Chapter Summaries

Gawain’s ship departed Jaya for Alabasta with Cobra, Vivi, and their guards, leaving the Shandia and Cricket’s Saruyama Alliance to watch over the island under Gawain’s patrols. In Alabasta, Crocodile took charge after Cobra’s departure and used his reputation as a national hero to advance his secret plan to seize the kingdom.

• Cobra celebrated Gawain’s decision to set out, and the Dark Bird Ship departed Jaya after three and a half hours of preparations.
• Wyper wondered why Gawain had left the Shandia with gold, and Cricket explained that Gawain’s patrols and Black Ice Terrace members would keep watch over Jaya.
• The narration recounted how Crocodile’s defeat by Whitebeard drove him to abandon his pirate crew and pursue the Dark King Pluton through his Utopia Plan.
• Crocodile’s role as Alabasta’s first Shichibukai and national hero began after he suppressed pirates, while the World Government introduced the Shichibukai policy to prevent retired pirates from serving member nations.
• After Cobra left, Crocodile quelled a conflict in Yuba and returned home, pleased that his public heroism was helping him prepare to take control of Alabasta.

Crocodile prepared to protect his Utopia Plan from Gawain’s arrival while warning Nico Robin to stay out of sight. When Ace and the Spade Pirates reached drought-stricken Alabasta, Crocodile rushed to meet them, and Ace’s crew discovered that fresh water was more valuable than money.

• Crocodile explained that he had created Alabasta’s drought through his control of moisture and Dance Powder, while Baroque Works and Nico Robin helped advance his plan to find Pluton.
• Crocodile warned Nico Robin that Gawain’s arrival could expose their schemes, and Robin cautioned him that Gawain was likely to investigate the drought.
• Yuta called Crocodile from Katorea City to report that Ace and the Spade Pirates had arrived, so Crocodile transformed into sand and hurried to the port.
• Ace and Deuce found the harbor surrounded by parched desert, and Ace announced that the crew would cross Alabasta on the way to Jaya.
• The tavern proprietress demanded fresh water instead of Beli, and Ace ordered Deuce to bring down the crew’s water supply, calling her an honest merchant.

Ace turned his fire-based powers into a huge freshwater operation in Katorea, while Crocodile tried to make him leave by giving him a ship built with Treasure Tree Adam. Seventeen days later, Rayleigh and the others spotted Alabasta’s harbor and the three fireballs over the sea.

• Deuce objected after Ace traded away their freshwater for hard liquor, but Ace proposed making freshwater from seawater with his Mera Mera no Mi powers in exchange for Treasure Tree Adam materials.
• Ace and the tavern owner agreed to a seventy-thirty split and started producing freshwater at Katorea’s docks, where merchants bought it and resold it to the thirsty crowds.
• Crocodile arrived and publicly praised Ace, then offered him his old Treasure Tree Adam ship in exchange for making freshwater free; Ace accepted and announced that the water and the gold on his ship would be returned.
• Crocodile organized the crowds with sand barricades while privately resenting that Ace remained in Katorea and was becoming a hero to its civilians.
• After seventeen days at sea, the Dark Bird Ship neared Alabasta, and Rayleigh spotted Ace’s three fireballs over the harbor.

Ace spent more than half a month helping Alabasta’s civilians before charging at Gawain’s ship to challenge him. Rayleigh intercepted Ace, defeated him with one slash, and brought the unconscious youth aboard, where he began demanding that Ace call Garp a shameless old bastard.

• Ace and his crew stayed at Alabasta’s harbor for over half a month, distilling fresh water for civilians who had come to Katorea City.
• Ace recognized the Dark Bird Ship, abandoned his crew, and rushed toward Gawain, shouting a challenge.
• Rayleigh met Ace at sea, shattered his Fire Fist, and knocked him into the water with his Underworld Earth slash.
• Rayleigh swam Ace back to the Dark Bird Ship faster than the Piece of Spadille could follow, while Deuce prepared to pursue and rescue him.
• Gawain shocked Ace awake with lightning, and Ace recognized Rayleigh as his biological father’s former first mate.
• Rayleigh pulled Ace close by his prayer beads and ordered him to repeat that Garp was a shameless old bastard who was not really his grandfather.

Rayleigh revealed that Ace was Roger’s son and agreed to train him aboard Gawain’s ship, while Gawain demonstrated his overwhelming Conqueror’s Haki. Ace accepted Rayleigh’s offer after seeing the strength he needed to overcome, and learned that Gawain’s Haki was the strongest in the world.

• Rayleigh openly told Ace that he was Roger’s son and explained that Gawain’s crew would protect him from the World Government and Marines.
• Rayleigh agreed to train Ace, and Gawain said Ace could become a big brother to the young people he planned to recruit.
• Gawain provoked Ace by criticizing his strength, while Issho lifted Ace’s ship, the Piece of Spadille, onto the Dark Bird Ship.
• Deuce and Ace’s other crewmates charged to protect Ace, but Gawain knocked them unconscious with his Conqueror’s Haki and overwhelmed Ace as well.
• Ace asked Rayleigh to train him and questioned Gawain’s overwhelming Haki, and Rayleigh told him he had witnessed the strongest Conqueror’s Haki in the world.

Rayleigh told Ace that Gawain’s Conqueror’s Haki surpassed Roger’s and ordered Ace to settle his crew and train aboard the Dark Bird Ship. Gawain made Ace the first member of the Iron Eagle Group, while Crocodile learned Ace was Roger’s son and feared their public association would expose him as an accomplice.

• Rayleigh reprimanded Ace for his disrespect and told him Roger’s Conqueror’s Haki was weaker than Gawain’s.
• Rayleigh told Ace to arrange rooms for his unconscious crew through Kalifa and return for combat training.
• Gawain created the Iron Eagle Group under the Dark Bird Group, named Ace its first member, and assigned Ace’s crew to the Black Ice Terrace.
• Kalifa explained the group’s role to Ace, who reluctantly accepted his new position and followed her to the rooms.
• Cobra learned that Crocodile had allowed Ace to work in Alabasta because Ace had distilled seawater for civilians.
• After Igaram told Crocodile that Ace was Roger’s son, Crocodile feared that their public association would make him appear to be the Pirate King’s accomplice.

Gawain arrived in Alabasta and announced aid for the drought-stricken people of Katorea, promising food, water, and a larger plan to relocate those at risk. He left the civilians with instructions to count the city's population before the Dark Bird began distributing supplies.

• Gawain told Cobra that he wanted Crocodile to join him and asked Cobra to give up one other thing, which he had not yet revealed.
• Gawain explained that Alabasta's huge population made migration more practical than relying on relief alone, and ordered Kalifa to speed the ship toward shore with supplies.
• Gawain's group reached the shipyard, where Crocodile and the gathered civilians knelt before him.
• Gawain used lightning to amplify his voice and told the civilians that Cobra had sought help for them and accepted responsibility for their suffering.
• Gawain revealed the ship's water and vegetables, promised free supplies, and ordered the people of Katorea to count their population before that night.

Gawain used lightning to restore order among Katorea’s desperate residents and organized the distribution of food and water. He explained that the Dark Bird Group would build trust across Alabasta through continued aid, then met privately with Crocodile.

• As Katorea’s crowd surged toward the Dark Bird Ship’s supplies, Gawain filled the docks with lightning to frighten them back to their senses, then told them to line up for a headcount.
• Kalifa led the Logistics and Finance Departments in dividing the residents into groups across the city, while Gawain invited Cobra to help and departed with his companions.
• Issho criticized the Revolutionary Army’s approach to helping civilians, and Kuma described his disagreements with Dragon about managing people; Rayleigh praised Gawain’s leadership.
• Gawain told Rayleigh that the Dark Bird Group would use food and water aid to spread its flag through Alabasta, then assigned the others to maintain order, help residents, and prepare for future work.
• Shiryu volunteered to clear Katorea’s black markets, while Rayleigh, Shakky, Issho, Kuma, Jinbe, Uta, Shirahoshi, Gion, and Hancock took on other tasks around the city.
• After the others left, Gawain transformed into lightning and appeared beside Crocodile, who recognized the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and wondered what Gawain intended.

Gawain confronted Crocodile in the Alabasta desert, exposed the locations of the Ancient Weapons and the truth behind Crocodile’s plans, then demanded that he join Gawain’s crew or face death. Crocodile was left overwhelmed and unable to refuse as Gawain pressed him for an answer.

• Gawain abruptly led Crocodile far into the desert and revealed that Uranus was in Mary Geoise, Poseidon was aboard his ship, and Pluton was in Wano Country.
• Gawain told Crocodile to end the drought in Alabasta, explained that the kingdom’s Poneglyph only described Pluton, and warned that overthrowing the Nefertari Family would bring his death.
• Gawain praised the usefulness of Baroque Works and ordered Crocodile to take him to meet Nico Robin.
• Gawain drew Rokumei Kotetsu and gave Crocodile a choice between joining his crew and being cut down, overwhelming him with Conqueror’s Haki.
• Crocodile was left heartbroken and unable to resist Gawain’s demand.

Nico Robin met Gawain after he entered her room with Crocodile, and she learned that his dream was to unite the world and address its inequalities. Gawain told Robin that she would play a crucial role in his plans.

• Robin studied Alabasta's history in Crocodile's library and fled when she heard someone knock at the door.
• Gawain entered the room carrying Crocodile, and Robin knelt when she recognized the Celestial Dragon before Gawain helped her up.
• Gawain spoke with Robin over tea and snacks, explaining that Alabasta's rebellion stemmed from inequality between the drought-stricken regions and rainy capital.
• Robin questioned how a Celestial Dragon could oppose privilege, and Gawain praised her for recognizing the core of his dream.
• Gawain revealed that he wanted to unite the world into one nation and told Robin she was crucial to his plans.

Gawain explained to Nico Robin how he planned to use authentic history to steady people during the upheaval caused by building a new World Government, and Robin agreed to work with him while insisting that history must never be altered. He then ordered Crocodile to join his agents and returned with Robin and Crocodile to Katorea, where he backed Shiryu’s violent purge of the Underworld.

• Gawain told Nico Robin he wanted her to publish real, carefully selected history to calm people during future turmoil, and Robin agreed on the condition that he never alter historical records.
• Gawain stopped Robin and Crocodile from kneeling, ordered Crocodile to halt his Dance Powder plan, publicize aid to Alabasta, and bring Baroque Works officers aboard the Dark Bird Ship as agents.
• Gawain took Robin and Crocodile to Katorea, where he encouraged Spandam and told Shiryu to continue killing Underworld criminals discreetly.
• Shiryu killed a prisoner accused of keeping and abusing female slaves, while Crocodile dismissed the prisoners’ pleas and said he trusted Gawain’s subordinate more than them.

Gawain recruited Robin and Crocodile, welcomed them aboard the Dark Bird Ship, and asked Robin to record his actions and warn him if he strayed from his principles. Hancock and Gion returned to find Robin drinking with Gawain and feared she had stolen their place beside him.

• Shiryu cleared the Underworld streets while Gawain told Spandam how to handle the aftermath and discussed his ideals with Crocodile and Robin.
• Gawain asked Robin to chronicle his deeds and hold him accountable, then explained to Crocodile why the commoners did not kneel to him.
• Rayleigh warned Crocodile and Robin to respect Gawain, used his Conqueror's Haki to intimidate them, and then returned to watching the children with Shakky.
• Gawain brought Crocodile and Robin back to the Dark Bird Ship, where he found Ace waiting alone after the crew had forgotten him on board.
• Gawain shared drinks with Ace, Crocodile, and Robin, and Hancock and Gion returned to see Robin drinking beside him.

Robin joined Gawain’s crew and found she could reveal her identity and live openly among Marines and pirates, while the crew welcomed her with a long banquet. The next morning, Hancock learned she had spent the night beside Gawain while drunk, and the chapter ended with Gawain and Gion sparring as Hancock remained hidden in the bathroom.

• Hancock and Gion greeted Robin coolly, but Robin introduced herself and Gion soon clinked glasses with her.
• Hancock imagined Robin and Gion competing for Gawain, then challenged Robin to drink, and the crew held a banquet that lasted until night.
• Crocodile and Jinbe became friends, Ace played cards with Rayleigh, and Robin offered to write a fuller history of Gawain and the crew.
• Robin reflected that Gawain’s ship let her live without hiding, while Hancock passed out drunk after clinging to Gawain and vomiting on his bed.
• Gion told Hancock she had slept beside Gawain but snored and threw up; Hancock was delighted that he had seen her undressed and stayed in his bathroom.
• Gawain sparred with Gion, who urged him to face her sword directly and build his Armament Haki.

Gawain balanced training, shipboard business, and new plans while Crocodile summoned Baroque Works’ chief commanders to Katorea. The chapter ended as a small Marine vessel approached the Dark Bird Ship and Gawain invited its crew aboard if they meant no harm.

• Gawain left Hancock asleep, exchanged a tense remark with Gion, and began his morning sparring and training with Issho.
• Crocodile summoned Baroque Works’ chief commanders, and the officers arrived in Katorea before heading toward the Dark Bird Ship to meet their new leaders.
• Hancock emerged from her bath and, seeing Gion beat Gawain in their spar, kicked Gion into the forest and resumed their usual clash.
• Gawain told Kalifa to contact Marineford and arrange a meeting with former Admiral Black Arm Zephyr, preferably through Akainu if Sengoku refused to help.
• Gawain agreed to join Frankel’s energy experiments after eating and checking the day’s work, then Lucci reported an approaching Marine vessel.
• Gawain told Lucci to ask the Marines why they had come and invite them aboard for lunch if they meant no harm.

Ensign Isuka approached the Dark Bird Ship to learn what had happened to Ace, and Lucci told her Ace had joined Gawain’s crew. Isuka and the Baroque Works group met Gawain, who welcomed them aboard and ended by asking whether Isuka wanted to stay by Ace’s side.

• Isuka brought her Marines to the Dark Bird Ship, where Lucci told her Ace had joined Gawain and invited the group aboard for lunch.
• Isuka’s ship and the Baroque Works group arrived together, and both groups were brought onto the Dark Bird Ship.
• Isuka spotted Ace training with Rayleigh and saw that he was safe, while Gawain agreed to receive the visitors before his appointment with Franky.
• Gawain introduced himself to the visitors, welcomed Bon Kurei, and assigned Daz Bonez, Galdino, and Miss Valentine places in his organization.
• Gawain asked Isuka whether she wanted to remain by Ace’s side.

Gawain recruited Isuka as a probationary member of the Dark Bird Ship and sent her to meet Ace, while the Baroque Works agents were directed to work with Crocodile. Isuka reunited with Ace during his training, and the chapter ended with her meeting the ship’s senior officers and Rayleigh teasing Ace about her.

• Gawain praised several people’s potential, made Isuka a probationary crew member, and told her to change out of her Marine uniform and speak with Ace.
• Gawain sent the Baroque Works agents to work with Crocodile, then transformed into lightning and left to research with Franky.
• Isuka told her adjutant that she would stay aboard and went to find Ace, whom Rayleigh was training with Armament Haki.
• Rayleigh released Ace and brought him and Isuka to the officers’ lounge, where Isuka explained that Ace had once saved her life.
• Isuka praised Gawain and the veteran officers, and Issho welcomed her while Rayleigh encouraged their shared ideals.
• Rayleigh scolded Ace for avoiding Isuka and compared his manners unfavorably with hers before everyone shared a drink.

Gawain’s relief efforts helped Alabasta recover from its drought, and he planned to move some residents to Jaya and Long Ring Long Land while leaving the country for Alubarna. As his convoy departed Katorea, the chapter ended with Hancock openly telling Gawain she wanted to have his child.

• Rain fell across Alabasta after residents raised the Dark Bird Flag, and people began praising Gawain and treating the flag as a source of protection.
• Gawain reviewed the food shortage and recovery timeline with Kalifa, then ordered her to spread rumors of another drought and promote tourist ships to encourage voluntary immigration.
• Gawain accepted Cobra’s invitation to visit the palace in Alubarna and ordered his group to prepare to leave Katorea that evening.
• More than a million Katorea residents gathered to see Gawain’s convoy depart, and Gawain rode out on a giant crab with his officers and companions.
• Ace and Isuka teased one another as Rayleigh and Shakky reminisced, while Gion and Hancock watched them and then turned their attention to Gawain.
• Hancock asked when she could enter Gawain’s room again and declared that she wanted to raise a child with him, prompting Gion to scold her for saying it aloud.

Gawain proposed building railways across Alabasta as a work-relief project, and Franky began planning how quickly they could be built. After Cobra agreed to support the plan, Gawain looked for someone to spar with, but the others balked at fighting his evasive lightning-based style.

• Gawain explained to Hancock why he felt driven to train and work, while she questioned his urgency.
• After Cobra described Alabasta's difficult travel conditions, Gawain asked Franky to estimate the time needed to build a railway through the country.
• Franky said a railway could take about two months with 100,000 workers, and Gawain proposed that the officers' abilities might shorten construction to one month.
• Gawain told Cobra to open the treasury and recruit workers, framing the railway as a jobs-and-meals relief project; Cobra supported the plan on behalf of the Nefertari Family.
• Gawain invited the group to spar, but Hancock, Shiryu, Jinbe, and Shakky passed the challenge toward Kuma.
• Kuma explained that fighting Gawain was frustrating because Gawain could teleport away and attack with lightning from a distance.

After helping Alabasta build a railway, Gawain learned that Zephyr had refused his invitation and decided to visit him personally later. Vivi then secretly joined Gawain’s group, and Cobra happily gave his approval over the Den Den Mushi.

• Gawain and his crew began a railway project in Alubarna, with Franky organizing hundreds of thousands of workers and the crew providing their abilities.
• Gawain heard that Zephyr had refused to become an instructor and decided to invite him personally after returning from the East Blue.
• Rob Lucci brought Vivi to Gawain, and Gawain discovered that she had left home without telling Cobra because she wanted to join his ship.
• Gawain called Cobra to inform him about Vivi, and Cobra pretended to be shocked before enthusiastically accepting her choice and asking Gawain to care for her.

Gawain accepted Vivi as a member of his crew and warned her not to run away again, while Cobra celebrated her joining the Dark Bird Ship and revealed that he hoped she would marry Gawain. The chapter left Cobra enthusiastically weighing the political and dynastic benefits of a match between them.

• Gawain welcomed Vivi aboard the Dark Bird Ship, cautioned her against running away, and sent her to ask Kalifa for a room near Shirahoshi and Uta.
• Gawain returned to work as the crew continued their duties and desert hunting near the nearly completed rail project.
• Cobra celebrated Vivi's decision to join Gawain's crew, while Chaka lamented that Pell had been chosen to leave Alabasta and he had not.
• Cobra consoled Chaka by comparing his feelings to the Nefertari family's loss of Celestial Dragon status, then asked him to share in his happiness about Vivi.
• Cobra explained that he admired Gawain and hoped Vivi would marry him, arguing that their children could strengthen the family while one could inherit Alabasta.