Elbaf!

Marine Era 1460, June.

Elbaf.

This is a Giant Kingdom located in the latter half of the New World.

For adventurers who have traveled a long distance.

The first thing they see upon arriving at the Isle of Giants for the first time is an incredibly towering Giant Tree, as if it were supporting the heavens and the earth.

Adam Tree!

"So, so big!"

He originally thought it was just an ordinary large tree. It wasn't until after sailing for a day and a night and nearing their destination that Rocks understood. It wasn't that the Adam Tree wasn't big, but rather that they had been too far away from it before.

Only when you get truly close do you realize.

Why they say the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf is a nation built on trees.

"Haha, you're shocked, aren't you? I was shocked the first time I came here too."

Rocks now is just a novice pirate brat. Both his vision and strength are far from what they will be in the future.

Gazing at the towering Giant Tree, a hint of nostalgia flashed in Mongge's eyes.

The last time he came here was ten years ago.

"Let's go. If we're lucky and a rainbow forms, we can head straight to the Giant Village. But if you want to have a couple of drinks at a tavern on the coast, I don't mind either, haha."

In this world, nations are broadly divided into two types.

Government Affiliated Nations.

And Non-Government Affiliated Nations.

Government Affiliated Nations must abide by the laws issued by the World Government and obtain the World Government's protection by submitting "Celestial Gold" to them.

Non-Government Affiliated Nations are countries that do not pay "Celestial Gold," or cannot afford to pay it.

In this world where oceans cover over 90% of the surface, travel between different countries is entirely by Sailing Ship. The flourishing maritime trade naturally attracted a large number of outlaws.

Although Mongge considers himself more of an adventurer than a pirate, subjective reality and objective reality always have their discrepancies.

In short, he is now one of those outlaws in people's eyes.

And the natural nemesis of these outlaws is the Marines!

The Marines are an organization under the World Government.

Any country that pays "Celestial Gold" receives protection from the Marines.

So the question arises, what about those who don't pay?

These countries become lawless lands, paradises for pirates.

Of course, there are exceptions.

For example, the Land of Giants, Elbaf!

The Land of Giants, Elbaf, is a Non-Government Affiliated Nation and naturally does not have the protection of the Marines. However, its powerful national strength deters most ordinary pirates from daring to approach.

Ultimately, pirates are mostly bullies who prey on the weak.

"Hey, is Balder home?"

After docking their Sailing Ship, Mongge led Rocks to the outside of a tavern on the coast of Elbaf. The tavern door alone was a full twenty meters high. Compared to it, Mongge and Rocks, two normal-sized humans, looked like dwarves.

"Balder? You mean Dad?"

Mongge's response was not the gruff voice he remembered, but a girl's voice. A round-faced girl with orange eyes, light blonde hair, and a few freckles on her face pushed the door open.

But when she looked outside, she saw no one.

"Hey, over here, over here!"

Only when Mongge's voice rang out, and she saw the two tiny figures waving at her feet, did the girl realize: "You guys are... people from outside?"

The term "girl" is relative. To the Giant Tribe, the girl before them was undoubtedly a giant to Mongge and Rocks.

Her height alone exceeded fifteen meters. When she pushed the door open, the gust of air she generated almost blew the two of them away.

Suddenly, Mongge seemed to remember something.

"Hey, aren't you Mado? It's me, your Uncle Mongge. Did you forget me? If you really did, I'd be very sad!"

If Mongge remembered correctly, the girl before him was Mado, the daughter of the tavern owner Balder. When he came ten years ago, he frequented the tavern often, and most of the time he would tell stories to this girl, who was only twice his height back then.

Finally, Mado seemed to recall something, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.

"You're Uncle Mongge? You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you."

"Puhahaha, people age so quickly when they let themselves go. In a few more years, let alone you, I won't even recognize myself."

Mongge burst into laughter at Mado's words.

There is a peculiar phenomenon in this world: people who hold onto their dreams and don't give up don't change much even as they age.

But those who lose their dreams or go astray undergo significant changes in their spirit and appearance.

It's said that appearances are born from the heart.

Without the system, seeing no hope, even if Mongge hadn't died at Farrell's hands, he probably would have truly become a decrepit old man within a few years.

But now, although Mongge is still old, his spirit and energy are completely different.

"Uncle Mongge, come in quickly. I'll mix you a cup of our Elbaf specialty, 'Green Fairy.' You must not have had it in a long time, right?"

"Hey, hey, hey, I just got here, and you want me to lie on the ground for two days, little Mado?"

Mongge laughed twice, then pulled Rocks over.

"Let me introduce you. This is my new crewmate I just found. He's still a stinking brat who hasn't grown up. I reckon I'll be staying in Elbaf for a while, so please take good care of him."

"I'm not some stinking brat!"

"You haven't even mastered Haki, so what are you if not a stinking brat?"

Facing Rocks' retort, Mongge unceremoniously patted Rocks on the head, which Mado clearly saw as a sign of closeness.

"Hehe, if Father knew, he would definitely be very happy."

Mado smiled sweetly, then peeked out.

"Oh right, where are Lily and the others?"

"Them."

Mongge smiled helplessly. "A while ago, I disbanded my pirate crew. Everyone's gone their separate ways now."

"Compared to your Giant Tribe's lifespan, ours is too short. The time we can fight is also much shorter."

"As you can see, I'm an old man now."

Mongge raised his arm. The once muscular limbs were now shriveled, and he had lost more than a circle around his waist compared to before.

Hearing Mongge's words, Mado couldn't help but lower his head.

"Sorry."

"Haha, don't worry about such small things. Look, aren't I setting sail again?"

Mongge chuckled. While his muscles now might not be at their peak, they were much firmer than they had been just over a month ago.

Perhaps this was the benefit of increased cell activity.

"By the way."

Looking around and seeing no one else in the tavern, Mongge had Mado lean in and asked conspiratorially, "Little Mado, have you guys chopped any branches from the Adam Tree recently?"

In Elbaf, the Adam Tree is also called the sacred tree and cannot be easily felled.

But there are always exceptions.

For instance, during thunderstorms, if lightning ignites the Adam Tree, the burning part is cut down to prevent the fire from spreading to other branches.

If one is lucky, some might remain.

"Well..."

Hearing Mongge's question, Mado's face showed a troubled expression.

"Should I tell him or not."

This demeanor was exactly like Mado's father, Baldr.

"Mado, you've become naughty."

Seeing Mado's reaction, Mongge put on a look of heartbroken disappointment.

"Go on, what do you want?"

"Heehee, as long as Uncle Mongge has free time, just tell me your stories after you left."

Hearing Mado's words, Mongge pretended to hesitate for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

"Deal!"

Then, Mongge learned from Mado that Elbaf indeed had a batch of Adam Tree branches recently salvaged from a large fire.

Even though they were just branches, as long as one knew that the entire Elbaf was built upon the Adam Tree, they would understand that these so-called branches were much thicker in diameter than ordinary hundred-year-old trees.

However, knowing that such a batch of Adam Wood existed and how to obtain it were two entirely different levels of difficulty.

After all, the Giants never sold branches of the Adam Tree. Even these salvaged branches were mostly used in their most important annual sacrificial ceremonies.

Stealing was out of the question, unless Mongge wanted to make enemies of the entire Giant Tribe of Elbaf.

If the Giants had no desires, even Mongge would be powerless.

But Mongge knew what the Giants currently wanted.

And coincidentally, he had a way to help them achieve that wish.

"Haha, anyway, since I've finally come to Elbaf, I must drink my fill. Little Mado, if a rainbow appears, remember to remind me."

The entire Elbaf was divided into three layers: upper, middle, and lower.

The uppermost layer was the Heavenly Realm, the middle layer was the Sunny Realm, and the lowest layer was the Underworld.

Mongge and the others are currently on the lowest level.

Because the Adam Tree's canopy is too dense and blocks the sunlight, very few plants grow in the Underworld where they are now, making it unsuitable for living.

So, the giants generally live in the canopy where sunlight reaches, which is the Sunny Realm.

And to get from the Underworld to the Sunny Realm, one needs to take a special kind of Rainbow Bridge.

However, as Mongge said.

Since they came all the way to Elbaf, they should definitely have a good drink.

Haste makes waste.

They've managed all these years, so a few more days won't matter.

"Oh, right."

Remembering something else, Mongge quickly asked, "Little Mado, is Carmelo still in Elbaf?"

The proof that the future Four Emperors remained on this island was the Holy Mother Carmelo, a woman who commanded considerable prestige even among giants.

However, compared to how long the giants had known Carmelo, Mongge had known her for much longer, and he was very aware of her other side.

"Are you talking about Sister Carmelo? She's still..."

Mado was halfway through her answer when the door to the Tavern was pushed open again.

A spirited, wild-looking girl walked in.

"Mado, give me a Green Fairy!"

"Coming right up."

Mado quickly nodded, then gestured to Mongge and Rocks.

"Sister Lipri, be careful. There are two younger guests here. And don't go smashing things when you're drunk, or you'll get scolded."

Mado chattered on, not noticing that the Sister Lipri she mentioned froze upon seeing the little people at a nearby table.

Mongge, sitting at the table, saw the girl who burst in and greeted her, "Yo, Lipri, long time no see!"

"Mongge?"

Lipri blinked in surprise upon seeing Mongge, then the next second, she clenched her fist.

"You old geezer."

"Long time no see, my ass!"

"You promised you'd let me on your ship when I grew up, and it's been ten years!!!"