Chapter Summaries

As the Tru Empire’s fleet approached the Moby Dick, Whitebeard’s Pirates sent a massive wave as a welcome gift, which Abona split and Issho safely subdued. The Moby Dick then appeared, along with a nearby ship carrying a familiar face.

• Gion reported what she had witnessed to the World Government, but the person on the other end told her not to worry about it.
• A wave over two hundred meters high surged toward the Endless, and Nova let Abona and Issho handle it.
• Abona split the wave with a slash from Dawn, while Issho used gravity to stop the remaining water from threatening the coast.
• Gion and Jinbe reacted to Abona’s strength, recognizing his formidable swordsmanship.
• The Moby Dick and its accompanying ships came into view, and someone aboard a nearby vessel was familiar to Nova.

Ace and the Spade Pirates challenged Whitebeard, but the arrival of the Endless forced their ship between the Moby Dick and the newcomers. Ace agreed to stand down after learning the Tru Empire’s king was aboard, while Nova rose to meet the others.

• Ace ignored his crew’s warnings and shouted at Whitebeard to accept his challenge.
• Vista offered to teach Ace a lesson, but Whitebeard told him to leave the child alone and welcomed the approaching guests.
• The Endless arrived and stopped with Ace’s ship wedged between it and the Moby Dick.
• Ace’s crew restrained him and warned him that the Tru Empire’s king was aboard the Endless, so Ace agreed not to cause trouble.
• Nova stood up aboard the Endless after the ship came to a stop.

Nova and the Tru Empire’s delegation reunited with Whitebeard aboard the Moby Dick, where Whitebeard welcomed them and prepared a banquet. Nova also addressed Ace’s challenge before raising a spatial barrier to speak privately with Whitebeard.

• Marco, Jozu, and Jinbe boarded the Moby Dick and greeted Whitebeard, who welcomed them back.
• Nova greeted Whitebeard and asked Junhe to deliver the delegation’s gifts before leading his group across a glass-like bridge onto the Moby Dick.
• Whitebeard instructed Marco to prepare a grand banquet, while Blackbeard watched Nova closely.
• Ace shouted for someone to accept his challenge, and Nova asked Whitebeard to send someone to face him.
• Nova sat near Whitebeard and raised a spatial barrier around them, prompting Whitebeard to signal his crew not to act rashly.

Nova revealed to Whitebeard that Ace was Pirate King Roger’s son, then watched Whitebeard send Jinbe to fight Ace. At the banquet, Whitebeard and Nova spoke cryptically about Nova’s search and the future.

• Nova told Whitebeard that Ace was Portgas D. Ace and Roger’s son, shocking Whitebeard.
• Whitebeard asked who would challenge Ace, and Nova suggested Jinbe; Jinbe then went to face Ace.
• Ace and Jinbe fought evenly while the Whitebeard Pirates held a lively banquet aboard the Moby Dick.
• Whitebeard asked Nova why he had come to the New World, and Nova said he was looking for something.
• Whitebeard reflected on the past and suggested that the younger generation should take up what he, Roger, and Rocks had not dared to do.

Nova and the Tru Empire’s Admirals left Whitebeard after a farewell banquet, with Nova keeping his plans and the truth about Laugh Tale to himself. As the Endless sailed toward Laugh Tale, Whitebeard warned Marco that a storm was coming and feared he might not be able to protect his sons much longer.

• Nova told Whitebeard he could reach his destination without markers, and Whitebeard invited him to treat their meeting as a farewell banquet.
• Nova spent a day aboard the Moby Dick before the Tru Empire’s voyage resumed the next morning.
• Whitebeard watched the Endless disappear, then told Marco that a storm upon the sea would soon arrive and that he was getting too old to protect his sons.
• Marco said the Whitebeard Pirates wanted only a peaceful life, and Whitebeard hoped the Marines and World Government would leave them alone.
• The narration revealed that the Four Emperors knew Laugh Tale’s secret and were afraid to pursue the Pirate King’s responsibility.

As the Endless approached Laugh Tale, Nova questioned whether uncovering its secret was right, but Issho and the crew affirmed their faith in him. Nova accepted their support as they continued toward a secret that could reshape the world.

• Nova asked Issho whether it was right or wrong to approach Laugh Tale's secret, and Issho told him to trust the purpose of the Tru Empire.
• Issho said he believed in Nova and would follow him regardless of what choice he made.
• Junhe and Abona knelt before Nova and pledged their loyalty, while Enel and Mosank also showed their support.
• Gion remained silent about the Endless's destination because the Mind-type Devil Fruit had gradually altered her thinking.
• Nova told Junhe and Abona to rise and said the crew needed to learn or change Laugh Tale's outcome before it reshaped the world's balance.

Nova’s crew entered Shanks’s waters as they sailed toward Laugh Tale, where the Big Mom Pirates intercepted them. Nova left Issho and the others to handle the encounter while he went to sleep, and the story left the ships drawing close.

• The Endless sailed through Shanks’s territory, where the Red-Haired Pirates had already departed for the North Blue.
• Perospero, Smoothie, Flampe, and other Big Mom Pirates spotted the Endless and approached it on an important mission.
• Flampe mocked the Endless, and Smoothie warned her to keep quiet.
• Nova’s crew teased him about Big Mom’s daughters, then Nova told Issho to handle the approaching ship and accept a cake invitation for a month later.
• Nova explained that he did not want to detour to Whole Cake Island before the crew finished exploring, then went to sleep.

The Big Mom Pirates arrived aboard the Endless to extend a friendly invitation, but Nova went to sleep instead of meeting them. Gogoya escorted Perospero and his group to Admiral Issho and the other Tru Empire leaders, leaving them to begin their meeting.

• Nova finished his meal, went to his room, and slept without concerning himself with the Big Mom Pirates' arrival.
• Gogoya welcomed Perospero, Smoothie, Flampe, and their companions aboard the Endless and warned them to mind their words and actions.
• Perospero apologized for Flampe's careless remark and learned that Nova was resting, so they would speak with Admiral Issho instead.
• Perospero and Smoothie recognized Issho and followed Gogoya toward the upper deck, where the Tru Empire's Admirals waited.
• Gogoya brought the Big Mom Pirates to their seats while Issho and the others remained on the upper deck.

Perospero and Smoothie delivered Big Mom’s invitation for Emperor Tru to attend Whole Cake Island’s tea party, and Issho agreed on the Tru Empire’s behalf to visit a month later. The Big Mom pirates left the Endless, with Perospero relieved to have completed the mission and Smoothie still curious about the ship.

• Issho asked Perospero why the Big Mom pirates had come, and Perospero invited Emperor Tru to Whole Cake Island’s tea party.
• Enel hurried over after hearing there would be plenty of delicious food, startling Smoothie with his Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers.
• Issho said the Tru Empire could not visit for a month, and Perospero accepted the delay after rebuking Flampe for challenging the arrangement.
• Issho promised that Emperor Tru looked forward to meeting Big Mom, and Gogoya asked the visitors to leave the Endless.
• Perospero led his sisters off the ship, while Smoothie watched the Endless depart and remained curious about exploring it.

After the Big Mom Pirates returned toward Whole Cake Island, Nova explained nothing about avoiding their visit and ordered the Endless to continue toward Laugh Tale under concealment. The ship was about ten days from its destination, and its crew kept sailing invisibly while preparing for the final leg.

• Flampe questioned Perospero and Smoothie about why the Tru Empire had been treated politely, and Smoothie warned her to watch her mouth.
• Perospero led the Big Mom Pirates back toward Whole Cake Island, considering his assigned task complete despite the Tru Empire refusing to visit.
• Enel asked Nova why he had avoided meeting the Big Mom Pirates, but Abona told Enel to eat and Nova gave no explanation.
• Nova asked Hailing how far the Endless was from Laugh Tale, and Hailing said they were about ten days away.
• Nova ordered Hailing to keep the Endless invisible and use an item to block Observation Haki across the hull.
• Hailing activated the concealment, and the Endless continued toward Laugh Tale, leaving only churning spray visible on the sea.

Nova and his crew reached the deadly waters surrounding Laugh Tale, where whirlpools and lightning made the island impossible to approach by ship. Nova chose to explore with Abona and Junhe while Issho stayed behind to protect the Endless, but Nova’s Space Ability failed near the whirlpools.

• The Endless sounded a red alert as the crew approached Laugh Tale’s violently uneven seas and enormous whirlpools.
• Issho explained that Laugh Tale lay at the center of waters where the New World’s currents converged, and that Observation Haki could not perceive through the area.
• Nova decided to leave the Endless behind and investigate Laugh Tale himself, while Issho agreed to guard the ship.
• Nova chose Abona and Junhe to accompany him, leaving everyone else aboard the Endless.
• Nova created a spatial staircase toward the central whirlpool, but his Space Ability failed near the whirlpools.

Nova and his crew reached the gravitational magnetic vortices surrounding Laugh Tale, where distorted space blocked their path. He sent Junhe and Abona back to the Endless and prepared to face the vortex sea alone, leaving the crew evacuating and watching anxiously.

• Nova realized the markers showed how to enter the vortex spaces and identified the vortices as gravitational magnetic fields that distorted space.
• Nova refused to retreat and ordered Junhe and Abona to return to the Endless while he confronted the vortex sea alone.
• Junhe ordered Gogoya to retreat the Endless at top speed, and Issho reinforced the command.
• Abona explained that the vortices could swallow even Nova's Space Power, while Enel watched Nova from the ship.
• Mosank told the crew to stay alert as Nova prepared to get serious.

Nova used his awakened Space Power to seal off the whirlpool-filled sea and entered the dangerous region to find a way through. After the spatial barrier collapsed, he reappeared aboard the Endless badly wounded and told everyone to leave.

• Nova used Kagura Shingan to survey the whirlpools and decided to contain the sea with his Space Power.
• Nova unleashed Awakened Power—Boundless Space, imprisoning the whirlpool region and entering it as the barrier began to crack.
• The crew aboard the Endless waited anxiously as the spatial fissures spread and the whirlpools shattered the barrier.
• Nova appeared aboard the Endless as the surrounding space collapsed, covered in blood, and weakly ordered the crew to leave.

After surviving the collapse of the spaces around Laugh Tale, Nova kept its secrets to himself and ordered the Tru Empire to prepare for a coming conflict. He then announced that Robin must become his Princess Consort within a year, leaving his advisers stunned.

• Nova returned severely wounded, but his Sage Body healed him as he reflected on what he had discovered at Laugh Tale.
• Nova decided to keep Laugh Tale's secrets hidden and concluded that the Tru Empire had to join the great plan ahead.
• The next day, Nova reassured his anxious companions that he had recovered and gathered his commanders in the reception hall.
• Nova ordered the Tru Empire to remain within its borders, build up its military and logistics within three years, and spend five years perfecting its preparations.
• Nova declared that Robin would become his Princess Consort within a year, and Junhe questioned whether he was serious.

After returning from Laugh Tale, Nova ordered Junhe to investigate Robin, whose ability to read Poneglyphs made her central to the mystery there. The Marines discovered that Gion had lost her memories of the voyage, leaving them wary of the Tru Empire and unsure how to monitor it.

• Nova ordered Junhe to find out more about Robin within a year, and Junhe told the others that she was a West Blue native known as the Devil Child who could read Poneglyphs.
• Junhe and the others returned to the Tru Empire after briefly visiting Whole Cake Island, dropping Gion off at Mary Geoise on the way.
• Sengoku questioned Gion about the voyage, but she remembered nothing beyond returning to Mary Geoise.
• Tsuru suspected that someone in the Tru Empire had used a Devil Fruit to alter or erase memories, while Garp warned that the empire could become a major enemy.
• Sengoku and Garp discussed the Marines' lack of information about the Tru Empire's New World activities, and Garp advised against sending anyone to monitor it for now.

The Navy discussed ways to pressure the Tru Empire, while Sharly and a group of Fish-Man Island pioneers arrived aboard the Endless. The chapter then showed Robin’s peaceful life in the Tru Empire and ended with Minister Kasa visiting her office.

• Tsuru, Sengoku, and Garp considered targeting Alabasta and using the Shichibukai to restrain the Tru Empire, while Gion questioned the plan.
• Sharly brought about a hundred merfolk and fish-men aboard the Endless to begin a friendly visit and establish a path between Fish-Man Island and the Tru Empire.
• Robin, now working in the Tru Empire’s Culture Department, reviewed education plans and reflected on how safe and settled she had become after five years there.
• Minister Kasa visited Robin’s office to check how she had adjusted to her new position.

Minister Kasa visited Robin and asked what she thought of Emperor Tru Nova, then suggested that Robin could marry him. Robin treated the idea as a joke, but Kasa left in excitement after Robin said there would be nothing wrong with such a marriage.

• Minister Kasa visited Robin at her office in the Royal City and asked how she felt about the Tru Empire.
• Kasa asked Robin what she thought of Emperor Tru Nova and whether she had met someone she fancied.
• Robin recalled meeting Nova years earlier and said she could not imagine becoming his Princess Consort.
• Kasa praised Nova and suggested that Robin would make an incredible match for him.
• Robin jokingly said she would have no objection to marrying Nova if he truly liked her, and Kasa hurried out excitedly.

Robin learned that Emperor Tru had ordered her marriage to him and that the Council of Ministers was preparing the wedding. She remained stunned as the officials began arranging the ceremony, while Nova and his companions were still at sea, about five days from the Tru Empire.

• Minister Kasa returned and told Robin that Emperor Tru had chosen her as his Imperial Consort and that the Council of Ministers had already been informed.
• Robin asked for an explanation, and Minister Kasa said the marriage was settled and that officials would explain the details soon.
• Minister Kasa left to report the news, while Robin sat blankly and remembered her first meeting with Nova.
• The Council of Ministers began discussing the wedding preparations, even as Nova and his companions continued sailing toward the Tru Empire.

Lostar defended the Tru Empire’s tax and infrastructure treaties in a dispute with King Cobra and Alabasta’s ministers, who resented the wealth flowing back to the empire. The argument ended without a change to the agreement, while the Endless arrived at Rapeseed Port.

• The Left Minister accused Lostar of breaking the agreement to tax Tru Empire businesses after their five-year exemption ended.
• Lostar cited the treaties, the Tru Empire’s investments, and the cost of Alabasta’s infrastructure projects to explain why the businesses were not yet paying taxes.
• The Left Minister complained that Alabasta’s citizens’ earnings flowed back to the Tru Empire, and Lostar refused to revisit the dispute.
• King Cobra ended the discussion and ordered that no one raise the matter again.
• The Endless sailed to Rapeseed Port, which Lostar had transformed with palm trees, flowers, and other plants.

Nova returned to Alabasta and saw how much Nanohana had prospered under Lostar’s development. Aboard the Endless, he learned that Robin had agreed to become the Tru Imperial Consort, and the empire began preparing for their wedding two months later.

• Nova and his companions toured Nanohana without notifying King Cobra or the ministers, then sailed away after seeing the city’s growth.
• Junhe told Nova that Robin had agreed to marry him and that the Council of Ministers had set the wedding date for two months later.
• Nova confirmed that Robin had not been forced and approved the arrangements, telling Junhe to notify those responsible for preparations.
• Gogoya learned that Nova had agreed and hurried to inform the Council of Ministers.
• The Tru Empire began organizing the royal wedding and displaying portraits of Nova and Robin, while the Navy and World Government learned of the plans and turned a blind eye.