Chapter 628

As citizens are forced onto Otohime's fumi-e, Hody Jones broadcasts his decree that Fish-Man Island will be reborn under him. He orders anyone seeking peace with humans to leave, announces that the human-hating residents of the Fish-Man District are relocating to the main island, and parades the bound King Neptune before the horrified public. Vowing to behead Neptune in three hours at Gyoncorde Plaza, he reveals a box of Otohime's petition signatures, branding everyone listed a traitor marked for execution.

Hody displays Zoro, Usopp, and Brook caged in a chamber slowly filling with water, promising they will drown, and holds up Luffy's poster as another prize. Aboard the ship, Jinbe stops Shirahoshi from rushing off, explaining that Hody dreads her Sea King power and uses Neptune as a shield against her. He then forbids Luffy from confronting Hody, arguing that a human, the very man who toppled Arlong, defeating Jones would only harden the divide between races. Luffy insists he must save his captured crew, and the two square off, prepared to fight one another.

The color-spread cover previews the Straw Hats' post-timeskip upgrades, including Nami's lighter Clima-Tact, Usopp's colored Pop Greens, Chopper's Horn Point, Franky's shoulder cannon, Brook's detachable skull, and Robin's full-body clone. In the Sea Forest, Robin finds a new poneglyph reading like an apology and naming Joy Boy. Fukaboshi appears to have beaten Dosun. The full meaning of Jinbe's warning becomes clear, that Luffy fighting Hody would split the migration effort.