Chapter 290: Prince Regent? Harald's Upheaval
Yes.
When Saul and Biblo brought Uma into the library, casually using a 'Sun Stone' to draw a rainbow bridge, Uma had obtained information from the Fruit Encyclopedia.
The Sun Stone, this ore unique to Elbaf that could create a 'rainbow bridge' in the air, contained Source Energy of Lineage Factor.
Although the amount was minuscule, it was already enough for Roy to confirm—he hadn't come to the wrong place.
"The origin of the Sun Stone?"
Hearing Uma's question, the Giants were collectively stunned.
Then—
"Gabababababa—the Sun Stone naturally comes from the 'Tree'!"
Brogy laughed and answered.
"The Tree?"
Uma was also taken aback—he had originally expected Saul to be the one to answer this question.
But clearly, the answer was no secret in Elbaf.
"That's right."
At this moment, Dorry picked up the conversation.
"The Sun Stone is a precious tool that we residents of Elbaf use daily. It is centrally mined and managed by warriors under the royal family's leadership, then distributed to the various villages."
"We heard Chief Jarul mention that it's mined near the 'Spring of the Underworld' Hvergelmir in the 'Underworld'. It's said to be a creation left behind after the roots of the World Tree near that spring dried up."
Speaking of this, Dorry also laughed heartily with a "Gegyagyagyagya": "But we don't know the specific details—not many people in Elbaf care about these things."
Uma: "..."
This was indeed the Giant race's style.
However, from Brogy and Dorry's explanation, he had at least obtained enough information.
"Spring of the Underworld... Hvergelmir?"
He softly repeated the name: "Can you take me there to have a look?"
But before Dorry and Brogy could reply, the warrior named Chiba answered first.
"That's highly unlikely, Lord Uma."
His words were very respectful and gentle, showing no trace of the combative bearing from when he had swung his hammer earlier.
The reason was simple—Elbaf respects the strong.
Although Uma hadn't truly launched an attack against him, and even now Chiba didn't quite understand what the other party had done, the result was undeniable.
His war hammer was destroyed by Uma in an instant, and he himself lost the ability to resist in a split second—if Uma had wanted to kill him, he would undoubtedly be dead.
He acknowledged his defeat, so he naturally showed respect.
"Although strong warriors are allowed to go to the Underworld to 'hunt', the Spring of the Underworld 'Hvergelmir' is classified as a restricted area because it leads to the roots of the 'World Tree'. Besides the royal family, very few people know its specific location, and no one is allowed to enter privately."
"Coupled with the recent 'earthquakes' and the intruder who landed in the Underworld not long ago—Prince Regent Hajrudin has issued an order. The inspections for entering the Underworld have been very strict lately."
He explained quite methodically.
After hearing this, Uma didn't speak immediately.
But inwardly, Roy was somewhat exasperated.
Although he had already heard Saul and Biblo discuss Elbaf's recent situation when entering the Owl Library, and had even checked some information regarding Elbaf through Marine channels, he couldn't help but grumble to himself.
First were the 'earthquakes' and the intruder—of all times, Elbaf happened to be experiencing such abnormalities right when he arrived.
He wasn't entirely sure who that intruder was.
But he could imagine—the entirety of Elbaf was built upon the 'Treasure Tree Adam'. This tree was the territory of the Country of Giants, the lifeblood of all Giant nations.
And the Spring of the Underworld Hvergelmir, as the gateway to the roots of the Treasure Tree Adam, being strictly guarded under the current circumstances was not surprising at all.
But the key was...
"Rayleigh said that Madam Shyarly of Fish-Man Island once made a prophecy. In the prophecy, Elbaf, Amazon Lily, and Fish-Man Island all 'disappeared' from the sea."
Roy knew very well that Madam Shyarly's prophetic ability was genuine.
So he strongly suspected now—the current 'earthquakes' in Elbaf and that intruder were most likely the causes that would lead to Elbaf's disappearance.
And he had happened to land on this island right at this time.
Besides that, what surprised Roy even more was...
"Prince Regent Hajrudin?"
Roy almost suspected he had misheard.
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Chiba looked at Uma with some confusion: "You didn't know? He is His Majesty Harald's second son, currently the administrator of Elbaf."
Of course I didn't know.
Roy thought to himself.
"Sure enough, it must be because of Rocks... the Elbaf plotline has changed."
He had long suspected as much.
Through Marine channels, he had found some information about Elbaf. The most crucial piece was intelligence regarding the previous king, Harald.
[The previous king of the Country of Giants, Harald, mysteriously disappeared thirty-one years ago]
Yes.
In the Marines' intelligence, the previous king's ending was not 'killed by his son' as in the original story, but 'disappeared'.
And Roy could roughly guess the reason.
Based on Rocks' final drinking party in Linlin's memory, Rocks had scheduled his farewell banquet in Elbaf, seemingly in connection with a certain 'figure' within the country.
Rocks said he entrusted that figure to inform Harald of the world's truth, hoping the king would change his mind and no longer serve the World Government.
And this clearly had an effect—Harald's ending shifting from 'death' to 'disappearance' was the obvious butterfly effect of this matter.
But the crux of the problem was...
"Why is Hajrudin the Prince Regent? What about Loki?"
This was something Roy had never heard of.
After all, Elbaf was not an affiliated nation of the World Government. On top of that, Elbaf itself required 'Sun Stones' to pass through the rainbow bridge into the Sun Realm, and its location was deep in the second half of the New World.
So in reality, the intelligence coming out of Elbaf was quite limited.
Although there were Giant Vice Admirals within the Marines, they had generally joined after the era of Mother Carmel.
Just like Dorry and Brogy, Giants didn't have the concept of returning home every so many years.
So almost all the Giant Vice Admirals hadn't set foot in Elbaf since enlisting.
This directly meant that the Marines internally didn't actually know much about the state of the Country of Giants in recent years.
However, although he didn't know the country's current affairs, Roy did know about Hajrudin.
He was King Harald's second son, and in the original story, one of the subordinates of the current Nika, Luffy.
His strength could only be considered mediocre among the Giants—at least compared to his older brother, the Cursed Prince 'Loki', there was a difference of at least a hundred million Usopps between them.
In Elbaf, where strength is paramount, Roy truly couldn't understand why Hajrudin had ultimately taken on the position of 'Prince Regent'.
"Prince Loki?"
Upon hearing Uma's inquiry, Chiba didn't hesitate: "Since His Majesty Harald disappeared, Prince Loki voluntarily took charge of being the 'Guard' stationed at the Spring of the Underworld, responsible for protecting the roots of the World Tree. He is the current 'King of the Underworld'."
He briefly explained the situation.
Just as mentioned before, the Spring of the Underworld 'Hvergelmir' is the entrance leading to the roots of the World Tree—a forbidden area in Elbaf.
So every generation of the royal family would dispatch powerful royal warriors to be stationed at Hvergelmir.
Although ordinary Giants didn't know what had happened, they did know that since Harald's sudden disappearance thirty years ago, the brothers Loki and Hajrudin seemed to have reached some sort of tacit agreement—Loki went to Hvergelmir to serve as its guard, while Hajrudin became the Prince Regent responsible for governing Elbaf.
"I understand..."
Hearing this, Uma stopped asking.
But inwardly, he was almost certain—the brothers Loki and Hajrudin definitely knew something.
Therefore...
"Mr. Brogy, Mr. Dorry."
After this thought crossed his mind, Uma finally spoke.
"How is the matter my colleague entrusted to you two previously progressing?"
"Do I have the qualification to pay a visit to that Prince Regent Hajrudin?"