Chapter 14 - 14 – Hajrudin: I’m Fighting Rocks!?

The bonfire crackled warmly. The old giant Arlur took a swig of his drink, face red with intoxication, and asked, slurring slightly: "So you're sayin', Magnus boy, you wanna meet with His Majesty Harald?" "That's right." Magnus had come to Elbaf with two goals in mind: One, to recruit the future Yonkō (Emperor of the Sea), Charlotte Linlin. The other—to obtain Adam Wood. Now, the first goal was already half done. As long as Mother Carmel agreed to let him take Linlin, making her a member of his crew would only be a matter of time. Everyone knew how easy it was to fool a five-year-old Charlotte Linlin. As for the Adam Wood, if Magnus wanted to obtain it through proper channels, he had to speak directly with Elbaf's current king. Fortunately, that wasn't difficult. After all, Magnus had once fought Harald—they had literally gotten to know each other through battle. They weren't exactly close friends, but at the very least, they could still hold a conversation. "Hmph, His Majesty Harald might not be willing to meet with you,"snorted Yorlur, sitting nearby. He looked utterly indifferent. Just the thought of this pirate—who had lured away his great-great-granddaughter—already tested his patience. Now Magnus wanted a favor on top of that? No way. Luckily, aside from Ripley, Magnus didn't intend to recruit more giants. Otherwise, he wouldn't be nearly this polite. Giants belonged with the Giant Warrior Pirates!This "White Wolf Pirates" thing? Utter nonsense! "Ripley-nee, how could you join some other pirate crew? As giants, we belong with the Giant Warrior Pirates! That's our true home!" Elsewhere at the banquet, a giant boy—though he looked no older than a human child of seven or eight—stood more than five meters tall and was shouting passionately. To him, someone who had made it his mission to revive the Giant Warrior Pirates, his older sister's betrayal was completely unacceptable. "Zabbazabba! Well said, Hajrudin! The Giant Warrior Pirates are the strongest crew in the world!" Yorlur burst out in laughter. Sure, Ripley had been snatched away, but as long as the new generation of giants like Hajrudin still had their hearts set on the Giant Warrior Pirates, not all was lost. "Geez, old man, quit stirring the pot already!" Ripley let out a sigh. Now she understood how Magnus felt earlier. Back when the White Wolf Pirates first visited Elbaf, Hajrudin was still too young and spent most of his time around King Harald. That's why, unlike other children, he hadn't developed any fondness for the White Wolf Pirates. Even though Ripley had long admired Magnus and wanted to join his crew, as she got older she grew unsure if Magnus would ever return to Elbaf. Naturally, she hadn't spoken highly of the crew in front of Hajrudin. And truth be told, the current White Wolf Pirates weren't what they used to be—only three members, one of them still an apprentice. Compared to Magnus and Ripley, who were more familiar with the giants, Rocks stood out as the lone outsider. He sat quietly in a corner, eating. Not because he was antisocial. But because he didn't yet feel qualified to socialize. "Giants really are strong..." Rocks observed the massive figures around him, gulping down alcohol and meat with wild abandon. He could feel the overwhelming power contained within those towering bodies. Even a single one of these giants could easily wipe out a nation outside of Elbaf! "Bokakakaka, Magnus, that little brat Rocks—he's your new recruit, yeah?" Arlur scratched his fluffy beard as he noticed Rocks. "How about we make a little bet?" "Oh?" Magnus was instantly interested. "What are you betting on?" "Have Hajrudin fight him." Arlur's eyes twinkled mischievously. "If Rocks wins, I'll put in a good word for you when you meet with His Majesty. If Hajrudin wins, then you'll stay here and help train the village children." "Two years—that's not too long, is it?" Magnus was tempted. He was confident that Harald wouldn't reject him when they met.But getting the giants to willingly part with Adam Wood? That was a different story. If Arlur vouched for him, it would be a whole different ballgame. Arlur wasn't just Elbaf's oldest living giant, but also a former captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates. His status among the giants was second only to King Harald. So if it just meant letting Rocks fight a giant kid, Magnus had no reason to refuse. Yorlur, mistaking Magnus's silence for hesitation, snorted again. "Zabbazabba! What's wrong? Don't tell me a White Wolf Pirate isn't even up to fighting an underage brat? If Arlur's word isn't enough, how about I vouch too?" Both Yorlur and Arlur had once been legendary pirates—they could tell at a glance that Rocks was a greenhorn who hadn't even learned Haki. With a body like a giant's, physical strength alone could easily win the fight. Even though Hajrudin was still a child... He was the firstborn son of King Harald.There was no way he'd lose to some rookie pirate! "Heh..." What the two old giants didn't know was that Magnus wasn't even remotely reluctant.In fact, he was holding back a laugh. Hajrudin vs. Rocks? Seriously? Sure, Rocks had only been at sea for two months. But his growth in those two months had been astonishing. If this was day-one Rocks?Yeah, maybe Hajrudin's natural size would give him a sliver of a chance. But now? With their strength at similar levels, Rocks could beat Hajrudin with one hand tied behind his back. Still—Magnus knew how to play the part. He frowned, putting on a concerned expression. "Rocks is a newbie—he only joined two months ago. He's got potential, sure... but Hajrudin is the prince of Elbaf." "And two years is a long time..." At his age—seventy—without the system's help, spending two years in Elbaf might leave him like Whitebeard, dragging around two IV bags at all times. "Then what do you want?" Yorlur snapped impatiently. If Elbaf had more young fighters, he wouldn't even suggest Hajrudin go up against a newbie. But the current generation was weak, and no one could challenge Magnus. "How about we change the terms?" Magnus raised a finger. "No matter who wins, I'll stay in Elbaf for two years. In exchange, your master craftsmen will build me a strong ship during that time." "Made from Adam Wood." (End of Chapter) [Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome][Thank You For Your Support!]