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The Next Day, Morning
The Red Hair Pirates arrived at Elbaf.
"We're too late!"
Seeing the Giant village reduced to ashes, the officers felt immense pressure. The Destroyer's retaliation came so quickly.
What surprised them even more was that the Giant race was not shrouded in hatred. Instead, they were enthusiastically rebuilding the village.
In the center of the village, a structure significantly larger than usual was being erected, its design seemingly resembling an arena.
Shanks found Saul.
"Saul, what are you doing?"
"We're building an arena!"
"I can see that. I want to know why you're building an arena."
"Well..."
Saul scratched his head, unsure how to explain.
Elbaf was nearly destroyed, and even the children were determined to become warriors, let alone the adults.
They did not want to experience the same crisis a second time.
After discussions among the elders, the village did not completely abandon King Harald's policies, but they also could not ignore their traditional customs.
After learning the details, the Red Hair Pirates returned to their ship, each with a grim expression.
"I never thought it would be like this."
"That Daichi is even more troublesome than expected!"
"And Loki - he will definitely retaliate against us next!"
Clearly, Daichi had earned the respect of the Giant race through this war. Even Prince Hajrudin was serving him.
This was definitely not good for them.
The violent style of the Beast Pirates was like fire and water with theirs. A great battle between the two sides was bound to happen sooner or later.
There was also the troublesome Loki.
Shanks frowned. "Hongo, immediately investigate Loki's whereabouts. Loki's power is too great - he cannot be allowed to act freely!"
"Understood."
Hongo nodded in understanding, then pressed on.
"What about that Daichi?"
"Just keep an eye on him."
Shanks shook his head.
Daichi was a member of the Beast Pirates - that was the most problematic part. If they were to go to war, it would be a full-scale war between them and the Beast Pirates.
Now was not the time for war.
On the Other Side
The Groudon and the Giant Warrior Pirates were on their way to Wano Country.
On the deck, the secretly infiltrating little Giant was hung under the mast, struggling vigorously, showing no sign of giving up.
"I won't say anything until I see Mr. Daichi!"
"So cute."
Yamato poked the little Giant's face. It was she who noticed something was wrong and pulled the little Giant out from where he was hiding in the ship's cabin.
The reason was simple: her hidden snacks were stolen!
Soon, Daichi came to the deck. The little Giant's eyes lit up when he saw Daichi.
"Daichi!"
"Colon?"
Daichi was a bit surprised.
He remembered this child. Among the Giant children, this little guy was the most spirited, leaving a deep impression on him.
"Yamato, put him down."
"Oh!"
After being untied, Colon immediately ran to Daichi, excited: "Daichi, please let me serve you!"
"You?"
Daichi almost laughed out loud.
"Alright!"
"Huh? Really?"
Colon's eyes widened.
He thought he would be rejected. Shanks had refused him from joining the ship more than once, and the officers would also mock him for being a child.
Daichi subconsciously raised his hand to pat Colon's head, but found he couldn't reach. Although still a child, his height was already eight or nine meters.
"Colon, where are your parents? Do they know you've gone out to sea?"
"I snuck onto the ship."
Colon answered sheepishly.
He had secretly climbed onto the pirate ship and hidden in the cabin while the adults were busy with the funeral.
"He's indeed a naughty kid."
Daichi nodded helplessly.
"You can stay on the ship as an intern."
"Yes, Captain!"
Colon was overjoyed.
He was a true warrior now!
Daichi smiled and asked, "Colon, who are your parents? I need to inform them, otherwise they'll worry about you."
"My mother is Ripley, and my father is a human who used to be a pirate. His name is Gaban."
Colon didn't realize the problem at all.
Gaban?
Daichi blinked in confusion.
Ah???
This little guy was the mixed-blood child of that human and the female Giant, and that man was actually Gaban?!
Daichi was speechless.
At first, he was also puzzled as to why Gaban would appear in Elbaf, but he didn't think in that direction at all. After all, there were also many humans living in the underworld below.
Hiss, how did he manage that?
Daichi glanced at Hajrudin's ship.
He was seven or eight meters tall in his hybrid form, barely able to manage, but Gaban wasn't particularly large. And he wasn't a Devil Fruit user, nor had he ever heard that Gaban had the ability to grow larger.
Truly amazing!
If that's the case, won't this child be very powerful in the future?
Daichi smiled encouragingly. "Colon, work hard. When you get stronger, I'll promote you to an officer!"
"Huh?! I'll work hard!"
The little guy's eyes sparkled, completely hyped up.
Several Days Later
After sailing for several more days, the Groudon finally arrived at Wano Country, and the news of Daichi's return quickly spread throughout Onigashima.
"Hurry up!"
The pirates excitedly rushed to the port.
After several months, Daichi-sama once again shocked the world. Even though they were on Onigashima, they couldn't help but puff out their chests when they saw the newspaper.
Daichi-sama was their pride!
"Form ranks!!!"
The pirates stood on both sides, and a red carpet was even laid out on the path in the middle. The welcoming ceremony was more grand each time.
"BOOM!"
As the Groudon sailed into the port, cannons fired into the sky, exploding into colorful fireworks.
Even Kaido didn't receive such treatment when he returned from an outing!
Daichi disembarked with his subordinates, looking at the rather exaggerated welcoming party in front of them, not knowing what to say.
Except for the core officers, probably all the pirates on Onigashima had come.
"Welcome back, Daichi-sama!"
The pirates standing on both sides of the road bent their bodies, forming an arch bridge with their arms, their excited expressions as if they were welcoming an idol.
No, they were welcoming an idol!
Now, Daichi-sama's status in the hearts of these thugs was directly approaching Kaido's, and they even privately discussed whether the Vice-Captain of the Beast Pirates should be King or Daichi.
In the pirates' perception, the second-in-command of every pirate crew was basically the one with the highest bounty besides the Captain.
Daichi's bounty had far exceeded the other three All-Stars, so it was perfectly fine for Daichi to serve as Vice-Captain.
The pirates looked at Daichi, tears streaming down their faces.
"Look at Daichi-sama's perfect muscles!"
"Oh, oh, oh, too dazzling!"
"My eyes, my eyes!"
"To be able to see Daichi-sama at such a close distance is truly the honor of our lives! I want to join Daichi-sama's support fitness club!"
"Haha, I'm already a member!"
Daichi's face gradually darkened.
What in the world was a support fitness club?!
Also, could these scoundrels stop staring at him and drooling? It was disgusting. He only liked curvy, beautiful women!
"So powerful!"
Hajrudin and the others also disembarked. Seeing Daichi's incredibly high popularity, they couldn't help but be startled, and their perception of Daichi rose again.
This was a Yonko's stronghold, with countless powerful individuals!
"Huh? Giants?!"
Only then did the pirates notice the four incredibly tall Giants, each of them dumbfounded.
"Could it be that Daichi-sama conquered the powerful Giants?"
"I heard before that Daichi-sama went to Elbaf. It's truly amazing - even the Giant race is captivated by Daichi-sama's charm!"
"Daichi! Daichi! Daichi!!!"
The shouts echoed throughout Onigashima!