Despite the fact that in their previous battles, every strike had been a lethal one, aimed at taking the other's life,
Now, the two of them had once again become close friends, laughing as they looked at each other.
"Although I hate to interrupt this moment," Ian slowly walked over, smiling. "The meat is ready. It's freshly hunted dinosaur meat from the island, cooked with plenty of spices."
"All the alcohol from the ship has also been brought over, poured into the giant mugs we just forged. I've even added ice cubes to it,"
He extended an invitation. "So, how about a feast?"
The two giants exchanged a glance, and then—
"Of course!"
Thus, at the heart of the Little Garden, under the moonlight, the feast began.
"Ga-bah-bah-bah!"
"Kyeh-heh-heh-heh!"
Having gone years without drinking, Brogy and Dorry's eyes turned red with excitement when they saw the drinks Ian had prepared for them. Without hesitation, they started guzzling the alcohol.
Like whales swallowing water, they downed large quantities of the drink in one go, only stopping when their cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue. Then, they grabbed the fragrant roasted meat and began devouring it.
"It's been so long since I've been this happy!"
While gnawing on the meat, Brogy looked at Ian and the others. "By the way, friends, I still don't know your names."
They're already calling us friends?
That's giants for you—bold and straightforward.
"Ian. My name is Ian," Ian introduced himself with a smile, then went on to introduce his companions. "We're pirates from the Beasts Pirates."
"The Beasts Pirates?"
The two giants looked confused.
Never heard of them.
After all, they were true veterans of the sea, having roamed the world a century ago and begun their fierce duel ninety years ago.
Forget the Beasts Pirates—they probably don't even know about the Rocks Pirates.
"It doesn't matter if you don't know,"
Ian raised his mug towards them. "Let's just drink to our hearts' content."
Two giant figures burst into laughter at the same time.
That's right!
There's no need to understand everything clearly between friends. At this moment, it's about enjoying life to the fullest!
That's what pirates are all about!
Enjoying to the fullest!
Adventuring to the fullest!
Fighting to the fullest!
If you can do these three things, that's already enough.
"So,"
Black Maria asked with a smile, "why are you two fighting here?"
Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance.
Then, they laughed loudly again.
"A reason? That kind of thing has long been forgotten!"
Dorry shouted, "Anyway, it's not some serious reason."
"Forgotten?"
Law twitched his mouth, "So, you don't even remember the reason, but you've still been fighting for ninety years?"
"Knowing that we should fight is enough!"
Brogy laughed, "When a dispute can't be solved and no one is willing to back down, then a duel will decide who is right!"
"So," Black Maria's voice faltered, "just because of this, you've been fighting life and death for decades?"
Brogy and Dorry spoke in unison, "Isn't that enough? Fight, then win! That's the glory of the Elbaf warriors!"
Yamato's eyes instantly lit up, "Indeed, it's all about deciding the winner!"
Dorry smiled and looked down at her, "Little girl, you understand well!"
"Hehehe!"
Yamato grinned, showing her teeth like a shiba inu.
Hancock, sitting on the other side of Ian, couldn't help but scoff.
They had forgotten the reason for fighting, yet they still eagerly wished to continue battling, wanting to kill their best friend.
Isn't this just stupid?
And yet they still talk about honor.
Ian just silently drank his wine and ate his meat.
He didn't offer any opinion on this matter.
This is Elbaf's tradition. As an outsider, he had no place to interfere.
He simply said lightly, "It's just a shame about the Giant Warrior Pirates, once famous across the world. After the disappearance of the two captains, the crew quickly fell apart."
"Did those kids really disband the crew?"
Dorry couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.
Although this is Elbaf's tradition, meant for the warriors' honor.
But to leave your comrades behind for the sake of your own glory... it's truly selfish.
"It wasn't just a simple disbandment," Ian said. "The remnants of the Giant Warrior Pirates were later captured by the Marines and nearly executed."
"What!"
The two giant captains shouted in unison.
"You don't need to worry. That execution was stopped by one person."
Ian said, "The one known as the Virgin Mary, Sister Carmel. She stepped forward and stopped the execution."
"Oh! Is that so?"
Brogy said happily, "Gaba gaba gaba! She really is a good person then!"
Ian's mouth twitched.
Who would have thought?
The woman revered by the world as the Virgin Mary was secretly a human trafficker.
Even Charlotte Linlin still hasn't forgotten her to this day.
"But Dorry, Brogy, you guys probably don't know this yet, right?"
Ian said calmly, "About forty years ago, two giants from the Giant Warrior Pirates left Elbaf. They wanted to confirm your safety."
"But they were deceived by the World Government. It's said they are still guarding the gates of Enies Lobby."
"I think their names were Kashii and Oimo?"
Law glanced at Ian.
Here we go again.
Ian's peculiar, vast knowledge.
He seemed to know a bit about all sorts of random things.
"What!"
Dorry and Brogy stood up in unison, "Ian, you're talking about Kashii and Oimo!"
Those two were the interns on the Giant Warrior Pirates' ship at the time, the little brothers they both cared for.
Ian nodded lightly, "It's said that the World Government deceived them, telling them you were captured by the Navy. They said if they agreed to guard the gates of Enies Lobby for a hundred years, you would be released."
"Damn World Government!"
Brogy instantly became furious, "As despicable as ever!"
"No! We can't let Kashii and Oimo continue to be deceived!"
Dorry gritted his teeth, "We have to go rescue them!"
"But—"
Yamato spoke up, surprised, "What about the duel?"
Dorry and Brogy both froze.
Right.
What should be done about the duel?
It had been going on for ninety years. Should it really end before a winner is decided?
At this moment, Ian smiled and said, "How about we change the way we duel?"
"Change?"
The two giants simultaneously looked at Ian in surprise.
"No doubt, both of your strengths are absolutely evenly matched, or else you wouldn't have fought over sixty thousand times without a clear victor," Ian said. "But to prove strength, there's more than one way to go about it."
"For example, since we're going to rescue those two giants, how about we compare who puts in more effort during the process?"
"The one who puts in more effort, of course, would be the stronger one, right?"
The two giants' eyes lit up at the same time.
Yes!
It can be done like this!
Since the battle couldn't determine the winner, let's just try another way!
We can still go rescue Kashii and Oimo.
Genius! This boy is truly a genius!
"Coincidentally, I was planning to go to Water 7 as well. It's on my way, so—"
Ian smiled and said, "Would you like to board my ship?"
"Really?"
Brogy's face lit up with joy.
"Dorry" also smiled brightly, "That would be wonderful! But wouldn't that trouble you too much?"
They didn't have a ship.
The ship they had prepared for their return trip ninety years ago was already unusable. After all, who could have predicted that this duel would last so long?
Ian just smiled, "No problem. It's on the way. I still need to stop at a few other places, but as long as you don't mind."
"Gaa babababa! People who hitch a ride don't have much to say!"
Brogy smiled cheerfully, "And since it's already been forty years, there's no need to rush."
"Then I'll leave it to you! My friend!"
Dorry laughed loudly.
"As you said," Ian said seriously, "We're friends. Helping each other as friends isn't something to be taken for granted, right?"
"Ga ba ba ba ba!"
"Ke ke ke ke ke!"
Amidst the strange laughter, the banquet continued.
It was that simple, Ian gained the friendship of the giants.
With the guidance of the Giant Warrior Pirates, he was able to earn the friendship of the entire giant race.
The Giant Kingdom Elbaf, that is widely recognized as the strongest nation in the world.
**********
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