Chapter Summaries

King Nova and King Cobra discussed Alabasta’s decline and the Tru Kingdom’s reforms, while Vivi abruptly proposed marrying Nova to help her country. Nova explained that cooperation between nations required careful consideration of both countries’ interests, and the kings postponed further talks until after lunch.

• Cobra welcomed Nova into the royal palace hall, where they discussed Alabasta’s long history and its struggles.
• Cobra said the Tru Kingdom’s reforms had inspired him, though Alabasta could not simply copy them.
• Vivi declared that she intended to marry Nova for Alabasta’s sake, shocking the people present.
• Nova explained to Vivi that an alliance involved extensive political, economic, financial, and military considerations, not a personal promise.
• Nova and Cobra agreed to eat lunch before discussing the nations’ affairs in greater depth.

Nova attended a tense meal with Cobra and the Alabasta royal court, then toured the palace with Cobra to discuss the World Government. He sought information about joining and hoped to locate the palace’s Poneglyph, while Alabasta’s unexplained secrets remained unresolved.

• Nova, Cobra, Vivi, and their entourages ate a silent, formal meal in the palace dining hall.
• After the meal, Cobra invited Nova to tour the palace, and Nova accepted while signaling Junhe to understand his plan.
• As they walked, Nova asked Cobra what he thought of joining the World Government.
• Cobra explained that the World Government had changed, that Celestial Gold could burden poor nations, and that Alabasta alone among its members paid no Celestial Gold.
• Nova reflected on why Alabasta’s ancestors had refused to become Celestial Dragons and suspected the royal family was guarding secrets.

Nova proposed economic cooperation between the Tru Kingdom and Alabasta, then secretly brought Junhe to the royal palace cemetery to search for a Poneglyph that revealed the location of Pluton. The chapter ended with Junhe planning how to find it without drawing attention.

• Nova asked Cobra what dissatisfied him about Alabasta, and Cobra explained that worsening desertification threatened the country's people and oases.
• Nova proposed establishing Tru Kingdom enterprises in Alabasta to create jobs and boost its economy, with Alabasta providing security and coordination.
• Cobra agreed to discuss the proposal further, and Nova excused himself to take Junhe aside.
• Nova used spatial teleportation to bring Junhe to a cemetery in the royal palace and instructed him to locate a Poneglyph and make a rubbing of its inscription.
• Nova warned Junhe not to damage the Poneglyph or act at night, then returned with him while Junhe began planning the search.

Nova proposed economic cooperation between the Tru Kingdom and Alabasta, offering to establish businesses and fund public works in exchange for help with sales and shipping across the Grand Line and New World. Cobra accepted the proposal as a preliminary understanding and left the detailed negotiations for later.

• Nova and Cobra met in Alabasta's royal palace with ministers from both kingdoms to discuss economic cooperation.
• Nova explained that cooperation would exclude military, political, and public welfare affairs, and Cobra stopped Vivi from interrupting.
• Nova proposed establishing Tru Kingdom businesses and public works in Alabasta, while Alabasta would help secure sales channels and cargo transport.
• Alabasta's ministers discussed the proposal, and Cobra considered whether his country could manage the arrangement.
• Cobra acknowledged the potential benefits and agreed that representatives could negotiate the remaining details later.

Nova and Cobra agreed to pursue cooperation between the Tru Kingdom and Alabasta, while Vivi's questions prompted Cobra to warn her about the consequences of speaking for her country. After returning to his residence, Nova used Observation Haki to survey the Royal City and realized Crocodile and Robin were already in Alabasta, making the Poneglyph in the palace an urgent concern.

• Vivi questioned whether Nova's proposals would benefit Alabasta and how the profits would be divided, and Cobra apologized to Nova for her remarks.
• Nova left the negotiations, and Cobra told Vivi that cooperation with the Tru Kingdom could improve Alabasta's citizens' lives while warning her that her words could damage the nation.
• Cobra asked Barfitos to prepare for cooperation and study Lostar, whom he expected the Tru Kingdom to send as its representative.
• Nova returned to his residence and used Observation Haki to survey the Royal City of Alabasta.
• Nova realized Crocodile had already arrived in Alabasta and concluded that Robin, who could read the Poneglyphs, was likely with him, making the palace Poneglyph urgent to address.

Nova read news that Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, and Shanks had become the Four Emperors, and realized the World Government and Marines would be distracted by changes in the New World and Grand Line. He ordered Gogoya to tell Lostar to accelerate their plans, believing the Tru Kingdom’s chance to rise had arrived.

• Gogoya brought Nova a newspaper announcing that the Four Emperors era had begun.
• Nova identified Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, and Shanks in the report and told Gogoya that Shanks’s crew had robbed one of their shipments.
• Nova wondered why the Four Emperors were only being reported now and predicted that the Shichibukai system would soon emerge.
• Nova told Gogoya to inform Lostar that the time had come and to speed up the Tru Kingdom’s arrangements.
• Nova settled down to read the newspaper, acknowledging that the Four Emperors were far beyond his current strength.

Nova ordered Lostar to begin Dossier Four’s search for mineral veins in South Blue, then discussed the World Government’s coming Shichibukai proposal with Cobra. The chapter left Nova warning that the system would threaten countries in the first half of the Grand Line.

• Nova ordered Gogoya to tell Lostar to begin Dossier Four in the countries of South Blue and to proceed carefully.
• Cobra waited for Nova and invited him to breakfast with Vivi to discuss the New World and the World Government.
• Cobra told Nova that the World Government conference would consider a proposal to use pirates to suppress pirates through the Shichibukai system.
• Nova argued that the Shichibukai would gain authority to plunder and would likely target the first half of the Grand Line rather than the New World.

Nova explained Whitebeard’s power to Vivi and Cobra, while Junhe searched the royal cemetery and discovered Crocodile and Robin entering a hidden underground chamber. He followed them inside, where Crocodile sensed someone nearby.

• Vivi questioned why Alabasta should fear a single pirate, and Nova explained that powerful pirates could overwhelm entire armies.
• Nova urged Cobra and Vivi to prioritize protecting Alabasta’s people, then discussed Whitebeard’s strength with them.
• Junhe searched the royal cemetery with several guards, using his enhanced senses to check the ground.
• Junhe recognized Crocodile and Robin entering the cemetery and watched them open a hidden tunnel beneath a gravestone.
• Junhe slipped into the tunnel after Crocodile and Robin, and Crocodile sensed a figure moving through the underground chamber.

Junhe discovered that Crocodile and Robin were investigating a Poneglyph about Pluton in the underground palace. He attacked Crocodile, who fled, while Robin remained frozen in fear.

• Junhe found the Poneglyph and learned from Robin that it described the location of Pluton.
• Crocodile sensed Junhe hiding and challenged him to come out.
• Junhe attacked Crocodile with a Haki-infused punch, sending him crashing into a wall and injuring him.
• Robin collapsed in fear after recognizing Junhe's fighting technique.
• Crocodile threw a sand blade at Junhe and fled alone toward the upper levels.
• Junhe chose not to pursue Crocodile, leaving the frightened Robin in the underground palace.

Junhe learned from Robin that Pluton was located on Bartoll Island, copied the Poneglyph’s writing, and took her prisoner aboard the Eberle. Robin remained confined under guard as Jasmine brought her food and she asked to be released.

• Junhe forced Robin to reveal Pluton’s location, knocked her unconscious, and made a rubbing of the Poneglyph.
• Junhe failed to damage the Poneglyph, then carried Robin out of the underground palace while Crocodile fled.
• Junhe returned to the Eberle with Robin and ordered the guards to keep her confined with a suppression collar.
• Junhe appointed Jasmine to look after Robin and told her to fulfill reasonable requests until his return.
• Jasmine brought Robin food, and Robin asked her to let her go.

Robin was held aboard the Eberle while Nova learned that the Poneglyph rubbings described the Ancient Weapon Pluton and its location. The chapter ended with Nova destroying the rubbings in anger after Vivi tried to take them.

• Jasmine told Robin she could not release her because Lord Junhe had given orders, and Robin broke down in tears after being left alone.
• Junhe gave Nova rubbings of the Poneglyph, and Nova paid the system ten million Beli to translate them.
• Nova learned that the Poneglyph detailed the origins, construction, power, and location of the Ancient Weapon Pluton.
• Junhe told Nova that Crocodile had escaped after being severely wounded and that he had captured Robin, who could decipher the Poneglyph.
• Vivi entered Nova's room, tried to take the rubbings, and Nova crushed them into powder.

Nova angrily confronted Vivi after she entered his room without permission, and Monkogu intervened to prevent the incident from escalating. Monkogu later warned Cobra that Vivi’s behavior had nearly provoked war between Tru and Alabasta.

• Nova told Vivi that his temporary authority over the room made her intrusion unacceptable and warned that Alabasta risked war with Tru.
• Monkogu appeared, apologized to Nova on Vivi’s behalf, and promised that the incident would not happen again.
• Monkogu escorted Vivi away and sternly told her that her actions could endanger Alabasta; he revealed that Tru had strength Alabasta could not match.
• Monkogu realized Nova was concealing his abilities, then went to speak with Cobra.
• Monkogu told Cobra that Vivi had angered Nova by entering his room and speaking carelessly, and that Nova had threatened war if it happened again.

Monkogu warned Cobra that Nova and the people of the Tru Kingdom possessed hidden strength, while Cobra weighed the risks of cooperating with them. Nova secretly returned to the Eberle and asked about the woman Junhe had brought aboard.

• Monkogu told Cobra that Nova’s strength and the power of the Tru Kingdom’s people far exceeded what he had expected.
• Cobra said Alabasta would pursue cooperation with Tru despite his concerns, and planned to apologize to Nova.
• Monkogu warned Cobra to prepare for trouble as the Four Emperors’ control of the New World could threaten the Grand Line.
• Nova secretly teleported from the palace to the Eberle, where the guards told him Junhe had not yet returned.
• Nova asked the guards where Junhe’s captive woman was, and they pointed him to her room.

Nova confronted Robin about her ability to read the Poneglyph and revealed that he had considered killing her to keep its secrets from spreading. He identified himself as the king of the Tru Kingdom and explained that his kingdom had suffered a Marine massacre, leaving Robin frightened and questioning why she was being targeted.

• Nova entered Robin’s room and recited her identity and history, including her ability to read the Poneglyphs.
• Nova asked whether Robin had deciphered the Alabasta Poneglyph and said that destroying its reader could prevent its contents from spreading.
• Robin asked who Nova was, and he identified himself as the king of the Tru Kingdom, where the Poneglyph was located.
• Nova explained that he wanted to destroy the Poneglyph to protect his kingdom from the danger of others learning about Pluton.
• Nova told Robin that the Marines had massacred more than 2,500 pregnant women on Battila Island, including during the year Ohara was destroyed, because the Tru Kingdom had been weak.

Nova revealed his immense Conqueror's Haki while discussing the destruction of Ohara with Robin, then offered her refuge and a role in the Tru Kingdom. Robin agreed to go there and asked to return to Ohara later to recover its secrets, but Nova postponed the trip until his kingdom’s plans were settled.

• Nova told Robin he intended to change the world’s rules so powerful people could not destroy entire populations.
• Nova’s Conqueror’s Haki spread through the ship, knocking most of its occupants unconscious, and Junhe ordered the King's Guard to secure the area.
• Nova told Robin she would live in the Tru Kingdom and warned that he would kill her if she endangered the kingdom by leaving.
• Robin agreed to go to the Tru Kingdom, where Nova suggested she study her Devil Fruit abilities and eventually take responsibility for education.
• Robin asked to return to Ohara for its remaining secrets, and Nova said he would arrange it after the ceremony in Mary Geoise and the World Government meeting in July.

Robin told Nova about her lonely past, and he arranged for her to be escorted to the Tru Kingdom. Nova prepared to leave Alabasta the next morning and went to meet King Cobra to settle important business before departing for Mary Geoise.

• Robin asked Nova about the Tru Kingdom and recounted the hardships she had endured while fleeing for ten years.
• Nova comforted Robin, removed the room’s spatial barrier, and ordered Junhe to have five members of the King's Guard escort her to the Tru Kingdom.
• Nova told Junhe that they would leave Alabasta the next morning and postpone arranging a handover until after their return from Mary Geoise.
• Junhe warned Robin not to betray the Tru Kingdom, and Robin said she only wanted a peaceful place to live.
• Nova considered the newspaper photos of the Four Emperors, then prepared to meet King Cobra and ask for an Eternal Log Pose to Mary Geoise.

Nova met with Cobra to clear up Vivi’s earlier offense and discuss Tru’s cooperation with Alabasta. He announced that he and his party would leave the next morning, while Cobra hoped they could travel together to Mary Geoise for the Reverie.

• Nova followed an Alabasta servant to the main hall, where Cobra, Vivi, and Monkogu were waiting.
• Cobra apologized for Vivi’s behavior, and Nova accepted the apology while asking Vivi to forgive his own harsh tone.
• Cobra introduced Monkogu as Alabasta’s Army Commander and the strongest person in the kingdom.
• Nova told Cobra he planned to leave the next morning and said the two kingdoms would arrange detailed cooperation after he returned home.
• Cobra expressed surprise and suggested they travel to Mary Geoise together in a month or two, but Nova explained that Tru had no one else to manage its affairs.

Nova left Alabasta with an Eternal Log Pose and revealed that Nico Robin, whom he had secretly kept, was the sole survivor of Ohara and a valuable source of knowledge. As the ship headed toward Mary Geoise, Nova discussed the Celestial Dragons and revealed that he planned to find and take control of Sky Island for Tru Kingdom.

• Cobra gave Nova an Eternal Log Pose to Mary Geoise and hosted a farewell banquet before Nova departed Alabasta the next morning.
• On the ship, Nova explained to Junhe and Gogoya that Robin was Nico Robin, the Devil Child and sole survivor of the Buster Call on Ohara.
• Nova asked Gogoya about her research on the Celestial Dragons and said they would discuss their plans after reaching Mary Geoise.
• Gogoya wanted to visit Sabaody Archipelago, and Nova explained that it was a route to Fish-Man Island, which lay ten thousand meters underwater.
• After Junhe mentioned Sky Island, Nova revealed that he intended to search for it and establish a secure training base there for Tru Kingdom.

Nova sensed Kaido on an island and went to confront him while the Eberle sailed away. Kaido, badly injured but still overwhelmingly powerful, attacked Nova, and the chapter ended with Junhe joining the fight after evacuating the ship’s passengers.

• Nova sensed a dangerous presence on an island and ordered Gogoya and Junhe to have Barlow steer the Eberle away.
• Nova recognized Kaido on the island and tried to apologize, but Kaido attacked him to keep the island’s location secret.
• Nova dodged Kaido’s punch and briefly clashed with him, revealing that both men possessed Conqueror’s Haki.
• Nova offered Kaido wine and promised not to reveal their encounter while he waited for the Eberle to escape.
• Kaido coughed from his serious injuries, then dismissed Nova’s offer while recognizing his strength.
• Junhe attacked Kaido in his Silver Moon Wolf form, but his strikes had no effect, and Kaido invited him and Nova to join him.

Nova and Junhe refused Kaido’s demand to join him, and Nova used Nine Head Dragon Flash to collapse the island beneath them and escape. Kaido survived, warned Nova that he would remember him, and left the two facing trouble from their new enemy.

• Nova respectfully refused Kaido’s invitation and said he and Junhe would risk their lives rather than be forced to join him.
• Nova ordered Junhe to retreat into the air and unleashed Nine Head Dragon Flash against Kaido.
• Nova’s nine slashes struck the island beneath Kaido and caused it to crumble into the sea.
• Nova appeared in midair with Junhe as Kaido fell with the collapsing island and vowed to remember him.
• Nova warned Junhe that Kaido’s Azure Dragon powers meant he would survive and remain a threat.