Nami's log pose begins to point to the sky, and the crew finds a map of an island named 'Skypiea' on a 200-year-old ship. They compete with the monkey-like Masira's salvage crew while they search for more clues on how to get there.

The Straw Hats decide to go to Jaya island to look for information on Skypeia. Meanwhile, Ace suddenly shows up on Buggy's ship; Buggy does not let any of his men attack Ace, fearing Whitebeard's retribution.

Jaya's main town is full of famous pirates that are constantly brawling with each other. Luffy and Zoro have a run-in with a pirate known as 'Bellamy the Hyena,' who ridicules their dreams and beats them up.

Luffy, Zoro and Nami meet the man who is later revealed to be Blackbeard. They leave Mock Town, and get into a fight with Masira's brother Shoujou, another salvage monkey.

The Straw Hats meet with Mont Blanc Cricket on another part of Jaya; Cricket is a descendant of Montblanc Noland, an infamous "liar" who told of a gold city on Jaya, and Cricket was outcast for looking for artifacts of the gold city. He may be the only person who knows how to get to Skypiea.

Cricket explains how the Straw Hats can ride a dangerous vertical current called the Knock-Up Stream to get to Skypeia. However, they first have to catch a southbird to point them toward the point where the stream will erupt from the ocean.

Three children, Amanda, Milia and Holy, are being held captive on a pirate ship. Their father, who was a pro treasure hunter, told them the whereabouts of a great treasure. Luffy and crew try to save them but their opponents have a dangerous ability in their sleeves.

While the Straw Hats are looking for a Southbird, Bellamy and his crew attack Cricket's house, and steal the gold artifacts he'd collected over the years from his salvage work. When the Straw Hats return and see what happened, Luffy decides to take a side trip back to Mock Town.

Luffy takes out Bellamy with a single punch. Meanwhile, the world government heads are concerned over Whitebeard, Shanks, and Luffy. The marines try to decide who will replace Crocodile as a Shichibukai - one of Blackbeard's crew shows up uninvited and nominates his captain.

The Going Merry is refitted by Masira and Shoujou to be more flight capable, and the Straw Hats catch a ride on the Knock-Up Stream for Skypeia.