Bazel let Kaido rant and curse for a long time before speaking up once the other had calmed down.
"Kaido, what exactly happened a month and a half ago? Why is the World Government covering up that Buster Call?"
'Buster Call?'
Jarul, who had been slowly approaching, instinctively lightened his footsteps, a slight frown on his face.
"...That's a long story. I'll give you the details once I meet up with you guys."
"All I can say now is the result: we lost that fight."
"Linlin's Whole Cake Island was completely sunk. As for the casualties of the Big Mom Pirates..."
"Tch, I never expected those Marines to be so strong, especially that almost-dead Fleet Admiral!"
"After Shiki was held back by Garp, that old man handled both me and Linlin by himself and still had energy to spare."
"That level of Armament Haki and strength... I've never seen anything like it!"
"And that Magma Marine and Glint Marine... their coordination with Black Arm actually held off Marlon and the others' assault."
'Magma… Sakazuki?'
'And that Glint one must be Borsalino.'
Bazel felt certain internally.
"If things had dragged on the way they were, their chances of winning were higher, but it wasn't a sure thing for them."
"But then, the Five Elders arrived."
The Den Den Mushi's expression turned gloomy.
"Those monsters..."
"It is precisely because of their arrival that we have no choice but to flee separately."
"They left on the ruins of Whole Cake Island controlled by Shiki, flying away. I retreated alone towards the Paradise side."
"But I ran into Garp who was chasing us on the way. I lost the fight and could only fall into the sea with my heavily injured body."
"Then I was saved by the former Empress of Amazon Lily, Shakky."
'Saved by Shakky?'
Bazel frowned slightly, "Kaido, it wasn't Shakky who saved you. It was the Fishman, Fisher Tiger."
The Den Den Mushi looked stunned.
"He found you severely injured, took care of you for two days, then had the bad luck to run into a Celestial Dragon."
"To prevent that Celestial Dragon from finding you, he lured the enemy away alone. He was finally captured by the Celestial Dragon and should now be a slave in Holy Land Mary Geoise."
"...Shakky, you didn't tell me about this."
The Den Den Mushi turned its head, glaring at the empty air to its side.
"Ara~ I risked being captured by a Celestial Dragon myself to save you. How was I supposed to know what happened before that?"
"Whatever. I'll remember this favor. Bazel, should we break in?"
A hint of a smile flashed in Bazel's eyes.
He knew Kaido would say that.
Turning a blind eye when his benefactor was in trouble wasn't Kaido's style.
"Haven't you always wanted to go there for a tourist visit? This is a great opportunity, isn't it?"
"Worororo~~~"
The Den Den Mushi's mouth curved into a smile.
"You're right! The pirate world also values benevolence and righteousness. That fishman saved my life."
"If I pretended I didn't know, I wouldn't be worthy of being your captain!"
"Bazel, since you said that, you must have a plan, right?"
Bazel nodded, "Focus on recovering first. I'll come find you after I've sorted things out here. We can discuss the details when we meet."
"Then it's settled! I'll wait for you on Sabaody Archipelago!"
Kacha…
The Den Den Mushi hung up. Bazel looked towards Jarul, who had been eavesdropping not far away, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You are Elder Jarul, correct?"
"I hope you can keep what you just heard confidential. Personally, I am very fond of this land and the Giants who live here."
"But if certain information is leaked prematurely, it won't be good for either of us."
Hearing this, Loki stared at Jarul without a word.
"I understand. But you really are a reckless bunch."
Jarul sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
"However, I hope you will cover your faces when you cause trouble. Harald is looking forward to using the alliance with you to fully integrate into the human world."
"And that place isn't so easy to infiltrate. Be careful…"
"It's the perfect opportunity precisely because no one has infiltrated it before."
Bazel interrupted, "No one has infiltrated it, which means they believe no one dares to challenge the dignity of the gods."
"Our infiltration this time might go incredibly smoothly, so smoothly it's simpler than you can imagine."
Loki lay next to Bazel, pointing at himself with excited expression:
"Hey, hey, Bazel Aniki, take me with you!"
"I really want to go in with you guys and see too!"
"No!"
Jarul reprimanded sternly, "Loki, your appearance is too conspicuous. As a prince of the Giants, if news of you breaking in gets exposed, it will bring us great trouble!"
"I'm not a prince right now. I'm just an ordinary pirate of the Beasts Pirates."
Loki, still unwilling to give up, tugged on Bazel's arm, trying to weasel his way through with cuteness.
"Your strength isn't enough to break into that place, but~"
Hearing the first part, Loki's heart had already sunk.
"...I'll take you along for the ride. You just need to be responsible for receiving us outside. Kaido and I will retreat immediately after finding Tiger."
Loki's eyes lit up. He picked up Bazel and rubbed him vigorously against his cheek.
"As expected of the Aniki I, Loki, acknowledge! Dogahaha, I must tell Harald when I get back!"
"I will be the second giant to break into Holy Land Mary Geoise after him!"
'He really is still a kid, with this mentality of showing off to his father...' Bazel didn't say much, just jumped out of Loki's palm.
"Jarul, take me to see the Giant King, Harald."
"Toki, please stay and help handle the wounded."
"King, I'll be leaving for a while. You're temporarily in charge of the Beasts Pirates."
King, not far away, raised his hand and waved a few times.
"Understood. Be careful yourself."
…
Edge of Western Village, Aurust Castle.
Jarul dismissed the soldiers who tried to approach and inquire, leading Bazel and Loki through the wide-open castle gates.
Outside the study, Jarul said softly, "Harald, I've brought the representative of the Beasts Pirates… and Loki."
"Come in."
The door opened. The candlelight of the night cast a huge shadow.
Harald put down his brush and offered Bazel a sincere smile, the kind only a noble politician could muster.
"This shouldn't be you, Harald. Even though this is our first meeting."
Bazel stood at the doorframe without entering. He's acting out of character, as he didn't show his high emotional intelligence side.
Instead, he deliberately displayed a rudeness outside the norms of diplomatic etiquette.
"But as the king of the Giants, you can stoop to compromise, but you shouldn't become a human politician, wearing that sincere smile."
Bearing the marks of battle, Bazel's gaze at the Giant King held a trace of disappointment.
"You are the king of giants. Where is your dominance? Your majesty? Your strength?"
"Why do I see a common noble from the human world here? What I want to see is a Giant King radiating an overbearing aura!"
Harald was stunned, clearly not expecting the other to greet him with this attitude.
Soru.
Bazel moved at extreme speed onto the desk, looking up at Harald.
"Stooping to compromise won't let you integrate into the human world. Even if you become the very thing you once despised, you cannot truly integrate into the human world."
"It's just like our Beasts Pirates fighting the Giants. Only equal strength can be called an alliance."
As soon as these words were spoken, Harald's face instantly darkened.
"Are you here to teach me how to be a king?"
"I am merely stating facts. What our Beasts Pirates want to ally with is not a spineless noble Giant King."
Bazel didn't retreat at all, his gaze growing sharper.
"Harald, if you continue to speak to me with this expression, then there's no need to discuss further cooperation."
"Integrating Giants into the human world is not about turning Giants into humans. Do I really need to spell out the difference between these two statements?"
"Sir..."
"Father."
Loki stood behind Bazel, looking down at his father seated in the chair.
"I have decided to join the Beasts Pirates. That is where my home is."
"Before I leave, I hope you can return to being the Harald who once roamed the seas freely."
"Showing weakness and gentleness cannot lead the Giants to a brighter future. Only strength! As long as we have unmatched strength, then…!!"
"Silence, Loki."
Seeing Bazel make Loki obediently shut up with just a few words, Harald's eyes widened.
"Harald, Loki is not wrong. Showing weakness and gentleness cannot support a tribe's future."
"The Giants only needs a perfect opportunity, not to imitate humans, not to become humans."
"Right now, I can provide this opportunity. But the condition is that you, Giant King Harald, straighten your back once more."
"Speak to me with the face of a Giant."