Summary:
Pekoms tells Luffy that although the Straw Hats will not have to serve under Big Mom, the Emperor’s great power will ensure that Sanji marries and remains forever separated from his crew. However, Luffy decides to go to Big Mom’s territory and ask Sanji whether or not he wants to get married, forcing Pekoms to take him with him despite the lion mink’s pleas.
Luffy then meets Nekomamushi and meets the Heart Pirates again. Law pulls him aside and Luffy reveals his intention to enter Big Mom’s territory, but Law reminds him that Kaidou knows Zou’s location and is very likely to attack them in the future. Law’s interest in Zoe moves the Rangers to tears, and they throw a party to celebrate the Straw Hats and Heart Pirates.
Robin, Franky, and Brook guard the entrance to Zou to prevent Kin’emon and Kanjuro from entering, believing that the Norse will not be merciful allies to Raizo. However, they fall asleep and the next morning the samurai and Bariete reach the entrance. Bariete then discovers Kin’emon and Kanjur’s loyalty and runs away in tears to reveal the samurai’s arrival.
After Pekoms reveals that Sanji is from a family of assassins, Luffy replies that he doesn’t care and just wants to know if Sanji will come back or not. He states that while he’s fine with Sanji getting married, he doesn’t want to serve Big Mom, so Big Mom’s pirates will have to serve him instead. This bold statement causes Pekoms to become hysterical and hit his head against a wall, causing him to bounce and fall off the bed, inflaming his wounds. Luffy and Carrot laugh at Pekoms’ display, and as Pekoms goes back to bed, he reveals that Sanji has no choice but to attend the wedding, as anyone who declines an invitation to the Tea Party will receive a gruesome gift: the severed head of one of their loved ones. . Big Mom could have easily given Sanji the head of one of his crew or one of his fellow chefs from Baratia, or even someone from the Kamabakka Kingdom, since her status as an emperor allows her enough power to do whatever she wants.
Nami remarks that maybe that was what Vito whispered to Sanji two days ago, and Pekoms reveals to Luffy that the wedding will not force the Straw Hats to serve Big Mom, as the Emperor only cares about Sanji’s family. However, Pekoms says that the marriage will mean that Sanji will no longer be part of the Straw Hats, causing an angry Luffy to strangle him by his shirt collar. Luffy refuses to accept the possibility of Sanji leaving, and as he forces Pekoms to the floor, the mink asks what he is going to do. Pekoms replies that he will head back to Big Mom after he recovers to get back at Capone Bege for attacking him, and Luffy tells the mink to take him with him. Nami protests and Luffy tells her that he will go alone to better penetrate Big Mom’s territory. Pekoms also tries to discourage Luffy, and Carrot gets excited about Luffy’s plan, causing Wanda to admonish her. Pekoms’ protests fall on deaf ears and Luffy runs off to get Chopper so Pekoms can feel better sooner, causing the mink to fall off the bed again.
Luffy runs out to the porch where he sees Zoro sitting on a bench. He asks if Zoro heard the conversation and Zoro says he barely did. Luffy smirks and wonders if Zoro is worried about Sanji, causing Zoro to get upset. Chopper, Milky, Usopp, Robin, and Brook then come into the building and Luffy tells Chopper that Pekoms is screaming and banging his head against the wall, causing Chopper to run inside to treat him. Brook is then attacked by several canine guards who chew on him, and Nekomamushi then approaches despite Chopper’s order to rest, greets Luffy, and jumps into him and Zoro, destroying part of the porch. Nekomamushi is stunned and his wounds reopen, and while the Straw Hats wonder what to do with him, the Law and Heart Pirates approach Luffy. The 20 members of the Heart Pirates happily greet Luffy, but Law pulls him aside to talk, disappointing his classmates.
Luffy and Law go inside, where Luffy reveals Sanji’s situation and his intention to enter Big Mom’s territory, and asks Law to postpone his mission against Kaidou. However, Law replies that they probably don’t have that option since Kaidou is attacking them more and more, especially since he knows how to get to Zo. Law wonders what will happen to this country if the Beast Pirates attack it again, and the Guardians suddenly appear, crying tears of happiness in recognition that Law is looking after them. They throw a party for the two pirate crews and everyone feasts as Nekomamushi reveals the main dish, lasagna. As the party rages, Luffy wonders if he forgot something, but remembers nothing and continues the party. Meanwhile, Kin’emon, Kanjuro, and Bariete ride the creature on Zunesho’s leg, and as the pirates and Rangers fall asleep after the party, Robin, Franky, and Brook take a seat at the entrance to Mokomo Duchy. They intend to prevent Kin’emon and Kanjura from getting in, believing that the Norse will not be merciful allies to Raizo, who caused Jack to destroy the earth. Robin suggests taking turns overnight, but Franky and Brook decide against it and they all keep watch together. The next morning, however, everyone is fast asleep when Kin’emon, Kanjuro, and Bariete reach Zunesha’s back on a rotund tiger named Torasaburo. The samurai celebrate as Kanjuro turns Torasaburo back into a drawing. They then turn to Bariete for information, revealing that they are Raizo comrades. This causes Bariete to panic and tearfully run away from them to alert the other minks to the samurai’s presence.