New Daimyo Across the Regions
Yamato cover story Vol.32: “Usodabori Daimyo Raizo gives his thanks.” Nozomi got Den Jiro, Kuri got Inuarashi, and Usodabori got Raizo as their new Daimyo. Yamato’s journey has only Shimotsuki and Ringo left. Ringo’s Daimyo will almost certainly be Kawamatsu — that land holds his memories of Onimaru. That would make Kikunojo the Daimyo of Shimotsuki. Which might mean the descendants of Omusubi and Tempura won’t appear after all.
Last chapter’s Ulti = Pekoms (Zou arc) homage sets this chapter up as the “Luffy departing Zou for Whole Cake Island” stretch — receiving food supplies, being seen off by Raizo. Raizo’s very first appearance was also on Zou, where he was found imprisoned. The parallels are running in sequence.
Whole Cake Island Arc Homages
This chapter is dense with WCI callbacks:
- Nami captured and restrained by enemies
- Brook singled out by a powerful enemy who wants to claim him
- Brook coolly addressing her as “mademoiselle” and turning the situation around
- A monster army closing in slowly
- A terrifying burning old woman destroying the ship
- A large group of children introduced at once
And last chapter: Brook being electrocuted by Zeus as Nami’s decoy — also straight WCI. The homage sequence is methodical.
Will Gunko Become Pudding?
Gunko was assumed to be a Brook fan, but meeting him in person produced no change in her — she simply commanded him to become her possession, the same way Celestial Dragons treat commoners as prospective slaves. The power differential makes the concept of “becoming a fan” meaningless to someone like her; her position can’t go lower.
But there’s one panel that stands out: after being kicked by Brook, Gunko clutched her chest with a sound effect. A God’s Knight — ranked above even standard Celestial Dragons — has almost certainly never experienced being flatly rejected. There’s no immunity to a first heartbreak.
Given the chapter is soaked in WCI homage, the trajectory is clear: just as Pudding ultimately betrayed Big Mom’s plan for Brook’s sake, Gunko may eventually turn against the God’s Knights for Brook. The line “Become my possession!” even mirrors how Nami recruited Zeus — looking down at a creature containing Big Mom’s own soul and casually inviting it to submit. The audacity of the future Pirate King’s crew is something else.
If Luffy were asked to draw his own “most frightening thing” — the answer would probably be Nami.