Fang Huo's words quieted the excited Giants for a moment.
These days, the Giant warriors look down on Ida, the foreign dwarf Giantess, and on Hajrudin, the weak Half-blood Prince.
'Since our honored guest has spoken, let us not target Ida and Hajrudin any longer.'
In the end, Elder Yaruru was the first to react, answering solemnly.
Fang Huo had dispelled the curse for Loki and prophesied that Loki would become Elbaf's mightiest king in days to come.
This had swept away every obstacle for the prodigious Loki.
The Half-blood Prince, Hajrudin, would have no further chance to touch the throne.
With that settled, they felt less hostile toward Ida and her son.
Of course, contempt for the weak is an instinct carved into their bones.
Even if the Giants no longer opposed Ida and Hajrudin, they would still despise them in strength.
The Giants most opposed to Ida and Hajrudin had been the high-ranking clansmen from Sake Village.
They feared Harald might enthrone Ida and Hajrudin, threatening Loki's claim.
But now the friends of King Harald and the two Captains, Dorry and Brogy—the world's strongest pirate crew from the outside seas—had openly backed Loki.
With that, they no longer worried Ida and Hajrudin could make waves.
All they needed was to nurture Loki; without the curse, he would smoothly inherit the crown.
'For Lord Fang Huo's sake, Sake Village yields!'
'Lord Fang Huo, our Sake Village is perfect for nurturing new life; your two ladies are welcome to visit or settle here.'
'Indeed, Lord Fang Huo! We brew the finest liquor—it strengthens the body.'
The leaders and powerhouses of Sake Village felt they must honor Fang Huo; after all, he had lifted Loki's curse and endorsed his ascension.
Once the Sake Village Giants spoke up, clans from other villages chimed in.
They had never wanted to meddle in the princes' quarrels, and now that Loki's maternal clan had let go, they had even less reason to target Ida and Hajrudin.
Hearing the Giants' promises, Ida wept with gratitude, and even Hajrudin's heart surged with excitement.
Now they were as awestruck as Loki himself.
Problems King Harald could not solve, Fang Huo had settled with ease.
Gratitude filled their hearts toward him.
The Executives of the Rocks Pirates revered Fang Huo like a god—he had the Giant clans wrapped around his finger.
Stussy's eyes shone with infatuation; her man had effortlessly played the Giants.
'Gahaha, Rocks, one day Fang Huo's standing in Elbaf might mirror what the Rocks Pirates enjoy now.'
'This first mate's prestige will eclipse the Captain's.'
'Once his fame here surpasses Harald's, things will get interesting…'
Golden Lion Shiki chuckled softly at Rocks; even he hadn't expected Fang Huo to become the Giants' 'benefactor' so quickly.
Dispelling the curse for the Cursed Prince Loki—what a grand title and debt of gratitude.
The power to foresee the future and seize every advantage truly lets one do as one pleases, refining and subduing the Giants in an instant.
'worororo, when Harald returns and finds Fang Huo has solved so many troubles for him, won't he be moved to tears?'
Rocks guffawed—so this was Fang Huo's 'commoners encircle the king' scheme.
Win Elbaf's Giants first, win over Loki, Ida, Hajrudin and kin, then leverage them to sway Harald.
And that earlier step—sending them to Small Garden to befriend Dorry and Brogy—had Fang Huo foreseen even this?
Those two Giant Captains' friendship proved invaluable in Elbaf.
Truly, tacticians are scoundrels with filthy hearts!
Luckily Fang Huo was on their side; if he'd been an enemy, the Rocks Pirates would already be finished.
He understood human nature too well.
Had the World Government captured him and placed him at Imu's side, he'd have easily handled the eager Harald.
He might even have had Harald lead Elbaf's Giants to encircle the Rocks Pirates, securing a spot among the allied nations.
Thinking of that, Rocks rejoiced at having hijacked the World Government's tenryuubito tribute battleship and snatching this monster.
—Thanks to Fang Huo's mediation and speech, the banquet's mood soared anew.
With the curse no longer looming and discrimination against Ida the foreign Giantess gone, the clans celebrated as they hadn't since the disaster and prophecy of over a decade ago.
Even Elder Yaruru was moved; the strife within the Giant Race had been resolved by a human.
Fang Huo truly was the Giants' benefactor.
As a transmigrator, Fang Huo saw the clan's problems clearly.
Loki, the prodigious rightful prince, bore the curse his late queen had proclaimed, unsettling hearts and leaving the succession in doubt.
Yet Harald favored his junior wife Ida, showering Hajrudin with favor equal to Loki.
Sake Village's leaders sought to secure Loki's throne, while Harald doted on Ida and Hajrudin—this was the core conflict.
An easy fix, yet these Giants were stubborn to a fault.
Harald lacked resolve; he should have firmly named Loki heir long ago to reassure Sake Village.
Instead, to protect Ida and Hajrudin, he showed them even greater favor.
That eventually drove the Sake Village clansmen to poison Ida in secret, ending any chance of her becoming queen.
The act ignited civil strife, culminating in Loki's destruction of Sake Village—Giant killing Giant.
King Harald, even as Loki slew him, thanked his son for razing Sake Village to avenge Ida.
A thoroughly messed-up ending!
No victors in this farce—
Everyone lost everything.
Now Fang Huo had lifted Loki's curse and declared him Elbaf's future mightiest king—an explicit endorsement of his right to inherit.
Once Sake Village's fears were calmed and Ida and Hajrudin rendered harmless, the pair's awkward position would ease.
Sadly, Harald could not grasp any of this.
He only wished to protect Ida and Hajrudin, unable to fathom the clan's malice toward Ida.
He believed he treated Loki equally, showing no favoritism.
He never realized that, in royal politics, even perceived impartiality is a grave problem.
Factional strife—always been this way!
Yet one can't blame Harald; Giants are blunt by nature.
Even the wisest emperors of Fang Huo's previous world had stumbled over the heir-apparent pitfall.
Not a single 'greatest of all time' could produce a stable crown prince.