Upon hearing that, Klein's lips curled into a meaningful smile, the kind that said he was looking forward to the show.
'Whitebeard' Newgate—back in the new era, he was hailed as the "Strongest Man in the World." Even the other three Emperors—Kaido, BIG MOM, and Red-Haired Shanks—were all suppressed by him.
Hajrudin?
In the new era, he was just a flunky of the Four Emperors...
He nearly lost his life fighting a Donquixote Family officer with the Ton-Ton Fruit.
"You want to compare strength with me?" Hajrudin blinked, clearly dissatisfied. "I'm a Giant! How could I lose to you!?"
"Besides, you're way smaller than me in both height and build. Even if I beat you, it wouldn't feel like a fair fight!"
Currently twenty-two years old, Hajrudin was barely the equivalent of a seven or eight-year-old in human terms.
Yet, he stood a towering seven or eight meters tall—still two to three meters taller than Newgate.
Hajrudin turned toward the even taller Charlotte, whose muscle lines were faintly visible. "I'd be more willing to compete with you. As for him... forget it."
"..."
"..."
"......"
Klein, Gloriosa, and the others were all stunned, their expressions a mix of confusion, pity, and sympathy.
Of all people to pick...
You had to choose the one whose strength is only second to Klein?
Should we call you blind?
Or just incredibly bold?
"Eh—me?" Linlin looked surprised, pointing at herself. She was planning to just sit back and enjoy the show.
She hadn't expected Hajrudin to challenge her.
She turned to Klein, who was clearly trying to hold back a laugh. "Go on, Charlotte," he said, his lips twitching.
"Mhm!" Linlin nodded vigorously.
Hajrudin immediately sat down across from her, glaring with pride and confidence. "As a Giant, I won't lose to any of you when it comes to strength!"
Bang—
He slammed his thick arm down on the table.
Other in the bar—both humans and Giants—started watching with interest.
Linlin giggled. "Say, is there a reward if I win?"
"You're not gonna win. You don't stand a chance." Hajrudin was all confidence.
He curled his finger, signaling Linlin to get on with it.
"No reward? Lame." Linlin placed her hand on his. The moment their hands clasped—
She pushed.
Hajrudin's face went slack with shock. His bulging eyes stared in disbelief as his wrist was slammed down onto the table in an instant.
Clack—
The table shook. Bottles and glasses clinked loudly.
"See? I won," Linlin said as she pulled her hand back, unfazed—as if it was just a meaningless win.
Across the table, Hajrudin had entered full existential crisis mode.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Wait... am I the Giant, or is she?!
That kind of overwhelming strength—was that a joke?
Not even a sliver of resistance!!
Silence fell over the bar.
Even the other Giants were stunned, eyes wide, jaws slack.
Hajrudin was a full-blooded Giant, and his father was none other than the current King of the Giant Tribe—Harald!
Even Newgate off to the side felt a pang of sympathy for Hajrudin.
'Charlotte's strength is downright monstrous. Losing to her? Yeah, there's no shame in that.'
He couldn't help but recall their time aboard the warship—when he'd lost to Charlotte multiple times.
That was when he realized just how terrifying a monster's physique could be.
He'd thought he was already inhuman...
But there were monsters even more inhuman!
That tiny warship wasn't just full of dragons and phoenixes—it was a den of hidden tigers!
"This kid's gonna be traumatized." Klein's lips curled into a smirk.
For a moment, it reminded him of himself back then.
Eighteen years old, feeling like an ant underfoot.
He grumbled inwardly, "According to the original story, Hajrudin doesn't get his power-up until he meets Usopp."
Back then, Hajrudin was already over eighty years old—and even with his Giant talent, he still struggled to beat a Donquixote Family officer.
The Giant heritage gave him longer life, greater strength, and a more durable body...
But even though he was born in the "Old Era," he still ended up as one of Luffy's followers in the "New Era."
What a joke.
Suddenly, Newgate spoke up, eyes burning as he looked at Hajrudin. "Hajrudin, I'd like to feel the strength of a Giant for myself. Would you grant me that wish?"
"You?" Hajrudin's pupils refocused as he turned to Newgate, instantly annoyed.
He'd just lost to Charlotte, and now this kid wanted to beat him too?
He was a Giant!
You think anyone can walk up and crap on his head like he's a toilet!?
"Come on!"
Hajrudin slammed the table and raised his massive right arm. "Hmph, I may have lost once, but I won't lose again!"
Newgate's face remained calm. Without saying a word, he placed his right arm on the table.
Gripped Hajrudin's hand.
Hajrudin immediately exerted force... only to realize the other's arm didn't budge an inch.
His eyes widened.
This shorty... is stronger than I thought!
He kept increasing the pressure—but Newgate's arm stayed as steady as a mountain.
Sweat beaded at Hajrudin's temples. A flicker of shock and desperation appeared in his eyes.
Shit!
Why's this runt so damn strong?!
"This is Giant strength? That's it?" Newgate frowned. He couldn't feel any real pressure from the opposing arm.
Way weaker than expected.
His disappointment was clear in both his eyes and expression.
Hajrudin burned with fury, his lungs felt like they were on fire. "Bastard! You're looking down on me..."
"HRAAAHH!!"
He unleashed every ounce of his strength. His face flushed red, veins popping across his face and neck.
"Come on, Hajrudin!!"
"You can't lose to a human!!"
"..."
The surrounding Giants shouted encouragement.
But Hajrudin felt like Newgate's hand was a literal mountain—unshakable, unmoving.
He panicked inside. What kind of monster is this guy—?!
Newgate, noticing Hajrudin had reached his limit, thought, Time to end this farce. Giant strength? This is it?
Compared to Charlotte and Klein-sama, you're not even close.
A memory surfaced.
Of Klein casually overpowering both him and Charlotte...
And even—
The Iron Fist of Love.
His scalp tingled at the memory. The fear of being disciplined by Klein still lingered.
Bang—
With one push, Newgate slammed Hajrudin's hand down.
"...I lost again." Hajrudin stared blankly at his own thick, muscular arm.
But...
Losing twice in a row couldn't be chalked up to luck.
The other Giants all sighed in unison, shocked as they stared at Newgate.
A human had completely overpowered Hajrudin?
One monster was rare enough.
But now there were two?
"It's okay, Hajrudin. You're still young. One day, you'll surpass Dorry and Brogy," said a gentle voice.
No one had noticed, but Hajrudin's mother, Ida, had walked up behind him.
She gently stroked his back to comfort him.
"Waaaah—" Hajrudin burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mother, I'm so useless... I lost to a human..."
Ida smiled gently, radiant with maternal warmth. "It's okay. You're still just a child."
She hugged Hajrudin tightly and whispered, "Mama believes in you. If you work hard, you'll definitely surpass Dorry and Brogy one day—"
Hearing that, Klein's mouth twitched.
"A child?"
"Two-hundred-month-old child, maybe?"
By that logic, who isn't a child!?