When the first rays of sunlight slanted across the horizon, all of Elbaf seemed gilded in gold. The colossal tree towering even above the clouds spread its luxuriant canopy like a heaven-shrouding umbrella, covering more than half the island.
This was Elbaf in winter.
The very top of the great tree remained lush and green, while its lower portions were blanketed in snow. Snow would occasionally slip from its branches, like an avalanche.
That was not a figure of speech. The snow falling from the branches of the Adam Tree truly crashed down like a collapsing mountain.
"Waaahhh!"
Several figures in white suits, dark ties, and masks sprinted wildly beneath the avalanche, only breathing a sigh of relief after running a considerable distance.
"As expected of the Giant Kingdom. Even its avalanches come out of nowhere."
"I heard the giants do not welcome outsiders."
"Hmph. Their opinions do not matter. This whole world belongs to us. They live on our territory without paying taxes. If you ask me, the government should send an army to wipe out these giants."
"..."
The men in white suits discussed the matter from the shadows until the leader finally spoke.
"...Let me reiterate. Our mission this time is to contact 'Mother' Carmel. Any conflict with the Giant race is forbidden."
"What if the giants discover us?"
"That possibility does not exist."
The man in the white suit glanced at his subordinate.
"If that happens, either kill yourself, or kill the giant to silence them. There is no third option."
The man in the white suit, Rock Stuart, was an intelligence agent of the CP Organization. The CP Organization was a secret intelligence agency under the World Government, responsible for investigating all matters across the world.
Unlike CP1 through CP8, the eight divisions openly displayed to the public,
Rock Stuart belonged to CP0.
They answered directly to the "world nobles," the Celestial Dragons. They were known as "the Celestial Dragons' strongest shield" and "the world's strongest intelligence agency."
As for why Rock Stuart had appeared in Elbaf,
it was because he had received word.
The pirate crew that had opposed the CP Organization for decades,
the White Wolf Pirates, had disbanded!
When Rock Stuart first received the news, he thought White Wolf Magnus had deliberately released it as a smokescreen.
After all, the White Wolf Pirates had screwed over the CP Organization more than once or twice.
They had supposedly disbanded on the surface.
Who knew what conspiracy they might be hiding behind the scenes?
However, after receiving no news of the White Wolf Pirates for the past half year, his initial doubts gradually turned into certainty.
That White Wolf Magnus had truly retired!
Once the news was confirmed, the CP Organization's intelligence agents celebrated with joy.
Who could understand their pain?
Whenever the White Wolf Pirates had nothing better to do, they would hunt down and beat up intelligence agents like them. Worse still, they were a bunch of barefooted madmen who feared no threats at all.
The White Wolf Pirates traveled all over the world.
For intelligence agents like them, merely establishing an intelligence network took years. Without a powerful superior overseeing things, they could only swallow their anger when faced with the White Wolf Pirates' abuse.
Every time they caused trouble, the White Wolf Pirates would simply dust themselves off and leave, dumping a complete mess in their laps.
Overtime was exhausting!
The reason Rock Stuart had come to Elbaf was, at its core, one final test of the White Wolf Pirates. If he could achieve this operation's objective, it would prove that the White Wolf Pirates were no longer a threat.
Many plans that had been shelved in the past could now be resumed.
Their objective this time was to renew their cooperation with 'Mother' Carmel. Thirty years ago, the CP Organization had originally been meant to act as the intermediary between Carmel and the Giant race.
Who would have thought that Magnus would show up and let the Marines steal the prize?
They claimed that both the CP Organization and the Marines belonged to the World Government, but as violent organizations under the same government, there was naturally some rivalry between them.
However, compared to the openly righteous Marines, the CP Organization's work was far darker.
Intelligence work was merely the foundation.
The CP Organization was involved in transactions involving smuggling, weapons, and human trafficking.
If they could recruit large numbers of homeless orphans with untraceable identities from the orphanage Carmel had established, it would greatly benefit the construction of the CP Organization's intelligence network.
Rock Stuart had always suspected that 'Mother' Carmel was in cahoots with White Wolf Magnus, because every time they tried to use Carmel as an intermediary, their plans would be ruined by the White Wolf Pirates.
But if Carmel really was colluding with the White Wolf Pirates, what did the White Wolf Pirates gain by protecting a slave trader who sent orphans to the Marines as recruits?
For that reason, the CP Organization had records on every Marine who came from the Orphanage of Lambs. Once they found any clue linking them to the White Wolf Pirates, they would show no mercy.
Yet thirty years had passed.
The White Wolf Pirates had disbanded, and they still had not found anything suspicious about those orphans.
"What a pity."
Rock Stuart sighed. Unfortunately, every member of the White Wolf Pirates had their own methods for evading CP pursuit.
For half a year, they had failed to find a single member of the White Wolf Pirates.
"According to the intelligence, it is currently the Giant race's Winter Solstice Festival. During this period, Elbaf's giants reduce their activities and fast for twelve days."
"This is our chance!"
Although Rock Stuart had brought only three CP0 companions with him, every CP0 agent possessed the strength to fight a thousand men alone.
Rock Stuart intended to abduct all the children from the Orphanage of Lambs, demonstrate his strength to Carmel, and use that to threaten and warn her.
He would tell her that if she wanted the Orphanage of Lambs to continue operating, she had to make a deal with them.
Though he claimed they could not expose themselves, Rock Stuart had never truly regarded those lumbering giants as a threat.
In a one-on-one battle, ordinary giants were no match for them.
They would only become targets.
Not to mention that after fasting for twelve days, the giants would surely be weakened. Even if the giants discovered them then, they could still leave at their leisure.
The plan was foolproof.
In the darkness of night, the giants standing watch could never notice CP0 agents who did not even reach their knees, much less agents who were stronger than them.
Unless...
"Unless a member of the White Wolf Pirates lives in Elbaf."
"But how could that be possible?"
Startled by his own speculation, Rock Stuart shook his head.
They had spent so much effort before Carmel earned the giants' trust.
How could a group of pirates from the White Wolf Pirates accomplish that?
They easily bypassed the giants on watch and entered the giants' village.
The Orphanage of Lambs was within reach.
Just as Rock Stuart made a hand signal and prepared to abduct the children of the Orphanage of Lambs,
a puzzled voice rang out above them.
"Hm? Who are you?"
Magnus, who had been helping the giants keep watch, sat on a branch of the Adam Tree.
He looked down.
"Oh, so it's you lot—the little rats of CP0!"
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