Chapter 1158 — Rocks vs. Harald
What an interesting chapter!
Without further ado…
I’m not putting as much stock in the naming of Kozuki Moria as the internet seems to do, but as I don't know Japanese I can't say much about it. What does it mean that Gecko Moria shares a first name with someone in Wano? Is his surname really written with the same kanji as Kozuki and if so, did he change it or is it chance?
At the moment I mainly go ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯ which isn't a very productive approach, but c'est la vie.
Then to the meat of the story: Emotional Drama.
Firstly, I was cackling when I read the exchange between Roger and Rayleigh and the implications of Rayleigh not wanting to be tied down, while Roger really wants to (nudge nudge wink wink).
Secondly, Roger darling, you have to learn when to give up. She's not interested. You say yourself that you don't like lovey-dovey women to Gloriosa, but are you any better at the moment?
And we have a named cook, and it is amusing that he's called Marx and he's feeding the whole crew.
We move on to Mariejois and I'm giving you a whole page because it is packed with information.
a) Garling was already a God's Knight 40 years ago, and they are apparently sent out to missions (something like Gunko et al's current mission in Elbaph, perhaps?). Say what you want about a literal manhunt (horrenous and utterly despicable, obviously), but it does feel like cheating to allow the elite band of soldiers to participate on the same grounds as the rest of the Celestial Dragons, as we saw earlier...
b) More intrigue about God Valley! What is the outrageous, completely unexpected discovery? It makes sense to use the other natural resources as a smokescreen for the manhunt, but what did they find there? Also, I wonder why God Valley turned down the WG? Especially with how hard Harald is vying for a place (partly to right the wrongs of history but also to establish the giants as a part of the legitimate world as he sees it) and what misery we have seen non-WG affiliation bring earlier, it seems like most people would want to be a member if they can afford to. What is this unique culture at God Valley that kept them separate and safe, until the games of the Celestial Dragons?
c) Garling is a truy vile person, who cheerfully condemns a whole nation to death just because they are in his way. Truly a suitable Celestial Dragon and future Elder Star.
d) God's Knights seem to be privy to information about Imu - or is Garling just special?
But we move back to Pirate Island; Fullalead, here we come! And once more, a full page. Oda just keeps packing them this chapter, doesn't he?
We see how popular Shakky's bar is and hear how expensive it is within the first panel. We see her utter nonchalance about simple things like quality customer service and 'serving people what they order or letting them know that you've run out'.
I wonder what would happen in a bar-off with her and Makino.
But Rocks heart-eyes are now for someone else! Someone that Big Mom has known about, or at least suspected something about.
(Theory: the mother of his child is also on God Valley, and that's why he goes there in the end)
I like the 'neutral ground'-theme of Shakky's bar. It's a nice way to let people meet without having to go to extremes with regards to fighting them all the time.
But Shakky's having none of Roger's declarations, instead asking for Rayleigh.
And Roger seems to be taking it kind of hard! But, being the carefree scoundrel that he is, he tries to distract himself with drinking with Whitebeard. It's nice to see that their frenemy-status is as strong 40 years ago as it was when they met during their shared time with Oden, some 20 years hence.
Also, it's sweet that Rayleigh is singing alone on the Oro Jackson. I wonder if Shakky faints due to his lovely tenor, or the song he's singing?
And we move to Elbaph!
Rocks is so, so tiny, and yet he stands his ground against Harald. Impressive, truly impressive.
Also, both Loki and Hajrudin are really cute where they are watching the battle. It's also sad that they had to see their father have to choose between a friend and his country, but such is the weight of the crown.
It also seems like Loki has indeed moved into Ida's bar:
He's such a precious five-year old!
We move to the final information-packed one-pager: Shanks' mother!
Garling, you utter mess of a man. How can you just doom a whole country in general, and especially the country of the mother of your children, to ruin?
Now Im wondering about Garling's thought process. Did he plan this whole thing from the start? Did he happen to fall in love whilst on a recon mission and that's why he was so front-and-center during the hunt; he was trying to find (and save?) his children? Did he know there's two of them?
So much intrigue and emotional drama this week! I give the chapter four squishy baby cheeks.