"Is that true?" Dorry and Brogy leaned in close to Shirakawa, panting. Visible plumes of white breath shot from their nostrils.
"Of course it's true. That news is hardly a secret in the New World."
"Then what about the two elders, Jarul and Jorul?" Brogy's voice was frantic with worry.
"I don't know either. After the Elbaf village was wiped out, no word has come out at all." Shirakawa spread his hands, indicating he had no answers now.
"Damn it… if only I'd been in the village…" Dorry slammed the ground twice with his fists, a look of bitter remorse twisting his face. Tears streamed from both eyes.
"Who? Who destroyed my village? I'll find them and make them pay!" A red murderous aura erupted from Brogy's body. It was a stark reminder of just how many lives they must have taken in the past—they were certainly no strangers to bloodshed.
"Yeah, who did it? Tell us. We'll avenge them."
"You can't do it. Not with just the two of you." Shirakawa hit them with the brutal truth, no mercy. As things stood now, even he wasn't certain he could match that person—unless he went all out and fought to the death.
"Then at least tell us their name."
"She is called Charlotte Linlin. A great pirate who roams the New World."
"Charlotte Linlin… Charlotte Linlin…" The two silently repeated the name over and over, determined to carve it into their memory.
"Not to discourage you two, but even if you trained for another twenty or thirty years, you'd still be no match for that monster."
"Then what should we do?" Dorry and Brogy sank into bewilderment.
They believed Shirakawa's words. Wiping out the giant village was a feat the two of them could never hope to achieve alone.
"Simple. Join me, and I'll help you get your revenge." Shirakawa's words were an enticement, though they were less a temptation and more a promise. After all, if he were to enter the New World in the future, he would inevitably clash with the entrenched powers there.
"Why does it have to be us?" Dorry asked him again.
"Because I have no intention of letting a fighting force as powerful as the giants slip through my fingers. I want you two to rally the remaining giants and rebuild the Giant Warrior Pirates."
Hearing this, Dorry and Brogy felt their resolve waver. The average lifespan of a giant was between three and four hundred years. The two of them still had more than half their lives ahead, and they had no desire to waste away the rest of their days on this island.
"Let us think it over." Dorry finally spoke.
"Fine. I'll give you a few days. Conveniently, we're rather curious about this island ourselves. We can stay here a little while."
After that, Dorry and Brogy departed, apparently heading to the other side of the island to discuss their future.
"Captain, are you really going to recruit those two giants?" Riddle asked once Dorry and Brogy were far in the distance.
"Why?"
"Just like I explained to them earlier. In the New World, we'll need the strength of the giants."
"Aren't you afraid that when they're sleeping, they'll roll over and crush you to death?"
At those words, black lines instantly streaked down Shirakawa's forehead. The other crew members mirrored the expression. No one had expected Riddle to come up with such a bizarre question.
Only Moore was also looking forward to Shirakawa's answer, because he too was currently a man without much strength.
"They won't be on the same ship as us."
"Oh, I see. That's a relief then." Riddle and Moore let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Riddle?"
"Hmm? What is it, Captain?"
"Have I been a little too gentle with you these past few days? It kind of feels like you're not afraid of me anymore."
Shirakawa vaguely recalled how Riddle had been when he first boarded the ship: that timid, obsequious manner, where if Shirakawa pointed east, Riddle wouldn't dare go west, and if Shirakawa spoke, Riddle wouldn't dare talk back.
"Not at all, Captain! In my heart, your image has always been towering and magnificent." Riddle placed one hand over his chest and stretched the other grandly toward the distance, as if proclaiming the depths of his devotion to Shirakawa.
"Just as I thought. One look at you, and it's clear I've been way too lenient. So I've just decided something."
"What is it?" A bad premonition suddenly swelled in Riddle's chest.
"Since your epithet is 'Tyrannosaurus,' I figure you should have the bearing of a tyrannosaurus."
"What do you mean?"
"There are dinosaurs and ancient creatures all over this island. While we're camped here for the next few days, you can learn a thing or two from them."
"No, Captain! Are you trying to get me killed?!"
Unlike Riddle's wailing, the other crew members burst into roaring laughter at this. Watching a crewmate eat humble pie was apparently a source of great amusement.
Lisa was also deeply interested in the island. It had many plants that could no longer be seen on other islands, some of which could serve as excellent medicinal herbs. She decided to thoroughly investigate the island. As for her safety, Shirakawa wasn't the slightest bit worried.
Not only was she skilled in using poisons, but she also had a personal bodyguard watching over her around the clock. It was unlikely she would run into any real danger here.
"We'll stay on this island for a while. Not just to give Dorry and Brogy time to think, but also to get you all moving and stretch your limbs again."
"What do you mean?" Jora asked Shirakawa.
"Starting tomorrow, Kurodamu and I will put you all through special training, to help you raise your strength a level in the shortest time possible."
"That sounds great," Euristine said.
Sallar's eyes lit up as well. With two masters like them as training partners, it would be a wonder if their strength didn't improve.
"Your current strength is enough for the first half of the Grand Line, but do you know what the New World calls this place? 'Paradise.' I'm sure you understand what the people of the New World mean by that. In their eyes, the people here are like kindergarteners. And as you all know, our destination is the New World. I don't want you to still be at this level when we get there."
Shirakawa ladled out a bowl of motivational chicken soup, hoping to ignite their drive for self-improvement.
"Don't worry, Captain. Once we reach the New World, we'll show them who the real kindergarteners are." Jora's eyes were already blazing with fighting spirit, as if twin flames were burning within them.
"Good. As long as you have that fire, that's all I need. Then starting tomorrow, we begin formal training."
Shirakawa's aim this time was not just to train his crew, but also to ground himself. He had noticed lately that he'd been getting a bit too full of himself, and that was by no means a good sign.
/-\
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