Recaps

After awakening Conqueror’s Haki and learning about the World Government’s history and ambitions, Gawain took Mjosgard’s rescued Merfolk out of Mary Geoise. He traveled to Marineford seeking a Marine companion and selected Gion as his personal guard.

• Gawain awakened Conqueror’s Haki after Charlos attacked him, then challenged the Five Elders and learned about their goal of unifying the world and the burdens behind their rule.
• Gawain discovered that Mjosgard had secretly protected Merfolk and promised to help him bring them safely to the Ryugu Kingdom.
• Gawain led Mjosgard and forty-six Merfolk out through Mary Geoise’s East Gate, using his Haki to stop Celestial Dragons who threatened them.
• Gawain and Mjosgard reached Sabaody, where Gawain arranged for Doberman to shelter the Merfolk and promised Tris he would take them home after the ship was coated.
• Gawain sailed with Doberman toward Marineford and ordered the execution of captured slave traders confirmed to have trafficked people.
• Sengoku, Kizaru, and the vice admirals welcomed Gawain at Marineford, where he asked for a Marine officer to serve as his personal guard.
• After Sengoku and Borsalino declined and Garp was away, Gawain selected Gion, who began to object because of her Staff Office duties.

Gawain recruited Gion, sought Rayleigh’s help with Haki, and began building influence among the Shichibukai and Fish-Man Island’s rulers. He allied with Neptune to investigate Otohime’s murder and support her dream, while Shirahoshi emerged from her tower to attend the banquet.

• Gawain overwhelmed Sengoku with his Conqueror’s Haki, persuading Gion to become his follower and train him.
• Gawain and Gion sailed to Sabaody, where Gawain asked Rayleigh to teach him Conqueror’s Haki and outlined his plan to control the Grand Line through the Shichibukai.
• Gawain arranged access to Impel Down prisoners through Shalria and began grueling physical training under Gion.
• Gawain, Gion, and Mjosgard traveled to Fish-Man Island, where Gion defeated the Kraken and Gawain decided to eliminate Hody Jones and Vander Decken IX.
• Mjosgard apologized to Neptune and the returning merfolk, winning Gawain the friendship of Ryugu Kingdom’s ruling faction.
• Gawain persuaded Neptune to investigate the mastermind behind Otohime’s assassination and to use a banquet and public support for relocation to draw the culprit out.
• Neptune introduced Jinbe to Gawain, who gained Jinbe’s support and proposed testing Fish-Man Island’s views on moving to the surface.
• Neptune’s sons brought Shirahoshi out of Hard-Shell Tower for the banquet, and Gawain saw her peeking from Megalo’s mouth.

Gawain used a staged engagement to draw out Vander Decken and the hidden threat, then exposed Hody Jones as Queen Otohime’s murderer and defeated his uprising. The arc left Fish-Man Island under Gawain’s protection, with Mjosgard staying to help and Neptune preparing to replace Whitebeard’s flag with Gawain’s.

• Gawain persuaded Neptune to announce a fake engagement to Shirahoshi, using the news to provoke Vander Decken IX and the hidden enemy while promising Shirahoshi a trip to the surface.
• Gawain took Shirahoshi to the Mermaid Cafe, where Madame Shyarly revealed visions of Gawain’s future, including a clash with Whitebeard and a blind swordsman beside him.
• Gion and Jinbe killed Vander Decken IX after he flew toward Shirahoshi, who was mourning at Queen Otohime’s grave.
• Hody Jones staged an uprising at Gyoncorde Plaza, took residents hostage, and accused Neptune and Gawain of betraying Fish-Man Island.
• Gawain drew out Hody’s confession that he had killed Otohime, and Gion killed Hody while Jinbe stopped Daruma and urged the rebels to lay down their arms.
• Gawain spared Hody’s followers from execution but sentenced them to labor, then left Jinbe to watch over Fish-Man Island and told Neptune to let Mjosgard help protect the kingdom.
• Shirahoshi told Gawain and Jinbe that Megalo had revealed Hody was the one who shot Otohime, and Jinbe admitted he had failed to uncover the truth.
• Gawain agreed to Mjosgard staying on Fish-Man Island and ordered Neptune to replace Whitebeard’s flag with his own Dark Bird flag.

Gawain secured authority over the Shichibukai and set out to connect the Grand Line through the Sea Train project. In Water 7, he recruited Iceburg, Franky, and Lucci to his plans before preparing to continue to Amazon Lily.

• Gawain departed Fish-Man Island with Shirahoshi and Jinbe, then told Neptune he would protect the island without interfering in its rule.
• Gawain brought Shirahoshi to Mary Geoise, where he secured the Five Elders’ permission to oversee the Shichibukai and restart the Sea Train project.
• Gawain traveled to Enies Lobby and boarded the Sea Train, while Spandam offered him information about the Pluton blueprints.
• At Water 7, Gawain took Lucci into his service, released Iceburg, and revealed that Franky held the Pluton blueprints.
• Gawain recruited Iceburg and ordered Lucci to bring Franky to meet him, while Spandam arranged to transfer into Gawain’s service.
• Franky agreed to help build Sea Trains after Gawain offered to fund the project and promised to hand Spandam over to him.
• Gawain assigned Iceburg to build a ship and promote Water 7, tasked Franky and Den with the ship and Sea Train plans, and ordered Lucci to form the Black Ice Terrace.
• Shirahoshi returned from exploring Water 7 with spicy and sea-salt Aqua Meat for Gawain to try.