The giant had only just climbed up. His mind was still stuck on the scene of being stunned by Ron's punch, and his head buzzed as if hundreds of bees were crashing around inside.
He had just opened his mouth, wanting to roar and vent his anger, when he sensed a small figure appear beside his cheek.
The moment he turned his head -
Bang!
A dull sound rang out.
The huge inertia forced the giant's head to twist violently to the side. Blood and a giant tooth flew from his mouth at the same time.
Then his body tilted sideways, lost its balance, and plunged headfirst into the snow.
Rumble.
The moment that enormous body fell, it raised a powerful gust of air, carrying a mist of snow outward in all directions.
Tap, tap, tap.
Kaido carried his kanabo and walked back with a swagger that disowned all relatives. He grinned cheaply and waved at Ron. "Hey, Ron, did I do well? If not for Rocks's sake, I would've wanted to beat him up earlier!"
Ron looked at his expression, the one that practically shouted hurry and praise me, and the corner of his mouth rose slightly. He gave Kaido a thumbs-up. "You learned the essence of my style, Kaido."
"Tch." Silver Axe stood nearby with his arms crossed, a cold smile on his lips. "You weren't doing it for Rocks's sake. You were afraid Rocks would beat you."
"Hah?" Kaido immediately became unhappy and turned to glare at Silver Axe. "Are you joking? I would be afraid of Rocks?! Also, was I talking to you, Silver Axe?!"
Stussy rubbed her temples speechlessly. Her tone carried the fatigue of someone wondering how she had ended up on the same ship as this group. "Can you idiots argue after we go back? The giant kingdom is no longer safe. We need to hurry back to the ship and wait for Rocks to return, then leave this place!"
Ron ignored her and turned to Whitebeard. "Newgate, can you tell me what happened?"
Whitebeard studied Ron for a moment, then nodded. "Harald made a deal with the World Government. The condition was simple: you leave the Rocks Pirates. As for the deeper purpose, we don't know yet."
Kaido's expression immediately grew tense. He looked at Ron, as if afraid of hearing some terrible answer. "Then... did Rocks agree?"
If Ron was really forced to leave, he was already secretly calculating whether he should leave too.
Whitebeard shook his head. "Although Rocks and Harald have a deep friendship, Rocks isn't that kind of person. But if Rocks refused Harald's demand, Harald would kill you, Ron. Then... they broke off and started fighting."
After hearing that, Ron's face showed no expression. Only the small light deep in his pupils flashed fiercely for an instant before sinking silently, like a spark falling into deep water. It made no sound, yet the entire surface trembled.
"They broke off? Why?!"
Not far away, Loki, who had heard Whitebeard say Rocks and Harald had broken off, abruptly turned and walked over.
The face under the cloth strips clearly carried panic, and his voice rose. "Is it because of Father's peace policy? Or because of the World Government?"
Whitebeard glanced at Loki from the corner of his eye but did not speak. He did not think a brat could change anything or do anything.
"Both are involved. More importantly, the World Government's condition and your father's choice," Whitebeard said slowly.
"Why..." Loki's voice suddenly sank, like he was talking to himself. "Why would Father make that choice..."
In the next second, he turned sharply and ran toward the Sun World. He wanted to ask Harald why he had made that choice.
After Loki left, Whitebeard finally noticed that Ron had also begun walking in the same direction.
"Where are you going, Ron?" Whitebeard asked.
Ron did not turn back, and his steps did not slow. His voice drifted back through the snow. "I think, as a member of the Rocks Pirates, I can't just stand by and watch."
He paused, then continued, "Besides... in the end, this matter started because of me."
"Add me, Ron!"
Kaido happily followed, catching up to Ron's side in just a few steps.
He carried his kanabo, his face wearing that simple-minded smile. Then he lowered his voice and added, "Later, lend me some strength, all right?"
"These two idiots." Stussy slid down from Whitebeard's back, landed on the snow, rubbed her forehead, and sounded utterly helpless.
Whitebeard, however, did not move. He stared at Ron and Kaido walking side by side, their figures receding into the snowstorm. For a moment, he seemed to see the thing he had always been searching for.
Then Whitebeard took a step forward.
"Hey, hey, Newgate?!" Stussy's voice immediately rose. "Why are you following Ron and Kaido into this nonsense too?!"
She had just finished mocking those two, and now Whitebeard had joined in. She truly had no solution.
"If you're scared, go back, Stussy," Silver Axe's voice sounded. The moment it fell, Stussy saw Silver Axe also step forward and chase after them.
Then... she froze on the spot.
"My god. Now I've really seen a ghost."
Ron, Kaido, and Whitebeard going back to support Rocks all had some basis, more or less. It was not hard to understand.
But Silver Axe, what kind of person was he? Did Stussy not know?
He would actually go provide support?
This kind of thing truly only happened after living long enough.
"Has everyone gone crazy? Ever since Ron came aboard, the Rocks Pirates feel like they've become abnormal."
At that moment, Rocks and Harald had already reached the Underworld and begun a fierce battle.
But even though Harald possessed the bloodline of an ancient giant, when facing Rocks, who was much smaller than him, he did not hold the advantage in strength. In terms of Haki, Rocks was even superior.