Flying Fish Riders

Trading names with their two unexpected passengers turns into chaos aboard the Sunny. Sanji's thrill at meeting a mermaid evaporates the moment Usopp points out that Kokoro already claimed that title, and Luffy's blunt confusion over Camie walking on land gets him slugged by an exasperated Nami. Encountering a mermaid for his own first time, Brook promptly hits Camie up for money and gets kicked for it. The crew's antics break off when Pappag the talking starfish reminds Camie of something urgent.

Camie dials Hatchan through a Den Den Mushi to arrange the takoyaki she promised, but the voice that answers belongs to Macro of the Macro Pirates, who boasts that his gang captured her friend with assistance from the Flying Fish Riders. Hatchan briefly seizes the snail to plead with Camie not to come after him, yet Macro taunts her, announcing they will sell the captive for a hefty sum and that their base sits in the waters east of Grove 44 near the Sabaody Archipelago.

Nami strikes a deal with Camie: the crew will free Hatchan in return for directions to Fish-Man Island. Luffy throws himself into the plan the instant he learns Hatchan runs a famous takoyaki shop. Showing off a mermaid's talent, Camie summons a swarm of fish to the ship and asks them the way, and the school lines up into a living arrow across the water, astonishing everyone aboard. Pappag warns that the area runs on human trafficking, that mermaids command staggering prices, and that the Macro Pirates have long had their sights on Camie. He describes a fearsome new kidnapping crew steered by a masked leader called Duval, who is scouring every passing vessel for one particular person. Soon afterward the Riders open fire on the Sunny and peel away, having confirmed the Straw Hats' identity for their boss.

The cover opens the CP9's Independent Report serial, showing the scorched remains of Enies Lobby for the first time since that arc. The Macro Pirates step into the main story, having previously only appeared as a Chapter 197 cover cameo. Making their debut here, the masked Duval and his Flying Fish Riders are revealed to be hunting a single Straw Hat who has caused their leader terrible grief. Pappag is identified as a rising designer for the Criminal brand, and Camie's power to speak with fish is established. Her ransom value also underscores how dangerous Sabaody is for merfolk.