Harald, the Giant King of Elbaf.
Also one of the strongest living warriors among the giants.
Led by Arlur, Magnus had just arrived at the castle—when he came face to face with this legendary king.
"It's been a long time, Magnus."
Seated atop his throne, towering high above, the Giant King looked down upon the aged pirate.
"You've grown old."
Ten years ago, Magnus had yet to show any signs of aging. His combat power had been near its peak. Harald vividly remembered their battle—it lasted nearly a full day and night. The destruction it caused blanketed a whole section of Elbaf in shattered trees and flattened forests.
But now, all Harald saw was an old man with white hair.
One couldn't help but wonder:
How much of Magnus's peak strength remained?
"Haha, isn't aging inevitable for all people?"
Magnus didn't take Harald's words personally—it was the truth. He had aged a lot compared to ten years ago.
But compared to how he looked two months ago, he had improved tremendously.
At the very least, even now—standing before Elbaf's mightiest warrior—Magnus could raise his head and meet his gaze without an ounce of fear.
An invisible pressure surged between the two.
Zzzzz—!
"…That's…"
Arlur's pupils contracted.
What did he see?
A chilling, overwhelming pressure suddenly erupted from Magnus—matched by Harald's equally fearsome aura.
As the two forces collided, a roaring gale burst through the empty throne room.
Crimson-black lightning crackled and danced between them.
"Haōshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki)!?"
Seeing Magnus standing in the throne room, facing off with Harald without the slightest hint of being overpowered, Arlur's eyes filled with disbelief.
Magnus… had Conqueror's Haki!?
If Arlur hadn't known Magnus personally, he would've naturally assumed that a great pirate like him must have Conqueror's Haki.
But the truth was the opposite.
Even after making a massive name for himself across the seas—
Ten years ago, in his battle with Harald, Magnus never once unleashed Haōshoku Haki.
Magnus didn't have the Haki of a King.
That had always been the reason why, despite his fame, Magnus was never seen as a true ruler among pirates. He lacked the presence to be acknowledged by other kings.
Magnus was just a pirate—never a king.
And yet now, ten years later… he had awakened Conqueror's Haki?
Was that even possible?
The man was seventy years old. For a giant, that would be nearly three hundred.
A man practically knocking on death's door…
Had awakened Haōshoku Haki at the end of his life?
Who would believe that?
At last, Arlur understood why Magnus, even at such an advanced age, still hadn't chosen to retire. Why he was still sailing the seas.
Because of Conqueror's Haki.
Anyone blessed with that power could never resign themselves to die in obscurity.
"Ku ru ru ru… Magnus, is that the confidence behind your request for an audience?"
Harald looked at him, a glint of sharp light in his eyes.
"Well, if I really had turned into an old man with no fight left in me, I'd hardly deserve to stand before you."
Magnus smiled in return.
Whether Harald's peace-loving ideals were sincere or just a front—it didn't matter.
To command the respect of the giants, he had to have strength.
Strength is what qualifies a king.
"Ku ru ru ru… So you want to lay hands on the Sacred Tree. If you didn't have any real strength, no matter what kind of deal you offered, my people wouldn't agree."
Suddenly, one of the two colliding auras vanished.
Harald smiled:
"Magnus, my friend. Forgive me for greeting you like this. But every time I see you, the scar you left on my face starts aching again."
He pointed to the scar on his cheek.
"You only gave me a scratch. Back then, you broke my arm—it took a whole week to heal!"
And that was even with the powerful regenerative abilities of a Zoan-type fruit user!
"Ku ru ru ru!"
"Puhahaha!"
Their mouths spoke of past grudges, but both men burst out laughing.
"Bring the drinks!"
Harald rose from his throne and sat casually in front of Magnus. At over forty meters tall, he looked like a mountain.
Among the giants, there existed an ancient race with horns—the Ancient Giant Lineage.
Normal giants were around twenty meters tall.
But giants with ancient bloodlines far exceeded that.
"Alright, speak. What can you offer?"
Harald already knew Magnus's purpose from Arlur, so he didn't bother with small talk.
"What do you have that could convince me to trade a branch from the Sacred Tree?"
"That's easy."
Magnus smiled.
"Peace and prosperity."
"Oh?"
Hearing that, Harald's expression became serious.
If Magnus had offered treasures in exchange for Adam Wood, Harald might have accepted—but it would never have been enough for a full ship.
Friendship was one thing.
But their relationship wasn't close enough for him to just give away something so precious.
"I've heard that you want to find a new path forward for Elbaf."
Forty years ago, the Giant Warrior Pirates dissolved when their two captains fell out and fought to the death.
It had been forty years since then.
Perhaps ordinary giants hadn't noticed.
But Harald had. The supplies in their warehouses—most of them plundered during the Giant Warrior Pirates' heyday—were slowly running out.
Once they were gone, they couldn't be replaced.
That created a sense of crisis in Harald's heart. He began to ask:
"Must giants always plunder to survive?"
Was there another way to make Elbaf prosper?
The arrival of Carmel had given Harald inspiration.
Maybe… plundering wasn't the only way.
Maybe, by trading with the outside world, Elbaf could flourish.
Harald's thoughts had been evident even a decade ago, during his first meeting with Magnus.
Back then, though, Magnus didn't care.
He wasn't king of Elbaf.
Why should he worry about it?
But now things were different.
If Magnus wanted to acquire a large quantity of Adam Wood from Elbaf—he needed Harald's approval.
"You have a way?"
Harald asked.
Magnus nodded.
"I know how to help Elbaf build connections with the outside world."
After all, he'd been sailing the seas for decades as a pirate.
What did he have the most of?
Knowledge. Experience.
Connections.
"Harald," Magnus asked,
"What's your opinion on the Fishmen?"
(End of Chapter)
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