Chapter 612

Chapter 612 is called "Brought by the Shark They Saved".

Cover
A Color Spread of the Straw Hats fighting and trying to escape brightly colored sharks while trying not to fall off the edge of a waterfall.

Quick Summary
In a brief flashback, three mermaids struggle to find out what is inside the Straw Hat's barrel, unaware it contains Caribou. They manage to open just enough of the barrel for Caribou to escape. The mermaids try to flee to the water, but it's no use. Caribou is able to capture them with the powers of the Numa Numa no Mi.

The Straw Hats arrive at Ryugu Palace, where King Neptune is scolded for leaving the palace unguarded. Luffy sneaks off when he smells food. He comes to a large iron door that he mistakes for the banquet hall. Inside, instead, he accidentally meets the Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi.

Long Summary
The chapter begins by going back to Mermaid Covea few hours prior to the present storyline. Ishley is prying off the metal holds off of Caribou's barrel with a crowbar, wondering what is inside it. She thinks the barrels is sealed so tightly because it contains high-end expensive alcohol. She gets some of the holds off, which is enough to allow Caribou to break out. As Caribou breaks out, he thanks the mermaids. The mermaids scream and Caribou tells them not to go anywhere, but Ishley yells for everyone to get into the water. Caribou says it is too late and turns his midsection into his Logia form, thanking Ishley once more. One mermaid yells out that her body is sinking, while another one realizes it is a swamp and asks why there is a swamp in the middle of the rocks. Caribou says that they are in a bottomless bog that is impossible to escape from. He tells them he is a "swamp man" who ate the Numa Numa no Mi. He then tells them that struggling will cause them to sink more, and that they shouldn't scream or worry as he won't kill them. Ishley tries to call for help but Caribou covers her mouth with one of his hands in swamp form, calling her naughty for not doing as she was told. Another mermaid calls out for Ishley, but Caribou does the same to her, telling her she has to "go sleepy-bye" for a bit. The last things seen above the swamp are the hands of one mermaid. Caribou then reverts back to his human form, talking about how his body is infinite and forgetting how much mermaids cost. He remember at the Human Auction House they would sell for about 10,000,000, and gets excited when he realizes how much he could get with three of them. He then realizes that he owes all of this to the Straw Hat Pirates. Their illegal entry made it so he wouldn't have to be subjected to any kind of immigration examination. He is now free to hunt as many mermaids as he wants, calling it a "treasure island", and then laughs.

Back to the present, in Coral Hill, a lot of people have gathered outside the Mermaid Cafe. The Straw Hat Pirates are believed to be behind the kidnappings at mermaid cove. One mermaid tells the crowd that she never explicitly stated that they were the culprits, but they were nice people and friends of Keimi's. A voice in the crowd suggests they were threatened. The crew's wanted posters are spread out, with an Ammo Knight saying the only truth they know is the the only people at the cove other than the mermaids were the Ammo Knights, the defeated New Fishman Pirates, and the Straw Hats. Another knight adds humans always have a reason for kidnapping mermaids, mentioning their high value on the slave market. A man says that they can't suspect the Straw Hats exclusively like that. Another knight asks him if he has any idea how many pirates look innocent to get close to mermaids and then kidnap them. Meanwhile, Fukaboshi asks Madame Shirley if she really did have a vision of Luffy destroying Fishman Island. Shirley tries to speak but can't. A mermaid brings her a glass of water, and after drinking it she tells Fukaboshi that her vision was the truth. Fukaboshi tells Shirley that the accuracy of her predictions is even apparent to those who live in Ryugu Palace. This complicated their plans to get in contact with them as they were indebted to them for saving their sister's pet, but due to the prediction they can't be left at large, and they must "deal" with the pirates now.

Over in Gyoverly Hills, residents are still looking up at the sky in awe as the Straw Hats ascend with King Neptune to the Ryugu Palace. The Straw Hats, Keimi, and Pappug are riding on Megalo and Neptune is on Hoe, as he calls to them not to fall off. Luffy asks why that old guy is shouting so loudly. Pappug is appalled and tells Luffy to be more respectful and Pappug is now frightened of Luffy. Neptune explained that Megalo is a pet of his daughter's. She could not stop crying over how Megalo had not come home that Neptune didn't know what to do with her. He thinks about how dangerous fighting the kraken must have been, and thanks them for their great work. Luffy tells him it was just a coincidence but he was glad to help. Pappug thinks about the Mermaid Princess, and Brook asks him if he was right in remembering that Pappug was once best friends with the princess. Pappug gives him a long "ssshhh", and Brook realizes it was a lie. Keimi asked Usopp if he was sure it was ok for her and Pappug to go to the palace too. Usopp said Neptune told them to bring their company, so it was fine. Neptune tells them that he had sent his sons out to get them, but when they didn't come back, he came himself. He said he was excited for the banquet's menu, and wanted to start as soon as possible. He then remembers that one of the Straw Hats was already at the palace. He had already started drinking, and wouldn't listen when Neptune suggested it would be more fun for everyone to drink together. Usopp asks if it was Zoro. Nami stated it was Zoro. King Neptune then said he thought his name was Zori, and gets corrected with the right name.

Chapter Notes

 * Caribou's Logia type Devil Fruit is identified as the Numa Numa no Mi.
 * After Caribou's kidnapping of Ishilly, and hearing Shirley's prediction, Fukaboshi begins taking caution on Luffy.
 * An octopus fishwoman (similar to Octopako in Hatchan's Sea Floor Stroll) can be seen in this chapter.
 * Megalo is a pet of Princess Shirahoshi.
 * It turns out Luffy saved Megalo when he was taming Surume.
 * The light from Fishman Island comes from the root of a tree called Sunlight Tree Eve which catches sunlight and casts it to the bottom of the sea. This is why the locals settled in that area.
 * The root which catches the sunlight appears to have some sort of connection to the Adam Wood as the tree is called Eve.
 * The status of the other Straw Hats are revealed.
 * Zoro is at Ryugu Palace.
 * Robin is researching history.
 * Franky is searching for a relative of Tom.
 * King Neptune's two ministers are introduced. Minister of the Right is a seahorse merman while Minister of the Left is a catfish merman.
 * The Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi, is fully introduced as Luffy walks into her room out of curiosity.

Characters
1: first introduction

2: first appearance

Arc Navigation
Tasuketa Same ni tsurerarete