When the first rays of sunlight slanted across the horizon, all of Elbaf seemed to be bathed in molten gold. The towering tree that reached higher than the clouds stretched its impossibly lush canopy like a sky-covering pavilion, casting deep shadows across most of the island below.
This was Elbaf in the depths of winter.
The very crown of the great tree remained vibrantly green, defying the season, while the lower sections were blanketed in pristine white snow. Occasionally, accumulated snow would lose its grip on the massive branches and slide off in thunderous cascades that resembled miniature avalanches.
This was not merely a poetic comparison. The snow falling from the branches of the Treasure Tree Adam truly did crash down with the devastating force of a mountain collapse.
"Waaaahhhhh!"
Several figures dressed in pristine white suits with dark ties and expressionless masks scrambled frantically beneath the roaring avalanche, only daring to breathe a sigh of relief after they had sprinted to what they hoped was a safe distance.
"Truly worthy of being called the Giant Kingdom," one of them panted. "Even the avalanches here are completely unpredictable."
"I heard the giants do not welcome outsiders," another observed nervously.
"Hmph, their opinions are irrelevant," a third voice replied with cold disdain. "This entire world belongs to us. Living on our territory without paying proper taxes... if you ask me, the government should dispatch a massive army to completely wipe out these oversized barbarians."
The white-suited figures continued their hushed discussion in the shadows until their leader finally spoke up, his voice cutting through their chatter like a blade.
"I will reiterate this once more for absolute clarity. Our mission this time is to reestablish contact with 'Mother' Carmel. Any unnecessary conflict with the giants is strictly forbidden."
"What if we are discovered by the giants?" one subordinate asked.
"That possibility does not exist," the leader replied with absolute confidence.
The white suit glanced coldly at his subordinate. "If such an unlikely situation were to arise, you have exactly two options: either you commit suicide immediately, or you eliminate that giant to ensure their permanent silence. There is no third alternative."
White Suit Rock Stuart was a highly trained intelligence operative of the secretive CP organization. The so-called CP organization served as the World Government's most classified intelligence agency, responsible for investigating and manipulating world affairs from the shadows.
Unlike the eight divisions, CP1 through CP8, which operated with some degree of public visibility, Rock Stuart belonged to the elite CP0.
Directly subordinate to the "World Nobles" known as the Celestial Dragons, praised throughout the government as the "Celestial Dragons' strongest shield," CP0 was universally recognized as the "world's strongest intelligence agency."
As for why Rock Stuart had appeared in the remote kingdom of Elbaf, the reason was both simple and significant.
He had received earth-shattering news.
The pirate crew that had opposed their CP organization for decades, consistently thwarting their plans and humiliating their agents, the White Wolf Pirates, had finally disbanded!
When Rock Stuart first received this almost too-good-to-be-true intelligence, he had immediately assumed it was an elaborate smokescreen deliberately released by that cunning White Wolf Silas. After all, the White Wolf Pirates had successfully deceived and outmaneuvered their CP organization far more than once or twice over the years.
A public disbandment announcement seemed exactly like the kind of misdirection they would employ. Who could say what devious conspiracy they were concealing behind this theatrical display?
However, after an entire half year had passed without receiving even a whisper of White Wolf Pirates activity anywhere in the world, his initial healthy suspicion had gradually transformed into cautious certainty.
That accursed White Wolf Silas had truly retired at last!
When the news was finally confirmed through multiple independent sources, an entire division of CP organization intelligence agents celebrated with wild, drunken abandon.
Those who had never worked in intelligence could never truly understand their relief. The White Wolf Pirates had made a habit of brutally assaulting these hardworking intelligence operatives for seemingly no reason whatsoever, and they had been completely fearless in the face of any threats or retaliation.
The White Wolf Pirates roamed freely across the entire world like a force of nature. Meanwhile, these dedicated intelligence workers required years of painstaking effort just to develop a functional spy network in any given region. Without a sufficiently powerful superior stationed in each area, they could only endure the White Wolf Pirates' systematic bullying in frustrated silence.
Every single time the pirates finished causing their chaos and destruction, the White Wolf Pirates would simply sail away into the sunset, abandoning a complete disaster for the intelligence operatives to somehow clean up and explain to their superiors.
The mandatory overtime had been absolutely exhausting!
Rock Stuart's specific reason for traveling to Elbaf was essentially to conduct a final, definitive test regarding the White Wolf Pirates' current status. If he could successfully achieve the objectives of this operation, it would provide conclusive proof that the White Wolf Pirates were no longer an active threat to their interests.
Many previously shelved plans and operations could finally be restarted and implemented.
Their mission's primary target was to reestablish productive cooperation with 'Mother' Carmel. Thirty years ago, it should have been their CP organization that helped Carmel build crucial diplomatic bridges with the giants and gain their trust.
Who could have predicted that when Silas arrived on the scene, the Marines would brazenly steal their carefully planned achievement right from under their noses?
Although both the CP organization and the Marines technically operated under the same World Government umbrella, as competing violent organizations serving the same ultimate authority, there was inevitably significant rivalry and tension between the two groups.
However, compared to the Marines who conducted their operations in the harsh light of public scrutiny, the CP organization's work was far more sinister and morally questionable in nature.
Intelligence gathering was merely the foundation of their activities. The CP organization was deeply involved in smuggling operations, illegal arms dealing, human trafficking, and numerous other similarly lucrative but morally reprehensible transactions.
If they could successfully recruit large numbers of homeless orphans with completely untraceable backgrounds from Carmel's extensive network of orphanages, it would prove extremely beneficial for establishing and expanding the CP organization's global intelligence network.
Rock Stuart had harbored suspicions for years that 'Mother' Carmel was secretly in collusion with White Wolf Silas. After all, every single time they had attempted to convince Carmel to act as an intermediary for their operations, their carefully laid plans would somehow be sabotaged by the White Wolf Pirates with suspicious timing.
But if Carmel truly was in collusion with the White Wolf Pirates, it raised a perplexing question: why would the White Wolf Pirates go to such lengths to protect what was essentially a slave trader who sent innocent orphans to become Marine recruits?
For this specific reason, the CP organization maintained comprehensive files on every single Marine who had originated from the House of Lambs network. If they ever discovered even the slightest clue linking any of these individuals to the White Wolf Pirates, they would show absolutely no mercy in their response.
As a direct result of this exhaustive investigation, thirty full years had passed since they had begun their surveillance. The White Wolf Pirates had officially disbanded, and they still had not uncovered anything suspicious about those carefully monitored orphans.
"What a tremendous pity," Rock Stuart sighed with genuine regret.
It was truly unfortunate that each and every member of the White Wolf Pirates possessed their own specialized expertise in evading and countering CP pursuit operations.
For the past six months, despite their best efforts and considerable resources, they had not managed to locate even a single former White Wolf Pirates crew member.
"Intelligence reports indicate that the giants are currently observing their sacred Winter Solstice Festival," Rock Stuart briefed his team. "During this traditional period, all of Elbaf's giants will significantly reduce their normal activities and fast for exactly twelve consecutive days."
"This represents our perfect opportunity!"
Do not let Rock Stuart's apparently modest escort of only three CP0 companions mislead you regarding their capabilities. In harsh reality, each individual CP0 agent possessed sufficient strength and skill to face down a thousand ordinary enemies simultaneously.
Rock Stuart's carefully crafted plan was to abduct every single child from the House of Lambs and use this dramatic demonstration of their power to threaten and intimidate Carmel. He would make it crystal clear to her that if she wanted the House of Lambs to continue operating anywhere in the world, she absolutely must cooperate fully with their organization's demands.
Although he had explicitly stated that they could not afford to expose themselves during this operation, Rock Stuart actually did not take those clumsy, oversized giants seriously as a threat at all.
In fair one-on-one combat, ordinary giants posed no significant challenge to elite CP0 operatives. They would simply become additional targets for elimination if necessary.
Moreover, after enduring twelve full days of religious fasting, the giants would undoubtedly be severely weakened both physically and mentally. Even if they were somehow discovered by the giants during their escape, they could withdraw calmly and at their leisure.
The plan appeared absolutely foolproof in every conceivable way.
In the concealing darkness, the night-watch giants could not possibly spot CP0 agents who barely reached their kneecaps in height, especially given their vastly superior training and stealth capabilities.
Unless, of course, there was an unexpected complication.
"Unless members of the White Wolf Pirates crew are currently living somewhere in Elbaf," Rock Stuart muttered to himself.
"But how could that possibly be true?"
Startled by his own paranoid speculation, Rock Stuart shook his head dismissively. They had invested tremendous time and effort in getting Carmel to gradually gain the giants' trust and acceptance over many years.
How could a group of notorious pirates from the White Wolf Pirates possibly accomplish such a diplomatic feat?
Moving like shadows through the night, they easily avoided the lumbering night-watch giants and successfully infiltrated the heart of the giants' village. The House of Lambs was now tantalizingly within their reach.
Just as Rock Stuart was about to signal his team to begin the coordinated kidnapping of every child from the House of Lambs, a puzzled voice rang out clearly from somewhere above them.
"Hmm? Who are you people?"
Silas, who had been dutifully helping the giants with their night watch responsibilities, sat casually on a thick branch of an Adam Tree, looking down at the intruders with keen interest.
"Oh, so it's you pathetic little worms," he said with a predatory grin. "CP0's sneaky rats!"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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