Linlin stretched out both hands, grabbing the Red Dog and Blue Chicken Homies like basketballs. Her eyes flared with fury, and her face contorted into a demonic scowl as she roared:
"Hey—!"
"You two didn't even notice Zeus was missing!?"
"Did you two drive him away!?"
Mama was mad. Mama was really mad!
The Red Dog and Blue Chicken Homies broke into a cold sweat, trembling in fear.
"H-He was here just a moment ago! We didn't chase him away!" the Red Dog stammered, voice shaking.
The Blue Chicken nodded frantically like a pecking chick. "Mama, Mama, Zeus is always playful—maybe he just ran off on his own to play!"
"Yeah, yeah! Mama, please let us go find him!"
Klein suddenly spoke up. "Zeus will probably come back on his own. For now, focus on the trial ahead of you."
"Trial?" Whitebeard's eyes gleamed. During his time on the warship, he'd been training hard.
Though he hadn't started learning Rokushiki yet, he'd made decent progress.
Gloriosa narrowed her eyes and stroked her pet snake. "It seems to smell a predator in the air. In this snowy tundra... there are powerful beasts."
"Hoo—" Shakky exhaled a puff of white smoke, her expression calm. "Any beast that can survive in Elbaf isn't ordinary. Some of them… not even the giants can defeat."
Oss shivered, fear creeping into his voice. "Beasts… stronger than giants!?"
"Klein-sama, you have to—"
Pow—
A heavy Fist of Love came crashing down on Oss's head, leaving a bright red bump.
He crouched in pain. "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Hey. You think training alone makes you strong? No way. You have to be forged through blood and fire—that's how you get a will of steel!" Klein's tone was stern, his presence commanding.
"I've pinned my hopes on each of you. When the time comes, do you really want to be…"
"Just a bystander munching on popcorn?"
If this were Earth, of course people would just sit back and enjoy the chaos.
But this is One Piece.
A world of fire and passion.
The mindset is completely different.
"Beasts aren't the scary part—people are ten, a hundred times worse," Whitebeard said, his maturing face growing sharper, like he'd seen through the ways of the world.
Growing up on the island of outlaws, he'd witnessed twisted human nature, the collapse of morality—the true darkness.
Shakky smiled sweetly. "Whitebeard's right. Compared to humans, beasts aren't much at all."
Klein laughed heartily and waved for everyone to move forward.
"Then let's do it in style—tatakae!"
Meanwhile…
Inside Orst Castle.
King Harald was deep in conversation with the elder of the giants, Elder Jarul.
With massive twin horns sprouting from his head and a wild, primal face, Harald said, "Elder Jarul, I plan to attend the Reverie three years from now."
"Reverie?" Elder Jarul's eyes widened. "But Elbaf isn't even a World Government member nation—we're not eligible…"
He stared at Harald in disbelief. "Don't tell me… you want Elbaf to join the World Government?"
Just as Harald was about to respond, the oversized Den Den Mushi dressed in Viking attire in the room suddenly rang out.
Pururururu—pururururu—
Harald extended a giant hand and picked up the receiver. "Moshi moshi, this is Harald."
"Your Majesty Harald! Bad news—Linlin! Linlin's back in Elbaf again!"
"What?!"
Harald's expression shifted in shock. "Didn't she go off to sea and become a pirate? Why is she back in Elbaf!?"
Beside him, Elder Jarul's eyes went wide as his thoughts drifted back to years ago.
That devil of a child!!
She destroyed an entire Elbaf village—when she was only five years old!
The voice on the other end quickly reported everything that had happened at the Ethan Tavern.
"The Marines?"
"Linlin turned into a man?!"
What the hell is going on!?
Even with years of sailing experience and broad horizons, Harald was momentarily stunned by the sheer absurdity of the news!
"It was just a Rear Admiral—not someone sent by the World Government. And they've joined up with Linlin… What are they really doing in Elbaf?" Elder Jarul frowned.
Then came another report from the Den Den Mushi:
"Apparently… they said they came to take away Prince Loki…"
Harald's pupils contracted sharply. "Loki!?"
"Loki's only four years old! How would the Marines even know about him!?"
Outside the room, little Loki, who had been secretly listening, trembled. Despite the bandages covering his eyes, his shocked expression was clear.
Loki
Me?
They came for me?
To take me away!?
Loki was in utter disbelief. In Elbaf, he was hated by all. Even his own mother had cast him out into the Underworld the moment he was born.
If it weren't for his unique body, he would've died long ago.
Now, in the midst of his dark, hopeless life, a sudden light had appeared—and he was frozen in place, completely overwhelmed.
Back inside the room.
Harald's expression turned furious. He shot up from his chair—his towering, dozens-of-meters-tall frame radiating oppressive might.
"The Marines… want to take my son?"
"As a father, how could I ever allow such a thing!?"
"Tell me where they are!"
"I'll drive every last one of them out of Elbaf!!"
"They went deeper into the Underworld," came the urgent reply.
"The Underworld?" Harald blinked, then let out a loud laugh. "Barahahaha! The Underworld? They're seeking death!"
"Your Majesty," Jorul warned, "Linlin destroyed a village when she was only five. It's been over three years since she went to sea. Even the Underworld may not be able to stop that monster now."
His own sworn brother, Jorul, had died after being slammed by Linlin. Even after treatment, they couldn't save him.
He recalled Jorul's final words:
"Linlin… Linlin is a child cloaked in the form of an evil god. She must be stopped—or disaster will follow!"
Jarul grabbed at his own beard. If he weren't over three hundred years old, he'd have picked up his greatsword and gone to slay Linlin himself.
Harald's smile faded, his face darkening. "Then I'll go… personally."
He stepped toward the door.
"Your Majesty!" Jarul called out. His aged face twisted in sorrow, and he gritted his teeth.
"Linlin… Linlin must be eliminated!"
"Linlin…" Harald stopped in his tracks. He frowned. If it were the old him, he wouldn't hesitate to agree.
But ever since turning over a new leaf and realizing his past mistakes, he'd advocated for peace with humanity.
Seeing his hesitation, Elder Jarul continued, "She hurt our kin, destroyed a village. I heard she even wiped out The House of the Lamb and killed the nun!"
"Wherever she goes, misfortune follows!"
"Sister Carmel meant the world to us!!"