West Blue, Ohara.
Once a lush forest island, now reduced to ruins.
The towering tree that symbolized knowledge had already fallen.
The Buster Call from the World Government had long since retreated, and this place was supposed to be deserted from now on.
Yet at the edge of the island, several giant ships were docked.
A few giants were using nets to dredge something from a lake books.
Even after being soaked, the books were still in excellent condition.
They were carefully packed and transported in batches.
At this moment, behind a boulder, a man with a comically enormous head peeked out, tongue sticking out.
Behind him stood a long-haired man in a dark green cloak, holding a bouquet of flowers.
"You're still the same... that head of yours... Long time no see, Vegapunk."
The scientist called by name, Vegapunk, slowly turned his head.
Upon seeing it was Dragon, he let out a sigh of relief.
"So it's you, Dragon... Why are you here?"
"Because I had some dealings with Clover-san. But... I don't know why, there are still people monitoring around Ohara. Is that okay?"
Dragon was vigilant.
He had long noticed those stationed around Ohara.
He hadn't exposed himself, but the figures of the Giants couldn't be hidden—they had likely already alerted certain people.
"Are they from the World Government?" Vegapunk asked, worried.
If so, these important books might be at risk of exposure.
But Dragon shook his head.
"Doesn't seem like it. Looks more like some lackeys from a sea-based faction—no trace of official military."
"I see..."
Dragon turned to look at the giants dredging the books in the distance.
"Do you care a lot about those Giants?"
"Yes. Those books are incredibly valuable. We can't let them take them away."
"They're not thieves. I've already investigated them. They're..."
As they walked, the two chatted. But the next second—
Dragon suddenly froze in place, his gaze locking onto a spot far out at sea.
"What's wrong, Dragon?"
Vegapunk was confused by his reaction and hurriedly asked.
But Dragon didn't answer.
He simply clenched his jaw, his face darkening, eyes fixed on a black dot beyond the shoreline.
As that ghostly ship silhouette drew near, cold sweat trickled down Dragon's brow.
"This... this can't be..."
"That surveillance team... was left behind by that guy?"
"Yeah, I left them behind."
Zheng—
Boom—
With a faint smile, Orin casually gripped the incoming Armament Haki-infused Fist.
With just a bit of pressure, the fist—capable of shredding steel and cracking earth—was crushed and forced downward.
"Starting off like this? Dragon, that's awfully rude of you."
Wearing a dark red suit, a black coat draped over his shoulders, a sword and pistol at his waist, Orin looked at the tense Dragon with a calm expression.
Vegapunk had already dashed far away.
He couldn't handle the shockwaves from such a battle.
Fortunately, Dragon's strike had been a subconscious reaction.
He had no intention of fighting Orin, and the Armament Haki on his hand quickly faded.
Orin let go as well.
That Fist, based on raw strength, didn't even match half of Orin's monstrous power.
If Dragon dared to face him without Armament Haki, Orin was confident he could crush his hand into a pile of shattered bones.
"Black Gun Orin, why are you here..."
Dragon asked gravely.
But Orin didn't answer.
He turned and appeared beside the hiding Vegapunk, pinching his chin and inspecting the giant head.
"Wow... your head really can get this big?"
Orin muttered softly.
How many brains would it take to grow a head this size?
No wonder he'd need a container that huge in the future...
"Black Gun Orin..."
Vegapunk stuck out his tongue, raising his eyes to meet Orin's as he examined his head.
Behind his tiny glasses, his gaze held helplessness, and cold sweat dotted his face.
"Relax, I'm not here to kill you..."
Perhaps sensing the tension, Orin tried to explain, lifting his head— only for the words to catch in his throat.
"Oh? So there's even a female giant here in Ohara? Haven't seen one in ages!"
He spotted the group of Giants dredging books, and one of them was a beautiful, curvaceous female giant.
The last time he saw one was when he was a kid, traveling to Elbaf with Captain Roger.
Compared to Vegapunk and Dragon, Orin was clearly more interested in the Giants and news of Gaban-san.
In a flash, Orin appeared in front of the female giant, greeting them with a wide grin.
But the three were startled!
Especially Hajrudin, who instinctively threw a punch.
Yet the punch stopped one meter from Orin's face, as if slamming into an invisible wall.
"Is this how you all greet people?"
You couldn't really blame them.
A figure suddenly appeared next to them—like a bug or phantom.
Warriors always react on instinct: attack first.
"Stop! He's not our enemy!!!"
Perhaps because of her keener mind, Gerd recognized Orin and quickly stopped Hajrudin from trying to move.
But Hajrudin could only suffer silently.
Even if she hadn't spoken, he still couldn't move an inch.
The moment he threw the punch, Orin had already locked him in place.
Without overwhelming Haki or vastly superior stamina, even the mighty strength of a Giant was useless against spatial abilities.
"You're... Orin-sama? I've heard Gaban-sama mention you before—and I've seen your bounty poster!"
The female giant Gerd recognized Orin and spoke with surprise and delight.
"Oh? Gaban-san mentioned me, did he?"
Orin perked up, instantly removing Hajrudin's restraints and turning to Gerd.
"Yes! Gaban-sama often told us stories of his days at sea!"
Gerd smiled warmly.