It went, as one might say, very smoothly.
His training in Observation Haki's future sight had been underway for a long time, and he was just one final step away from mastering it. Roa's Observation Haki was far from its peak, but it had reached the minimum requirement for future sight. Luffy's Observation Haki was probably not even as strong as Roa's at the time he first achieved future sight. After a massive stimulus like Harald, it was perfectly normal for him to have achieved future sight.
In short, "I, Roa, did not cheat!" It was all hard work and sweat!
But this feeling was truly wonderful. A red light flashed continuously in Roa's eyes. Future images appeared one after another. They were still somewhat disconnected, like a slow computer trying to run the latest 3A game, making the screen lag. But that was normal. It was what happened when you were just starting out. Future sight had different levels of mastery. Once his proficiency increased, the images would become a continuous video, and he would be able to see further into the future.
He had gotten off to a good start!
So, Roa happily said to the stunned Giant King, "Thanks, Harald. Let's stop here. There's no reason to keep fighting."
Harald clutched his chest with his left hand. When he lifted it, his palm was already full of blood. He looked at Roa with a look of shock, which instantly turned into anger. "Observation Haki future sight? You... you bastard! You were just using me as a training partner!!"
He finally understood why Roa, who already had the absolute advantage, still insisted on fighting him! Was this his goal? This hateful, arrogant kid! He used him to become even stronger!
"Didn't I already say so?" Roa said with a smile. "Thank you very much. Without your help, it might have taken me a while longer to learn this move."
He was happy. He had mastered all the advanced uses of the three types of Haki: Conqueror's Haki coating, Armament Haki's internal destruction, and Observation Haki's future sight. The only thing he was missing was the "Observation Killer" technique. However, that technique was very niche and only useful against true Haki masters, so it was no big deal if he didn't learn it.
So, unless Imu had some new techniques, he was pretty much done with his Haki skill tree.
"You're a maniac!" Harald's understanding of Roa's madness deepened. Was he really willing to fight him without a second thought just for the sake of training? He knew very well that if he had an opportunity, he would kill him without hesitation! Did he not care? Or did he genuinely believe that he didn't have the power to do it? No matter which one it was, this guy's madness was obvious.
Besides, it would be even more impossible to kill this kid now that he had mastered Observation Haki's future sight. He was already as slippery as an eel, and now that he could see the future, it would be difficult just to land a hit on him. And he didn't have the "Observation Killer" technique.
So, what should he do? Should he just compromise with this bastard? What would become of Elbaf under this bastard's coercion?
"Thanks for the compliment," Roa said nonchalantly, sheathing his sword. "Now let's talk about our cooperation."
Harald was still clutching his giant sword, but Roa simply and unilaterally announced the end of the battle with a relaxed smile. He was indeed incredibly strong in a frontal fight, but as long as he didn't want to fight head-to-head for a win, he was completely unthreatened. This was even more true now that he had mastered Observation Haki's future sight.
"Cooperation...!" The muscles on Harald's face twitched.
Roa looked at the Giant King, who was still grinding his teeth, and said with a grin, "Hey, Harald, what are you waiting for? How about you hold a banquet to welcome us?"
"...You bastard!" Harald could only curse angrily. "Come with me!"
And so, the battle ended.
Harald first went to dig out the giants who had been blown away during the fight from under the snow, and then he led everyone to a giant elevator. Besides the Rainbow Bridge, the Giant Kingdom's upper and lower realms were connected by these giant elevators that looked like they were from a Miyazaki film.
As they rode the giant elevator up, the faces of Dorry and Brogy were grim. Even Harald couldn't do anything against Roa? And Harald was even injured by him! The most insane pirate in the world! His reputation was well-deserved.
Loki, on the other hand, was staring blankly at Harald's back. He still found it hard to accept. So, his father had been defeated?
Soon, at Aurust Castle, located in the upper realm of Elbaf, a "welcome" banquet for the Calamity Company was held.
"This feels really weird," Bege said, looking around uncomfortably. "Everything is too big!"
Giant houses, giant tables and chairs, and giant food. Because of the huge difference in size, they were arranged at one table. The giants had "miniature" tables and chairs specially made for humans, which came in handy.
"But, zehahahaha, the food of the giants is really good!" Teach was much more open-minded, laughing as he devoured a large chunk of meat.
However, most people's attention was on Harald, who was seated at the head of the table. The Giant King was looking down at Roa, who was leaning against Kozuki Toki, not eating, just breathing quietly.
"Let's get straight to the point, Roa. What is the meaning of this 'business' and 'cooperation' you speak of?" Harald's expression was serious.
Everyone else at the banquet—Dorry and Brogy, the two giant heroes, the white-haired giant elders, and Loki, the future heir of the kingdom—unconsciously looked at Roa. The future of the entire Elbaf depended on this negotiation!
"Let's get one thing straight," Harald said with a cold look before the negotiation began. "Don't push your luck! Otherwise, we will fight you to the death, even if it means gambling this country's existence!"
Roa believed that. If he really pushed them too far, what did it matter if he couldn't get the Treasure Tree Adam? If a king saves his territory but loses his people, he loses both.
"Don't worry, this is a win-win cooperation," Roa said, perking up. He sat up straight from Kozuki Toki's embrace and wrapped his arm around the demure woman, holding her like a large doll.
"I never had any interest in destroying Elbaf from the beginning," he said. "After all, Harald, you're the captain's good friend, and the captain's friends are my friends. We were meant to be partners."
"If you hadn't been so aggressive and hostile from the start, we wouldn't have had such an unpleasant encounter. You should really reflect on that."
"Hmph." Harald couldn't help but snort. This guy was shameless. Compared to this bastard, Rocks seemed almost benevolent.
"Harald, haven't you always been looking for ways for Elbaf to interact with the human world?" Roa's lips curved into a smile. He sat back in his chair like a big shot, casually stroking Kozuki Toki's soft hair as if he were petting a cat. "I can help with that."
"What?" Harald was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"The scope of the Calamity Company's business speaks for itself, doesn't it?" Roa said leisurely. "Most non-member countries in the world have business with us."
"And now, the entire New World is ours. Although we have divided the territory, I can make it so that Elbaf can establish ties with all the countries in the New World with just a single word."
"This!" Harald's eyes instantly lit up. His beloved Ida had made him realize that since Elbaf existed in this world, it shouldn't be isolated. Although humans were generally weak, they possessed a formidable power. Looking down on humans would one day bring disaster to Elbaf! Just like with Rocks back then, and just like with Roa now.
So, over the years, he had been actively trying to establish contact with human kingdoms, even sneaking into the Reverie for this purpose. He had achieved some success, making friends with the kings of several countries and establishing ties with them, but it was far from enough.
"Are you serious?" Harald could hardly contain his excitement. At that moment, his heart was moved, and the threat Roa posed was completely forgotten.
"Wait! Harald!"
One of the giant elders, the oldest warrior in the world, the former captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, old man Jarul, who was also known as "Mountain Beard," spoke tremulously. "Don't be so hasty!" The old man, nearly 380 years old and a rare elder among giants, spoke slowly, but the eyes under his white eyebrows were sharp as he looked at Roa.
"But Roa, what's the price?"
Everything!
Of course, if he answered that, a fight would break out immediately. So, Roa replied, "Military power. I need Elbaf's fighting force."
"I knew it," Jarul said with a look of "I expected this." "Another madman who covets Elbaf's strength!"
"Absolutely not!" another giant elder shouted angrily. "Calamity Roa! What do you take Elbaf for? Do you want to enslave the giant warriors?"
"Reject him, Harald!" another elder said impatiently. "Elbaf will never accept such conditions!"
"That's right! Who cares about forming ties with humans? The dignity of our warriors must not be trampled upon!" the elders clamored.
"Wow, you don't have it easy, Harald," Roa said, looking at Harald with a hint of pity. As a king, and a monster with overwhelming power, he was still being held back by these old geezers.
"I don't need your pity!" Harald shot back.
"So, do you want me to get rid of them for you?" Roa said, feigning righteousness. "If it's inconvenient for you, I'll do it. They're really loud."
"What did you say!?" A giant elder slammed his hand on the table and cried out in disbelief. "Calamity Roa, do you know where you are?"
"I said, you're too loud!" Roa's eyes flashed.
Whoosh!
A wave of intense Haki swept through the room, causing the giant castle to shake violently. The walls, floor, ceiling, tables, chairs, and decorations in the room shattered.
"Waaaah!"
Amidst the screams, the bodies of the giant elders were struck by black lightning and were forcefully pushed to the ground. Some knelt, others lay face down, all groaning in pain. In the presence of a true conqueror, these giants, who were old and frail and could no longer even be called warriors, didn't have the right to stand.
"Roa! Stop!" Harald roared, his own powerful Haki surging to meet Roa's.
"My apologies, my apologies. I just got a little annoyed," Roa said, reining in his Conqueror's Haki and scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "After all, they don't seem to understand their place. I'm not negotiating with you right now."
"I'm just stating a demand that you must agree to. You don't have the right to refuse."
"..."
Dorry and Brogy gritted their teeth. He was right! There was no one in the world more insane than him!
"Roa!" Harald's veins bulged on his forehead. "I told you not to push your luck!"
Roa acted as if he didn't hear Harald. "I need a giant mercenary force. Don't worry, the pay will be great. The Calamity Company has always believed in the survival of the fittest, and powerful giant warriors deserve better treatment."
"And," Roa said, pointing at the gritting Dorry and Brogy, "you two will be the leaders of this mercenary force."
So that's it! Dorry and Brogy finally understood why this guy went out of his way to bring them back to Elbaf and didn't care about their hostility! This was his plan!
"Don't even dream about it, Roa!" Dorry said furiously.
"Oh, okay," Roa nodded. "Well, the negotiation has failed. Let's start the war."
"Roa! Don't go too far!" Harald glared at Roa. "If we go to war, your Calamity Company won't get off scot-free!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Roa raised an eyebrow. He turned to his crew and asked, "Are you willing to die for me?"
"Of course, Boss!" Bullet was the first to answer with a fanatic nod. "Our lives belong to you!"
"Anytime, Boss!" King said without hesitation.
"If it's for your domination, I don't mind dying a few times!" Dylan was even more eager to die.
The others, like Doffy, showed a slight change in expression but didn't dare say anything. They could only nod repeatedly. If they refused now, they didn't know what would be waiting for them later! Roa was very petty!
Roa didn't care about them at all! To him, they were just weapons that could provide combat power, to be discarded whenever necessary. Forget about them, what about even Kozuki Toki, who slept in the same bed as him every night? Would he hesitate to kill her?
"See?" Roa said, spreading his hands. "We're not afraid of sacrifice."
"So, shall we fight?"
"..."
Cold sweat dripped down Harald's forehead.
A lunatic! He was a true lunatic! Did this guy have no weakness at all?
"Alright!" Brogy suddenly roared. "We agree to your terms!!"
"Don't harm Elbaf!" Dorry also stared at Roa. "We are willing to work for you!"
"See? That wasn't so hard," Roa said, grinning. "Why make things so tense and unpleasant for everyone?"
If only everyone in the world were as principled and kind as them! Imu, I wish you were like that too!
Harald looked at the pained expressions on Dorry and Brogy's faces, and he suddenly felt a void in his heart. He turned to stare blankly at Roa.
"What's your answer, Harald?" Roa prodded with a curious smile. "The leaders of the mercenaries are in place. What about the ordinary warriors?"
"..."
Harald's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. It wasn't until a few seconds later that he heard his own voice.
He said, "Okay."
"Excellent!" Roa said, his lips curling into a triumphant smile. "Then, let's cooperate happily!"
But...
"You've got to be kidding me!!" Loki suddenly roared, flipping the table over. "Father! What are you saying!?"
Oh, another challenger?