Tavern

"I told you to move aside, Harald." Without even looking, Agent casually fired a shot at the innocent people.

The splattering blood completely ignited the warriors' fury.

Harald's face twisted viciously as he stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "This guy... he's simply not human!!"

Finally unable to endure it any longer, Harald struck at the scum who trampled on lives.

The Rocks Pirates had successfully landed on the Giant Kingdom's island and arrived at a Tavern, where Rocks and Harald met once again.

"HAHAHAHA! I told you long ago, didn't I? The World Government has always been that kind of rotten mess." Mockery covered Rocks's face before he turned to Harald and burst into laughter again.

"Rather than expecting anything from them, why not go drink together in the Castle?"

Harald's face darkened as he gulped down drink after drink. "What foolish nonsense are you talking about? How could I allow someone with as vile a reputation as yours to enter the country?"

Rocks spread his arms as if he wanted to embrace everything, an arrogant smile on his face. "Then let the entire country become my companion."

"And you should more or less understand by now, shouldn't you, Harald?" Rocks was still trying to persuade Harald, his face carrying an incomprehensible expression.

"I really can't stand the sight of you bowing your head to the government anymore!"

Harald lowered his head. At some point, his once-lush hair had been shaved clean, leaving only the two Oni Horns atop his bald head.

After remaining silent for a while longer, Harald's resolve hardened once again.

"One day, I will definitely make Elbaf join the World Government."

Rocks sighed speechlessly. "I'm telling you, what country even has the custom of shaving your head to show sincerity?"

"Even Garp laughed at me over this." Harald lowered his head, not knowing what to say.

Just then, a burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the door.

"HAHAHAHA! Lingling, it looks like he isn't one of us after all. Even after being treated like that, he still wants to join the World Government."

"Looks like he's beyond saving." A crisp female voice entered everyone's ears, drawing all their attention.

"Don't say that, Milim. There's nothing wrong with pursuing peace. He simply can't see any other path." Another, deeper female voice followed immediately.

The next moment, the Tavern's doors were kicked open. Three figures—one tall, one short, and one of average height—stormed inside. They were Milim and Charlotte Lingling, who had just arrived at Giant Island and sensed a powerful presence.

"Harald, new guests have arrived." Rocks's Observation Haki instantly sounded an alarm. An immensely dangerous aura was rapidly approaching.

"Milim and Charlotte Lingling of Many Countries! I know of you. Some giants once informed me that they wished to join Many Countries, so I specifically looked into it." Harald recognized the two of them at once.

"Wonderful. Looks like we all know one another, so we can skip the introductions." Rocks still wore a smile as he spouted nonsense.

"Hey! Rocks, you're way too confident. Maybe the two great ladies from Many Countries didn't recognize you at all." Shiki showed Rocks no mercy as he mocked him.

The rest of Rocks's crew watched everything calmly, as though they had long grown used to such scenes.

"Rocks, the atmosphere on your ship really is completely different from Roger's. It feels like everyone would betray you the very next second." Milim smilingly spoke the truth.

"Well said, little girl." Shiki was still the first to jump out and speak. "Every one of us stands alone. Even if Rocks dies, we can still sail the seas by ourselves."

"HAHAHA! Rather than believing in the bond between companions, I believe more in relationships built on profit. They follow me because of profit, so they can never betray me." Rocks knew very well that his crew held no loyalty toward him, but he also firmly believed that profit would keep them united.

"As expected of the most famous pirate on the seas! Your way of thinking is quite interesting too!!" Charlotte Lingling walked straight to the drinking table without hesitation, a smile of approval on her face. "You don't mind adding us to this drinking party, do you!!"

"HAHAHA! That isn't for me to decide. Harald, what do you think!!" Rocks tossed the question to Harald, the king of the giants.

"Many Countries, you're very famous now! The entire sea is spreading word of your wonderful nation. It truly makes one envious!" Harald sighed, his eyes filled with envy.

"Come! Drink with us! Elbaf would be delighted to have another friend!"

Charlotte Lingling smiled. She had already seen that this giant king, Harald, knew absolutely nothing about politics. He actually dared to involve himself with Many Countries at a time like this.

"Harald, you're as stubborn as ever. To get involved with Many Countries at a time like this... it seems you'll never become a member nation." The smile on Rocks's face grew wider and wider until he laughed so hard he began gasping for breath.

Harald looked at Rocks in confusion, completely unable to understand what he meant.

"Rocks, what are you talking about? Why can't I get involved with Many Countries!!"

"You'll have to ask King Charlotte Lingling what she thinks. The first time I heard of Many Countries, I laughed at it as if it were a joke." Rocks stopped smiling. Covering half his face with one hand, red light gleamed from his uncovered eye.

"But as Many Countries grew larger and larger, I realized that something even less tolerable to the World Government than me had been born. That kind of aspiration is far crazier than my ambition."

Charlotte Lingling wore a calm smile, yet she looked at Rocks with puzzlement. "Is a dream where everyone no longer goes hungry and can eat their fill really so difficult to achieve?"

"In a world with such abundant resources, isn't it what's truly abnormal that people still go hungry?"

Milim also chimed in with a grin. "That's right. Why do some people always like making others kneel to welcome them?"

"It has no meaning at all, does it?"

Both Rocks and Harald widened their eyes, as though they were looking at something that should not exist in this world.

The mad smile on Rocks's face could no longer be restrained. "So that's what you two think. You're crazier lunatics than I am!!"

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