Elbaf.
The Sunny World, Walrus School.
On the vast square before the school, several colossal figures sat gathered together, the atmosphere heavy with tension.
Among them was an elderly giant over twenty meters tall, his beard and hair as white as cascading waterfalls.
Clad in ancient Viking-style armor and wearing a horned helmet, he was Jarul, the eldest living giant and elder of the Giant Tribe.
At that moment, he slowly stroked his beard—long enough to serve as a carpet—his cloudy old eyes gleaming with a sharpness that defied his age.
"We must take seriously the appearance of Fleet Admiral Orion in the waters near Elbaf," Jarul's voice was slow and deep, like the tolling of an ancient bell.
"Though it's unclear why he abruptly changed course and hastily departed, my intuition tells me his original destination was Elbaf."
Sitting opposite him were Gaban and his giant wife, Ripley.
Ripley stood over ten meters tall, her lustrous red hair braided into thick plaits that draped over her chest.
She wore practical leather armor that accentuated her striking curves, her fair features now marred by a furrowed brow and grave expression.
Gaban appeared somewhat languid, leaning against Ripley's leg with half-closed eyes as if not fully awake.
"While we prepare, we must also investigate why he suddenly left," Jarul's gaze swept over the other Giant Warriors present.
These warriors, also clad in heavy armor and wielding massive axes or longswords, each exuded a formidable aura—they were the elite of the Giant Soldier Pirates stationed at Elbaf.
Just then, heavy footsteps approached from the distance.
A young Giant Warrior rushed over, barely catching his breath before addressing Jarul urgently.
"Elder Jarul! We've just received word that the Marines Fleet Admiral has led his Training Ship to Rocky Port at Hachinosu Island!"
"Hachinosu Island?" Ripley blinked in surprise.
Gaban's half-lidded eyes snapped fully open, instantly alert.
The Giant Warrior took a deep breath and continued. "All pirates who have pledged allegiance to Wang Zhi during this period have been executed on the spot!"
Silence fell over the square at these words.
Jarul's beard-stroking hand stilled.
Gaban sprang to his feet, looking up at the much taller Giant Warrior with undisguised disbelief.
"There are at least a hundred and fifty thousand, possibly more, pirates on Hachinosu Island! Orion took just one Training Ship and wiped out all the pirates on the island?"
It sounded like something out of a fairy tale.
"Not just the Training Ship," the Giant Warrior swallowed, his voice still tinged with shock. "Mihawk and Kaido's son, among others also participated in the battle. But..."
He paused, as if choosing his words carefully.
"What ended the battle at Hachinosu Island wasn't the trainees or Mihawk and the others, but rather... a Conqueror's Haki."
"According to intelligence from my sources, over ninety percent of the pirates on Hachinosu Island died under that island-wide Conqueror's Haki. Though we couldn't see clearly who unleashed it, there's likely no one other than that Fleet Admiral capable of such a feat."
Gaban instinctively drew a sharp breath.
Conqueror's Haki, wiping out over a hundred thousand pirates?
Having sailed the seas with Roger in his youth, what grand spectacle hadn't he witnessed?
Yet even Roger, or even Rocks who met his downfall at God Valley back in the day, couldn't possibly eliminate over a hundred thousand pirates using only Conqueror's Haki. Even if they were capable of such a feat, they couldn't possibly ensure that all hundred thousand pirates perished!
Considering that in recent days, no less than eight hundred pirate crews had gathered at Hachinosu Island—meaning at least eight hundred captains were present on the island—with over half being major pirates with bounties exceeding five hundred million, how could Orion have cleared the entire island using only Conqueror's Haki against such an immense force?
"What about Wang Zhi?" Gaban suppressed his shock and pressed further.
"Dead," the Giant Warrior replied bluntly. "Including Wang Zhi, every pirate on Hachinosu Island has been completely annihilated, with no survivors."
"Additionally, Fleet Admiral Orion executed the King of Portavia, who had collaborated with Wang Zhi, on the spot. He also stripped all the royal and noble families of the Portavia Kingdom of their titles, reducing them to mere commoners."
Hearing this, a glint flashed in Jarul's clouded eyes.
He resumed stroking his long beard and spoke slowly, "The Fleet Admiral is making an example to warn others."
"The fact that you received this intelligence so quickly suggests it was deliberately leaked by him. Firstly, he's informing us that he has arrived. Secondly, he's subtly sounding a warning for us."
A flicker of confusion passed through Ripley's eyes.
"A warning? Why would Fleet Admiral Orion do that? Elbaf hasn't had any direct conflicts with the Marines in recent years and has maintained relatively good relations with the World Government."
"Don't forget," Jarul's voice took on a meaningful tone, "Elbaf isn't just home to the Giant Kingdom."
"There's also the Giant Soldier Pirates."
"Since Orion became Fleet Admiral, everything he has done has had only one purpose."
"That is, to rid these seas of pirates!"
...
Meanwhile.
Holy Land, Flower Room.
In the garden, Saturn was patiently explaining some profound scientific knowledge to a little girl.
The girl was Aqua, dressed in a beautiful princess dress, her lively eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge as she listened with great attention.
"...So, the combination and arrangement of Lineage Factors determine the form and abilities of living beings, much like how different building blocks can be used to construct different castles."
"Saturn, what kind of building blocks is Aqua made of?" Aqua looked up with her small face, asking curiously.
Saturn smiled slightly, reaching out to pat her head. "Your Highness is not made of building blocks but is the most noble princess of the Holy Land. To be precise, you are the most noble princess in the entire world."
Soon, the study session ended.
Aqua politely bid farewell to Saturn and, accompanied by Luna, skipped cheerfully out of the Flower Room.
Saturn straightened his attire and turned to approach the pavilion at the center of the garden.
He bowed slightly toward the figure seated in the shadows.
"Imu-sama, today's science lesson for Her Highness Aqua has concluded."
"Hmm." Imu responded indifferently, their voice betraying no emotion. "Aqua seems quite interested in science. You have proven to be of some use after all."
Saturn blinked awkwardly.
Indeed, ever since Orion became the Fleet Admiral of the Marines and signed the Mary Geoise Treaty with the Holy Land, the Five Elders had become mere figureheads.
Not only had they lost their voice, but they no longer held sway over the affairs of the World Government, big or small.
This was because the Chamber of Authority still had two stubborn Elders, especially Sengoku, who would pick a fight with Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro at the slightest disagreement!
At that moment, Gunko appeared silently before Imu while kneeling on one knee.
"Imu-sama, the latest intelligence from the New World."
Hearing this, a faint, almost imperceptible glimmer flashed in Imu's eyes, but her words remained concise.
"Speak."
Gunko immediately reported. "We've just received the latest intelligence from the New World. Lord Orion has led the trainees to land on Hachinosu Island and executed over a hundred thousand pirates, including Wang Zhi. He also executed the King of Portavia Kingdom, who feared being purged upon arriving at the Holy Land during the migration, and demoted all the royalty and nobles of Portavia to commoners."
Imu blinked. "Who is Wang Zhi?"
"And why did Orion go to the New World? As the ruler of the Marines, personally running off to capture some pirates—how unbecoming!"
"Contact Orion immediately and tell him that Imu wishes to see him!"
Gunko stood frozen in place, her expression somewhat blank, but she instinctively nodded.
"Understood, I will contact Lord Orion right away."
Before she could even take out the Den Den Mushi, Imu's voice rang out again, tinged with confusion.
"Who is Wang Zhi? What right does he have to warrant Orion's personal involvement?"
Saturn quickly stepped forward to explain. "Imu-sama, Wang Zhi was a member of the Rocks Pirate Crew. During the God Valley Incident, he betrayed Rocks, after which he entrenched himself on Hachinosu Island."
Imu thought for a moment, then coldly uttered three words.
"Don't know him."
Then, she turned her gaze to Gunko, who was still kneeling, and frowned slightly.
"Why are you still standing here? Hurry and attend to Aqua."
"Huh?"
Gunko froze once more, her pupils abruptly contracting as she reflexively looked up at Imu, inwardly exclaiming.
'Oh no!'
'Imu-sama amnesia has flared up again!'