Chapter 613: The Mermaid Princess in Hard-Shell Tower

On the sea floor, Vander Decken IX and Wadatsumi await a reply from Princess Shirahoshi. Blaming King Neptune, who he claims locked the princess inside a steel tower across the past decade, Decken, revealed to be a Japanese bullhead shark fish-man, uses his Mato Mato curse to fling a rose-painted axe toward her, vowing she will marry him or die. The axe overshoots and severs his own ship's mast, but he insists he never misses. Inside Ryugu Palace, Shirahoshi screams in fear of Luffy, only for him to deflect the incoming axe and save her, then hide in her hand as guards rush in.

The princess covers for Luffy, claiming a nightmare. The guards mention that, given the kidnapping suspicions and Shyarly's prophecy, the Straw Hats are to be jailed and that Zoro is already caught. Once alone, Shirahoshi thanks Luffy and explains the axe came from Decken's curse, that ten years in the tower have left her with only Megalo as a companion, and that stepping outside would put her life at risk. Luffy, unbothered, eats the feast meant for him and bluntly tells her he does not like watching her cry.

In the palace halls, Camie warns Usopp, Nami, and Brook that further resistance will brand them criminals, but they refuse to surrender to guards who attacked first. Usopp debuts his Black Kabuto, and as the soldiers falter, King Neptune swings his trident at the pirates, only for Zoro, freshly escaped from the prison, to block the blow. Aboard Noah, Vander Decken IX arrives to meet Hody Jones, and the two infamous figures forge an alliance aimed at one goal: crushing the Neptune Army and taking King Neptune's head, which they declare will collapse the entire Ryugu Kingdom.

This chapter opens the first post-timeskip cover story. Vander Decken IX is fully shown, and his crew is named the Flying Pirates, with both Decken and Wadatsumi confirmed as fish-men. Shirahoshi's ten-year confinement in Hard-Shell Tower is explained as protection from Decken. Among fish-men, Decken is established as the very first to eat any Devil Fruit, namely the Mato Mato no Mi, though his power is framed as a curse. In the eyes of the law, the crew is now formally branded as outlaws on the island. Usopp introduces the Black Kabuto, Zoro reaches Fish-Man Island, and Decken allies with Hody Jones.

On the cover newspaper, Sanji's photo once more captures nothing but his rear profile, continuing his streak of unlucky pictures. This marks the second time Luffy bluntly tells someone he dislikes them, after Koby. Nami may be wielding an upgraded Clima-Tact that resembles the older model. Pappag becomes the first character to call Usopp courageous without mockery or being fooled. Decken appears to take care touching others, putting on a glove before shaking Jones' hand.