Summary:
Dr. Hogback taunts Nico Robin and Tony Tony Chopper, asking them what it’s like to be subdued by their own nakama’s powers. Holding Robin at knifepoint with one of his sabers, Jigoro notes that he can’t let his guard down around her because he’s almost forced to eat salt. Robin acknowledges General Zombie’s power, while Chopper on the other hand points out that Inuppe is nothing like Sanji after being willing to kick Robin. Hogback laughs at this and confirms that the zombies no longer have any memory of being Straw Pirates. He continues that they only recognize his command and orders Victoria Cindra to terminate them. As he slowly approaches Chopper and Robin with a pile of plates, Chopper admonishes Hogback for his recent reign of terror. He explains how he held the Doctor in the highest regard, while returning to “Brain Point”: Hogback referred to his research as “rebirth of the deceased” Chopper praised him for giving those who died a chance to say words they never could, even when it was considered a heretical science. Hogback responds by expanding on his frustrations at being a prodigy, citing how patients from all over the world visited him at the time for his skills. He was able to save patients that other doctors couldn’t and ultimately felt it was all more trouble than it was worth. Hogback directly questions Chopper’s views, saying that if he can’t recognize him as a doctor, then he really got it wrong. He asks the reindeer if he plans to preach to him about what it means to be a doctor, and Chopper replies that he no longer recognizes Hogback as a doctor at all. He points out that zombies are just dead creatures that force movement and yells at Hogback not to make a fool out of life. Hogback replies that this is exactly what makes them alive, which is why the work he does is considered a miracle. He decides to once again demonstrate how zombies recognize commands by kicking Cindry to the ground and telling her to lick the floor, which she obliges.
As Chopper grows indignant at the humiliating act forced upon Cindra, Hogback briefly talks to her about her history while she was alive. Victoria Cindry was a famous actress who attracted Hogback as well as all the men in the country. However, Cindry did not bask in her popularity, being kind to everyone and even sewing Hogback’s lab coat at one point. Hogback’s marriage proposal was ultimately rejected in favor of her fiancé, and he soon learned of her untimely death. Hogback couldn’t handle the anxiety and eventually quit his job. It was at this moment that Gecko Moria approached him. Hogback joined forces with Moria on one condition; that Warlord resurrects Cindry. In this way he obtained a docile Cindry; because he was not interested in the personality of the girl who initially rejected him, but in her beauty. He goes on to say that the two are mutually happy because she’s able to live as a human in this world again – fueling Chopper’s anger at the notion. Chopper demands that Hogback stop licking the floor and questions his definition of humanity. Chopper says that a person whose body and heart are not connected is no longer human and that Hogback is basically just creating monsters. This further strengthens his resolve and tells Hogback that for every zombie he creates, he will leave a human being miserable. Hogback tells the reindeer not to talk about “life” when he knows so little about medicine, and orders Cindry to attack him and Robin once more.
Cindry begins throwing sharp plates at the Straw Hats, a technique she calls “Kakuzaratou”. Chopper transforms back into his heavy point and endures the cuts to grab both of Cindry’s arms. Chopper tells her to stop and she responds by smashing a whole pile of plates over his head. Hogback warns that he has enhanced her physical strength for combat purposes and tells Chopper not to underestimate her because she is a woman. Chopper tries to break through to Cindra again, telling her that she doesn’t have to listen to what Hogback has to say. She kneed Chopper in the midsection several times, managed to free her left arm, but he grabbed her once more. Chopper asks her how her family would feel about it, knowing that her wounds were horribly taped up and that she turned into a soldier. Cindry responds by continuing to violently kick Chopper, demanding that he be released. Chopper goes on to tell her that the heart she was born with is already dead and her actions are governed by the words of a single man. Hogback once again brags about his success, stating that mankind’s ultimate dream was to bring the dead back to life. Chopper asks if it’s really okay that they can only move around, pointing out that Hogback is dehumanizing them by not allowing them true freedom. Hogback and Cindry are taken aback by this, while Chopper tries to take advantage of this by having Robin feed Cindry some salt. However, Hogback orders Inuppe and Jigoro to help her, telling them to “get rid of anyone who gets in the way”. Inuppe kicks Chopper hard enough to make Cindry release him. Jigoro charges at them with “Three Sword Style: Hyakuhachi Pondo Hou”, though Chopper and Inuppe were able to dodge at the last second. Robin immediately grabs him with “Dieciseis Fleur”, though he breaks away just as quickly. Feeling humiliated by Jigor’s earlier attack, Inuppe asks his fellow zombie why he was attacking him when they clashed. As they argue over the clarity of Hogback’s order, their fight intensifies to the point where they are no longer paying attention to anyone else. Hogback tries to overpower them both, but Chopper challenges Robin to tape his mouth shut. As Chopper sits in awe that even Zoro and Sanji’s zombies are at odds with each other, Robin suggests Hogback jump off the tower for her and Chopper. When Robin releases his mouth, Hogback does so, however he refers to Robin and Chopper as “you two”. Jigoro and Inuppe immediately accepted this as an order, jumping out of the tower window and plunging into the depths before Hogback could rephrase the order.
Now standing with only Cindry by his side, Hogback berates the Straw Hats for deceiving him. Chopper says that the rest of the zombies will be purged once Luffy defeats Moria and reaffirms his intention to defeat Hogback. A frantic Hogback orders Cindry after them again and is surprised to hear no confirmation. Cindry claims her body won’t move and now she’s crying.