Chapter 9 - 9 – I Am the White Wolf!

Magnus had to admit—he had completely forgotten about that promise. Ten years ago, when he first arrived in the Land of Giants, he shamelessly bragged about his pirate exploits and instantly won over a crowd of little giant fanboys and fangirls. One of them was the wild-looking giant girl in front of him now— Ripley. Back then, Ripley had pestered him endlessly about joining his crew. Not only did she give the visiting pirates a headache, but she also infuriated the local Elbaf pirates. In their eyes, if a giant child was going to become a pirate someday, they should join a giant pirate crew—like the Giant Warrior Pirates. Joining some foreign pirate crew? Unacceptable. To avoid getting into a brawl with the Giant Warrior Pirates, Magnus made a deal with Ripley: once she grew up, he'd let her join his crew. Of course, it was a lie. After all, Magnus was already sixty at the time. Who knew how many more years he'd last at sea—or whether he'd ever return to Elbaf? So, like all casual lies to children, he forgot about it completely. Until now. "Aiya... well, look, I'm here now, aren't I?" The giant girl's punches whooshed through the air like cannon fire. Magnus had to dodge for dear life, and the tavern around them was getting absolutely wrecked. "Ten years shouldn't be that big of a deal for a giant, right? If you still want to join my pirate crew, it's not too late!" "Who the hell wants to join your crew now?!" Ripley slammed her fist into the floor, smashing a deep crater into the tavern's floorboards. Glaring at him, she ground her teeth. "You're practically a wrinkled mess now! You expect me to go on adventures with that?!" Ripley was no longer a child—she fully understood the difference between giants and humans. For a giant, seventy was still considered youthful. But for a human? Seventy meant you were old. In a few more years, Magnus might be like the two old captains in her village—throwing out their backs if they moved too suddenly, bedridden for months from a single wound. How was that man supposed to take her on an adventure? More importantly—how could she let him endanger himself for her sake? "Alright, alright, stop being so moody." Magnus waved his hand with a tired sigh. "Can't you see Mardo's about to cry?" The once tidy tavern was now a disaster zone—thanks to Ripley. Even the floorboards had multiple craters. Cleaning up this mess would take ages. "Then let me punch you. Just once." "Oi oi oi! Look at how old I am! If I take one of your punches head-on, I might literally die!" Even in his youth, Magnus wouldn't dare take a giant's punch lightly. At seventy? It would be suicide! "Hmph. Just kidding." That expression didn't look like she was kidding at all. Seeing that Ripley had stopped trying to kill him, Magnus finally breathed a sigh of relief. Honestly, if Ripley really did want to join his pirate crew now, Magnus would welcome her with open arms. Because—she's a giant! Once fully grown, she'd easily have vice admiral–level combat strength. Far above Rocks, who was barely at marine commander level right now. But still... Magnus had lied to her once already. He didn't have the heart to invite her again. Because what Ripley wanted to join was the White Wolf Pirates of the past. But now? The White Wolf Pirates consisted of just two people—him and Rocks. Better to let things happen naturally. Ripley's tantrum was more like the playful bickering of old friends. And now that she confirmed he was still himself, she relaxed. "Hmph... I just don't get it. At your age, why are you still out at sea? Wouldn't it be better to find a place to retire?" Now understanding the current state of the White Wolf Pirates, Ripley tied up her headscarf, pulled on some gloves, and helped Mardo clean the tavern while grumbling. "Ha ha! Because I refuse to grow old!" Sitting at the only part of the bar untouched by the chaos, Magnus grinned while directing Rocks to help clean up the broken furniture. Nearby, Rocks rolled his eyes. To be honest, he didn't get it either. Magnus had been ready to retire—yet suddenly changed his mind, roped Rocks in, and made him his crewmate. Still... if Magnus had retired, would Rocks have learned all these battle techniques? "...Hey, Rocks. Over there too." "Why the hell do I have to clean up? You and she trashed the place!" Rocks shouted in protest. "Because I'm the captain. And crew listen to their captain, right?" "Tch." Rocks clicked his tongue and started moving furniture anyway. If he weren't still weaker than Magnus, he would've taught this old man what a real pirate captain looks like. "...So this is the new crewmate?" "Promising, right?" Magnus laughed. He had already learned from Mardo that Sister Carmel was still on the island. And if Sister Carmel was here, then Charlotte Linlin must still be here too. If possible, he wanted to recruit her, just like he had with Rocks. Though Linlin was still young at this time, she had one of the most monstrous physical talents in the pirate world. Magnus could only say— Carmel, you can't handle this kid. Leave it to me. If he could recruit both Charlotte Linlin and Rocks and raise them himself—then the White Wolf Pirates would have two future Yonko under one flag. The world would be theirs. "...That kid?" Hearing Magnus praise him, Ripley gave Rocks a side glance. "Be honest—are you really planning to restart your journey? Or are you just grooming a successor?" She lowered her voice so Rocks wouldn't hear. "Is there a difference?" "Of course there is!" Ripley thought, I wanted to join the White Wolf Pirates under White Wolf Magnus. But who the hell was Rocks? The closest distance to your idol is catching up to them. Ripley believed she now had what it took to join the White Wolf Pirates. But as for White Wolf Magnus... "Heh." Magnus looked off at Rocks and laughed. "Even if that day comes, I'll just let that brat form his own crew. The White Wolf Pirates only need one captain." "And that captain is—" "White Wolf Magnus!" Magnus made no effort to hide his ambitions. He may be old, but he wasn't dead yet! His achievements may not match Rocks's future accomplishments— But that was another world's future. It wasn't his! Who said a man from another world couldn't turn this world's chosen ones into his stepping stones? At that moment, Ripley was dazed. It was like seeing the White Wolf Pirates in their prime again. Even if they only had two members now— Still— Magnus was the White Wolf! "...Let me join." Ripley suddenly leaned in, a radiant smile on her face. "Old man—your crew could use more hands, right?" "Count me in!" (End of Chapter) [Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome] [Thank You For Your Support!]