Compared to Hajrudin's self-admonishing and heavy mood, Gerd seemed much more relaxed and cheerful.
After she retrieved her sword, she didn't rush to put it away. Instead, she held the longsword, looking at it left and right, instantly becoming a curious child.
"My sword… is it really that strong?" Gerd gently stroked the blade with her fair palm.
Her movements were gentle, and her delicate skin, which seemed as if it could be broken by a mere touch, was finally not cut by the blade.
As she stroked it, the surprise in Gerd's eyes gradually deepened, as if she was seeing this sharp sword that had accompanied her for decades for the first time.
After all, before today, she couldn't even scratch the bark of the Adam Tree, let alone swing her sword to cut through it.
Because of this, Gerd had doubted her talent and decided to give up practicing swordsmanship.
But now she felt… perhaps she could try again?
"Hmm, my sword is so strong, I can't give up swordsmanship!" Gerd held the sword upright in front of her, her face full of excitement as she examined it.
At this moment, a young Giant behind her curled his lips and reminded her, "Gerd, is it possible that it's not your sword that's strong, but that Marine… Admiral?!"
"Hmph! Without my sword, Admiral Kenji wouldn't have been able to unleash such a powerful slash either."
"In any case… my sword definitely played a part!"
"You're already calling him 'Admiral Kenji'?" The companions behind her became increasingly speechless.
"Even if your sword is powerful… you yourself are not powerful."
"Your strength cannot unleash the true power of this sword."
"…It doesn't matter!" Gerd was silent for a moment, then her eyes lit up, and she had an idea.
"If my swordsmanship isn't good, I can learn."
"Before, I probably didn't learn very powerful swordsmanship… Hmm, it must be like that."
"We usually train together, don't we?" Her companions behind her lost their composure.
Gerd ignored the sarcastic remarks from her companions and ran to Kenji, asking with a pleading expression, "Admiral Kenji, can you teach me swordsmanship?"
As Gerd spoke, she immediately performed a 'leg hug' on the spot.
Of course, with both parties being roughly the same height, a "leg hug" was somewhat ungraceful, so Gerd chose an "arm hug" instead, which amounted to much the same effect.
"Hmm?"
Kenji turned his head in confusion, while two soft and springy sensations came from his arm.
He felt very strange. How old was this young girl? And she was already this developed?
Gerd, at only forty-something years old, had a figure that could be described as fiery. Her slender figure was curvaceous. This surprised Kenji slightly.
Especially when he saw Gerd's innocent and naive expression, which contrasted greatly with her graceful body.
"Hmm, converted to giant years, she's still a child, isn't she…?" At this moment, Kenji felt a bit awkward.
Although Kenji had enjoyed himself over the years, his past experiences were all about pleasure quarters and romantic affairs. There's a big difference between being romantic and being lewd.
At this moment, an innocent young girl came running to ask for guidance with a sincere expression. What Kenji felt more was the youthful innocence of a young age.
Affected by this, Kenji, slightly embarrassed, raised his hand and scratched his head.
Then, he looked at the young girl's eager, sparkling eyes in front of him, and with a slight smile, he firmly shook his head.
"Since you've sincerely asked… but no! I cannot teach you swordsmanship!"
"Ah? Is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Gerd's hopeful eyes dimmed, and her pretty face instantly fell, but she still asked, unwilling to give up.
"Really not? Just teach me a little bit of swordsmanship…"
Although the young girl's pretty face was scrunched up and her eyes were moist, making her look quite moving.
But Kenji remained unmoved.
"No, little sister."
Kenji himself had only learned and comprehended swordsmanship from the Giants these past few days, and he didn't know how to teach others at all.
Besides, he was going to other places next, and that place was quite far from Elbaph.
However, since Gerd had a dream of becoming a sword master and had sincerely requested it, it wouldn't seem right for Kenji to do nothing.
He thought for a moment, then suggested with a mysterious smile, "Although I cannot teach you swordsmanship, I can help you plan your future career… Hmm, how about becoming a priest… no, a doctor?"
"A doctor is a better and stronger profession than a swordsman, you know."
Upon hearing these words, Gerd frowned slightly, seemingly not quite agreeing with Kenji's statement, and shook her head.
"Doctors can only assist combatants, right?"
"Hehe! Not at all!" Kenji waved his hand with a slightly serious expression, saying earnestly.
"Doctors are very strong…"
"Have you ever heard: Instead of attacking the enemy, it's better to poison the enemy?"
Looking at Gerd's half-understanding expression, Kenji chuckled and reached out to pat her. "You'll understand later."
However, Kenji didn't completely close the door. After offering his advice, he also casually mentioned that he would teach her swordsmanship if there was a chance in the future.
Just then, Harald, having dismissed the guards, came nearby and overheard some of their conversation.
Then, Harald rushed over to ask Kenji about his next visit to Elbaph. He had already heard that Kenji was about to leave Elbaph.
In fact, he was not surprised by this news.
After all, Kenji was a Marine, and an Admiral at that. As the highest combat force of the Marine, he must be busy with affairs on a daily basis.
How could he have time to stay in the relatively remote Elbaph all the time?
"It's a pity I couldn't keep him…"
From Kenji's previous attitude, Harald had already confirmed that this Marine Admiral would not stay in Elbaph.
At this moment, after a brief conversation with Kenji and roughly agreeing on a time for their next meeting, Harald was still somewhat unwilling to give up and repeatedly asked Kenji to stay.
"Hmm, I think, since you've awakened the Ancient Giant Bloodline, it's best to stay in Elbaph." Harald now implicitly accepted Kenji's bloodline as the same Ancient Giant as his and Loki's.
"The outside world, for us Ancient Giants… holds many dangers!"
Kenji did not respond directly. He merely smiled slightly and asked in return, "Are you sure I'm an Ancient Giant?"
"Of course, with your performance just now…" Harald's words were cut short.
He saw Kenji's body continuously shrinking, shrinking… until it finally returned to the size of a normal human, about two meters tall, right before his eyes.
"Now what?"
Kenji crossed his arms and burst into laughter, looking at the astonished expression of the Giant King opposite him.
Kenji stayed in Elbaph for a few more days.
Before leaving, he handed over a portion of the felled Adam Tree to the Elbaph Giant Tribe for building large warships, agreeing to pick it up at their next meeting.
For the return voyage, Kenji did not travel with the main group, taking only his adjutant Kuzan and his personal guard unit on one ship.
As for Charlotte, she was arranged to be escorted back to Marineford by Sakazuki and Magellan.
However, shortly after their three warships set sail, Charlotte suddenly started acting up.