After saying that, Harald slowly closed his eyes and said nothing more.
Tap, tap, tap.
Rocks, Ron, Whitebeard, and Linlin walked almost side by side until they arrived before Harald.
Harald still had his eyes closed. Blood dripped from his chin onto the ground.
He did not fear death.
Tap, tap, tap.
A heavier, more urgent set of footsteps sounded behind Rocks.
Then that figure passed Rocks and the others, stopping in front of Harald.
"Rocks!" Loki's voice trembled as if tearing apart. Tears had already soaked through the edges of the bandages covering his eyes, and snot mixed with tears across his face. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Spare my father... please..."
Harald suddenly opened his eyes. In those bloodshot sockets, an emotion too complicated for words surged.
He almost used all the strength in his body to roar, "Get away, Loki! This has nothing to do with you!"
"Rocks!!!" Loki did not turn back. He only lowered his head and bowed deeply toward Rocks with all his strength.
Rocks did not answer Loki. He tilted his head, his gaze landing on Ron beside him. The corner of his mouth carried a relaxed smile. "What do you think, Ron?"
Ron shrugged, his tone calm. "Don't ask me about this kind of thing, Rocks. I'm not the captain."
Rocks withdrew his gaze and looked at Harald again. In that moment, the smile on his face slowly disappeared, as if a gust of wind had carried away the last of its warmth. Then he spoke slowly.
"Then let it end here, Harald. This is the last time I will set foot on Elbaf. As a friend of the past, I hope that when you look back on today in the future, you will still have no regrets about your choice."
After saying that, Rocks turned and was the first to leave.
Whitebeard silently followed, his naginata resting on his shoulder. His back looked long and thin beneath the gray-white daylight.
Linlin followed after them with an easy expression.
Ron remained where he was for two extra seconds.
His gaze fell on Loki. Or rather, on Harald, kneeling in the pool of blood.
Then he showed a meaningful smile toward that side before turning away as well.
"Hey, hey, everyone. Did we forget to take something?" Linlin asked.
"What?" Whitebeard asked.
"Treasure!" Linlin's voice rose several pitches.
"Wahahahaha!" Rocks's laughter burst from ahead. "Who said there was treasure?! I told you there wasn't any profit on this trip!"
Linlin's face collapsed. "I refuse to accept this reality. Someone tell me this isn't true...!"
"Hey."
Kaido's voice suddenly came from the side, drawing closer from afar.
Everyone stopped and turned their heads. Kaido was carrying his kanabo and running toward them while shouting at Ron. "Ron, you almost hit me just now! Shouldn't you give me some compensation?!"
"Trying to extort me?" Ron said with a teasing smile. "Put it on Rocks's account."
Rocks, who had been wearing a calm smile, suddenly paused. He turned back and cursed, "Ron, why are you putting everything on my account?! Stop learning from that bastard Newgate!"
"Gurararara."
Whitebeard laughed. "What's wrong with that? Who told you to be our captain on the surface? If you're afraid of debt, I'll be captain."
"Dream on, Newgate!" Rocks answered with a smile, then resumed walking forward.
Whitebeard wore an indifferent face. In any case, he had never seriously wanted to be captain.
Kaido quickly followed to Ron's side and walked beside him. His smile was so wide it could barely be hidden. "We won, right?"
"Yes, Kaido." Ron nodded.
Kaido looked delighted. He carried his kanabo and strode forward, then began humming a tune.
"Kings rise, losers fall, one thought decides the way?"
"Life and death in one flash, courage shines forever?"
"The land is so vast, where is home?"
"Through every trial, watch the fireworks of a flourishing age?"
"Won all under heaven, but lost her?"
The moment the tune began, Ron looked at Kaido in surprise.
This guy... had actually remembered it.
"Please, Kaido. You're completely off-key," Whitebeard said. Although he did not remember how the tune went either, by feel alone, it was far too different from Ron's version.
"Just tell me whether the lyrics are right!" Kaido laughed indifferently.
"What are you talking about? Why don't I understand a single line?" Linlin asked.
"It's normal that you don't understand." Kaido raised his chin with a little smugness. "This is our exclusive tune!"
"Tch." Linlin coldly laughed in disdain. "Look how proud you are, Kaido."
"Hey, Ron." Kaido ignored Linlin's mockery and leaned a little closer to Ron. "What's the name of this tune?"
"The name?" Ron raised his head slightly, as if seriously thinking for a few seconds. Then he said frankly, "I call it 'True Hero.'"
After a pause, he added, "Of course, you can also call it the 'Rocks March.'"
"Wahahahaha! The Rocks March? As expected of you, Ron!" Rocks looked extremely happy as he walked ahead.
"Stop talking, Ron. That guy Rocks's mouth is about to curl into the sky," Whitebeard chuckled.
"I think calling it the Linlin March works too, and it sounds better, doesn't it?" Linlin also inserted herself.
"Hey, Rocks!"
Suddenly, an earnest voice came from behind them.
Rocks and the others turned back at the same time.
Loki stood before Harald. His voice rode the wind and chased after Rocks. "Please allow me to join you!"
Rocks quietly watched Loki's figure from a distance. In his mind, he remembered what Loki had said earlier: one day, he would become very strong and help Rocks become king of the world.
After a moment, a calm smile appeared on Rocks's face.
He slowly turned around.
Loki's shoulders sank slightly, and uncontrollable disappointment appeared on his face.
He lowered his head and said nothing, like a newly lit lamp briefly struck by wind.
"Brat."
Rocks's voice came from ahead, neither loud nor soft. "I've changed my mind. The next time I come to Elbaf, I hope you've already grown taller. Otherwise... I'll still reject you."
Loki suddenly raised his head.
What he saw was Rocks with his back to him, casually waving a hand. The gesture looked like farewell, and also like a promise.
A brilliant smile bloomed across Loki's face in an instant. He nodded forcefully and shouted, "You have to come! You have to come to Elbaf again, Rocks! This counts as a promise, right?!"