Recaps

Hua Mei Meow woke Xie Wen early to organize training for the Palicoes, arguing that they needed to prepare for the dangers of the world. After Hua Mei Meow and Meow Jūshirō planned manageable routines for Klee Meow and Sanji Meow, Xie Wen trained too and later forgave Hua Mei Meow for using him to set an example.

• Hua Mei Meow woke Xie Wen at six o'clock and insisted that he get up to train.
• Hua Mei Meow persuaded Klee Meow to train by saying she could help Xie Wen defeat powerful enemies, while Sanji Meow went to make breakfast.
• Hua Mei Meow and Meow Jūshirō devised tailored training plans for Klee Meow and Sanji Meow, keeping their workloads manageable.
• Xie Wen exercised after the cats began their training.
• Hua Mei Meow explained that she had made Xie Wen lead by example to encourage Klee Meow and establish her authority, and Xie Wen forgave her.

Xie Wen refused Bont's invitation to lunch, then confronted Captain Nezumi when the Marines arrived at Arlong Park. After learning that Arlong and his men were dead and their treasure had been taken, Nezumi gave up and left with his troops.

• Bont invited Xie Wen and the cats into town for lunch, but Xie Wen declined and said they would stay longer.
• Hua Mei Meow spotted a Marine ship approaching, and Bont suspected its crew had come to claim Arlong's treasure.
• Captain Nezumi arrived and demanded to know where Arlong was, while the cats unnerved him by discussing whether they could eat him.
• Xie Wen told Nezumi that he had defeated Arlong's crew and planned to collect their bounties himself.
• Nezumi asked about Arlong's treasure, then backed down when Xie Wen insisted it was his spoils and left with his Marines.

Xie Wen warned Bont that Captain Nezumi might find another pirate crew to oppress the Conomi Islands, then offered to train the islanders while he stayed. Nami quickly learned combat techniques, but the chapter left the villagers’ ability to protect themselves uncertain.

• Bont thanked Xie Wen after Captain Nezumi’s warship departed, and Xie Wen warned him that Nezumi might replace Arlong with another pirate crew.
• Bont proposed reporting Nezumi, training the islanders, and buying weapons, while Xie Wen doubted those steps would be enough.
• Xie Wen invited the residents to join his morning and evening combat training, and Bont brought a small group to Arlong Park that evening.
• The villagers trained hard, but Xie Wen saw no standout talent among them; Nami picked up combat techniques quickly.
• Xie Wen taught Nami Insect Glaive and Lance techniques, but she could not learn Demon Mode.

Xie Wen took Klee Meow, Nami, and Nojiko out to sea to catch fish, then left the Conomi Islands after the villagers held a farewell banquet. Before departing, he gave Genzo and Bont Boom-Boom Bombs for protection.

• Xie Wen encouraged Nami and Nojiko to train for Haki rather than Demon Mode, while Sanji Meow asked him to catch more fish.
• Xie Wen took Klee Meow and the sisters aboard the Explorer One, and Nami discovered that Klee Meow's intuition reliably guided them toward good catches.
• The sisters saw Klee Meow's explosive power and came away thinking she might be the strongest cat.
• After the villagers' training showed results and Nami learned what she could, Xie Wen accepted a farewell banquet hosted by Cocoyasi Village and Kesha Town.
• Xie Wen had Klee Meow give Genzo and Bont Boom-Boom Bombs, which they resolved to use only in an emergency.

After Morgans rejected Xie Wen’s critical travel guide to Loguetown, Xie Wen examined the map and wondered which familiar characters he might encounter next. Klee Meow spotted the Black Cat Pirates, and Xie Wen decided to capture their ship and investigate Kuro’s Silent Step.

• Xie Wen collected the bounties on Arlong and his crew, then sent Morgans a travel guide that criticized the East Blue Marines.
• Morgans explained that publishing the article could draw the attention of the Holy Land and asked whether Xie Wen belonged to the Revolutionary Army; Xie Wen denied it.
• Xie Wen studied Nami’s map but could not locate Shimotsuki Village or Foosha Village, so he continued wondering which story characters were nearby.
• Klee Meow excitedly dragged Xie Wen outside and pointed out a pirate ship, tearing his clothes as she urged him to steal it.
• Xie Wen recognized the Black Cat Pirates’ ship, became interested in testing Kuro’s Silent Step, and declared it would be their Explorer Two.

Xie Wen and the Meow companions approached the Black Cat Pirates aboard Explorer One, while Kuro grew anxious after realizing they were near the Arlong Pirates’ former base. The Black Cat Pirates fired their cannons, but the crew intercepted every cannonball, leaving Kuro desperate to flee.

• Sanji Meow, Hua Mei Meow, Meow Jūshirō, and Klee Meow objected to Xie Wen’s proposed name for the next ship, and Hua Mei Meow urged the crew to deal with the pirates first.
• Xie Wen told Klee Meow to sit out the boarding fight to avoid damaging their ship, then brought Hua Mei Meow along to witness the battle.
• Kuro considered putting his plan to fake his death into action as his lookout spotted Explorer One approaching.
• Kuro checked the sea chart, realized the ships were near the Arlong Pirates’ former base, and ordered his crew to sink Explorer One and escape.
• The Black Cat Pirates fired every cannon on their broadside, but Xie Wen’s crew intercepted all the cannonballs with flaming projectiles.
• Kuro abandoned any thought of testing the newcomers and shouted for his crew to flee.

Xie Wen and the cats pursued Kuro’s retreating Black Cat Pirates aboard the faster Explorer One and boarded their ship. Kuro used Shakushi to vanish from sight, but Meow Jūshirō copied his footwork and disappeared too.

• Kuro ordered the Black Cat Pirates to flee after their cannonballs were intercepted.
• Hua Mei Meow judged that Explorer One could not catch the enemy under sail, so Klee Meow powered the ship’s thruster with her flames.
• Xie Wen and Meow Jūshirō boarded the Hundred Plans Blackjack and defeated the Nyaban Brothers, Jango, and the other fighters who attacked them.
• Kuro blocked Xie Wen’s counter and began using Shakushi, prompting his frightened crew to scramble for cover.
• Xie Wen tracked Kuro with Observation Haki, while Meow Jūshirō imitated Kuro’s movements and vanished from sight.

Xie Wen and the cats defeated the Black Cat Pirates and claimed their ship, the Hundred Plans · Buraku. Kuro’s death changed events that would have affected Morgan and Koby, but Xie Wen decided not to worry about the consequences.

• Meow Jūshirō stopped Kuro’s Shakushi, then struck him down with Heavenly Soaring Cat Flash when Kuro tried to escape.
• Xie Wen ordered the surviving Black Cat Pirates to surrender, and the pirates submitted while Hua Mei Meow helped tie them up.
• Sanji Meow and Klee Meow boarded the Hundred Plans · Buraku, and Xie Wen confirmed that the ship now belonged to them.
• Jango asked whether Xie Wen had attacked for the ship, and Xie Wen admitted that he had wanted it for the cats.
• Xie Wen realized Kuro’s death would prevent Morgan’s rise and remove a chance for Koby to catch Garp’s attention, but dismissed the consequences.

Xie Wen and the cats chose a name for their captured ship, then decided they would sell Explorer One because towing it was unsafe. They left with the newly named Explosion Black Cat Maria and Explorer One slated for sale.

• Xie Wen proposed drawing lots to settle the cats’ disagreement over the ship’s name, and the cats agreed to the method.
• Hua Mei Meow, Sanji Meow, and Meow Jūshirō drew blank slips before Klee Meow won the naming rights.
• Klee Meow chose the name Art Is Explosion Beautiful Black Cat Big Sister Maria, shortened to Explosion Black Cat Maria.
• Xie Wen explained that Explorer One could not safely be stored or towed as they traveled into more dangerous seas, so they would have to sell it.
• Klee Meow reluctantly agreed to sell Explorer One, and Xie Wen cheered her up with a cuddle.

Xie Wen brought the Black Cat Pirates to the 77th Marine Branch, where Captain Burinburi paid him for the prisoners and offered him a chance to join the Marines. Xie Wen declined and left with the cats after the Marines refused to buy Explorer One.

• Xie Wen chose to deliver the Black Cat Pirates to the 77th Branch rather than Captain Nezumi’s 16th Branch, and made the pirates sail their ship there.
• Six warships from the 77th Branch surrounded Xie Wen’s ship, and he furlled the sails and raised a white flag to show he was surrendering the pirates.
• The Marines recognized Xie Wen as the Cat Swordsman, escorted the Black Cat Pirates to the base, and paid him their bounty money.
• Captain Burinburi invited Xie Wen to join the Marines and offered to recommend him for training at Headquarters, but Xie Wen declined.
• Xie Wen left the 77th Branch with the cats after the Marines refused to buy Explorer One.

Xie Wen and the cats arrived at Mirapalle Island, the East Blue’s fashion hub, where Mayor Land welcomed him and offered a discount in gratitude for defeating the Black Cat Pirates. Xie Wen accepted a Den Den Mushi for contacting Land and prepared to explore the island.

• Xie Wen chose Mirapalle Island after Hua Mei Meow identified it as a useful place to gather material for his travel guide.
• Xie Wen and the cats sailed to Mirapalle and saw its modern, fashion-focused streets and enormous disco ball.
• Mayor Land greeted Xie Wen and explained that he had heard Xie Wen defeated the Arlong Pirates and the Black Cat Pirates.
• Land offered Xie Wen and the cats half-price shopping, including Heave-Ho Panda clothing, and a group of attendants to help them.
• Xie Wen declined the attendants but accepted Land’s Den Den Mushi before Land departed.

Xie Wen took the cats to a costume dance contest on Mirapalle Island, where Klee Meow won and a World Economy News Paper reporter approached them for an interview. Xie Wen revealed his Special Correspondent credentials and agreed to the interview, accepting that the cats’ existence would not stay hidden.

• Xie Wen recognized the island as the place where Jango had met Fullbody and decided to let the cats enter the costume dance contest.
• Klee Meow danced onstage, won over the audience, and claimed the contest’s trophy.
• Harrison, a World Economy News Paper reporter, asked to interview Klee Meow.
• Xie Wen showed Harrison his Special Correspondent credentials and agreed to the interview.
• Xie Wen decided there was little point in concealing the cats, though he planned to avoid the second half of the Grand Line until he was stronger.

Xie Wen and the cats explored Mirapol, commissioned new outfits and ship modifications, and eventually sailed away from Mirapalle Island. The chapter ended with an author’s note asking readers whether they noticed changes to the previous chapter.

• Harrison said goodbye to Xie Wen and the cats after photographing Klee Meow and asking about her dance competition.
• Xie Wen took the cats to Heave-Ho Panda, where chief designer Joanna admired Klee Meow’s and Hua Mei Meow’s outfits and offered them free clothing in exchange for licensing the designs.
• Xie Wen and the cats stayed in Mirapol while their clothes were made, and he commissioned a new Spark Knight and modifications to the Explosion Black Cat Maria.
• The shipyard could not install thrusters on the Explosion Black Cat Maria, so Xie Wen added a large sculling oar instead.
• After the clothes and ship modifications were finished, Xie Wen and his companions sailed away from Mirapalle Island.

Xie Wen and the Palicoes reached Ant Nest Hell, defeated the giant birds, and searched the wreckage-filled grotto for treasure. They found a giant warship and the Famous Sword Manticore, but no Devil Fruit or Summon Ticket fragment.

• Xie Wen guided the Explosion Black Cat Maria through the island’s currents and safely docked in a bay.
• Klee Meow blasted the attacking flock of giant birds out of the sky after Sanji Meow judged them too tough to eat.
• Xie Wen and the Palicoes entered the grotto and discovered a giant warship among the wreckage.
• Klee Meow found the rusty Great Sword Manticore, and Xie Wen added its entry to his handbook before storing it away.
• The group found more treasure and explosive materials, but no Devil Fruit or Summon Ticket fragment.

Xie Wen and the cats reached Syrup Village, where they met Usopp and his young followers. After the children mistook them for pirates and Usopp attacked, Xie Wen cleared up the misunderstanding and reassured them.

• Xie Wen recognized Syrup Village as Usopp’s hometown and sailed there with the cats.
• Usopp and his three followers mistook Xie Wen’s group for pirates and tried to scare them away with a tale about a hundred thousand men.
• Klee Meow threatened to blow up the children, who began crying, and Usopp fired a slingshot pellet at Xie Wen.
• Xie Wen caught the pellet and showed Usopp that their ship had no pirate flag, revealing the misunderstanding.
• Usopp and his followers blamed themselves and pleaded to take responsibility, until Xie Wen told them he would not hold a grudge.

Xie Wen visited Syrup Village, where Usopp declared that he wanted to become a brave pirate and learned that his father, Yasopp, was a high-bounty sniper with the Red Hair Pirates. After leaving the village, Xie Wen and the cats landed on an uninhabited island for Klee Meow to conduct experiments, but someone warned them away from the forest.

• Usopp guided Xie Wen and the cats around Syrup Village and said he dreamed of becoming a brave pirate.
• Klee Meow asked about Usopp’s father, and Xie Wen showed Usopp a wanted poster identifying Yasopp as a Red Hair Pirates sniper with a bounty of five hundred million Beli.
• Xie Wen treated Usopp and his three underlings to a meal, then sailed away after warning Usopp to earn a big bounty before seeking him out.
• Xie Wen found an unnamed, apparently uninhabited island on the sea chart and agreed that Klee Meow could experiment there if it was safe.
• Xie Wen and the cats entered the island’s forest, where an unseen voice ordered them to leave.

Xie Wen and the Palicoes visited Rare Animal Island, met Gaimon, and recorded its unusual creatures in the Hunter’s Notes, earning one Summon Ticket fragment. As Xie Wen told Klee Meow a story about Annie, Hua Mei Meow bit him after sensing he was plotting to leave her with trouble, and Xie Wen wondered if she had awakened Observation Haki.

• Klee Meow found Gaimon hiding in a box, and Xie Wen learned his name while the Palicoes questioned him.
• Gaimon refused Xie Wen’s offer to leave the island, so Xie Wen left him food and supplies before departing with the cats.
• Xie Wen discovered that the Hunter’s Notes had recorded Rare Animal Island’s creatures and produced one Standard Pool Summon Ticket fragment.
• Xie Wen began telling Klee Meow the story of Annie, the Dark Child, while Hua Mei Meow joined them on deck.
• Hua Mei Meow bit Xie Wen after sensing he was thinking of something troublesome, and Xie Wen suggested she might have awakened Observation Haki.

Xie Wen built Klee Meow a gold platform after her bear-making caused fires, then continued sailing through towns near Shells Town while searching unsuccessfully for Shimotsuki Village. He decided to follow his planned route and trust that he would eventually find Koshiro’s village.

• Klee Meow started several fires while making Dudu Bear, and Hua Mei Meow made Xie Wen build her a dedicated platform.
• Xie Wen finished the platform with gold from the pirates’ loot, while the cats teased and scolded him for causing the trouble.
• Xie Wen and the cats visited Orange Town and Shells Town, where they encountered Chouchou, Morgan, and Alvida but did not meet Koby or Buggy.
• Xie Wen searched nearby islands for Shimotsuki Village and Koshiro but found no sign of them.
• Xie Wen realized Zoro might have gotten lost and reached Shells Town from far away, so he chose to keep following his planned route.

Xie Wen and the cats visited the Goa Kingdom and left quickly after seeing the harsh conditions in Gray Terminal. In Foosha Village, Xie Wen met Marine officer Bogard, who abandoned his attempt to recruit him after an awkward exchange.

• Xie Wen revealed the map of the Goa Kingdom while Klee Meow, Meow Jūshirō, Sanji Meow, and Hua Mei Meow reacted with disgust to the poverty and injustice around Terminal Town and Gray Terminal.
• Xie Wen and the cats hurried away from the Goa Kingdom and sailed along the coast to Foosha Village.
• At Makino’s tavern, Xie Wen found Marines gathered there, while Garp was away in the mountains with his grandsons.
• Bogard approached Xie Wen, confirmed he was the Cat Swordsman, and explained that he had come to meet a rising talent of the East Blue.
• After Sanji Meow pointed out the resemblance between Bogard and Meow Jūshirō, Bogard dropped his plan to recruit Xie Wen and left.

Xie Wen and the cats visited Makino’s tavern in Foosha Village, where Klee Meow tried to avenge Grandpa Chinjao by bombing Garp. Garp recovered unharmed, then turned his attention to Xie Wen after hearing the criticism he had made about Garp’s parenting.

• Xie Wen and the cats ate at Makino’s tavern, where Garp arrived with Luffy and recognized the visitors as special guests.
• Klee Meow remembered Chinjao’s request and said she wanted to beat up Garp, but Xie Wen reminded her they had never agreed and could not defeat him.
• After Garp recalled punching Chinjao’s cone-shaped head, Klee Meow threw an Old-Style Fish-Blasting Boom-Boom at him.
• The bomb knocked Garp over, but he woke up unharmed, and Luffy recognized that his grandfather had simply fallen asleep.
• Garp laughed at Klee Meow’s praise of his strength, then glared at Xie Wen after she and Luffy criticized his ability to teach children.

Xie Wen followed Garp to Mount Colubo, where Garp brought him to meet Ace and Dadan and asked him to teach Ace and Luffy a lesson. After introducing himself as a bounty hunter, Xie Wen asked the cats which one would fight, leaving the challenge unresolved.

• Garp insisted that Xie Wen come to Mount Colubo to demonstrate his teaching ability by fighting Ace.
• Garp struck Luffy after accusing him of secretly cursing at him, and the group continued toward the bandit den.
• Luffy rushed to Dadan's house and introduced Ace and the bandits to the talking cats.
• Xie Wen introduced himself to Ace as a bounty hunter, and Luffy briefly mistook him for someone who had come to capture them.
• Garp told Xie Wen to teach Ace and Luffy a lesson, then admitted he was never good at teaching.
• Xie Wen asked the cats which of them wanted to fight.

Xie Wen fought Ace and Luffy, demonstrating his superior strength and using Armament Haki to hurt them. He then refused to continue and sent Sanji Meow to take over the fight.

• Xie Wen tried to get the cats to fight Ace and Luffy, but they all refused, so Luffy challenged him while Ace took up his pipe.
• Xie Wen dodged Luffy’s stretching punches and Ace’s pipe strikes as the cats watched from the sidelines.
• Xie Wen struck both brothers with his sheathed sword and taunted them, then used Armament Haki to hurt them when they charged again.
• Xie Wen noticed that Garp seemed to be hiding Haki from Ace and Luffy, but chose not to reveal it.
• Ace and Luffy got back up, but Xie Wen refused to continue and told Sanji Meow to fight them instead.

Sanji Meow fought Ace and Luffy, using his speed and electric attacks to bring Ace down while Luffy's rubber body resisted most of his blows. As Sanji Meow used Luffy as a training target, Ace suddenly unleashed a powerful pressure from the ground.

• Sanji Meow stopped Ace and Luffy from attacking Xie Wen and challenged them to a fight.
• Klee Meow asked to join in, but Xie Wen refused because her explosions might damage a nearby home.
• Sanji Meow used his electrified kicks to disarm and batter Ace, then kicked Luffy away with a cat-shaped air cannon.
• Luffy repeatedly interfered, but Sanji Meow eventually scratched him and decided to use him as a punching bag to practice awakening Armament Haki.
• Ace collapsed after taking repeated electric shocks, and Garp and Dadan watched as Sanji Meow continued beating Luffy.
• Ace roared from the ground, releasing a heart-stopping pressure.

Ace’s Conqueror’s Haki interrupted the fight, but Sanji Meow powered up with Demon Mode and defeated Ace and Luffy before collapsing from exhaustion. After Xie Wen fed Sanji Meow dried fish, Luffy woke at the smell and asked for some too.

• Ace unleashed Conqueror’s Haki, knocking out several bandits and startling Klee Meow and Sanji Meow.
• Sanji Meow recovered from Luffy’s punch, activated Demon Mode, and attacked Ace and Luffy with the Front Lotus.
• Sanji Meow used Diable Jambe: Reverse Lotus to beat both boys, then collapsed alongside them from exhaustion.
• Xie Wen praised Sanji Meow and gave him dried fish, while Meow Jūshirō advised him to rest and improve his stamina.
• Luffy woke when he smelled the dried fish and asked Xie Wen for some, so Xie Wen handed more to Dadan.

Xie Wen told Garp about Marine corruption in East Blue and refused to join the Marines, but he negotiated over training Ace and Luffy. After Garp offered to use his connections, Xie Wen asked for a Devil Fruit, and the two exchanged a Haki-coated punch.

• Luffy called Xie Wen a good person while he and Ace ate dried fish and recovered from their fight.
• Xie Wen told Garp about Captain Nezumi's collusion with Arlong and the suffering in the Conomi Islands, prompting Garp to vow to investigate.
• Xie Wen challenged Garp over the Celestial Dragons, but Garp warned him that they were difficult to oppose.
• Garp asked Xie Wen to help train Ace and Luffy, and Xie Wen refused to join the Marines but began negotiating for a reward.
• Xie Wen asked Garp for a Devil Fruit, then met Garp's Haki-coated punch with his own.