On Elbaf.
As Fang Huo put down the transponder snail, Loki couldn't wait to ask about the information he had just heard.
The Celestial Dragons hold a Human Clearing Contest every three years?
His father, King Harald, was actually planning to join the World Government established by such evil scum?
"Loki, in the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, your father is actually just an idiot who delivered himself to their doorstep."
"Your father didn't bother to learn about Elbaf's history or ask the clan elders.
He probably doesn't even know that in the eyes of the World Government, he is a descendant of the'sinful blood' from the defeated nation that followed the sun god nika eight hundred years ago."
"Strength is important, but one needs to have at least a bit of a brain."
Fang Huo spoke very seriously, then unceremoniously moved the entire ancient robot into his Lost World.
With the casual permission of Loki, the Giant Prince, Fang Huo wasn't going to be polite.
Anyway, these reckless Giants didn't understand robots.
"..."
Hearing Fang Huo call his father an idiot, Loki didn't know how to respond for a moment.
However, in Loki's perception, his father, who was 'humbling' himself in the outside world to seek peaceful diplomatic relations, was indeed somewhat pathetic.
"You... can really change all the curses and the future, right?"
Loki lowered his head, his vertical pupils hidden behind the reflection of his glasses, as he sought some kind of comfort from Fang Huo in a low voice.
He didn't want his father to be controlled by the World Government, he didn't want to become a patricide, and he didn't want Ida to be poisoned by her own clan... He wanted to change these curse-like, shitty tragedies.
"I will. I came to this world to change it!"
Fang Huo smiled faintly. As long as he successfully brought Elbaf onto his side, dealing with the World Government and Marineford in the future would be much more stable.
They could completely drive the World Government's influence out of the New World.
They would turn the New World entirely into their own territory, and then continue to expand and develop.
Until they could confront the World Government head-on.
A trace of expectation and longing appeared in Loki's eyes. He once again felt that rare sense of security from Fang Huo.
"Let's go! Let's see if those guys have woken up yet!"
"I wonder if your father has come charging back!"
Fang Huo activated his Gravity Ability and took Loki with him as they jumped from the Sunny World's Sky Realm down to the Surface World.
He wondered if Rocks, once he sobered up and found out that Fang Huo had successfully 'recruited' Redfield, would laugh in pleasant surprise.
However, it was certain that Redfield would harbor some resentment toward him.
He'd have to see how they'd get along in the future.
A crewmate who was both a friend and a rival was barely acceptable.
---In West Village on the Surface World.
Giants from various villages were gradually waking up from their celebratory hangovers.
This grand banquet, held to celebrate Prince Loki breaking the curse and the good news of Dorry and Brogy's safety, was second in scale only to Elbaf's Winter Festival.
The only downside was that King Harald was not present.
Hajrudin, who hadn't been drinking, watched Loki and Fang Huo ascend to the Sky Realm that morning with a bit of envy on his face.
He also wanted a powerful guide, or rather... a confidant-like godfather... Although he was already 29 years old and likely older than Fang Huo, he was still just a youth in Elbaf.
He wondered if Fang Huo would take an interest in him, or if he'd want a Giant foster son... Hajrudin's bloodline and talent weren't very good; at 29, he still couldn't beat the 11-year-old Loki, and he couldn't even compare in size.
But he really wanted to become strong. He wanted to prove to the other Giants that even without inheriting the royal bloodline of the ancient giants, he could still become a powerhouse.
Looking at her son's eyes, how could Ida not know what was on his mind?
She felt a bit self-reproachful and heartbroken; perhaps it was her own dwarf-bloodline as a mixed-blood Giant from the outside world that had ruined Hajrudin's talent.
Hajrudin put in many times more effort than ordinary Giants, yet his strength remained stagnant at a normal level for Elbaf.
He put in multiple times the effort, only to achieve a normal result.
If he didn't work hard, he would be nothing more than a nobody on the side of the road.
Meanwhile, Loki was growing and becoming stronger at a rate visible to the naked eye. He didn't even need to train much; he just had to go to the Underworld and fight some beasts.
If Fang Huo knew about Hajrudin's little thoughts, he would suggest the guy find an Ancient or Mythical Zoan Type Fruit to eat as soon as possible.
That way, he could at least make use of the Giant Race's strength and size.
As for being his foster son, forget it.
Although in the original timeline, Little Oars Jr., who was the same age as Whitebeard Newgate, would call Whitebeard 'Pops'.
But the 72-year-old Whitebeard was already an old man, while a 72-year-old Oars was still just a young lad.
An ancient giant youth who was so moved by Portgas D. Ace giving him a giant straw hat that he was willing to give his life.
In the original plot, the 81-year-old Hajrudin went to Dressrosa wanting to seize the Mera Mera no Mi, only to be beaten down by Straw Hat Luffy first and then turned into a toy by Sugar.
In the end, he almost couldn't beat the Donquixote Executive Machvise, getting his bones crushed by that Paramecia Type Ton-Ton Fruit user.
With this kind of talent, giving him a Logia type would probably be a waste.
A Zoan Type was more suitable for the Giant Race.
---The Rocks crew had just woken up from their hangovers, their eyes still a bit blurry.
When it came to drinking contests with the Giant Race, they really couldn't keep up.
Just as Rocks went to relieve himself, a surge of furious aura came from the sea.
This caused Rocks to shudder mid-stream, after which he looked toward the sea in pleasant surprise.
"Is he finally back! Harald!!"
Rocks instantly perked up. Sure enough, only this Giant, whose strength was on par with his own, could make him excited.
Fang Huo, who had just come down from the Sky Realm, also felt this primitive aura that was no less than Rocks'.
The currently enraged Harald might be even more dangerous than Rocks.
"Your stubborn father is back!"
"Go and calm him down, otherwise the clash between him and Rocks will cause great destruction to Elbaf."
Fang Huo shrugged and spoke to Loki, while also calling for Ida and Hajrudin.
He wanted Harald's wife and sons to go together to cool this guy down.
"gurarara! This aura is indeed terrifying. Is this the peak Haoshoku that even Rocks has never shown!"
Whitebeard Newgate and the others all snapped awake instantly, as if facing a great enemy.
A furious Giant King was no laughing matter.
"Jiehahaha, Elbaf truly deserves its reputation as the world's strongest nation. Their king actually possesses strength as great as Rocks'."
Golden Lion Shiki immediately flew up, quickly pulled out his binoculars, and looked toward the sea, wanting to witness such a monster firsthand.
"As long as Harald gives the word, the Giant Race will definitely stop ostracizing me."
Charlotte Linlin murmured in a low voice. She saw that Fang Huo had already solved Loki's curse problem, so he could surely solve the issue of her accidentally killing Elder Yoruru.
She believed Fang Huo could definitely help her ease the strained relationship with the Giant Race.
Then she could continue making friends with the Giants and attract some to join her Totto Land, creating a beautiful country where all races coexist.
---