Chapter 169

Luffy storms into the casino loudly demanding that Crocodile appear, throwing the patrons into alarm, while Smoker barrels in behind him. As Luffy deals with the security, staff usher the crew toward a supposed V.I.P. room, but the invitation is bait. The floor gives way and Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp tumble into a cage, soon joined by the pursuing Smoker. The captured group lashes out, only for Smoker to explain that the bars are forged from Seastone, a substance that behaves like solidified sea and saps the strength of Devil Fruit eaters.

Crocodile then strolls in to gloat over their helplessness, revealing he is simply biding his time until Vivi arrives, and that he has dispatched Miss All Sunday to collect her. Elsewhere in the city, Vivi struggles against a wave of Baroque Works fighters closing in on her.

Pell, sent ahead by Cobra to scout Rainbase, reaches Vivi and cuts down the agents swarming her. He demonstrates the power of the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon, a fruit that lets him take flight, and notes that only five known Devil Fruits grant the ability to fly. Just as Vivi believes she is finally out of danger, Miss All Sunday steps forward to confront her rescuer.

The chapter establishes Seastone as the rare metal that emits the power of the sea and neutralizes Devil Fruit users, and Smoker confirms that marine handcuffs and cells are built from it. Most of the crew, Sanji and Chopper excepted, now sit imprisoned alongside Smoker. The cover panel concludes a beat of Jango's Dance Paradise as Fullbody, reduced to a recruit, refuses to shake the departing pirate's hand.