At the moment, the events at Elbaf seem like inconsequential filler. Nothing happening in Elbaf at the moment really ties into the greater story. However, I believe the tie in will come soon and it will follow events concerning Shamrock.
Shamrock is the closest thing this arc has to a villain. Loki is currently shackled at the foot and surrounded by Luffy and his wings. He’s getting his ass beat in the next few chapters. The other holy knights just don’t have main arc villain energy. Currently Shamrock is at Mariejois as the WG needs him due to the blockade. It is very likely something big will happen in Mariejois that will directly tie into the Elbaf arc.
What will these events be? I think that remains to be seen. There is a very high chance it involves the BBP. We know that Devon has the ability to turn into Saturn, that Lafitte is near the red line on standby to interfere in the blockade, and that Teach wants Hachinosu to join the WG.
We know that when a nation joins the WG, the leader can be offered CD status. This is what Shamrock attempted to do to Loki, offering him CD status so that Elbaf could be brought into the WG.
I think it is very likely something similar will happen to Hachinosu. Lafitte will stop the blockade, Devon will become Saturn and steal the seraphim, and maybe Shiryu and Augur could hold the fodder CDs hostage or something. In any case, Teach will use whatever leverage he has to demand the gorosei admit Hachinosu into the WG with Teach becoming a Holy Knight and Kuzan becoming the official king of Hachinosu.
Ultimately I think once Teach makes his proposition, the gorosei will send Shamrock back to Elbaf to complete his mission. Once Shamrock ultimately fails and is defeated, they will send in Teach via the “Abyss” in order to clean up Shamrock’s mess.
Oda could then use Teach on Elbaf to segue into the next arc, whatever that might be.
Shamrock is the closest thing this arc has to a villain. Loki is currently shackled at the foot and surrounded by Luffy and his wings. He’s getting his ass beat in the next few chapters. The other holy knights just don’t have main arc villain energy. Currently Shamrock is at Mariejois as the WG needs him due to the blockade. It is very likely something big will happen in Mariejois that will directly tie into the Elbaf arc.
What will these events be? I think that remains to be seen. There is a very high chance it involves the BBP. We know that Devon has the ability to turn into Saturn, that Lafitte is near the red line on standby to interfere in the blockade, and that Teach wants Hachinosu to join the WG.
We know that when a nation joins the WG, the leader can be offered CD status. This is what Shamrock attempted to do to Loki, offering him CD status so that Elbaf could be brought into the WG.
I think it is very likely something similar will happen to Hachinosu. Lafitte will stop the blockade, Devon will become Saturn and steal the seraphim, and maybe Shiryu and Augur could hold the fodder CDs hostage or something. In any case, Teach will use whatever leverage he has to demand the gorosei admit Hachinosu into the WG with Teach becoming a Holy Knight and Kuzan becoming the official king of Hachinosu.
Ultimately I think once Teach makes his proposition, the gorosei will send Shamrock back to Elbaf to complete his mission. Once Shamrock ultimately fails and is defeated, they will send in Teach via the “Abyss” in order to clean up Shamrock’s mess.
Oda could then use Teach on Elbaf to segue into the next arc, whatever that might be.
