That Stussy ultimately chose York was both surprising and not so surprising.
It just gave the people of the Rocks Pirates more gossip material, maliciously trying to provoke the relationship between Whitebeard and York.
However, Whitebeard was completely unmoved, and York, the victor, naturally even less so.
Every night, Stussy was so proactive that York was enchanted, making even Gloriosa slightly jealous.
Fortunately, Gloriosa was an understanding woman. She knew how repressed Stussy's emotions had been all these years. Suddenly finding an outlet, she naturally couldn't control the crazy outpouring.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and a month went by.
Stussy's frenzy finally subsided, and Gloriosa took the opportunity to move in together. York could enjoy the bliss of having both every day.
One day.
As usual, Rocks gathered all core members of the pirate crew, preparing to go to Elbaf again to invite Harald.
He had never given up on wanting Harald's assistance.
To this end, he even had the Golden Lion move the frozen research institute from behind the skull mountain.
After several days of sailing, Rocks' pirate ship arrived at the coast where Ida's tavern was located, just as before.
Rocks landed first, directing the Golden Lion to place the frozen research institute in a valley not far away.
Harald, who had received the news and was waiting here, watched Rocks' actions, his expression seeming somewhat unwelcoming.
"Yo! Harald! I brought you something good! Let's take a look together!"
Harald didn't speak, following Rocks into the newly placed frozen research institute.
*Click!*
The electric lights Rocks had someone install were turned on. The chilly cold storage was gradually illuminated, revealing the countless frozen giants inside to Harald.
"Th... This is..."
Harald's pupils quaked, his face shocked.
"Could this be..."
"Ah~ The legendary Oars Corps!"
Rocks grinned.
"Guess where I found them?"
Harald's face darkened. He guessed the answer but was reluctant to say it.
"Wahahaha!"
Rocks had none of Harald's inner scruples, laughing loudly: "It was World Government territory! I found them in an unknown forbidden research institute!"
"Harald, seeing such evidence, do you still want to join the World Government?"
Harald's eyes narrowed, and the hostility he had been emitting since they landed gradually dissipated.
He sighed deeply and lengthily.
"I received an order from the World Government. If I want to join the World Government, I must kill you."
"So, that's why you've been emitting killing intent since the moment we landed?!"
Rocks stared at Harald, grinning.
"You're being used! Harald!"
"The World Government has no sincerity at all! They just want to use your Giant race as war machines, or rather, slaves on the battlefield!"
Harald fell silent again. He led everyone back to Ida's tavern.
Plates of huge delicacies unique to Elbaf were served on the dining table. Harald sat by the bar counter, one hand on his forehead, looking distressed.
"What exactly should I do..."
"That violent history in the name of warriors has now become shackles for Elbaf, which aims for peace..."
"Many member nations were once attacked by Elbaf. Without the permission of the World Government or the Celestial Dragons, Elbaf will never be able to enter the circle of the world..."
Rocks sat cross-legged on the bar counter beside Harald, still insisting on his theory.
"So Harald! Do it with me!"
"Just overturn all those Celestial Dragons and the rules hindering peace! Elbaf can embrace peace however it wants!!"
Harald shook his head.
"No! That's just another cycle of violence!"
"And I must be responsible for my people! I can't risk their lives to join a surely losing war of a villain like you!"
Rocks snorted coldly, truly getting a headache from Harald's stubbornness.
At this moment, York jumped from a nearby table onto the bar counter.
"Harald, since you think we are bound to lose, why not listen to my suggestion again?"
Harald turned to look.
He remembered York. Last time, this young man had indeed offered a theoretically feasible plan, only he didn't execute it.
Thinking of this, Harald nodded.
"I'm all ears!"
York paused slightly, then spoke: "In my hometown, there were two proverbs!"
"One: Dignity exists only on the edge of a sword! Truth exists only within the range of a cannon!"
"Two: Seek peace through struggle, and peace survives; seek peace through compromise, and peace dies!"
"Peace is precious! Rare! Rarely maintained for long!"
"There are too many foolish guys in this world who don't understand any reasoning other than swords!"
"Because they have never set foot on a battlefield and have no reverence for death!"
"Also because they have always been the victors! The superiors! Only when others beg them for peace! Never when they discuss peace with others!"
"So Harald, blindly sticking your warm face to the World Government's cold ass is meaningless!"
"They can't hear your philosophy of peace at all!"
"The only way to make them sit at the negotiation table and discuss peace with you calmly is through swords!"
"Furthermore, you lack understanding of the Giant race's history!"
"Elbaf of 800 years ago was a mortal enemy of the World Government!!"
"You were enemies to begin with! Since 800 years ago!"
"Either the World Government is destroyed! Or Elbaf kneels down as dogs! As slaves!"
"The peace you want, apart from these two ways, has absolutely no other choice!!"
York's words plunged the entire tavern into complete silence.
Harald, Rocks, Ida, and the entire Rocks Pirates all looked at York in shock.
"How do you know that?!"
Harald couldn't believe it.
"The history of the Giant race! How do you know that?!"
Of course, it was because he read the manga in his previous life!
But he certainly couldn't say that right now.
"The Void Century! That history was erased by the World Government!"
York said.
"I don't know why the long-lived Giant race didn't pass down this history orally, but I know one thing!"
"During the Void Century, the Giant race once followed a leader!"
"This leader was overthrown by the ancestors of the current Celestial Dragons during the Void Century, which led to the current World Government!!"
"Harald! If you sincerely want to pursue peace! Understand the gist of this history first, then think about how to negotiate with the World Government!!"