As the first rays of sunlight slanted across the horizon, all of Elbaf seemed gilded in gold. The colossal tree rose higher than the clouds, its impossibly lush canopy spreading like a vast parasol that blocked out the sky and covered most of the island.
This was Elbaf in winter.
The very top of the tree remained a vibrant green, while its lower branches were blanketed in snow. Every so often, snow slid off the branches like an avalanche.
This wasn't a figure of speech. Snow really did come crashing down from the branches of the Adam Tree like a landslide.
"Whoa, aaaaaah!"
Several figures in white suits, dark ties, and masks ran frantically from the avalanche. They didn't breathe easy until they had put plenty of distance between themselves and the falling snow.
"Sure is just like the Giant Kingdom. Even its avalanches take you by surprise."
"I heard the giants don't welcome outsiders."
"Hmph. Their opinions don't matter. This whole world belongs to us. They're living on our territory without permission and not paying taxes. If you ask me, the Government should send a whole army to wipe these giants out."
"..."
The men in white suits talked in a spot shielded from the light, until their leader spoke up.
"...I'll say it again. Our mission this time is to contact 'Holy Mother' Garumoro and avoid any conflict with the giants."
"What if the Giant Tribe finds us?"
"That won't happen."
The man in the white suit glanced at his subordinate.
"If it does, either kill yourself or kill the giant to silence him. There is no third option."
The man in the white suit, Roke Stuart, was an intelligence agent for the CP Organization. The CP Organization was a secret intelligence agency under the World Government, responsible for investigating every matter in the world.
Unlike CP1 through CP8, the eight divisions operating in the open,
Roke Stuart belonged to CP0.
Directly under the Celestial Dragons, the "World Nobles," CP0 was known as the "strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons" and the "World's Strongest intelligence agency."
As for why Roke Stuart was in Elbaf,
it was because he'd received word
that the pirate crew that had opposed the CP Organization for decades
—the White Wolf Pirates—had disbanded!
When Roke Stuart first heard the news, he thought White Wolf Moger had deliberately planted the rumor to throw them off the scent.
After all, the White Wolf Pirates had messed with the CP Organization more than once.
They'd disbanded in public.
Who knew what schemes they might be hiding behind the scenes?
But after they went six months without hearing anything from the White Wolf Pirates, Roke's initial suspicion gradually turned into certainty.
White Wolf Moger had really retired!
Once the news was confirmed, the CP Organization's intelligence agents celebrated wildly.
You know how it is?
The White Wolf Pirates were always beating up their intelligence agents. And they had nothing to lose, so threats meant nothing to them.
The White Wolf Pirates traveled all over the world.
These intelligence agents took years just to build a spy network. Without a powerful superior to back them up, all they could do when the White Wolf Pirates came after them was swallow their anger.
After causing trouble, the White Wolf Pirates would just dust themselves off and leave, dumping a whole mess in their laps.
Overtime was exhausting!
Roke Stuart had come to Elbaf to make one last test of the White Wolf Pirates. If he could accomplish the goal of this mission, it would prove that the White Wolf Pirates were no longer a threat.
Many plans that had been shelved could now be put back into motion.
Their goal was to renew their partnership with "Holy Mother" Garumoro. Thirty years ago, it should have been the CP Organization helping Garumoro build ties with the Giant Tribe.
But then Moger showed up and stole the Navy's prize.
The CP Organization and the Navy both belonged to the World Government, but as rival arms of its military, there was still some competition between them.
Still, the Navy operated in the open, while the CP Organization's work was far more underhanded.
Espionage was only the beginning.
The CP Organization was also involved in dealings such as smuggling, arms trafficking, and human trafficking.
If they could recruit a large number of homeless orphans whose identities and origins couldn't be traced from the orphanage Garumoro had established, it would greatly benefit the CP Organization's intelligence network.
Roke Stuart had always suspected that "Holy Mother" Garumoro was in league with White Wolf Moger. Every time they tried to use Garumoro to establish connections, the White Wolf Pirates ruined their plans.
But if Garumoro really was in league with the White Wolf Pirates, why would the pirates protect a slave trader who sent orphans to the Navy as recruits?
So the CP Organization had kept records on all the Navy personnel who had come from Home of Lambs. If they ever found a link to the White Wolf Pirates, they would show no mercy.
But thirty years had passed.
The White Wolf Pirates had disbanded, and they still hadn't found anything suspicious about those orphans.
"What a shame."
Roke Stuart sighed. It was a shame that every member of the White Wolf Pirates had their own tricks for dealing with the CP Organization's pursuit.
For six months, they hadn't found a single member of the White Wolf Pirates.
"According to the intelligence, the Giant Tribe is celebrating the Winter Solstice Festival right now. During this time, the giants of Elbaf will be less active and fast for twelve days."
"This is our chance!"
Though Roke Stuart had brought only three CP0 companions with him, every member of CP0 was strong enough to take on a thousand men.
Roke Stuart planned to abduct all the children from Home of Lambs and show Garumoro their strength. He would use it to threaten and warn her.
He would tell her that if she wanted Home of Lambs to keep operating, she had to do business with them.
Though he claimed they couldn't expose themselves, Roke Stuart hadn't really considered the clumsy giants a threat.
In a one-on-one fight, ordinary giants were no match for them.
They'd be nothing but targets.
Besides, after fasting for twelve days, the giants would surely be weak. Even if they were discovered, the agents could leave at their leisure.
The plan was foolproof.
In the dark of night, the giants on watch could never spot CP0, whose members didn't even reach their knees. And the agents were much stronger, too.
Unless...
"Unless the White Wolf Pirates are living right here in Elbaf."
"But how could that be?"
Startled by the thought, Roke Stuart shook his head.
They'd spent so much effort earning the giants' trust in Garumoro.
How could a bunch of pirates from the White Wolf Pirates have managed that?
They easily slipped past the giants on watch and entered the giants' village.
Home of Lambs was just ahead.
Just as Roke Stuart signaled for them to grab the children from Home of Lambs,
a puzzled voice sounded from above them.
"Hm? Who are you?"
Monger, who was helping the giants keep watch, sat on a branch of the Adam Tree.
He looked down.
"Oh, it's you lot. CP0's little rats!"
Before you continue