The outcome of Rocks's fight against the two CP0 agents was never in doubt.
After ten minutes of fighting, both agents collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Rocks, on the other hand, had only worn himself out.
Still, Rocks wasn't satisfied with his performance.
The two CP0 agents had already been gravely wounded and could barely move, which had given him the chance to wear them down. In the end, his victory hadn't been a true one: once the agents realized they had no chance of escape, they resolutely took a lethal poison.
Mongge hadn't tried to stop them.
Stopping CP0 agents from killing themselves wasn't easy. Besides, he already understood the general situation. The person in charge of the CP Organization believed that with the White Wolf Pirates disbanded, some plans that had been put on hold could be restarted.
It was hardly just Garumoro's side that had changed.
"It's been more than half a year since the crew disbanded."
At first, Mongge had planned to disband the crew and find somewhere to retire. But now that he was no longer able to fight, was he really supposed to risk his life over promises he'd made in the past?
Then the system had appeared and changed everything.
Over the past six months, Mongge had felt his body slowly recovering. His body and skills had come together again, his Conqueror's Haki had awakened, and finally, in his fight against Rona, he'd surpassed his former self completely.
Lipri and Rocks were growing at an astonishing pace, too.
The Grand Line and the Red Line divided the world into four seas: East, South, West, and North. The Grand Line was a ring-shaped stretch of ocean that intersected the Red Line at a right angle. It was also the most wondrous and dangerous sea route in the world.
Some called the first half of the Grand Line a paradise for pirates. Others called it their graveyard.
Either way, the pirates and Marines active in the first half of the Grand Line weren't particularly strong.
The second half of the Grand Line, the New World where Mongge and the others were now, was where the powerful gathered.
Mongge had chosen to stay in Elbaf partly because building a ship from Adam Wood took so long. The wood needed to be dried and treated against rot, and even with the Giant Tribe's craftsmanship, making a single ship took several years.
The other reason was that he wanted to train Rocks and Lipri.
The only way to grow stronger was to fight powerful opponents.
But facing an enemy who was too strong too soon wouldn't be a fight. It would be suicide.
Now, Mongge felt that even Rocks, the weakest of them, was finally good enough to serve as a crew member.
Of course, pride came before a fall.
Until Rocks beat Lipri, he could only be an apprentice.
With three people aboard, someone had to handle the odd jobs, right?
When Mongge and the others brought Geruz and Hajrudin back to Elbaf, the giants welcomed them with open arms.
When they heard that Lipri had gravely wounded three CP0 agents all by herself, the old giant Yoruru was especially delighted. He downed three huge barrels of Green Fairy in a row. Once drunk, he seemed to remember something, blushed, and shouted that he wanted to challenge Mongge to a duel.
Of course, Lipri couldn't let the old man challenge her captain. She promptly knocked Yoruru out, sending him into a baby-like sleep.
At the banquet, Mongge clinked glasses with Harald.
"Harald, I may not be able to keep my promise."
"Oh?"
"I'd planned to stay in Elbaf for two years, until Rocks had grown and Lipri had become stronger, before setting sail again."
Mongge poured liquor into a cup bigger than he was.
"But plans never keep pace with change."
With a laugh, Mongge pointed toward the sea. "The ocean is calling me. The stage is already set for me in this world. If I turn it down, I'd be terribly rude."
Mongge's eyes gleamed.
After his fight with Rona, what he'd done in Elbaf would surely come to light. If the World Government sent a huge army, Elbaf might not be able to withstand the pressure.
After all, those old monsters in the World Government had long been displeased with the giants. They just hadn't made up their minds to act yet.
Mongge didn't want to be the spark that set things off.
Not yet, at least.
"Then what will you do about your ship?"
As the king of Elbaf, Harald could see the same dangers Mongge did. There were simply some things he couldn't say himself.
"I'll leave it with you for now."
Mongge laughed. The Adam Wood ship would take quite a while to build, especially since he wanted a vessel big enough to comfortably accommodate giants like Lipri. That would take even longer.
He hadn't been able to make up his mind before, but after Lipri ate the Mini Fruit, the most pressing problem had been solved.
"I'll just have to ask my old partner to put up with a little more."
Elbaf had no other ships, so Mongge had no choice but to bring out his old companion and ask the Black Pearl to hold on a while longer.
This might be the Black Pearl's final voyage.
"Garumoro, Linlin will stay in Elbaf for now. She's too big to fit aboard the Black Pearl."
Mongge went to find the nun, Garumoro.
"I'll come back for her before the next Winter Solstice Festival in Elbaf."
As long as she didn't go hungry, Charlotte Linlin's Gluttony Disease wouldn't flare up easily. Mongge had wanted to take her along, but given her weight, he was afraid she'd crush the Black Pearl.
The Black Pearl was old enough already. She couldn't take much more abuse.
"Leave her to me."
Garumoro sighed as she looked at Mongge, his beard now white.
She wanted to talk him out of it, but didn't know where to begin.
"Don't die out there."
"Puhahaha! Garumoro, you could die before I ever do."
"...Get lost!"
Garumoro took back the sadness she'd felt a moment ago. This man really was just as annoying as ever!
But before leaving, Mongge took a look at the only task on his system panel.
[Task: Defeat Giant King Harald!] [Unbelievable! The king of the giants of Elbaf is willing to face you in a fair one-on-one duel. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.] [Task Reward: Conqueror's Haki strength increased, Cellular Activity increased. (Incomplete)]
After fighting Rona, Mongge had realized clearly that Haki only grew stronger through fighting powerful opponents.
At his current strength, only the very strongest in the world could put pressure on him.
Ten years ago.
Mongge and Harald had both touched the threshold, but neither had been able to cross it.
Ten years later.
Mongge faced Harald, his Conqueror's Haki surging around him.
"Harald, let's fight!"
"All right!"
Though he loved peace, Harald had never been afraid of a challenge.
The same Conqueror's Haki rose from Harald.
Black and crimson lightning intertwined and clashed.
No one knew who won the fight.
All they knew was that the Underworld of Elbaf shook for three whole days.
Then.
The two bloodied men sat on a leveled mountain, raised their cups, and laughed together.
A week later.
The White Wolf Pirates left Elbaf.
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