"Your Excellency, what is the meaning of this?"
Crocodile's words enraged the giants.
They felt they had been threatened, that their warrior souls had been insulted. To giants like them, a warrior's honor was something even more precious than life. Even though the aura radiating from Crocodile was enough to chill the heart, not a single one of them was afraid.
Crocodile froze for a moment. He had not expected things to turn out like this.
At that moment, Roldy 's large hand suddenly landed on his head, gently pulling him back.
Roldy stepped in front of Crocodile, the same smile still on his face as he looked at the giants, whose emotions had clearly grown agitated.
As expected.
This was exactly the kind of king's army he wanted!
"Everyone, I think you may have misunderstood. Little Croc meant that this matter is a private grudge between us. That man named Gaban once had a feud with me out at sea. We have no intention of disrespecting Elbaf. However, I would also ask all of you not to interfere in this matter."
As Roldy spoke, a trace of Conqueror's Haki spread from his body.
Conqueror's Haki would make living beings feel instinctive fear. Coupled with the fact that Roldy 's words had given the giants face, the looks in the eyes of these huge fellows gradually returned to normal.
Yelbarg hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
He knew the relationship between the human named Gaban and Ripley. A proud female warrior had met a man capable of defeating her, and naturally, feelings had begun to grow. Barring any surprises, the two of them would eventually get married.
In other words, this was their personal affair.
"Very well! But please restrain yourselves. If the houses are destroyed, rebuilding them will take quite a bit of effort!"
Yelbarg said this as the village chief. He had some prestige, and he led the others back toward the bonfire to continue dancing.
However, no one's heart was really in it.
A living creature's instinct—to watch the drama unfold—was on full display at this moment. Everyone secretly paid attention to what was happening over here.
Roldy did not mind.
His figure flashed, and in the next instant, he appeared in front of the injured Gaban.
"Gahahaha! The once-famous left hand of the Pirate King has ended up like this. Well? Has this comfortable life worn away your fighting spirit? Gaban, some things aren't so easy to turn the page on!"
As though performing a magic trick, Gaban's axe had appeared in Roldy 's hand at some unknown point.
Roldy held it like an adult holding a child's toy.
Gaban could not see even the slightest hope of victory.
"Bastard, stop!"
The bodies of giants were extremely powerful, and Sheen had ultimately held back somewhat with that punch. Ripley stood up again. Furious, she tried to step forward and stop him once more.
However, the shadow beneath her became the accomplice that bound her.
Countless shadow bats surged out of that enormous shadow, restraining Ripley tightly.
"Kishishishishi! Old-era figures are settling their grudges. This isn't something you're qualified to interfere in!"
Moria, looking like a demon, sat with one leg crossed over the other, watching the scene with great interest.
"Don't hurt her! You can take my life!"
"Oh? You've actually fallen in love? Gaban, you bastard! She's a giant. Isn't the size difference between the two of you a little too huge?"
Roldy felt as though his worldview had been refreshed once again.
He stared blankly at Gaban, then turned back with suspicion to look at the female giant.
That was right. Their height difference was more than sevenfold! Gaban probably did not even reach her calf, did he?
This…
"Shut up. Someone like you wouldn't understand! This is love!"
Gaban snorted coldly and turned his head away.
"No!"
Tears streamed from the female giant's eyes. She angrily tried to get up, but Moria's Devil Fruit ability was now extremely well developed. The restraints formed from shadows were not something she could break free from easily, especially since she did not possess Haki.
Looking at this couple, whose relationship was enough to shatter common sense, Roldy smacked his lips.
"Forget it. We've made enough of a scene."
"Well then, leave behind your left arm. Consider it keeping Rayleigh company."
Roldy tossed Gaban's axe back to him.
Gaban froze.
It was not that he could not accept it. Rather, he had not expected Roldy to ask only for one arm. This price was far too light.
When had this brat changed his temperament?
"Thank your captain, Gaban. This is what that man's backbone earned for you former Roger Pirates."
Roldy did not make things difficult for him.
Gaban was also quite decisive. Afraid that Roldy would change his mind, he immediately used his remaining axe to chop off his own left arm.
The intense pain made his face go pale.
However, this was already the best possible outcome. Not only had he preserved his life, but…
Well, he also no longer needed to spend effort forging another axe.
Damn it!
Was that supposed to be something worth being happy about?
Gaban cursed inwardly.
Beside them, Moria also released his restraints. Ripley hurriedly rushed over to Gaban, using her towering body to shield him behind her.
"Enough. I didn't come here for you this time. With your weight, Gaban, you aren't worth making a special trip for."
Perhaps because he had just escaped death, or perhaps because heroes of the sea were simply like this, after briefly bandaging his wound, Gaban pushed aside Ripley's huge hand blocking him and walked over to Roldy 's side.
As for this old enemy, whose grudge with him had lasted for more than ten years, even if Gaban was unwilling to admit it, he still admired such a man in his heart.
Roldy possessed everything a hero of the sea should have.
Even Roger, in private, had been full of praise for Roldy .
Gaban did not demand an explanation for his former comrades who had died at Roldy 's hands. That would have been foolish. They had killed many of Roldy 's subordinates as well. Men who sailed the sea had long been prepared for such things.
Even an Emperor as fiercely protective as Whitebeard was no exception.
"So, Roldy , why exactly did you come here this time?"
Gaban asked in confusion.
"To become stronger. Don't forget, giant blood flows in my body too!"
"Huh? You came for the one and only cleansing ceremony slot in the Giant Kingdom?"
Gaban was surprised by this.
Roldy , however, was even more surprised than he was.
He looked Gaban up and down. It seemed the Roger Pirates really did have something to them. They had sailed around the world, so naturally, they had also come to the Giant Kingdom. They knew quite a bit about such hidden matters.
"Tell me about it."
Roldy casually tossed over an enormous cigar.
Gaban did not mind in the slightest. He hugged the cigar, which was half the size of his own body, and began puffing on it fiercely.
"Whew! For something like this, you should go to the royal family of the Giant Kingdom. If I remember correctly, that legendary Giant King had a younger brother. He definitely knows the truth."
"Gahahaha! Now that is wonderful!"
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