"Charlotte Linlin, that bastard, is dead? Ula ula!"
"The great hero of the Giant race, Longinus!"
"Great hero Longinus! Great hero Longinus!"
The giants cheered and celebrated, showing none of the grief one might expect after losing three companions.
During the final search-and-rescue operation, the twenty giants recovered seventeen of their number. Given the tough physiques of giant warriors, even falling into the ground would only leave them with superficial injuries. The three who died were mainly killed after being outplayed and ambushed by the Charlotte Family.
However, for giant warriors, dying on the battlefield was their finest final resting place.
Thus, the remaining giants simply placed the three fallen heroes aboard a great ship, raised the sails, and let the heroes' souls drift freely across the sea beneath the afterglow of the setting sun.
As for the pirates captured by Sakazuki, there were thirteen in total: eleven injured and two dead. Of the two who died, one drowned in seawater, while the other was shot dead on the spot by Sakazuki for violently resisting arrest.
The most important among them was undoubtedly the Sweet Commander Cracker, who had been relentlessly pursued by Prince Loki and had ultimately benefited from the chaos.
As for Borsalino, when Sakazuki saw that he had brought back only two people, he nearly flew into a rage on the spot.
After all, only a small portion had been captured; the majority had escaped. In the end, Borsalino had brought back so many fewer people than him that it was no wonder Sakazuki had nearly exploded then and there.
In short, it was against this backdrop that the warships, carrying the afterglow of the setting sun across their decks, sailed toward Marine Headquarters once more.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"You're remarkably calm. If this operation fails,