Chapter 291: The Death of Harald
Following Luna's formal acceptance of the World Government's invitation, the news of the newest Warlord of the Sea rapidly swept across the globe.
A former bounty of over 200 million Berries placed Luna firmly in the middle tier of the Warlords' ranks. Naturally, some ambitious pirates attempted to use her as a stepping stone to build their own legends, while others paid her ascension no mind. Even among the other active Warlords, very few bothered to publicly comment on the matter.
Even Moria didn't react intensely. He merely accelerated his grand tomb-raiding enterprise, desperately scouring the world for increasingly powerful corpses.
Through sheer, obsessive effort, he eventually struck gold in the frozen wastelands of the West Blue, unearthing the colossal, legendary corpse of Oars the Continent-Puller, a monstrous giant who had terrorized the seas centuries ago.
Meanwhile, after facing down a steady stream of challengers and effortlessly crushing them in a series of brutal battles, Luna firmly secured her throne as a recognized Warlord.
The seas remained in a perpetual state of boiling chaos, still violently churning from the ripples of Roger's dying words.
A little over a year later, in the midst of Sea Circle Calendar Year 1527, at the Ryugu Kingdom's heavily fortified New World branch office...
Douglas Bullet was undergoing his brutal, torturous ascetic training, just as he always did. Earlier this year, he had challenged Nereus to a duel yet again.
However, the agonizing result hadn't changed in the slightest. There seemed to be a terrifying, insurmountable chasm separating the two of them. Nereus had effortlessly crushed Bullet, casually and playfully utilizing the signature techniques of other powerhouses just to mock him.
As Bullet sat cross-legged, sinking deep into meditation to digest his latest defeat and prepare for his next inevitable challenge, an old acquaintance unexpectedly arrived on the island.
"Well, if it isn't Bullet! I hadn't seen any news about you in years. So this is where you've been hiding?"
"Hmph."
Bullet merely let out a cold, dismissive snort. He didn't even bother opening his eyes, completely ignoring Shanks as if the red-haired pirate were a total stranger.
Shanks didn't feel offended in the slightest. Back when they sailed on Roger's ship, Bullet had always possessed this exact, insufferable attitude. Out of the entire legendary crew, Roger was the only person Bullet had ever bothered holding a normal conversation with.
Perhaps it was because Roger was the only man who had ever truly beaten Bullet into total submission.
In Bullet's eyes, the current Shanks was still a weak, nameless nobody. He simply wasn't worth his time.
However, perhaps because he had been sailing and training in utter isolation for so many years, a faint sense of nostalgia for the old days ultimately compelled Bullet to speak just as Shanks turned to leave.
"Did you sail all the way here from the New World by yourself?" Bullet asked, his eyes still closed. "It seems you've grown a bit. Where is that red-nosed brat who used to stick to you like a shadow? Did he finally die?"
"You mean Buggy? Ah, I haven't seen him in quite a while either. We had a bit of a falling out back in the East Blue," Shanks chuckled warmly. "But I'm not sailing alone! I've gathered a crew of incredibly reliable companions. We just temporarily separated because I had some deeply personal business to attend to."
The moment the word "companions" left Shanks's mouth, the brief flicker of conversation instantly died. Bullet's expression turned frigid, and he immediately sank back into his silent, meditative trance, completely shutting the outside world out once more.
Shanks didn't linger. Following the established bureaucratic protocols, he completed the necessary paperwork to formally enter Fish-Man Island.
Caught in the powerful downdraft of the deep-sea currents, the Red Force steadily submerged. The brilliant sunlight of the surface was gradually swallowed by the crushing darkness of the abyss, only to be replaced by the radiant, artificial daylight provided by the Sunlight Tree Eve.
However, this time, Shanks wasn't merely passing through, nor was he here just to ask for Nanamo's autograph for his daughter, Uta.
"I request an audience with His Majesty, the King," Shanks stated at the immigration checkpoint.
"Huh?" the Fish-Man guard blinked.
"It is a matter of absolute importance. I need to speak with His Majesty face-to-face. Please pass along my request."
"Look, buddy, even if you ask politely... that's not something a lowly border guard like me can authorize," the guard replied, exchanging a bewildered look with his partner.
They had never encountered a situation like this. It wasn't that people didn't frequently seek audiences with Nereus, but those individuals usually utilized formal diplomatic channels or possessed direct, personal Den Den Mushi connections. Who on earth just walked up to a random border guard and asked to see the King?
"But..."
"Look over there," the guard sighed, pointing to a small, brightly lit building adjacent to the checkpoint. That was the commercial registration office where merchants applied for trade permits. "If you want to request an audience with His Majesty, go fill out the application forms over there."
"Thank you..." Shanks nodded politely.
As he turned to walk toward the office, Shanks's sharp hearing picked up the guards quietly whispering behind his back.
[Do you think the massive sign on the building isn't eye-catching enough?]
[Maybe there are just too many words on it? You know how it is—most pirates are completely illiterate...]
[Let's file a report later. We probably need to replace the text with simple picture books so they can understand.]
Realizing he was currently being pitied as a tragic illiterate, Shanks felt a profound sense of speechlessness. However, considering the painfully low average educational level of the global pirate demographic, he couldn't exactly blame them for their assumption.
Shanks didn't resort to the crude, violent method of unleashing a burst of Conqueror's Haki to force the higher-ups to come out and meet him. He patiently went through the proper administrative channels.
Although the bureaucracy was slightly slow, it wasn't overly tedious. A few hours later, Shanks found himself escorted directly into the heart of the Ryugu Palace.
"I was told you requested an audience with me," Nereus said smoothly, sitting upon his throne.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Shanks bowed respectfully. "There is a grave matter I must inform you of. Not long ago, Harald, the King of Elbaf... passed away."
[He died at a time like this?]
Shanks's words genuinely surprised Nereus. It wasn't the fact that Harald had died that shocked him, but rather the highly specific, seemingly illogical timing of his death.
When Nereus first arrived in this world, Harald was already an active player in his intelligence reports. Because of this, Nereus had absolutely no meta-knowledge indicating when or how Harald was destined to die in the original timeline.
And based on the intelligence from Elbaf just last year... the geopolitical situation for the Giant Kingdom was phenomenally bright.
The influx of elite Giant warriors joining the Marines had drastically improved the global reputation of the Giant race. After decades of performing highly dangerous, off-the-books black ops for the World Government, Harald was finally reaping the political rewards.
Harald had even been drafting plans to construct a massive luxury cruise ship to open Elbaf to international tourism.
In Harald's own words during their last meeting, Elbaf was terrifyingly close to officially becoming an affiliated nation of the World Government.
Yet, precisely when the situation was at its absolute zenith, news of Harald's sudden death arrived.
Nereus didn't know that all of this was the direct result of Imu's personal, meticulous micro-management.
By personally intervening, Imu had successfully accomplished several goals: violently purging a powerful, dissenting combatant, fabricating a "father-killing traitor," and ensuring Elbaf remained firmly positioned as an isolated, hostile entity against the broader world.
If Imu hadn't intervened and sabotaged the process, the World Government genuinely would have assimilated an incredibly terrifying, unified military force.
"Who killed him?" Nereus asked, his eyes narrowing.
"The situation is incredibly complex. It will take some time to explain properly," Shanks sighed heavily. "Even among the Giants of Elbaf, very few actually know the horrifying truth. But Harald's final, dying wish was to ensure you were informed. He specifically said... 'Your preparations were the correct path.'
"To begin with..."
Shanks rolled up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a highly distinct, intricate brand scarred into his flesh.
"I heard you were present at the God Valley Incident years ago, so I assume I don't need to explain the deeper lore. This mark was personally bestowed by the 'Sovereign' of the World Government.
"It is known as the Shallow Sea Pact. Every single reserve member of the Holy Knights—the 'Holy Blades of the Gods'—bears this exact mark. Harald bore one as well.
"In other words, Harald and I were technically colleagues."
Pausing for a moment, Shanks's expression turned incredibly grim. "But even though it is only the lowest tier of the pact... as long as we remain within His sphere of influence, it is fundamentally, conceptually impossible for us to defy His power.
"It was only when we traveled extremely far away from Mary Geoise that Harald and I could finally converse freely about the truth."
"Far away?" Nereus raised an eyebrow. "Do you believe the distance between Fish-Man Island and Mary Geoise is sufficient?"
"I do. Here in the depths, I cannot feel the suffocating control of the Pact. The combination of ten thousand meters of crushing deep sea and the towering Red Line above seems to be enough—even if Fish-Man Island is located directly beneath Mary Geoise. Or perhaps the abyssal environment naturally shields the telepathic connection? I'm not entirely certain."
While within the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Shanks flawlessly played the role of Saint Figarland Shanks. None of the Celestial Dragons suspected a thing. Only when he was sailing the distant, untamed outer seas did the true Shanks emerge.
It was during these distant voyages that Harald and Shanks had forged a mutual understanding.
"Due to my bloodline, I am officially designated as the absolute first-in-line successor to become a formal, fully initiated member of the Holy Knights.
"The deeper, advanced tiers of the Pact grant unimaginable, terrifying abilities—virtual immortality, hyper-regeneration, and unique spatial teleportation. But the price is absolute, horrific subjugation. The degree of mental control drastically intensifies. No matter where you hide in the world, you cannot escape His absolute command.
"But Harald... Harald was forced to accept it..."
Shanks then recounted the tragic events that had unfolded in Elbaf.
Imu desired to seize absolute, unquestioned control over Elbaf, intending to systematically brainwash the entire Giant race into becoming mindless, disposable biological weapons—or more accurately, slaves of war.
Harald had fiercely refused, but he was completely incapable of resisting the absolute conceptual authority of the Shallow Sea Pact branded into his soul.
To save Elbaf, Shanks and Scopper Gaban had covertly intercepted Harald, engaging him in a desperate battle to stall him long enough. Meanwhile, Harald's son, Loki, finally proved his worth. Earning the absolute acknowledgment of his peers, Loki consumed Elbaf's most ancient, heavily guarded treasure—the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Mythical Type, Model: Nidhogg.
It was a terrifying Devil Fruit whose absolute destructive power scaled exponentially with the sheer physical size of the user.
In the climax of the tragedy, Loki struck down his own father. Harald had managed to briefly wrestle back control of his own consciousness, desperately ordering Loki to deal the fatal blow.
Burying the horrifying truth of the World Government's involvement, Loki voluntarily shouldered the unforgivable sin of patricide. He was currently preparing to set sail as an exiled, infamous rebel to draw the World Government's attention away from his homeland.
Although Shanks didn't know every single minute detail of Imu's grand design, his summary of the events was largely accurate.
The reason Shanks had come to Fish-Man Island to relay this was because, in his final, fleeting moments of lucidity, Harald had imparted a critical message to Loki, who had then entrusted Shanks to deliver it to Nereus.
Adding his own profound geopolitical calculations to the mix, Shanks had decided to lay all his cards on the table.
Shanks possessed the intelligence networks to understand the true history of that era. Among the apex powerhouses of the past generation, the most violent radical (Rocks) was dead, and the most accommodating reformist (Harald) was now also dead.
Nereus was the only true sovereign powerhouse left standing.
"So," Nereus murmured, resting his chin on his hand. "Even though the blood of the Figarland Family flows through your veins... you do not align yourself with the Celestial Dragons?"
"I fundamentally align myself with Captain Roger's philosophy," Shanks smiled softly. "A person is shaped by their environment and the bonds they forge... not by the blood in their veins.
"Oh, by the way! Could you possibly give me a signed record from your daughter? I've got a little girl waiting on my ship who would be absolutely thrilled!"
Moments ago, the atmosphere had been suffocatingly heavy as they discussed the apocalyptic secrets of the world. But the instant Shanks finished his report, he completely relaxed, his demeanor instantly reverting to that of a playful, easygoing pirate as he casually brought up his promise to Uta.
Regardless of the astronomical prices Nanamo's records fetched on the global black market, at the source of production, they were cheaper than cabbage. Especially since the original artist was currently living in the palace, there were massive stacks of unsold records sitting in the royal vaults. A servant swiftly retrieved a complete, premium collector's set and handed it to Shanks.
Shanks didn't linger. His current status in Mary Geoise was officially listed as "Missing," having slipped away without authorization. After his brief visit, he immediately departed Fish-Man Island.
Shanks's visit provided Nereus with an invaluable update to his intelligence network. At the very least, it confirmed a crucial vulnerability: even if someone was bound by the Shallow Sea Pact, they could still be permanently killed.
However, Harald's situation had been highly specific. He had temporarily regained his sanity and explicitly ordered his son to execute him. Other Celestial Dragons bound by the Pact certainly wouldn't actively seek their own deaths, making it highly questionable whether that exact scenario could be reliably replicated in combat.
"Daddy..."
As Nereus was contemplating adjusting his future strategic blueprints, Chloe quietly peeked her head over the back of his throne and whispered into his ear.
She had been hiding in the throne room the entire time Shanks was present, merely remaining perfectly silent so as not to interrupt.
"Who was that?" Nereus asked softly.
"It was a voice from the deep abyss. It seems to have just woken up from a very long nap," Chloe whispered.
"While I was chatting with those massive Sea Kings a while ago, this ancient voice suddenly chimed in. It said that among the Sea King species, there are a few exceedingly rare, highly specialized individuals.
"Based on what it told me... the fangs of those specific Sea Kings possess the unique, conceptual property to physically sever this level of 'Contract'."
As the only known entity outside the Royal Merfolk bloodline capable of freely conversing with Sea Kings through her innate Lunarian telepathy, Chloe's connection with the beasts of the abyss was steadily deepening.
What started as faint, instinctual responses had blossomed into profound acknowledgment. Now, a super-massive, ancient Sea King that had been hibernating on the ocean floor for centuries had actually answered her call.
Furthermore, their communication wasn't mere verbal translation; it was a profound, telepathic resonance of souls.
Because speaking with Sea Kings was absolutely immune to wiretapping, Chloe had frequently asked these living fossils if they knew any ancient secrets regarding the World Government's hidden mechanics. And she had actually received a highly actionable answer.
"Is that so...?" Nereus's eyes widened fractionally as the puzzle pieces violently snapped together in his mind. "Then... certain things make absolute, perfect sense now."
If the Deep Sea Pact was permanently bound to the soul and allowed the user to perfectly regenerate even if blasted to bloody pieces, the Shallow Sea Pact was clearly a vastly inferior, shallower bond.
If it could be forcibly severed through a highly specific, conceptual method... then it perfectly explained the infamous mystery of Shanks's severed arm!
[So he didn't just lose it by accident. He allowed the Lord of the Coast to bite it off specifically to sever the tracking mark of the Shallow Sea Pact!]
"What things make sense?" Chloe asked, tilting her head.
"Nothing important. Just some things that haven't happened yet, but likely will," Nereus smiled, patting her head. "Go play. But remember, keep everything we discussed here an absolute secret from Yamato."
It wasn't that Nereus feared Yamato would maliciously betray them to Kaido. She was actually incredibly pure-hearted. The problem was that she entirely lacked Kaido's cunning intellect.
While she meant well, her sheer, unfiltered stupidity meant she was highly likely to accidentally blurt out world-shattering, highly classified secrets in casual conversation. It was infinitely safer to just keep her entirely out of the loop.
Harald's death remained a closely guarded secret known only to a select few. Although the global reputation of the Giant race had significantly improved due to Harald's diplomatic efforts, Elbaf still maintained an impenetrable aura of terrifying mystery.
In terms of global geopolitical relevance, they still couldn't compare to the explosive popularity of Fish-Man Island. However, it wasn't long before explosive news rocked the Underworld: Prince Loki had formally defected from Elbaf and set sail as a notorious criminal.
Based on his projected trajectory, his pirate crew would arrive at Fish-Man Island in the near future.
Time flowed steadily onward. Shanks successfully returned to the Red Force, reuniting with the companions he hadn't seen in years. The crew threw a massive, raucous banquet to celebrate their Captain's triumphant return.
However, as Uta meticulously inspected the premium, complete set of autographed records Shanks had brought back for her, a deep frown formed on her face.
"Shanks... are you absolutely sure these are authentic, handwritten autographs?" Uta asked suspiciously.
"Of course they are! Her father personally handed them to me! Is there a problem?" Shanks asked, blinking in confusion.
"Hmm... no. I guess my eyes are just playing tricks on me."
Uta carefully put the records away. Regardless of whether the signatures were real or fake, the fact that Shanks had remembered his promise was more than enough to make her happy.
Shanks had absolutely no idea that the vast majority of Nanamo's "autographed" records sold on the global market were actually painstakingly, flawlessly forged by Hermes.
Because Hermes had mass-produced millions of these impeccable forgeries, his version of the signature had essentially become the universally accepted standard. Ironically, when confronted with an actual, genuinely authentic signature from Nanamo herself, the slight, natural variations made it look like a cheap knockoff to a hardcore collector like Uta.
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