"In other words, that legend is true?"
Roldy looked at Gaban beside him.
Gaban had no intention of hiding anything and told him everything he knew.
The folk legend was real.
The top warriors of the giant race could indeed receive a baptism from the gods and obtain the power of the sun. They would awaken the Observation Haki and Armament Haki that already lay dormant within them. As for the most elite warriors of the Giant Kingdom, after undergoing the baptism, there was a ninety percent chance they would awaken Conqueror's Haki.
For a warrior standing at the peak of a kingdom, possessing that kind of potential was not strange.
"So, Roldy , what exactly do you want?"
Gaban asked a question he was extremely curious about.
Roldy was different from Roger. Roger had wanted to sail around the world and become the freest man on the sea.
Roldy was also different from the other Emperors of the Sea, and different from the Marines as well.
A man like this was far too intriguing, and far too dangerous.
After all, what Roldy possessed was power that surpassed Admiral-level fighters.
"Cleansing."
"And then rebuilding upon the ruins."
"You…!"
Gaban's pupils abruptly contracted.
But in the next moment, he understood.
After all, only a goal like that could support such terrifying Conqueror's Haki.
Still, it truly was madness.
Even more insane than Roger had been!
"Forget it, forget it. None of this has anything to do with me. I'm just an old retired pirate now. All I need to do is live quietly in seclusion and protect the person important to me."
A hero of the sea actually showing such a meek, domestic side left Roldy hesitating, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Gaban noticed something strange in Roldy 's expression.
In the end, all he received from Roldy was one inexplicable sentence:
"I'm not as good as you. You're the strongest in the world."
Huh?
What kind of nonsense was that?
…
Roldy 's group stayed in the village for one night.
The next day, they left.
Following Gaban's directions, their destination was the royal capital of Elbaf. Roldy was eager to see for himself just how powerful this so-called baptism of the gods truly was.
And for all of that, he first needed to meet one person.
The current King of the Giants.
Sparta.
…
The towering city walls were a full hundred meters high, built entirely from blocks of blue-green stone. Just looking at them carried a tremendous visual impact, making one feel as though they had stepped into a fortress of iron and blood.
Roldy 's group attracted many gazes.
The giants guarding the city gate did not make things difficult for them. After all, in Elbaf, where strength was revered, little people like Roldy 's group would subconsciously be associated with the weak.
One of the soldiers guarding the gate even kindly reminded them not to head east.
As for those two gate guards, their duty seemed to be only guarding the gate.
In the most literal sense.
The buildings inside the royal capital had a distinctive style. They were all constructed from massive blue-green stones. Towering structures rose one after another, all exuding a rough and rugged atmosphere, yet one could still see traces of prosperity.
As Roldy 's group walked along the streets, the surrounding giants cast curious looks at them.
What made this place different from the village was that the royal capital had many strange-looking buildings. They looked like arenas.
"Gahahaha! As expected of the Giant Kingdom! Arenas everywhere, and so many elite warriors. This really gets the blood pumping!"
Watching the two giants fighting atop one of the arenas, Roldy and the others finally understood the purpose of those buildings.
They were there so that giants could spar at any time.
And in these so-called spars, broken arms and legs were common occurrences.
With such a national spirit, it would be difficult for the Giant Kingdom to be weak even if it wanted to be.
The royal palace was not hard to find.
The tallest and most luxurious building was naturally it.
"Stop! Outsiders, this place is not somewhere you may enter at will. If you wish to sightsee, there are many entertainment venues in the western district of the royal capital!"
Among the squad of soldiers guarding the palace, the giant wearing obviously more ornate armor stepped forward.
He held a heavy sword in his hand. Just from his eighteen-meter height and the muscles covering his entire body, this giant's strength was absolutely no weaker than an elite Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters.
"Greetings, my friend. Please report inside that Roldy has come to visit."
"Hm? You're Roldy ?"
In fact, after receiving definite information from Gaban yesterday, Roldy had made a call to Morgans.
He did not have the Giant King's contact information, but Morgans did.
That fellow's World Economy News Paper did business across the entire sea. The Giant Kingdom also needed news from the outside world, so it was not strange for Morgans to have the king's contact details.
The king had also agreed to Roldy 's visit and had given instructions to his subordinates.
That was why the giant before him was so surprised.
After all, from their king's tone, this man named Roldy was a person of noble status.
"Honored guests, please follow me."
The giant captain put away his weapon and made an inviting gesture.
They passed through a long corridor.
The giant captain stopped before an enormous door. An attendant stepped forward, and the giant captain exchanged a few words with him. The latter nodded in understanding.
"His Majesty has been waiting for you for some time. Everyone, please enter."
The great doors opened.
A dazzling light shone out from within the room.
Roldy took a deep breath.
With his eyesight, he could clearly see that upon the lofty throne sat an incomparably burly giant.
The king of the Giant Kingdom.
Badrul.
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