"No, how do you know the techniques of the giant race?"
Hajrudin widened his eyes, looking at Ian in disbelief and shock.
"No, how did you learn it? This is something only giants are able to learn!"
"Looks like you're still not calm."
"Hajrudin, calm down!"
Gerd stopped Hajrudin helplessly.
"Do you really want to jump over there?"
"I'm calm already, okay! Okay! I'm really calm."
Seeing Ian once again trying to raise his axe, Hajrudin spoke helplessly, "You can put down your weapon now. If my ship gets damaged by you, I'll be in serious trouble too."
"Looks like you're really calm now."
Ian glanced at Hajrudin, put away his axe, and said, "Then, can we proceed with the compensation?"
"Compensation..."
Hajrudin scratched his head and looked helplessly at Gerd beside him.
"Take out all our money!"
"To be able to calm down a giant, you're really something, little man!"
Seeing Hajrudin finally settle down, Gerd glanced curiously at Ian with a slight smile.
"Please wait a moment, I'll get the money."
A short while later, Gerd took out the money stored on their ship.
But it wasn't much, only a few million Belly.
That amount of money was nowhere near enough to cover the repairs of a three-masted large ship!
Hajrudin also knew this, and he gave an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry, this is all we have right now. Can you let us owe the rest first? I swear on the name of the giant race that we will pay it back!"
"Forget it, no need for the full amount. This is enough."
Ian waved his hand.
With this amount, repairing it himself should be just enough.
Speaking of which, he had to thank Dorry and Brogy.
If it weren't for their guidance, he probably wouldn't have been able to learn Hakoku Sovereignty.
Although in the beginning, Dorry and Brogy only taught him because they were curious if humans could actually learn it.
Seeing Hajrudin hesitate to say something, Ian asked curiously, "You guys are...?"
"We're currently mercenaries."
Hajrudin answered without hesitation,
"We just happened to be on a mission nearby, and we're also searching for news about Dorry the Blue Ogre and senior Brogy the Red Ogre. And I'm planning to form my own pirate crew."
"The name is already decided, the New Giant Warrior Pirates. Even if the Giant Warrior Pirates no longer exist, we will definitely revive them."
"Calm down, Hajrudin. I know you're excited because you heard news about the two previous captains, but he didn't even ask you that."
Gerd looked at Hajrudin helplessly, then turned to Ian with a smile.
"Sorry, Hajrudin just gets that way when he hears about the two previous captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates..."
"No need to bother with all that! Just capture these humans and interrogate them!"
"Don't say that kind of thing! We giants are no longer the barbarians we used to be! Road, you disgrace of Elbaph!"
After yelling at Road with her hand covering his face, Gerd looked at Ian again with an apologetic tone, "Sorry... May we know your name, strange human?"
"Ian."
Ian didn't hide it and answered directly, then glanced at Hajrudin and Gerd while thinking for a moment.
"You're working as mercenaries?"
"Yes, we're working as mercenaries, just like our captain said."
Gerd nodded with a smile.
"We're preparing to form a pirate crew and are currently recruiting. Ian, do you want to join us?"
"No, I have a wife and child. I don't want to go out to sea as a pirate."
"Ah, is that so? Hahaha!"
Hearing that, Gerd laughed loudly.
"I've heard that many people would even abandon their families just to become pirates. You really are different, Mr. Ian."
"How much would it cost to hire you?"
"You want to hire us?"
Gerd was surprised. She exchanged glances with Hajrudin, then turned back to Ian and said with a smile, "You don't need to pay. But only this one time, as thanks for your generosity just now. This is our Den Den Mushi number. If you need help, call this number!"
"Thanks. Alright, enough chatting."
Ian was very satisfied to suddenly receive a free giant-mercenary voucher.
After taking the number, he had Gini arrange for the ship to change direction.
Then he looked up at Hajrudin, who again seemed like he wanted to say something, and Ian sighed helplessly.
"You can try searching at the entrance of Paradise. There's an island there. But those two are still dueling. If they haven't decided a winner, they won't leave."
"Thank you, thank you!"
Hajrudin's face lit up with excitement.
Watching Ian's ship move aside, he shouted loudly, "Ian, I will remember your kindness! If you ever need help, just call us!"
"Little Garden!"
As Hajrudin finished speaking, Ian's voice rang out again, making Hajrudin and Gerd both smile.
But unlike the two happy giants, Road looked rather upset.
"Maybe we should just capture them and force them to lead the way!"
"You disgrace of Elbaph! Shut up already and stop acting like a barbarian!"
Gerd snapped at Road angrily.
"And don't underestimate humans. Sister Ripley's husband is a strong human!"
"What, you want to marry a human too?"
"Even a human husband is better than you, disgrace of Elbaph."
Gerd ignored Road's snark and turned toward Hajrudin.
"Hajrudin, are we heading to the Grand Line now?"
"Yes!"
Hajrudin answered excitedly with a loud laugh.
"I can't wait to meet Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre!"
Just as Hajrudin and the others turned their ship and prepared to head to the first half of the Grand Line.
On the other side, seeing that everything had calmed down, Ian sat back down again and prayed that nothing else would happen.
Although the bow of the ship was heavily damaged, it wasn't enough to affect their course.
Along the way, the shipwrights even did some simple repairs.
The ship continued toward its destination.
Time passed little by little.
Maybe his prayer worked, or maybe the bad luck had passed; no other pirates appeared along the way.
By nightfall, Ian and the others arrived at their destination, Swallow Island.
Jumping off the ship, Ian stretched under the moonlight and looked at the island ahead of him while letting out a deep breath.
"We finally made it."
At the same time, Ian had no idea that, as time passed, the news that the Warlord of the Sea, Hanafuda, had been defeated and sunk into the sea had already spread.
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
In the office of the current Fleet Admiral, "It's that guy again!"
A roar suddenly burst from inside.