Summary:
Luffy battles Charlotte Counter, but despite his best efforts, his hunger easily overcomes him. Meanwhile, Brook reveals to Sanji the Retrieval Team that he has successfully rewritten Big Mom’s Poneglyphs. As the team prepares to find Sanji, Jinbe states that they should catch him before the wedding, as there is a plot behind the scenes that will throw things into chaos. He reveals that Pekoms was caught up in this scheme, which led to him being shot by Bege. At Whole Cake Castle, the Vinsmokes celebrate by drinking lots of alcohol, and outside in Sweet City, Bobbin is shot by a mysterious gunman while chasing Sanji.
Sanji reaches the outskirts of Sweet City, where Luffy promised to wait for him, but he cannot find Luffy. However, he eventually finds Luffy unconscious near the remains of Kingbaum after hearing his stomach growl.
Despite receiving brutal blows from Charlotte Counter, Luffy keeps getting up and fighting back. Counter continues to overpower him and beat him relentlessly, but the starving Luffy still doesn’t back down. After slamming Luffy into the ground, Counter prepares to deliver the finishing blow as he covers his forearm in Busoshoku Haki. Luffy takes this blow, but to Counter’s surprise, he manages to stand his ground and punch Counter in the face as well. However, Luffy’s punch has little impact and Counter quickly retaliates.
In the mirror world, Brook is still shocked by what just happened to him. Pedro apologizes for putting him in the dangerous situation of ending up in Big Mom’s clutches, but Brook simply responds by opening the skull and taking out a copy of Big Mom’s Poneglyphs. He states that he knew he had to finish this mission now because otherwise they would have to start a war with the Big Mom Pirates if they wanted to try again. The Sanji Retrieval Team is completely amazed that Brook managed to get into Big Mom’s most heavily guarded room and emerge with the prints. They congratulate him, with Brûlée and Diesel shocked to learn of Brook’s actions. After completing one of their objectives, the Sanji Retrieval Team prepares to complete their next objective, which is to find Sanji. However, none of the mirrors around them can see Sanji and he is not in his room.
Nami then suspects that Sanji is out in the field where he fought Luffy, and the mention of their fight shocks Chopper. Jinbe understands why there might have been a fight, knowing that Sanji probably came to reunite with his family for a reason. However, he claims that they should find Sanji quickly because there is a plot to unleash chaos during tomorrow’s wedding. He reveals that Pekoms was caught up in this plan, causing him to be shot by Bege, though he was saved from death in the ocean by Jinbe and his crew. Outside in Sweet City, Bobbin stalks Sanji with evil intentions, but a mysterious gunman comes and shoots him from the shadows. Bobbin is only able to go a short distance before collapsing, cursing his mysterious assailants, who are three in number. Inside the Whole Cake Castle, all of the bar girls serving the Vinsmoke Family pass out, much to the disdain of Judge and his still-drinking sons. The judge decides to call off their drinking for the night and plans to hold another party the night after the wedding. The men of Vinsmoke look forward to recapturing the North Blue with the support of the Big Mom Pirates and note how their failure of Sanji actually helps them achieve this goal. Some of the chess soldiers are ordered outside their room to keep watch and make sure none of the Vinsmokes leave at night as they prepare for the wedding the next day.
Sanji reaches the outskirts of Sweet City and searches for Luffy among the fallen warriors of Big Mom’s raging army. After a long search, he remembers how Luffy threatened to starve to death while waiting for Sanji’s cooking in this place. Sanji yells at Luffy before falling into despair. However, he hears the sound of a growling stomach and finds an unconscious Luffy leaning against Kingbaum’s corpse.