"I told you to get out of the way, Harald." The agent didn't even look, firing a casual shot into the crowd of innocent people.
The splatter of fresh blood completely ignited the warrior's fury.
Harald's face was contorted with rage, his eyes wide with disbelief. "This guy... he's not even human!"
Finally unable to bear it any longer, Harald attacked the scum who trampled on life.
...
The Rocks Pirates had successfully landed on the island of the Giant Kingdom. They arrived at a tavern, where Rocks and Harald met once again.
"Hahahaha! I told you, didn't I? The World Government has always been like this." Rocks's face was filled with scorn, and he turned to laugh loudly at Harald.
"Instead of having expectations for them, why don't we go drink in the castle together?"
Harald's face was grim as he gulped down his drink. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I let someone with a reputation as vile as yours enter the country?"
Rocks spread his arms as if to embrace everything, a wild smile on his face. "Then I'll just make the whole country my partner."
"Besides, you should have figured it out by now, Harald." Rocks was still trying to persuade him, an incomprehensible expression on his face.
"I really can't stand to see it anymore, the way you bow your head to the government!"
Harald looked down. His once magnificent hair had been shaved off at some point, leaving him bald except for the two oni-like horns that remained on his head.
After a moment of silence, Harald's will hardened once more.
"One day, I will definitely have Elbaf join the World Government."
Rocks sighed, exasperated. "Seriously, what country's culture is it to shave your head to show sincerity?"
"Even Garp laughed at me for it," Harald said, lowering his head, at a loss for words.
Just then, a loud laugh came from outside the door.
"Hahahaha! Linlin, it seems he's not one of us. After being treated like that, he still wants to join the World Government."
"It looks like he's a lost cause," a clear female voice reached everyone's ears, and the words drew everyone's attention.
"Don't say that, Milim. There's nothing wrong with pursuing peace. He just can't see any other path," another, deeper female voice immediately followed.
The next moment, the tavern doors were kicked open, and three figures—one tall, one short, and one of medium height—burst in. It was Milim and Charlotte Linlin, who had just arrived on the Giant Island and sensed the powerful auras.
"Harald, you have new guests," Rocks's Observation Haki instantly went on alert. A very strong and dangerous aura was rapidly approaching.
"Milim and Charlotte Linlin of Totto Land! I know you. Some giants once informed me that they wanted to join Totto Land, so I looked into it," Harald recognized the two instantly.
"Well, this is great. It seems we all know each other, so we can save the introductions," Rocks said, a smile still on his face as he spoke flippantly.
"Hey! Rocks, you're too confident. Maybe the two esteemed ladies from Totto Land don't recognize you at all," Shiki said, openly mocking Rocks without a shred of respect.
The rest of Rocks's crew watched the scene calmly, as if they were completely used to it.
"Rocks, the atmosphere on your ship is completely different from Roger's. It feels like everyone is ready to betray you at any second," Milim said with a grin, speaking the truth of the matter.
"Well said, little girl," Shiki was the first to jump in again. "Every one of us is an individual. Even if Rocks dies, we can still sail the seas on our own."
"Hahaha! Rather than believing in the bonds of companionship, I have more faith in relationships built on self-interest. They follow me for their own gain, so it's impossible for them to betray me." Rocks was well aware that his crew had no loyalty to him, but he was also confident that their mutual interests would keep them united.
"As expected of the most famous pirate on the seas! Your way of thinking is quite interesting!" Charlotte Linlin walked unhesitatingly to the table, a smile of appreciation on her face. "You don't mind if we join this drinking party, do you?"
"Hahaha! That's not my call to make. What do you think, Harald?" Rocks tossed the question to the giant king, Harald.
"Totto Land... you're quite famous now! The whole sea is talking about your wonderful country. It's truly enviable!" Harald sighed, his eyes full of admiration.
"Come! Drink with us. Elbaf is happy to have another friend!"
A smile spread across Charlotte Linlin's face. She could already see that this giant king, Harald, was completely clueless about politics, daring to associate with Totto Land at a time like this.
"Harald, you're as stubborn as ever. Getting involved with Totto Land now... it seems you'll never become a member nation." The smile on Rocks's face grew wider until he was gasping for breath from laughing so hard.
Harald looked at Rocks, completely confused. He had no idea what he meant.
"Rocks, what are you talking about? Why can't I associate with Totto Land?"
"You'll have to ask Queen Charlotte Linlin about her thoughts on that. The first time I heard of Totto Land, I laughed at it like it was a joke," Rocks stopped smiling, covering one side of his face with his hand. The uncovered eye gleamed with a red light.
"But as Totto Land grew, I knew that something even less tolerable to the World Government than me had been born. That kind of wish is far crazier than my ambition."
Charlotte Linlin wore a calm smile, looking at Rocks with a puzzled expression. "To let everyone eat their fill and never go hungry again, is that such a difficult dream to achieve?"
"In a world with such abundant resources, it's the fact that people are still starving that's abnormal, isn't it?"
Milim also chimed in with a grin, "That's right. Why do people always like to make others kneel to greet them?"
"It's completely meaningless, isn't it?"
Both Rocks and Harald stared with wide eyes, as if looking at something that shouldn't exist in this world.
Rocks could no longer suppress the crazed smile on his face. "So that's what you two think. You're even crazier than I am!"
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