【SPOILER WARNING】A Heartwarming Cover Page Starts This Week’s One Piece
*This article contains spoilers for ONE PIECE Chapter 1167 “Ida’s Son” published in Weekly Shonen Jump 2026 Issue #1. Please proceed with caution if you haven’t read it yet.
Book Information
- Title: ONE PIECE
- Author: Eiichiro Oda
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Magazine: Weekly Shonen Jump 2026 Issue #1
- Release Date: December 1, 2025 (Monday)
- Latest Volume: Volume 113 (as of November 2025)
ONE PIECE Chapter 1167 “Ida’s Son,” published in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump 2026 Issue #1, started with a heartwarming cover page that made readers smile.
The cover page, fulfilling the reader request “Gen-san and Nojiko scolding a cat trying to steal a book but not really angry,” depicts a cat triumphantly running away with a book titled “Fish Encyclopedia” on its cover, while Gen-san and Nojiko crouch down and watch with gentle smiles. Though they say “stealing is wrong,” their warm expressions show they can’t really be angry—a scene that naturally warms the heart.
This casual everyday moment creates a beautiful contrast with the heavy story that follows, showcasing the depth of ONE PIECE as a series.
The World Government’s Three-Tier Contract System Revealed
The biggest information drop this week was the details about contracts with the World Government. The contract system explained by Saint Garling is a crucial setting that goes to the heart of the World Government’s power structure.
It was revealed that there are three tiers of contracts with the World Government. Starting with the shallowest “Shallow Sea Contract,” it progresses to the “Deep Sea Contract,” and finally to the deepest “Deep Deep Sea Contract.” What’s particularly noteworthy is that from the Deep Sea Contract level and above, one enters into a contract with the 13 true gods of this world. These “13 gods” likely refer to Im-sama, who rules at the pinnacle of the World Government.
Harald formed a Shallow Sea Contract as a “God’s Blade” and received the contract’s mark carved into his left arm. This same mark was previously seen on Shanks’ arm, suggesting that he too had formed a contract with the World Government.
Saint Nasujuro of the Five Elders told Harald, “One day you may be granted the title of God’s Knight,” giving him hope that Elbaf could join the World Government’s circle. However, this was merely a cunning strategy to make the strongest giant warrior into their pawn.
The God’s Knights’ Freedom of Movement and Secrecy
Saint Garling’s instructions to the God’s Knights members were also intriguing. His words—”You’re free to go to the lower world, but carry a Den Den Mushi with you. And never speak of what happens here”—reveal that the God’s Knights surprisingly have freedom of action.
The fact that they don’t necessarily need to remain stationed in Mary Geoise and are permitted to operate in the lower world indicates that the God’s Knights are an organization that executes the World Government’s will across a broader range. However, strict confidentiality is required regarding their activities and the organization’s details, highlighting their nature as an organization handling the dark side of the World Government.
The long-distance Den Den Mushi that Harald was given at this time likely connects to the Snow Den Den Mushi that Loki currently possesses. Despite Elbaf having its own communication tool called the Dengo Mushi, the fact that Loki has a Den Den Mushi suggests it may have been inherited from his father Harald.
The Friendship Between Harald and Neptune
The interaction scene between Elbaf’s King Harald and Ryugu Kingdom’s King Neptune added warmth to this week’s story.
Twenty years ago, Harald visited Fish-Man Island and conversed intimately with King Neptune. Their similar positions as kings likely made it easier for them to confide in each other about their troubles. Neptune joyfully shares that a daughter has been prophesied to be born, joking “Let’s make her your son’s betrothed.” He also mentions that “this daughter may be born with uncontrollable power,” which we now understand refers to Shirahoshi, who would possess the power of the Ancient Weapon Poseidon.
Harald responds with “A toast to the future of my brat and your mossy daughter,” leading to the amusing exchange where Neptune retorts “She’s not mossy!” This “mossy” (mosa mosa) reference becomes an important foreshadowing, suggesting that “Mosa-ko” whom Loki is currently calling is actually Princess Shirahoshi.
The friendship between these two kings demonstrates the possibility of bonds transcending species, while also serving to make the tragedies that follow all the more poignant.
The Request to Saul and Elbaf’s School
Harald welcomes Saul, who has come to Elbaf, saying “Feel free to live here,” and makes an important request. He asks Saul to establish a school in Elbaf.
Harald’s attitude in trying to establish an educational institution in the giant kingdom of Elbaf reveals his nature as a wise ruler who seeks to develop his nation not just through military might but through knowledge and education. Even while forming a contract with the World Government, we can feel Harald’s anguish and determination to preserve his nation’s culture and education.
The Truth Behind Fisher Tiger’s Mary Geoise Raid
The story shifts to 15 years ago, to the historic incident when Fisher Tiger, known as the hero of slave liberation, raided Mary Geoise. The shocking truth revealed is that a member of the God’s Knights was actually involved in this event.
Fisher Tiger, having infiltrated Mary Geoise, encounters one of the God’s Knights. But just when a battle seems imminent, this person cuts Tiger’s handcuffs as they pass by and quietly tells him “The armory has been unlocked.”
Though this God’s Knights member’s identity isn’t explicitly stated, based on subsequent developments, it’s highly likely this was the young Shanks. The fact that Shanks was a member of the God’s Knights while taking actions against the World Government is a crucial depiction suggesting his complex position and true purpose.
Shanks’ Complex Relationship with the God’s Blades
This chapter confirmed that Shanks was once a member of the God’s Blades. Fifteen years ago, he appears wearing the God’s Blades uniform with a bandage over his left eye.
Particularly noteworthy is the mark carved into Shanks’ left arm. This is the same “God’s Blade” mark from the Shallow Sea Contract that Harald received, indicating that Shanks too had formed a contract with the World Government. However, his action of secretly helping with Fisher Tiger’s slave liberation shows he wasn’t wholeheartedly pledging loyalty to the World Government.
When Shanks reunites with Harald at Mary Geoise, Harald says “I feel like I’ve met you before somewhere.” Harald had probably seen Shanks aboard the Roger Pirates. However, perhaps to hide his identity, Shanks acts as if to keep Harald at a distance.
Shanks’ statement “I hated everything” is a very important scene that could be read as either acting or his true feelings. There’s no way Shanks could hate the days he spent on Roger’s ship, yet he needed to say so. This suggests he had infiltrated the God’s Blades with a separate purpose while pretending loyalty to the World Government.
The possibility has increased that Shanks maintained his own sense of justice while belonging to the God’s Blades. And later, by losing his left arm to the Lord of the Coast, he lost that mark along with it. This raises speculation that the incident wasn’t simply an accident, but that he deliberately offered his arm for some reason.
The Truth Behind the Foggy Sea Monster Legend
This chapter revealed the origin of a new legend. Harald, ordered by the World Government to hunt pirates, was secretly attacking pirate ships drifting in thick fog.
With the overwhelming combat power of the giant race, Harald would slice pirate ships in half and rescue marines, appearing exactly like a monster lurking in the fog. Rumors spread of a creature so feared that even Impel Down prisoners trembled, developing into the legend of “a giant monster appearing in foggy seas.”
The opening scene of Morgans gathering information from people shows how widely this legend had spread. Yet the truth that it was actually a single giant king operating under World Government orders is an important depiction revealing the hidden side of One Piece world history.
As part of the “Giant’s Oath,” Harald carried out missions to ambush pirate ships hidden in fog. By secretly eliminating pirates the World Government wanted dealt with, he was trying to bring Elbaf into the World Government’s circle.
The Bond Between Loki and Ida – This Week’s Most Moving Scene
In Elbaf, we see Ida weakened by illness. Loki comes to the tavern. While calling her “outsider hag,” he brings meat from an animal he hunted and tells her to “hurry up and reopen.” Loki’s behavior is exactly like a cute son in the midst of adolescence. Despite his words, Loki clearly likes Ida.
Ida is not Loki’s biological mother. Loki’s birth mother Estrilda hated Loki so much she tried to throw the child she bore off a cliff. Meanwhile, Ida, Hyldyn’s biological mother, showered Loki with the love of a true son despite having no blood connection.
It’s revealed that Estrilda’s faction poisoned Ida in a plot to prevent her from becoming the legitimate wife. Hearing this, Loki becomes enraged. He beats the culprits to a pulp and shouts:
“She’s the only one who’s my mother!”
This cry was this week’s greatest emotional moment. The instant when an awkward adolescent boy explodes with love for his mother. A true parent-child bond transcending blood. A tearjerking famous scene showing how Ida’s devoted love had firmly reached Loki’s heart.
Author Eiichiro Oda gave such deep humanity and emotion to Loki, a character who initially seemed villainous. This was truly a wonderful scene that brought the first tears of December.
The Beginning of Loki’s Revenge
It’s revealed that those who poisoned Ida were giants from Estrilda’s faction, residents of the brewing village. The people of the brewing village, commonly called “Sake Village,” which was Estrilda’s hometown, had tried to eliminate Ida.
Loki’s rage at losing the only mother who loved him was unimaginable. Here we learn why he later burned down Sake Village. It wasn’t mere rampage—it was revenge born of love for his mother.
While Loki’s actions are certainly inexcusable, knowing the sadness and anger behind them adds depth to his character. Behind the reputation of “the despised prince” lay such a heartbreaking story.
What the Story Suggests for Future Developments
The three-tier contract system with the World Government revealed this chapter is a crucial setting approaching the story’s core. The existence of 13 people who formed Deep Sea and Deep Deep Sea Contracts likely refers to the Five Elders and the God’s Knights’ highest executives. The true nature of contracts that grant power directly from Im-sama is likely related to their immortality and special abilities.
New mysteries also emerged about Shanks’ past. His contradictory actions of belonging to the God’s Blades while assisting in slave liberation suggest he was operating within the World Government with some larger purpose. Expectations rise for future developments regarding the true meaning of his “I hated everything” statement and the possibility he was freed from his World Government contract by losing his left arm.
Information revealed in the flashback arc, such as the friendship between Harald and Neptune and the possibility that Mosa-ko’s true identity is Princess Shirahoshi, becomes important keys to solving mysteries in the present timeline. We can also see the connection that the person Loki is calling is the daughter of his father Harald’s friend.
Eiichiro Oda’s Masterful Foreshadowing Recovery
Chapter 1167 was a crucial chapter where various elements depicted in the past began connecting. The foggy sea monster legend, Fisher Tiger’s slave liberation, Shanks’ left arm, and the World Government’s power structure—we once again feel the height of author Eiichiro Oda’s compositional ability in how seemingly disparate elements were actually all connected.
Particularly, the flow from the heartwarming everyday scene in the cover page to the heavy developments involving the World Government’s darkness, friendship and betrayal, and mother-son love and revenge symbolizes the breadth of range that ONE PIECE possesses as a work.
The scene of Gen-san and Nojiko gently watching over the cat and the scene of Loki crying “my mother” are both depicting “love” in common. Oda-sensei continues to shake readers’ hearts by carefully depicting various forms of love.
Summary
ONE PIECE Chapter 1167 “Ida’s Son,” published in Weekly Shonen Jump 2026 Issue #1, was a godly chapter that revealed the important setting of the World Government’s three-tier contract system while also depicting the moving mother-son bond between Loki and Ida.
Information about the hierarchical structure of Shallow Sea, Deep Sea, and Deep Deep Sea Contracts, and contracts with 13 gods, will likely be deeply involved in future developments. Many mysteries are beginning to connect, including Shanks’ past belonging to the God’s Blades, his involvement in Fisher Tiger’s slave liberation, and the truth behind the foggy sea monster legend.
Above all, Loki’s cry “She’s the only one who’s my mother!” was a tearjerking famous scene demonstrating true love transcending blood connections. The gap between the awkwardness of an adolescent son bringing hunted meat and his fury to protect his mother gives deep humanity to Loki as a character.
This week’s issue, which began with Gen-san and Nojiko’s gentle smiles, was a very ONE PIECE-like chapter that revealed profound historical truths while continuing to depict the importance of human bonds. Great anticipation builds for next week’s developments.
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