Arlong Park

Looking ahead to the Grand Line with Sanji freshly aboard, Luffy listens as Yosaku spells out the dangers waiting there. Foremost among them sit the government-sanctioned pirates known as the Seven Warlords, men the World Government has taken into its service, a group counting the swordsman Dracule Mihawk and the fish-man Jinbe. Yosaku describes how Jinbe was once bound to his most powerful officer back in the East Blue, the fish-man Arlong, and concludes that Nami is probably close to him. Charmed by pretty women and recently taken with Nami, Sanji bristles at the idea, yet Yosaku notes that he and Johnny had already linked her odd behavior to the Arlong wanted poster in their possession.

Inside Arlong Park, the home of his fish-man crew, Arlong settles terms with the Marine Nezumi, inviting him to celebrate over money, the only tongue they truly share. Nezumi insists on slipping out before his vessel draws notice in the harbor. Then Nami appears, presented as a crew officer and the single human Arlong sees fit to rely on.

Luffy means to finish gathering his crew after they enter the Grand Line, which Zeff once called a paradise. Yosaku lays out the idea of the Seven Warlords, formidable pirates kept on retainer by the World Government, naming Mihawk and Jinbe and recalling Arlong's old bond with the latter. The chapter gives merfolk and fish-men their first mention, and Sanji eagerly brings up Fish-Man Island and its mermaids.

A flashback poster sets Arlong's bounty at 20,000,000 Berries. Both Arlong, who captains the Arlong Pirates, and the Marine captain Nezumi make their first appearance, and Nami is exposed as one of the fish-man crew. The installment kicks off the Arlong Park Arc.

The color cover follows Santa Usopp pushing on through his Christmas run, dragging the sleigh on his own once Luffy and the reindeer nod off. Its original Weekly Shonen Jump run opened with the first two story pages in full color. A couple of small art touches stand out: once his sit-down with Nezumi ends, Arlong loses both his lips and his sharp teeth in the artwork, and the closing panel renders Usopp minus his famous long nose.