Startling! The Big News Shakes Up the New World

Reports that Donquixote Doflamingo has abandoned his seat among the Seven Warlords ripple across every sea. Arms dealers panic when the Donquixote Family stops answering calls, while pirates like Jewelry Bonney and Jinbe read about the Luffy and Law alliance with unease. At the Kid Pirates' hideout, Eustass Kid shrugs off how his own pact with Hawkins leaked and instead fixates on what an Emperor the two captains must be hunting.

Aboard the Straw Hat ship, Doflamingo actually answers the transponder snail. Luffy blurts threats and his name into the receiver despite Usopp's frantic slaps, demanding the warlord stay away from Caesar's victims once the scientist is returned. Doflamingo dangles bait, hinting he possesses something Luffy craves, and Law cuts the chatter short, setting the handover for Green Bit at three o'clock. Over a sandwich breakfast, the crew pieces together that Caesar is a decoy meant to occupy Doflamingo while they level the SMILE Factory, though its location remains unknown. Kin'emon recounts how he and Momonosuke were wrecked en route to Zou and separated from their comrade Kanjuro on this very island.

At Marine Headquarters, Commodore Brannew runs through the Warlord roster and reveals Buggy joined their ranks during the lost years. Fleet Admiral Sakazuki silences the lecture and dispatches Admiral Fujitora to handle the troublemakers. On Dressrosa, Doflamingo gathers his top officers, then produces a box holding the Mera Mera no Mi, the fire power that belonged to Luffy's late brother.

Doflamingo's resignation from the Warlords becomes global news. Luffy and Law confirm the Caesar exchange by transponder snail and schedule the drop at Green Bit for three in the afternoon. Law explains the prisoner serves as a distraction for an assault on the SMILE Factory. Buggy is unveiled as a Warlord recruited during the timeskip, and Sakazuki sends Fujitora after Luffy and Law. Doflamingo displays Ace's former Devil Fruit, certain Luffy will chase it.

This installment launches the Dressrosa Arc and debuts Kanjuro, Pica, Diamante, and Trebol along with the location New Marineford and the Beta Beta no Mi. The episode introduces Wake up! as the new opening theme to mark the anime's fifteenth anniversary, featuring exchanged dialogue between Blackbeard and Luffy. The anime expands Buggy's introduction with a boastful speech to viewers, a gag made ironic since he was eventually acknowledged as an Emperor near the Wano Country Arc's close. Crocodile, only a shadow in the manga, is confirmed here through his fur coat and golden hook. Footage from the Marineford conflict and Ace's death plays as the flame fruit is revealed.