• Xia Che asked Bonnie why she did not want to study, and she said she wanted to travel and go on adventures with Kuma.
• Xia Che asked Bonnie to declare her dream, then refused to let her become a pirate without Kuma's decision and offered to take her back.
• Bonnie told Xia Che that she knew about Joy Boy and said Kuma called Xia Che the one who would bring liberation and freedom.
• Xia Che arrived at the Conomi Islands with Bonnie and agreed to take her to eat after hearing her stomach growl.
• At the docks, Xia Che and Bonnie heard someone calling out Baratie fried rice while a voice scolded Luffy for eating nearly all of it.

Sanji reflected on how he had left Baratie and used his remaining money to sell food in Cocoyasi Village, where rival vendors advertised stolen recipes. Xia Che arrived with Luffy and Bonnie, learned that Sanji and Luffy had become partners, and wondered if their voyage was really about selling fried rice.

• Sanji recalled how Chef Zeff had sent him off with money and urged him to pursue his dream despite his reluctance.
• Sanji tried to earn money in Cocoyasi Village but resented a rival vendor for advertising recipes stolen from Baratie.
• Sanji planned to make specialty dishes to attract more customers.
• Xia Che arrived at Sanji's stall with Luffy and the hungry Bonnie, and ordered food.
• Luffy told Xia Che that he and Sanji were already partners and had set sail.
• Xia Che looked at Sanji's fried-rice stall and asked if they had set sail to sell fried rice.

Xia Che met Luffy and Sanji selling fried rice in the Conomi Islands and discovered Zoro and Belmer were working at the docks to earn money. Usopp then announced that the group had found a battered ship to buy, leaving Xia Che curious about how they had set out to sea without one.

• Xia Che recognized Sanji’s fried rice and asked why he had left Baratie to sell food with Luffy.
• Xia Che asked after Zoro, Usopp, and Belmer, and Sanji fell silent when Xia Che mentioned Reiju.
• Zoro and Belmer returned from moving cargo, and Zoro said he planned to become the World’s Greatest Swordsman and defeat Xia Che.
• Luffy revealed that Zoro and Belmer had been earning money at the docks, while Zoro and the others tried to stop him from explaining what they were saving for.
• Usopp arrived and announced that he had found a battered ship for sale for five million Beli, and Xia Che pressed him for details.

Xia Che warned Bonnie that piracy offered no future and left the crew a discount note to help them buy a ship. After he left, the crew discovered their work had earned little money and left them with a large debt, prompting Usopp to suggest going back.

• Xia Che persuaded Bonnie that pirates were too poor to make a living, then gave the crew a note for ten percent off a new ship.
• Usopp suggested buying a worn but seaworthy ship for five million Beli and asked the others how much they had earned.
• Sanji revealed the stall had earned only eight thousand Beli, while Luffy produced a ten-million-Beli debt note for cargo he had broken.
• Belmer explained that he and Zoro had earned just fifty thousand Beli together from temporary dock work.
• Usopp gathered the fifty-eight thousand Beli and suggested the crew pack up and return because they had no future at this rate.

Sanji tried to earn money selling fried rice, then drew customers by advertising Germa Kingdom-style grilled saury and claiming it came from the royal family. His sister Vinsmoke Reiju arrived and questioned his story about their father.

• Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, and the others decided not to give up despite their debts and embarrassment, while Usopp urged Luffy not to find more work.
• Usopp criticized Sanji’s weak stall advertising and suggested he promote his food with a royal secret recipe.
• Sanji insisted he would not deceive customers by inventing a recipe, then began selling grilled saury as a Germa Kingdom specialty.
• Sanji claimed Judge Vinsmoke had relied on grilled saury to rebuild Germa Kingdom, and a customer bought a serving.
• Vinsmoke Reiju arrived at Sanji’s stall and asked when their father had learned to grill saury.

Sanji served Reiju grilled Pacific saury at his Cocoyasi Village stall, and they discussed his plans to go to sea with his companions. Usopp interrupted to report that Luffy was about to be arrested and the others were ready to fight, while the East Blue Navy Headquarters received a strange call about Xia Che’s supposed junior fellow disciple.

• Reiju found Sanji selling grilled Pacific saury and ordered a serving, then praised its flavor.
• Reiju asked whether Sanji truly planned to go to sea and suggested finding more reliable companions, but Sanji insisted he trusted his current crew.
• Usopp rushed over and told Sanji and Reiju that Luffy was about to be arrested and Zoro and the others were about to fight.
• At East Blue Navy Headquarters, Robin told Xia Che that Cocoyasi Village’s security department had reported troublemaking punks, including one who claimed to be Xia Che’s junior fellow disciple.

Xia Che confronted Luffy and his companions after their escape from the Guard Department left them wanted, indebted, and without Sanji’s impounded snack cart. When Luffy asked for help, Xia Che offered them a one-billion-Beli loan and handed over a document for them to sign.

• Xia Che heard how Usopp invoked his senior-brother connection to calm the guards and help the Straw Hat Pirates escape, while Reiju explained she had not managed to stop them.
• Xia Che told Sanji that the Guard Department had impounded his snack cart and said it had reported the group as criminals impersonating his junior brothers.
• Luffy insisted that the crew would continue their adventure, but Belmer, Usopp, and Sanji explained that their debt, wanted status, and lack of a ship left them stranded.
• Luffy asked Xia Che for help, and Xia Che agreed to assist for Garp's and Zoro's sake.
• Xia Che offered the crew one billion Beli, then revealed the money was a loan and gave them a document to sign.

Xia Che arranged loans for the five Straw Hat crew members, who met Franky to choose a ship. Their requirements exceeded their planned budget, so Luffy asked to borrow more, and Franky prepared to discuss what ship they could afford.

• Xia Che finalized loan documents with the five crew members and warned them to repay their debt on time.
• Franky arrived with a ship catalog, and Usopp explained that he was a renowned senior shipwright at East Blue Shipyard.
• The five crew members listed the ship features they wanted, but Belmer said their budget was fifty million Beli.
• Franky told them that fifty million Beli would not cover a premium ship with their requested features, and the crew considered buying secondhand.
• Luffy asked Xia Che to lend them more money, and Xia Che agreed while Franky asked him privately about the upper limit.

Xia Che and Franky outfitted the Straw Hat Pirates with an extravagant new ship, which Luffy agreed to pay for with the One Piece. After the crew sailed away, Xia Che learned that a group from the Ryugu Kingdom had arrived seeking a meeting.

• Franky presented lavish ship designs to Luffy, Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, and Belmer, and Luffy chose the best options for everything despite the enormous cost.
• Franky calculated the ship's price as eight billion seven hundred million Beli, and Luffy asked Xia Che to lend him the money, promising to repay it with the One Piece.
• Xia Che agreed to Luffy's proposal and had the group sign a new contract; Franky completed the ship within a week with a lion-head figurehead, warranty service, and navigation and weather systems.
• The Straw Hat Pirates inspected and accepted their new ship, then Luffy led his crew out to sea while Xia Che and Franky saw them off.
• Xia Che told Robin to arrange monthly interest collection on the crew's thirty-year loan and hoped they would find the One Piece soon.
• Robin answered a Den Den Mushi call and told Xia Che that Fish-Men from the Ryugu Kingdom had arrived and wanted to meet him.

Sharky led a Ryugu Kingdom delegation to East Blue to investigate the Navy and Joy Boy while seeking help for Fish-Man Island’s worsening crisis. After waiting at the barrier, the delegation met Enel and was welcomed by Colonel Kailin, who offered to escort them to headquarters.

• Sharky and Crown Star waited outside the East Blue barrier while the Navy reported their arrival to its superiors.
• Sharky recalled that Hody Jones had taken control of the Fish-Man District and allied with Vander Decken IX, prompting the Ryugu Kingdom to seek a way to protect Fish-Man Island.
• Sharky explained that Jinbe had urged the delegation to visit East Blue because he suspected its Navy was connected to Joy Boy.
• Enel arrived, made a rude remark about the Fish-Men, and struck Kailin with lightning after the colonel called him petty.
• Kailin apologized to Sharky and introduced himself as an East Blue Navy colonel who would escort the delegation to headquarters.

Sharky and the Fish-Men entered East Blue under Colonel Kailin's guidance and traveled along the East Blue Navy's protected sea route toward the Conomi Islands. After Robin reported their arrival to Xia Che, he learned that a suspected former Arlong Pirates member was aboard and recognized him as someone who had once terrorized the Conomi Islands.

• Colonel Kailin opened the energy barrier and guided Sharky and the Fish-Men into East Blue.
• Kailin explained the East Blue Navy's safe sea route, and Sharky's group followed the Navy warship into its designated lane.
• Kailin told Sharky the journey to the Conomi Islands would take about a week, while the Fish-Men wondered what kind of person led the East Blue Navy.
• Robin told Xia Che that Sharky's group had entered East Blue and reported a passenger suspected of being a former Arlong Pirates member.
• Xia Che recognized the suspected passenger as someone who had wreaked havoc on the Conomi Islands and reacted with anger.

Xia Che told Nami that Hachi and the Ryugu Kingdom’s eldest prince were coming to seek cooperation, and promised to support whatever she decided. Nami asked him to lend her Marines, while Kuzan stayed out of the matter and was volunteered as free help.

• Kuzan told Xia Che that news of Garp and Sengoku’s alleged collusion with the East Blue Navy had spread through Marine Headquarters after the information was leaked.
• Xia Che said the Marine Headquarters turmoil was not the East Blue Navy’s concern, and Kuzan agreed that he was glad not to be dealing with Sakazuki’s headache.
• Xia Che told Nami that Hachi was coming with the Ryugu Kingdom’s eldest prince, likely to seek cooperation or protection, and explained that Nojiko and Genzo already knew.
• Nami recalled her painful history with the Arlong Pirates, and Xia Che promised to support her choice, even offering to kill the visitors if she wanted.
• Nami asked Xia Che to lend her Marines, and he offered Kuzan as free help, prompting Kuzan to protest that nobody had asked his opinion.

Xia Che and Kuzan discussed Nami’s decision to return to Cocoyasi Village, while Marine Headquarters struggled with rumors and suspicion surrounding Marshall D. Teach. As the Ryugu Kingdom’s arrival neared, Xia Che prepared the docks and left the reception arrangements to Nami.

• Xia Che said Nami would not kill the octopus, and Kuzan demanded extra pay for helping with the job.
• Xia Che changed the subject to Marine Headquarters and left before Kuzan could finish asking for money.
• Sakazuki and Tsuru discussed rumors blamed on Teach, the World Government’s trust in him, and the need for Sengoku and Garp to explain matters to the Gorosei.
• Sakazuki ordered Tsuru to make the arrangements and warn Teach to watch himself.
• Xia Che cleared the docks and arranged preparations with Nami for the Ryugu Kingdom’s arrival, while Kuzan stayed at Red Romance to observe the docks.
• A week passed, and the Ryugu Kingdom’s ship was about to arrive.

Sharky, Crown Star, and Hachi arrived at the Conomi Islands, impressed by East Blue’s peace and prosperity. As Hachi prepared to atone for his past, Nami confronted him at the harbor, and he immediately knelt to apologize.

• Sharky, Crown Star, and Hachi praised East Blue’s safe routes and peaceful conditions as they approached the Conomi Islands with Colonel Kailin.
• Sharky agreed to let Hachi face whatever consequences awaited him, then promised to apologize alongside him on behalf of Fish-Man Island.
• The delegation passed through the gate and docked at the Conomi Islands, where Sharky led the Fish-Men ashore.
• Nami confronted Hachi at the harbor, and Hachi dropped to his knees and apologized before she could strike him.