Chapter Summaries

Vice Admiral Tsuru outlined plans for the G-9 and rebuilt G-5 branches, and the officers debated who could command G-9. They settled on Vice Admiral Garp as the only practical candidate until the injured Yaen arrived at the meeting.

• Vice Admiral Tsuru explained that the G-9 branch would be established in Kuri and that G-5 would be rebuilt to connect with G-1 and G-9.
• Vice Admiral Tsuru asked the officers for their views on branch commanders, and Vice Admiral Spandine and Vice Admiral Momonga said G-9 needed someone with Admiral-level strength.
• Admiral Borsalino nominated Admiral Sakazuki, but the officers saw little chance he would leave G-1.
• “Chaton” Kake proposed Vice Admiral Yaen, but Vice Admiral Doberman objected that Yaen was seriously injured, while Vice Admiral Spandine stopped Kake from questioning Vice Admiral Garp’s loyalty.
• Vice Admiral Onigumo said Vice Admiral Garp was the only suitable candidate and that the officers could return to Marineford after he arrived in Wano Country.
• Yaen entered the meeting room, coughed weakly, and asked why he had not been notified about the important meeting.

Yaen attended the Navy’s meeting despite his injuries and recommended himself as Base Commander of the planned G-9 Branch in Wano Country. He argued that he needed to remain there to deter the Navy’s enemies and deal with Kong and Ying’s arrival, then asked the officers whether they agreed or objected.

• Yaen arrived at the meeting, reassuring the officers about his injuries and insisting he could fulfill his duties.
• Gion explained that the Navy planned to establish the G-9 Branch in Wano Country and was choosing its Base Commander.
• Yaen nominated himself, prompting Gion and other officers to urge him to recover in Marineford instead.
• Yaen argued that Wano Country’s dangers and the presence of Dragon and Corazon made his leadership necessary, and said he would not fall before the Navy ended the Great Pirate Era.
• Tsuru asked whether Yaen was serious, and Yaen confirmed his decision before asking the officers to state whether they agreed or objected.
• Kake, Doberman, Momonga, and Spandine voiced support for Yaen becoming Base Commander.

Yaen accepted command of the G-9 Branch and remained in Wano Country as the other Marines departed. Gion resolved to seek command of the G-5 Branch to strengthen herself, while Dragon visited Yaen and urged him not to worry so much about Kong and Ying.

• The Navy officers backed Yaen as G-9 Branch Base Commander, and Vice Admiral Garp offered to stay until Yaen said his injuries had nearly healed.
• Vice Admiral Garp led most of the fleet out of Wano Country, leaving five warships for the G-9 Branch.
• Vice Admiral Tsuru worried that Kong and Ying's disappearance might be weighing on Yaen, while Gion declared her intention to become G-5 Branch Base Commander and grow stronger.
• Yaen found Dragon waiting in his office with Wano snacks, and Dragon reassured him that Kong and Ying appeared to be in good condition and encouraged him to focus on their future.

Yaen and Dragon planned staged clashes in Wano Country to keep the World Government focused on the Revolutionary Army while secretly advancing their goals. As the World Government considered Yamato for the Shichibukai, Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker arrived in the North Sea, following Kaido’s Vivre Card.

• Dragon showed Yaen a newspaper that branded him a pirate and a new Emperor of the Sea, along with his three-billion bounty poster.
• Yaen gave Dragon a schedule for staged Revolutionary Army and Marine clashes in Wano Country, and Dragon agreed to eliminate the two CP0 squads sent there.
• Dragon told Yaen that the World Government planned to strip Mihawk of his Shichibukai title and consider Yamato as a replacement.
• Yaen proposed cooperating with Yamato to bring the Shichibukai under the Revolutionary Army’s control, and assured Dragon he could keep Yamato under control.
• Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker reached the edge of the North Sea while following Kaido’s Vivre Card.

Luo ran the Life Factor Research Institute, where Caesar worked under threat while pursuing clues in the bloodline-factor data of a new specimen. Luo brought Caesar into a secure chamber holding captured Beast Pirates officers, where Caesar discovered Kaido embedded in a stone stele.

• Caesar complained to Luo about being excluded from research on a new specimen and threatened to reduce SAD production, but Luo warned him to cooperate.
• Caesar admitted he had seen the specimen’s bloodline-factor analysis and recognized its sequence from his past work with Vegapunk.
• Luo agreed to show Caesar the specimen and led him through security doors into a sealed chamber.
• Caesar found King, Queen, and other Beast Pirates officers held in cages, despite reports that the crew had been destroyed.
• Luo identified the chamber’s most valuable specimen, and Caesar collapsed in terror when he saw Kaido’s head emerging from a stone stele.

Luo brought Beast Pirates criminals, including Kaido and Queen, to the research institute as specimens for bloodline-factor analysis, and Caesar realized they could reveal Vegapunk’s research. When Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker attacked, Luo ordered an evacuation to the backup research institute.

• Luo silenced the Beast Pirates prisoners with electric shocks and told Caesar to analyze their bloodline factors.
• Caesar recognized Kaido as Vegapunk’s greatest bloodline-factor modification and eagerly hoped to use the research to surpass Vegapunk.
• Alarms sounded, and Luo left Caesar alone in the specimen chamber while he went to investigate.
• Luo learned that Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker had attacked the institute and ordered an emergency evacuation to the backup research institute.

Dragon learned that Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker had attacked the Life Factor Research Institute to free Kaido, while Yaen revealed he had prepared a backup plan. Yaen said two unknown allies were already on their way to face the Sweet Commanders.

• Dragon received news that Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker had attacked the Life Factor Research Institute and feared the organization’s secrets would be exposed if Kaido escaped.
• Yaen explained that the Marines’ concentration of forces in the New World had let the BIGMOM Pirates slip into the North Sea, and suspected Charlotte Linlin had Kaido’s Vivre Card.
• Dragon prepared to contact Karas and Kuma, but Yaen pointed out that neither could reach the institute in time.
• Yaen told Dragon that he had planned for the possibility of Kaido being tracked and revealed that two fighters were going to face Charlotte Snack and Charlotte Cracker in their first battle.

Yaen and Dragon discussed how to locate Kaido’s Vivre Card in Big Mom’s possession, and Yaen proposed a marriage alliance with the Charlotte Family. Meanwhile, Snack and Cracker fought through the Life Factor Research Institute until Luo confronted them.

• Yaen identified the Door-Door Fruit as a possible way to cross vast distances, but said Charlotte Linlin and her possession of Kaido’s Vivre Card were the greater concern.
• Dragon explained that infiltrating the Big Mom Pirates further would be difficult and suggested marrying suitable people into the Charlotte Family.
• Yaen asked whether Dragon or Luffy could enter a marriage alliance with the Charlotte Family, and Dragon reacted with visible discomfort.
• Snack and Cracker slaughtered the institute’s guards as they advanced toward Kaido, while Cracker sent biscuit soldiers through the corridors.
• White threads shattered Cracker’s biscuit soldiers, and Luo appeared before Snack and Cracker, announcing that he would use them as experimental materials.

Luo taunted Charlotte Cracker and Charlotte Snack by describing their abilities, prompting Cracker to attack. Baby-5 arrived to crush Cracker’s biscuit soldiers, and as Luo headed to confront Snack, Cracker sent another wave of soldiers after them.

• Snack stopped Cracker from attacking Luo and questioned him about his identity, the facility, Kaido, and its guards.
• Luo identified Snack’s Heat-Heat Fruit ability and speculated that Cracker hid inside biscuit soldiers because of a congenital physical defect, then offered to alter Cracker’s appearance.
• Cracker ordered his biscuit soldiers to attack Luo, but Baby-5 dropped through the passage and crushed them beneath a steel foot.
• Baby-5 and Luo exchanged insults before Cracker ordered Snack to search the facility for Kaido and chose to fight Baby-5.
• Luo walked toward the passage to deal with Snack, while Cracker created more biscuit soldiers and sent them after Luo and Baby-5.

baby-5 fought Charlotte Cracker and revealed the Freedom Gundam form, using the giant weapon to destroy his Biscuit Soldiers. She continued refining the Gundam so Yaen could pilot it, though turning it into mass-producible blueprints remained difficult.

• baby-5 transformed into a steel fortress and blasted apart Cracker's first wave of Biscuit Soldiers.
• Cracker emerged from a damaged Biscuit Soldier and created a larger, stronger swarm to attack baby-5.
• baby-5 released Void Devourer and transformed into the nearly twenty-meter-tall Freedom Gundam.
• The Freedom Gundam's armor resisted the Biscuit Soldiers' swords, and it swept them aside with ease.
• baby-5 said the Gundam still needed a completed cockpit for Yaen to pilot, while its energy source and mass production remained unresolved.

baby-5 tested Freedom Gundam against Cracker’s Biscuit Soldiers while Snack fought through the research facility’s guards. Snack broke through the guards and attacked Luo with his Heat Explosion Sword.

• Cracker’s Wave: Pretzel barely marked Freedom Gundam before it kicked him through a steel passage and onto the island.
• Cracker summoned thousands of fortified Biscuit Soldiers to hold Freedom Gundam back until Snack could rescue Kaido.
• baby-5 fired dark energy beams from Freedom Gundam, blasting through the Biscuit Soldiers and shaking the island and research facility.
• Luo watched Snack fight the facility’s nonhuman failed experiments, intending for the guards to drain Snack’s energy.
• Snack shrank and sped up after breaking through a hundred-meter wall of guards, then swung his greatsword at Luo with Heat Explosion Sword.

Luo used his clones and abilities to defeat and psychologically overwhelm Snack in the underground passage. He declared the JS0047 Series Drug’s initial experiment complete, then attacked Snack to continue testing the drug’s resistance.

• Snack unleashed Heat Explosion Sword, apparently blasting Luo to pieces, but Luo remained unharmed and used Tact to take Snack’s severed hand and Kaido’s Vivre Card.
• Luo decomposed Snack’s hand and refused to explain his ability, while Snack attacked him with an even stronger slash that destroyed another clone.
• Luo revealed that the Luos were mass-produced clones, and countless copies appeared throughout the passage and beneath the hole Snack had opened.
• Snack became increasingly deranged at the sight of the clones as Luo announced that the initial JS0047 Series Drug experiment was complete.
• Luo picked up Kikoku, used Room to swap places with a fallen greatsword, and stabbed Snack in the head while invoking Personality Sealing.

Luo subdued Snack after using him in a mental-drug experiment, then found that Baby-5 had destroyed much of the institute while defeating Cracker. Yaen took control of Baby-5, approved relocating the research institute, and invited the overworked Luo to travel with him to the North Sea.

• Luo revealed that Snack’s actions had served as a genuine test of the mental drug JS0047, then sedated him and dismissed his flesh-and-blood clones.
• Luo discovered that Baby-5’s weapon test had destroyed the institute’s upper levels and most of the Deserted Island, while Cracker lay unconscious nearby.
• Baby-5 explained that she had tested a weapon modified based on the Ancient Weapon: Pluton, and Luo threatened to report her to That Great One.
• Yaen took control of Baby-5, admitted approving the weapon test, and told Luo that the Life Factor Research Institute would move to a new site.
• Yaen learned that Luo had barely been sleeping and invited him to travel to the North Sea while the institute was relocated.

Yaen ordered Luo and baby-5 to relocate their research institute, then warned Dragon that Kuma could be sacrificed in Vegapunk’s Pacifista Project. The next day, Yaen and Dragon clashed again as the Revolutionary Army attacked the Marine defenses in Kuri.

• Yaen ordered Luo to arrange the research institute’s relocation and travel with baby-5 to the Mara Islands.
• Yaen told Dragon that Luo and baby-5 had defeated Snack and Cracker, and discussed the danger of Vegapunk’s Pacifista Project.
• Dragon said Kuma had been offered thirty years without Heavenly Gold for Sorbeth Kingdom if he joined the project, but Yaen warned that Kuma might be mechanically modified as a test subject.
• Yaen and Dragon agreed that Kuma should not risk his life for the project, then parted before the coming battle.
• The Revolutionary Army launched a surprise attack in Kuri, and the G-9 Branch’s defenses were pushed back as Yaen and Dragon fought again.
• Yaen repeatedly divided his attention to support the Marine defensive line while battling Dragon, preventing the G-9 Branch from collapsing.

Yaen received reinforcements for G-9 and reviewed the World Government’s plans to extend its influence over Wano Country, while keeping a close eye on his Island Commune Plan. Meanwhile, baby-5 and Luo traveled toward the Mara Islands, where baby-5 defended her smoking habit by claiming she was smoking Yaen’s loneliness.

• The Gorosei discussed G-9’s vulnerability and the need to reinforce it while using the base to expand the World Government’s control over Wano Country.
• Yaen received word that Marine and World Government personnel would reinforce G-9, and he decided the government’s operatives could serve as cannon fodder.
• Yaen noticed Major General Hope on the reinforcement list, set aside routine paperwork, and prepared a gift for him.
• Yaen reviewed reports on the Island Commune Plan and reminded himself to judge its progress carefully and objectively.
• Baby-5 piloted a submarine toward the Mara Islands while smoking, and Luo warned her about the harm cigarettes could cause.
• Baby-5 claimed she was smoking the loneliness of Yaen’s absence, then spoke in Yaen’s manner to explain that he had encouraged her to find hobbies.

Luo and baby-5 arrived in the Mara Islands to inspect the Revolutionary Army’s commune project while Yaen continued consolidating control over the G-9 Branch. Yaen and Dragon’s staged battle escalated into a dangerous Revolutionary Army assault, which ended only after the Gorosei persuaded Corazon to strike the Revolutionary Army’s Linghou region.

• Yaen reminded baby-5 to get along peacefully with Luo, and the two reached the Mara Islands to observe the commune project.
• Yaen maintained his reputation as a gentle and capable commander among the G-9 Branch Marines.
• Yaen and Dragon watched the Marines and Revolutionary Army clash, and Yaen identified two suspected World Government spies for Dragon to eliminate.
• Yaen joined the battle against Dragon, and Issho ambushed him while the Ten Thousand Beast Samurai were kept from helping.
• The Gorosei offered Corazon benefits for attacking the Revolutionary Army’s Linghou region, forcing the Revolutionary Army to withdraw from the G-9 Branch.

The Gorosei discussed the Revolutionary Army’s assault on the G-9 Branch and Yaen’s severe injuries, while Yaen concealed that he was unharmed and used the situation to avoid responsibility for the coming CP0 deployment. He then returned to baby-5’s Mental Space, where Luo and baby-5’s commune plan had begun to give the Mara Islands’ villagers hope.

• The Gorosei recognized that Dragon’s ambush had nearly cost them the G-9 Branch, noted Yaen’s critical condition, and ordered the arriving CP0 squads to assess Yamato’s eligibility for the Shichibukai title.
• The Marines sent Yaen into emergency surgery, unaware that the patient was only his Zanpakutō under the control of Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
• Yaen arranged for the doctors’ reports to certify him unfit for combat so he would bear no responsibility if the CP0 squads were defeated, and considered letting Major General Hope take over military affairs.
• Yaen worried that Kong and Ying had not appeared in Wano Country, though their Vivre Cards showed they were safe.
• After being sent to the ward, Yaen returned his consciousness to baby-5’s Mental Space and observed that the Island Commune Plan had begun stirring hope among villagers in the Mara Islands.

Yaen observed Luo and Baby-5 as they visited a tavern on the Mara Islands and listened to locals discuss recent changes. Basil Hawkins joined them and used his Tarot Cards to divine their identities, drawing The Fool and then The World for Yaen before the chapter ended with Yaen asking what the cards meant.

• Yaen told Baby-5 to explore the island with Luo while he observed through her senses.
• Luo and Baby-5 visited a tavern, where Yaen listened to customers discuss the Lian Merchant Association and Island Commune.
• Basil Hawkins sat with Luo and Baby-5, offered to divine their fortunes, and identified Luo as a doctor.
• Yaen asked Hawkins to divine his true identity, and Hawkins drew The Fool followed by The World.
• Hawkins stared at Baby-5 in astonishment, and Yaen asked him to explain the cards and determine his identity.

Hawkins's divination identified Yaen as a figure who could end the era or begin a new one, while his own fate became impossible to read until Yaen decided how to treat him. Yaen asked Hawkins to divine whether his desired future could come to pass, and Hawkins offered him the Tarot Cards to draw himself.

• Hawkins told Yaen that The Fool and the World suggested he would end the era or open the door to a new beginning.
• Hawkins discovered that both his death and survival probabilities were unknowable, with The Fool appearing in every draw.
• Yaen, watching through Baby-5, explained that Hawkins's fate was unclear because he had not decided what to do with him.
• Hawkins divined again and drew Death and the Star, indicating a very high chance of dying and less than a five percent chance of surviving.
• Yaen asked Hawkins to divine whether the future he wanted could be achieved, but Hawkins said he needed a clearer question.
• Hawkins offered Yaen the floating Tarot Cards so Yaen could draw them himself.

Yaen used Hawkins’s Tarot reading to investigate whether his hoped-for future would come to pass, while Luo exposed Hawkins’s concealed information. Hawkins revealed that the cards might point to destroying the Red Line, and Yaen learned he had not been lying.

• Yaen destroyed most of Hawkins’s Tarot Cards with a Flying Slash and let the three survivors determine the reading.
• Hawkins interpreted World and The Tower as signs of immense change and possible collapse, while The Hanged Man offered guidance he said Yaen must interpret himself.
• Luo detected Hawkins’s rising adrenaline and revealed that he had secretly attached a pink lump to Hawkins.
• Hawkins admitted that World and The Tower might refer to overturning the Red Line, which could unleash global disasters and destroy most of the world.
• Luo confirmed Hawkins was telling the truth, and Hawkins realized the divination echoed cards from his earlier reading about Yaen.