'Ragnir' wasn't really suited to Klein's style. Even if it was "brute force crushing finesse," Klein preferred a more violent, direct, and overwhelming approach—but with flair and elegance.
Something like…
A Halberd!
This "giant iron hammer" clearly looked like something used by some burly brute. What kind of protagonist would carry around a weapon that looks like a damn blacksmith's tool?
Isn't that the kind of thing used by muscleheads or goofy side characters?
Was Ragnir really worthy of him?
Klein coughed lightly and said, "Ahem, I'll store this big iron hammer for now. Later…"
He turned to Loki. "I'll hand it over to you. You're the only one here suited to wield such a heavy weapon."
Loki nodded silently.
Ever since he'd been thrown into the Underworld by his own mother, abandoned with her own hands—rejected and hated again and again—he'd turned into a quiet, withdrawn person.
He wore the kind of expression that made it seem like everyone owed him millions.
[Affinity +2]
Seeing the system notification, a subtle grin tugged at Klein's lips.
'Heh… just you wait. One day I'll have you trained into total obedience.'
'You'll be calling me "Father" before you know it!'
He immediately pulled out a scroll and sealed the massive hammer inside. "I'll keep it in the scroll for now—it takes up way too much space."
Bli-bli-bli-bli—
The sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out. Oss thought it was another call from Fleet Admiral Oharden, but when he pulled it out, he saw it was from a Marine stationed on the warship.
He tensed up. Could something have gone wrong?
"Moshi moshi, this is Oss!"
"Captain Oss, we have something urgent to report to Klein-sama. Please pass the Den Den Mushi to him immediately."
Klein raised a brow slightly and took the call. "It's me. What's going on over there?"
"Klein-sama! Thank you so much! If it weren't for the scroll you left behind, we might've all been wiped out!"
"Huh, they really got attacked?" Klein had only left the scroll behind as a precaution.
"Yes, sir! The attacker was Golden Lion Shiki, but your scroll struck him hard and left him heavily wounded!"
"..."
The voice on the other end poured out every detail.
Klein blinked—then burst out laughing inwardly: 'Hahaha—what rotten luck, Golden Lion. The world really is small, huh?'
'Bet he's licking his wounds in some hole now.'
He was delighted.
Now he just wondered whether his scroll had left Shiki with a lasting trauma.
'This proves it—the scrolls are pretty damn good. Against non-top-tier enemies, they're a guaranteed hit!'
Thinking back to his fight with Harald, Klein mused: 'His sheer size made him such an easy target. With smaller, top-tier fighters, most of the scroll's attacks might miss entirely.'
He chuckled. But he wasn't worried. Once he unlocked the Paramecia: Soul-Soul Fruit, his scrolls could become sentient Homies.
At that point…
He could go totally hands-free and let the "AI dumbasses" handle the attacking. All he'd need to do is flap his mouth and issue commands.
That's the power of a Verbal God Gamer!
"What a shame that Shiki got away. With a bounty like his, Klein-sama could've raked in a ton," Oss muttered.
Klein waved it off, smiling. "Doesn't matter. That guy's bounty will definitely go up again."
"A mature fish will grow on its own—and swim right into our net!"
A pirate who doesn't cause trouble? That's not a pirate.
And pirates were just like chives—endless.
Even if Luffy someday overthrew the World Government, the seas would still be overflowing with pirates.
Oda was just a manga artist.
Klein knew full well he wasn't cut out for politics. He much preferred the good life—collecting figurines, showing off, and having fun.
Red revolution? No thanks—he'd rather go yellow!
"To survive a Klein-sama scroll… that guy must be something," Newgate said with shining eyes. "One day, when I'm strong enough, I'll capture him myself—without Klein-sama lifting a finger!"
"Ambitious. I like it," Klein praised. "But you all need to train hard from now on."
He swept his gaze over the group: Oss, Gloriosa, Shakky, Newgate, Linlin, and Loki.
Six trusted core members—he'd have to train them well.
Once they were strong enough, and if the Marine Four Flowers matured too, the Marines might just become a one-man show—his one-man show.
As for the World Government…
Klein thought to himself: 'Better to grow in the shadows for now. But once I'm strong enough—we're going to have a long talk.'
At the shoreline.
"Mom! That's—Loki!?" Hajrudin stared wide-eyed in shock.
Countless monstrous creatures, strong enough to kill giants and make the island uninhabitable even for the Giant Tribe, were now cowering in fear.
They parted, opening a path like servants before a king.
In that group—someone was the Beast King!
Hajrudin clenched his fists tight, especially when he saw his little brother, whom he usually looked down on. His emotions surged.
"Hajrudin, look at Loki's shoulder—it's that tavern guest from before! He…" Ida turned pale, her eyes darting nervously. "Harald… Harald better not be hurt."
"That guy…" Hajrudin locked onto the figure riding on Loki's shoulder. "He's really going to take Loki away from Elbaf… and Father—was he injured during the fight?!"
He was becoming more and more anxious.
"Is that… a Homie? Just like the Pandora the nun made?" Gertz turned pale, breaking out in cold sweat.
She remembered the nun's Homie—Pandora, created during a village fire. The nun had turned the flames into a talking Homie.
She used it to light her cigarettes.
And now…
"One, two, three…" Gertz's face froze in horror. "Linlin has three Homies by her side!?"
She was shocked—and full of questions.
How did the nun's Devil Fruit power end up with Linlin?
Gertz hid behind a giant, peeking her head out.
Meanwhile, Klein and his crew rode in on Zeus, flying in from across the sea.
"Miss Ida, we might be staying at your tavern for a few more days," Klein said as they landed.
"Harald—he's okay, right?" Ida asked nervously.
Everyone else jumped down, while Klein remained seated on Zeus and flew straight to Ida.
"Do I really look like a bad guy?" he asked with a smile.
"..."
"..."
Even Loki turned his head toward him.
Hearing that, Ida finally relaxed. She looked at Loki, then said gently, "Looks like Harald has agreed to let Loki go with you. I'm counting on you to take good care of him."
"Of course! He's my adopted son now. I'll raise him into a model 'Giant Man'—like a real father should!" Klein grinned.
The mood immediately turned awkward.
Everyone fell silent.
Hajrudin was dumbstruck. "S-Son!? Loki is your son now!?"
He and his crew were completely floored!
"This… this is just…" Ida stammered, unable to finish her sentence.
Several other giants, however, were visibly pleased and clapped silently behind their backs.
"Good, good! That cursed child Loki is finally leaving Elbaf!"
"Good riddance! That disaster's finally gone—it's a blessing for everyone!"
"What a kind man! What a good man!!"
"..."
Loki's reputation had been utterly ruined—mostly thanks to his mother, a woman obsessed with fortune-telling.
In truth, she was just like Klein—a total money maniac!
"Alright, let's go celebrate at the tavern," Klein said, beaming. "Today is the day I became Loki's adoptive father!"
"Drinks are on me—Lord Klein is treating!"
A dramatic flourish of his arm—he couldn't be happier.
"Woohoo! Klein-sama's the best! Time to party hard!" Oss cheered.
At that moment.
Linlin ran over to Gertz with a happy smile and greeted her: "Heehee, Gertz—it's been so many years!"
"..." Gertz trembled behind a giant, her eyes full of fear.
Oss waved and shouted, "Hey—why do you look so scared? Weren't you two childhood friends??"
Gertz looked down and saw the tiny man shouting. She extended her hand, and Oss lightly hopped into her palm.
She spoke timidly. "It's because… Linlin destroyed Elbaf's village, the Lamb House, even the Giant Elders…"
"Eh!?" Linlin was stunned, blinking rapidly, her eyes spinning. "I did that!?"
She had absolutely no memory of it.
Oss quickly explained, "She, uh… according to Klein-sama, she falls into a kind of hunger-induced trance…"
"It's a condition! Klein-sama says he's going to cure it eventually—so don't worry!"
"A condition?" Gertz was still terrified. She'd seen Linlin go berserk—totally unrecognizable, beyond reason.
"Yep." Oss continued, "Klein-sama is training Charlotte with a special regimen every day. I haven't seen her go berserk since."
"..."
As they chatted, Shakky smirked. "Wow, Oss didn't pass out after interacting with a giant woman—miraculous."
"Maybe the difference from humans is just too extreme?" Gloriosa shook her head. She didn't get it either.
Klein rubbed his chin, grinning slyly. 'Heh… Oss is really stepping up, huh.'
'The Giant Tribe lives three times longer than humans—and they've got amazing bodies—but their population doesn't seem to grow much.'
'Are they doing family planning now?'
'Late marriage, fewer kids, better genes?'
'If it were me—I'd go full power! Pump those numbers up!'
He remembered: at Elbaf's school, there were only 13 kids—and that was after being taken over by the Holy Knight Corps.
Only 13!?
For such a massive place? That's insane!
Klein glanced back toward the direction of Elbaf's surface, shaking his head.
'Harald, what the hell kind of king are you? Letting the Giant Tribe fade out like this?'
'"World's Strongest Nation?" What a joke.'
'Three Holy Knights have you dancing in circles.'
Meanwhile…
On a certain island in the New World, Golden Lion Shiki lay on the ground.
His chest wound had already scabbed over, wrapped clumsily in torn bits of his own clothing.
He grinned. "Kehahaha—feels good to still have a heartbeat!"
Staring up at the blue sky, Shiki fell into deep thought. The moment he was struck down by that blade… his heart still skipped a beat in fear.
He hadn't gotten over it.
"Klein… that guy's not even a Marine Vice Admiral, and yet he's ten times—no, a hundred times—scarier than Kong!"
"No wonder they call him the greatest genius in Marine history. He's not all talk—he's the real deal. So strong. So damn strong."
That one attack had obliterated his swordsmanship, shattered his flying slash, and carved through with overwhelming dominance.
Completely unstoppable.
"Kehahaha—now this is a sea worth sailing!"
Suddenly—
A cocky voice called out. "Oi, isn't that the famous pirate Golden Lion Shiki?"
"How'd you end up so pathetic!?"
Rustle—
The bushes parted, and out stepped a shirtless man draped in a coat. His muscles were ripped, his hair a striking mix of black and white. A single strand dangled over the right side of his face, while the left bore a dark lightning-shaped scar.
A sword hung at his hip.
Rocks D. Xebec
"Who!?" Shiki tensed, lifting into the air as he eyed the stranger.
"Wahahaha—" the man grinned wildly. "Name's Rocks D. Xebec. I'm the man who's going to become King of the World!!"
His gaze burned with a terrifying fervor.
A dream—no, an ambition.
Shiki scowled and spat blood-tinged saliva onto a green leaf, which trembled from the impact.
"Tch."
"King of the World? Don't make me laugh. That's a pipe dream. You're delusional."
King of the World?
That meant overthrowing the World Government.
And just one Marine—Klein—had wrecked him using a single scroll.
How do you surpass that kind of colossus?
But despite Shiki mocking his dream, Rocks didn't get mad. In fact, his smile only grew more arrogant.
"Wahahaha—"
"Dreams are meant to be outrageous! If they're easy to reach, what's the fun in that?"
"A life full of challenges is a life full of joy!"
"I, Rocks, won't settle for ordinary dreams. I shoot for the stars. And I'll become King of the World!!"
Damn!
What a maniac!!
Shiki was stunned. The ambition this guy radiated—it demanded respect.
Even Shiki wouldn't dare dream that big.
Was he insane?
"Kehahaha—" Shiki laughed. "Hey, do you have any idea how impossible that is?"
"No one's achieved that dream in centuries. Do you even have the strength!?"
Rocks chuckled softly. "The foundations of my plan are already coming together…"
He opened his eyes wide, burning with intensity. "Wanna join me? Let's tear this ocean apart!"
"Help me ascend to the top of the world!"