Morning Edition

Heedless of Kuzan standing right there, Doflamingo still moves to kill Smoker and is locked in ice for it, though the freeze stops short of his heart and he breaks loose. Seeing nothing worth gaining from a fight with the former admiral, he gathers up Buffalo together with Baby 5 and pulls out, but not before needling Kuzan about the rumors trailing him. Kuzan, rather than reply, shouts for a medic.

Out on the water the crew unwinds through a tense night. Usopp and Chopper work themselves into a panic over a possible strike, Kin'emon nearly squares off with Zoro over the blade Shusui he believes was looted from a grave, and Momonosuke plays adorable to soak up the women's attention, which leaves Kin'emon, Brook, and Sanji seething with envy. Come morning, a news gull drops off the paper, and its headlines leave the crew reeling.

This installment brings the Punk Hazard Arc to a close. Kuzan, who reached the island riding a giant penguin, makes clear that even after leaving the Marines his faith in the World Government was never whole, and that he still means to act on his own terms beyond their ranks. He cautions Smoker to have Sakazuki keep a close eye on Doflamingo, calling him the single greatest danger of the moment, and to ask that admirals be deployed without delay, while requesting that the G-5 men keep his visit unmentioned. The morning paper reports Doflamingo giving up both his Warlord seat and the Dressrosa crown, with a renewed bounty printed under his picture.

The same edition announces the alliance between Luffy and Law, which has drawn no government response so far, alongside word that a separate pact now binds Kid, Apoo, and Hawkins. As Dressrosa erupts over the news, Doflamingo lounges in his office with music playing and decides to take yet another incoming call from Law.

The color spread dresses the crew in medieval attire beside a green dragon, with Luffy as a king and Nami as a princess. Bepo's likeness on Law's wanted poster mirrors how Usopp once turned up on Luffy's. Momonosuke is shown bathing and sleeping next to Robin and Nami, infuriating his three rivals until Nami floors them. A trivia note flags that the cover art omits Zoro's eye scar and gives him a new personal Jolly Roger across his chest.