Summary:
Sanji is overcome with joy at meeting his “first” mermaid, though Usopp is quick to remind him of Kokoro. Sanji’s enthusiasm quickly fades as he admits that even the horrors they experienced on Thriller Bark didn’t put that much fear into his heart. While Nami reminds them of how rude they are, Luffy is surprised to learn that she was a mermaid because she could walk on land. Luffy expresses disgust at the thought, earning a punch from Nami. Brook reveals that this is his first time seeing a mermaid as well and asks Camie for money. This question infuriates Sanji to the point where he kicks Brook as Camie is horrified that a skeleton is talking to her. She is quickly amused when Brook is able to open his skull, briefly confusing him. Luffy follows up by asking her if she’s pooping, though Sanji immediately cuts her off as she starts to answer. In the middle of the antics, the talking starfish reminds Camie that she forgot something. Camie introduces the starfish as Pappag, though strangely she refers to him as both her pet and her master. Pappag breaks into the song, which ends by promoting Camie’s shirt as a popular shirt of his own design. Luffy interrupts to ask Pappag why he can talk, who explains that he always thought he was human. Apparently, by the time he realized he was a starfish, he was already fluent in human speech. Luffy questions if it really works like that, and Starfish quickly redirects the object to thank the Straw Hats for their help. This reminds Nami that the crew could use their help as well, but Luffy is more interested in the takoyaki. Camie happily agrees to give them some, though she notes that it requires them to meet Hatchan. She addresses him through Den Den Mushi, although she is answered by Macro from the Macro Pirates. He asks how that could be, to which he brags that they beat him. When Camie calls his bluff, Macro admits that under normal circumstances, they couldn’t beat Hatchan – but this time they had a flying fish rider to help. Hatchan somehow manages to possess Den Den Mushi and begs Camie not to go looking for him. Macro dares after claiming that they were going to sell Hatchan for a decent price. They reveal that they are on the Saboady Archipelago, at the Flying Fish Riders base in the waters 5 kilometers east of Grove 44. Hatchan rewarms Camie to keep her from coming before she is forcibly silenced by the Macropirates.
Luffy cheerfully asks for takoyaki again only to be hit by Franky for his terrible timing. Nami thinks that Hatchan’s voice sounded familiar, but eventually dismisses her thoughts. Instead, she suggests to Camie that they can help her find her boyfriend in exchange for showing her how to get to Fish-Man Island. Luffy agrees to help Hatchan out, but wonders who he is. When Camie explains that their shop makes the best takoyaki in the world, Luffy adamantly prepares the crew for a rescue mission. Nami asks Camie and Pappago for directions, who reveal that they should reach Grove 44 if they continue west. Camie reveals the ability to summon large numbers of fish to the Thousand Sunny as well as communicate with them when she asks for directions to the Flying Fish Riders hideout. Pisces reveals that they know their location and can guide them, but they won’t get too close to the gang due to their own fear. Nami is very fascinated by this ability, though she wonders how the fish can hear it when they are underwater. Before Camie can reply, Luffy comments that they could eat a lot of fish while she’s around – causing Sanji to pull at his face as he doesn’t mind the audience of his comment. The fish form an arrow in the sea pointing in the right direction, much to the astonishment of the crew. Usopp takes the ship’s helm, following Robin’s instruction to turn the ship to 4 o’clock. Zoro emerges on board and wonders if the crew has found their way to Fish-Man Island. Luffy turns his attention to the mermaid aboard their ship. Zoro remarks that there’s a first time for everything, much to Chopper’s confusion that the memory of Kokoro vanished right in front of him. As Camie becomes worried about what might happen to Hatchan, Pappag reassures her that he will persevere. He specifically asks the Straw Hats if they are confident in their abilities, as the area is home to many gangs. Human trafficking is big business in the area, and mermaids in particular command quite a bit of market value – which is why the Macro Pirates have been eyeing Camie for some time. Knowing this, he ventures to guess that Hatchan was most likely captured and looking for them after he and Camie didn’t return for some time. Zoro remembers them mentioning that he was an octopus and his name was “Hachi” and wondered if this could be the same person they dealt with in Arlong Park. Sanji is doubtful, but Pappag still mentions that the involvement of the flying fish riders complicates things. Franky asks who they are and Pappag reveals that they are a notorious kidnapper who has recently made a name for himself. They are led by a man named Duval who wears an iron mask so no one can see his face. Duval is said to be currently looking for someone specific. Luffy tries to give Camie some reassurance and asks Brook to play a song to lighten the mood.
However, Camie is soon informed of an impending threat from the fish. The Flying Fish Riders fly around Sunny while shooting her. They circle back around the ship as they fly away, with the two of them remarking to each other that they’ve discovered the Straw Hat Pirates that Duval will love. At the Flying Fish Riders base, Duval notes to the Macro Pirates that Camie’s pirate ship is the one he was looking for on board. Duval vows to kill the man who ruined his life.