Oda to Editor this time last year:
O: "So I uh, I'm gonna be wrapping up TB before the New Year."
E: "Good good. So Oda, Babe, My Main Man, tell me, what's next?"
O: "Well basically I'm going to mind-fuck everyone. Violating their grey matter in unspeakable ways like a small defenseless child."
I feel so dirty. So very, very unclean.
At first I was bummed when he put Brook out. You instantly knew that meant the Zoro thing wouldn't be prolonged. Then it was just odd when he took out Usopp as well. And then, slowly but surely, we began to see Oda show us a quick peek at his hand for the first time since they left TB. Great build-up, great fake-out all really beautiful stuff. Just when you think you know where he's going, BAM! Just fantastic.
Now ANYTHING could happen here. I'll throw out one idea that popped in. This whole war idea is going to hit now. Even though we thought (and reasonably so) it would be further off, perhaps this is a sign that it's closer than we think and the SH's are being 'recruited' to prevent the worst possible scenario from transpiring. Whether this means a rescue, blackmail, an offensive, I dunno but if Rayleigh sounds….um....calm.....about the situation, then I guess it's for a greater good.
Awesome chapter. Oda rules.
edit: While I'm throwing crazy ideas around, I'd like to think Kuma's last line to Luffy isn't meant because anything bad will happen to Luffy, rather that Kuma intends to perish in following through with whatever it is he's doing. Whether he will or not? Well, you know OP, but I think that line was intended to be conspiciously threatening.
