Hearing this name, Toritoma froze. Even the wine glass in her hand stopped mid-air.
"Senior Gloriosa?"
She looked at Aiden strangely.
"She's just a strange old woman living on the edge of the village now... and because of what happened back then, she's not well-liked in this country."
"Why would someone like you look for that nagging old woman?"
In Toritoma's eyes, Aiden should have asked for more practical things, like treasure, or even Amazon Lily's Haki training methods.
But he specifically asked to see an old woman who had retired years ago?
"I have a few things I want to ask her about."
Aiden smiled and didn't explain too much.
"Is that alright?"
"Well..." Toritoma hesitated, but finally nodded. "If you insist, then of course it's fine. Once the banquet ends, I'll have someone take you there."
"I'm going too!" Hancock jumped up immediately.
"No."
Aiden placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her gently back into her seat.
"You just got back. You must have a lot to say to your Empress sister. Plus, look at how dirty you are. Go take a bath and change into pretty clothes."
"But..."
"Listen to me." Aiden's words became a little more serious.
"...Fine." Although Hancock was reluctant, she could never refuse Aiden.
After the banquet ended.
Led by the guards, Aiden crossed more than half the island and arrived at a high ground on the edge of Amazon Lily.
A simple little wooden house stood there all alone.
"Mr. Aiden, this is it. That old woman has a strange temper, so be careful." The guard seemed very wary of this place and left quickly after dropping him off at the door.
Aiden stood in front of the wooden house and took a deep breath.
Knock, knock, knock. He knocked on the door.
"Come in, the door's not locked."
An old voice came from inside.
"A man hasn't appeared on Amazon Lily in many years."
Aiden pushed the door open and walked in.
The room was dim, filled with bottles, jars, and moldy books everywhere.
A short old woman with a wrinkled face sat at the table, holding yesterday's newspaper.
The front page was the news of the three Marine Admirals' promotion.
Hearing his footsteps, Elder Nyon didn't look up. She kept looking at the newspaper.
"Young Marine Rear Admiral... I could smell the blood on you from far away."
She put down the paper and looked up at Aiden.
"Why did you run to this old woman's place instead of going where you belong?"
Aiden didn't hold back either. He pulled up a chair, sat down, and casually placed "Oto," the sword that once belonged to Golden Lion, on the table.
"I had no choice. I fought an unreasonable giant when I arrived in the New World. I was really curious about a few things, so I came to visit."
Aiden looked at Elder Nyon and smiled faintly.
"I figured... as someone who lived through the Rocks era, you must know Harald, right? Former Empress from two generations ago."
Elder Nyon took off her glasses, picked up her pipe, lit it, and took a deep drag.
As the smoke curled upward, she looked out the window toward the Calm Belt, clearly remembering something from long ago.
"Of course I know him..."
Elder Nyon said faintly.
"That was a friend Captain Rocks failed to recruit multiple times."
Inside the dim little house, the sparks of burning tobacco flared and faded in the clay pipe.
Elder Nyon didn't rush to tell the past. Instead, she looked Aiden up and down.
"But before talking about him, your strength surprises me more... The newspaper earlier said you fought Sakazuki and Borsalino alone and remained undefeated. It seems the Marines held back on their reporting somewhat."
"To be able to escape Harald's interception unharmed, your strength was probably more than just undefeated back then."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. He poured himself a cup of cold tea from the table. He didn't deny it, just smiled noncommittally.
"Hmph, the young people these days are really getting scarier one by one."
Elder Nyon tapped her pipe on the table and studied him carefully.
"So, you came out of your way to find this old woman... to ask me why Harald was hunting you?"
Before Aiden could answer, she began analyzing it herself.
"It's actually not hard to guess. You killed a Celestial Dragon in public. That humiliated the World Government."
"Right now, the newspapers are flooded with news of you being locked up in Impel Down Level 6, yet here you are completely fine."
Elder Nyon's expression sharpened.
"It seems Sengoku is backing you. He would rather oppose the World Government head-on than hand you over. In the end, both sides compromised. They pretended to lock you up to give the World Government face, but actually threw you into the New World, far away from their reach..."
"After all, in this chaotic sea, the World Government's control is far weaker than in Paradise. But the Five Elders clearly don't plan to let you go just like that, which is why they sent Harald to intercept you at the entrance to the New World."
Hearing this, Aiden couldn't help clapping his hands and praised her sincerely.
"As expected of the former Empress. Even living in a humble room, your political sense is still extremely sharp."
Even though this old woman hid on Amazon Lily and never went out, her read on the situation was indeed precise. She saw through the power play between the Marines and the World Government in just a few glances.
"Stop sucking up."
Elder Nyon didn't buy it. She blew out a smoke ring and rolled her eyes at Aiden. This level of flattery didn't work at all on someone like her who had been through major storms.
Aiden rubbed his nose awkwardly. He put away his joking mood, and his expression turned slightly more serious.
He set down the teacup and leaned forward slightly.
"Compared to that, what I actually want to know more is..."
Aiden asked the biggest question in his mind.
"Harald, the King of Elbaph, a fighter with such strength—why would he willingly become a tool for the World Government?"
Hearing this question, Elder Nyon's hand holding the pipe paused slightly.
She seemed not to have expected that this young man, who could turn the World Government upside down, would know nothing about this common knowledge from the old era.
However, she didn't say much. She just took a deep drag on her pipe and slowly sank into old memories.
"Young man, do you know Rocks?"
Aiden nodded. As a transmigrator, he naturally knew this name.
But he didn't know much, limited only to the few words he saw in the manga before crossing over.
After all, before he transmigrated, the God Valley flashback had just started. It was all thanks to Oda-sensei taking breaks every other week that he only had a half-baked understanding of this crucial information now.
"Back then, Rocks' dream was to become the King of the World."
"To overthrow the World Government, he gathered countless dangerous fighters by his side. Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin... each of them could rule a region alone."
"But even with such a grand lineup, Rocks still felt it wasn't enough."
Elder Nyon looked at Aiden and said deeply:
"He always believed that to truly become the King of the World, aside from his crew full of dangerous people, he absolutely needed the help of one person."
"That was the King of Elbaph at the time, Harald, who possessed the bloodline of the Ancient Giants!"
"Because of this, Rocks went to Elbaph in person several times."
"He brought enough treasure to buy several countries, promising to split the world equally with the Giants after overthrowing the World Government. He was even willing to share the glory of 'King of the World' with Harald."
Aiden was a little surprised. For SOMEONE as arrogant as Rocks to go that far, Harald's value back then was even greater than he himself had estimated.
"But... Harald rejected it all."
Elder Nyon shook her head.
"Why?" Aiden asked.
"Because he was a... 'benevolent king'."
Elder Nyon's tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Unlike us pirates who yearn for freedom and plunder, Harald wholeheartedly wanted to reverse the world's stereotype of Giants being 'barbaric and violent'. He dreamed of building a world where Giants and humans could live together in peace, and wanted Elbaph to join the World Government as an affiliated nation."
"So, he rejected Rocks' invitation. He even refused Rocks' request for help right before the God Valley Incident to prove the civilization of the Giants."
Speaking of this, Elder Nyon paused. She seemed to recall that earth-shattering battle from back then.
"However, Rocks was defeated and died in the battle of God Valley. Not only did Harald lose his best friend, but he also saw the power the World Government had hidden."
"He realized that he couldn't protect his people with just his own strength. The World Government would never allow a race with such immense combat power but no control to exist."
"Thus, to preserve Elbaph, and for the sake of that so-called 'peaceful diplomatic relations' promise..."
"After the battle of God Valley."
Elder Nyon pointed to the top of her head.
"He climbed the Red Line alone, walking empty-handed to Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise."
"To exchange for the World Government's acceptance of Elbaph, to show his resolve... in front of the World Government, he broke off the twin horns on his head that symbolized the glory and dignity of the Giants with his own hands!"
"From that moment on, the Giant King Harald no longer existed in this world, only the World Government's most loyal enforcer."
"On the sea... this actually wasn't a secret. At the very least, it was in the papers back then, known to everyone."
Hearing the last sentence, Aiden was speechless.
So this even made the papers?
Aiden sighed silently in his heart.
He should have asked Kane first.
That guy too, why didn't he report this on his own? He clearly saw the Giant King yesterday as well.
He'd have to test him later. If Kane knew but didn't say anything... Aiden secretly made a note against his adjutant. He would definitely charge him with withholding information.
Aiden scratched his head awkwardly. He coughed twice, pretending to be moved.
"Cough, cough... So that's it. Probably not many people remember such an old matter anymore. It really takes a living fossil like you, Elder Nyon, to remember it so clearly."
"Living fossil?"
The veins on Elder Nyon's forehead throbbed. She crumpled a corner of the newspaper in her hand.
Even though she was already a wrinkled old woman, what woman liked being called old to her face?
"If you don't know how to speak, you can shut your mouth." Elder Nyon rolled her eyes at him in annoyance.
Aiden gave a sheepish smile and quickly changed the subject, asking the most crucial question.
"Since you know him so well... does Harald have any weaknesses?"
"Weakness?"
Elder Nyon acted like she'd heard a joke. She thought about it, but ultimately shook her head, giving an answer Aiden did not like.
"If he had a weakness, Captain Rocks wouldn't have failed to recruit him again and again back then."
"When I was on Rocks' ship, if there was any existence on the sea that made that lawless man feel he couldn't conquer them, leaving him no choice but to treat them with courtesy... that would definitely be Harald."
"Haki, physical skill, vitality—they are all far beyond normal."
Elder Nyon looked at Aiden with a hard-to-read expression.
"To be honest, the fact that you managed to escape him alive into the Calm Belt is unbelievable to this old woman."
In Elder Nyon's eyes, although Aiden was strong, he was still too young.
Aiden rubbed his chin.
No weaknesses?
"That just makes me want to cut him even more."
Aiden wasn't scared at all. Instead, he smiled.
"Alright, let's put this aside for now and talk about the present."
Aiden set down the teacup and looked at Elder Nyon.
"Elder Nyon, you must have noticed it too, right? The physical condition of the current Empress, Toritoma."
Hearing this, Elder Nyon's expression dimmed.
"Yes... Love Sickness. That is the inescapable fate of the Kuja Empresses."
"She won't last much longer," Aiden said bluntly. "Once she falls, Hancock is still too young to support this country. When that time comes, I'm afraid this 'traitor' will have to come out of retirement and take charge."
Aiden actually couldn't help with this kind of illness. Although he was a transmigrator, he had no idea which man this Empress, who barely showed her face in the original story, had fallen for. He couldn't save her even if he wanted to.
If this disease was born of hatred, or if getting rid of someone could cure it, Aiden wouldn't mind going out to sea, finding the man, and dealing with him for the sake of Amazon Lily's stability and providing Hancock with a safe environment to grow up.
But unfortunately, faced with this terminal illness, even Aiden's current strength was useless.
Elder Nyon remained silent. This was her biggest worry as well.
"So, I want to make a deal with you."
Aiden leaned back against his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table.
"I'm heading to take my post at the G-5 Branch soon. I can use my position to provide a hidden supply line for Amazon Lily, and even offer Marine protection during critical moments."
"In exchange, I want Amazon Lily to be my ally in the Calm Belt."
In truth, Aiden valued not just Amazon Lily's combat power, but its exceptionally blessed location.
Situated deep in the Calm Belt with super giant Sea Kings as a natural barrier, outsiders couldn't set foot here before the invention of Seastone warships, except for a few especially strong people.
For Aiden, who was about to cause a massive uproar in the New World, this was simply a perfect backyard.
Elder Nyon looked at Aiden for a long time.
She knew very well that this deal helped both sides. Amazon Lily lacked supplies and backing, and while the man in front of her was dangerous, his character was at least far more trustworthy than those pirates full of lies.
Finally, she picked up her cold tea and drank it in one gulp.
"You brat... you're clearly a Marine, so why do you feel so dangerous."
"However... that proposal doesn't sound bad."
Inside Elder Nyon's small house, a pact concerning Amazon Lily's future was quietly formed.
After the conversation, Aiden didn't linger. He simply got up and took his leave.
Although he had reached a cooperative relationship with Amazon Lily, he knew his limits. This was, after all, an Island of Women that had enforced a "men forbidden" rule for years. As a man, even a benefactor, staying too long would put the current Empress in a tough spot, and might even cause panic and discomfort among the citizens.
Besides, with his business finished, hanging around here was pointless.
At dusk, at the Amazon Lily port.
The setting sun dyed the sea a golden red.
After an afternoon of emergency repairs by the Kuja craftsmen, the Storm Reaper still looked a bit mottled, and scorch marks from the battle remained on the hull. But the damaged parts had been properly handled. More detailed repairs would have to wait until they reached the G-5 Branch and found specialized shipwrights.
As for supply replenishments, Aiden directly declined. After all, it had only been a few days since they left the wealthy Fish-Man Island, and the fresh water and food in the cabin were still fully stocked. Furthermore, Amazon Lily was located in the Calm Belt and already lacked resources, mostly relying on citizens sailing out to plunder for a living. Aiden wasn't thick-skinned enough to take advantage of these women.
"Are you leaving?"
Hancock had changed back into the traditional dress of the Kuja royalty, standing at the very edge of the dock.
"Yeah, it's time to go."
Aiden stood at the bow, looking down at her with a faint smile.
"Grow up well. Even though you have the aptitude for Conqueror's Haki, if you don't work hard, this sea will swallow you up and leave not even your bones."
"I know!"
Hancock clenched her small fists. She took a deep breath and shouted loudly at the Storm Reaper, which had already slowly begun to leave the shore.
"Aiden! Just watch!"
"Next time we meet, I definitely won't be the one being protected! I will lead the Kuja Pirates and make a name across the sea! I will become the strongest Empress on this sea!"
The sea breeze blew her long hair, and the setting sun stretched her shadow out long behind her.
Hearing the vow from behind, Aiden didn't look back. With his back to her, he raised his right hand high and waved.
"Yeah... I'll be waiting."
...
The Storm Reaper sailed out of the Calm Belt and re-entered the unpredictable seas of the New World.
The sea breeze grew biting, and the waves crashed against the hull, letting out rhythmic roars.
Jinbe gripped the helm firmly and glanced at the sea chart.
"Boss Aiden, are we going straight to the G-5 Branch?"
Although Jinbe didn't understand the twists and turns of human high command, he worried that if Aiden went straight back to base, it might draw Harald right to the Marines' doorstep, causing the situation to spiral out of control.
"Don't worry, Jinbe."
Aiden leaned on the railing. He knew what Jinbe was worried about, and his answer was certain.
"If the Five Elders really planned to completely sever ties with Marine Headquarters, they wouldn't have agreed to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's compromise in the first place."
"Since they pinched their noses and accepted it back then, they won't have Harald openly attack a Marine branch base just to catch me now. That would be an outright declaration of war."
Although Harald was strong, he wasn't stupid.
Unless the Five Elders behind him went completely crazy, they would never dare cross that red line.
Aiden looked into the distance, his expression cold.
This place, the New World, had no shortage of pirates. In the future, he would start by hunting the pirates on this sea to gain Sin Points and raise his strength even further.
As for Harald...
Aiden touched his still faintly aching chest. It constantly reminded him of his sorry state yesterday.
For their next showdown, he had to find a place where he could completely let loose.
Like... Elbaph?
A sharp smile curled on Aiden's lips.
That was Harald's homeland, right? Why should Harald be the only one allowed to choose the battlefield? The Storm Reaper had been battered in so many places on its very first voyage. Next time, Aiden would make Harald fight on his own ground and see whether he could still stay calm.
But thinking about this, Aiden rubbed his temples with a bit of a headache.
Speaking of which... he really should have transmigrated a year or a half later.
He had no idea how this guy Harald died in the original timeline. Since he wasn't even in the flashbacks of Roger's era, he was probably already dead by then.
But the problem was, aside from Imu, who on this sea had the ability to kill him?
Forget it, thinking about it is useless.
Aiden shook his head and threw these messy thoughts to the back of his mind.
There was only one urgent priority right now: to keep raising his strength.
"So, we're heading to the G-5 Branch first."
Aiden made his decision.
"Kane." Aiden turned his head.
"Here!"
"Tell me about the current situation at the G-5 Branch. Since we're going there, I should know who's in charge."
Kane had done his homework long ago. He took out a small notebook from his coat, opened it, and his expression turned a little weird.
"Commander... the current Base Commander of the G-5 Branch is a bit special."
"Special?"
"Yes. The current Base Commander's name is Gulliver. His rank is... Marine Headquarters Commodore."
"Commodore?"
Aiden paused, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Are you kidding? G-5 is the most important outpost in the New World. Past Base Commanders were always Vice Admirals starting out, or at worst, senior Rear Admirals. Since when is a Commodore in charge? Is Headquarters out of people?"
"That's not it."
Kane pushed up his glasses and explained.
"This Gulliver was originally a Headquarters Vice Admiral. He's quite strong and is said to be a Zoan-type user as well."
"But... this man has an extremely brutal personality. His behavior is even worse than a pirate's. He has tortured and killed surrendered pirate captives multiple times, and he doesn't hesitate to sacrifice civilians to catch pirates. Embezzling seized treasure is practically his daily routine."
"Because his methods were too dirty, it caused a lot of dissatisfaction from the higher-ups. Half a year ago, Headquarters demoted him two ranks, so he holds the rank of Commodore now."
Kane sighed.
"But it's precisely because he's ruthless enough that he can suppress that bunch of rough Marines at G-5."
"I see..."
Aiden rubbed his chin and smiled.
"Originally a Vice Admiral, but demoted for making a mistake... doesn't that sound exactly like my current script?"
He knew very well that going there with his current status as an exile, those rough Marines and this brutal commander would absolutely not take him seriously, much less obey his orders honestly.
But that suited him perfectly.
If he didn't deal with these troublemakers, how could he turn G-5 into his own domain?
...
Two days later.
The Storm Reaper sailed through a sea with complex conditions.
Boom! Boom!
The sound of cannon fire suddenly came from the distance.
Aiden stood at the bow and looked into the distance.
He saw a giant pirate ship flying a black skull flag intercepting them horizontally not far ahead.
The ship had a rough design. Its bow was a giant mammoth skull, and the flag depicted a skull with long, curved horns.
Jinbe frowned.
"That's... the flag of the Beasts Pirates? This crew is the most reckless bunch on this sea."
"Are these the pirates of the New World? Instead of running when they see a Marine warship, they actively come over?"
Aiden found it a bit funny. Although the Storm Reaper was modified, its overall silhouette was clearly that of a warship.
"They probably think we're a lone, easy target," Kane explained from the side.
Looking at the Storm Reaper's exterior right now, it truly wasn't flashy.
"Hey!! You broken Marine ship ahead, listen up!!"
On the opposite pirate ship, a burly man with two black bull horns growing from his head held a megaphone and yelled loudly from the bow.
"I'm a Headliner of the Beasts Pirates, Ironhead Galt!!"
"If you know what's good for you, hand over all the treasure and supplies on the ship! I'm rushing to deliver a gift to Captain Kaido today, and I don't have time to waste with you Marine trash!"
"As long as you hand over the money obediently, I can show mercy today and spare your pathetic lives!!"
"Oh? In a rush?"
Aiden stood at the bow, facing the arrogant pirate across from them. A cold smile formed on his lips.
A pirate like this was not worth his time.
"What a coincidence, I'm in a rush too."
Aiden rolled his wrist, his right hand slowly pressing on the hilt of "Oto" at his waist.
"Jinbe, no need to slow down."
"This kind of garbage isn't worth wasting time on."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Shing—!!
The clear ring of a blade echoed across the sea.
Aiden didn't even leave the deck. Just standing in place, he casually swung his sword at the giant pirate ship in the distance.
Bzzzt!!!
A blue-and-white crescent-shaped sword wave, wrapped in hundreds of millions of volts of violent lightning, tore through the air and swept toward the pirate ship.
"Wh..."
The yelling Headliner Galt didn't even have time to wipe the sneer off his face. He saw only a flash of light.
The next second.
Boom————!!!
The giant pirate ship, along with the hundreds of pirates on board, was split right down the middle by the lightning-charged sword wave before they could even let out a single scream!
Following that, the violent electrical currents detonated the ship's powder magazine.
With an earth-shattering explosion, the entire pirate ship turned into a massive fireball. Shrapnel and charred corpses flew everywhere in the sky.
Just a single strike.
Aiden sheathed his sword, his face completely unfazed.
Aiden did not bother stopping for him.
"Keep moving."
Aiden was just about to turn and return to the cabin.
Suddenly, his footsteps paused.
His Observation Haki picked up something strange and faint coming from the burning wreckage.
At the same time, the system reacted faintly.
"Kane."
"Here!"
"Three o'clock direction, under that floating plank, there's a box. Haul it up."
"Yes!!"
Although Kane didn't know why, his execution was extremely fast. He immediately directed the Marines to lower a small boat.
Soon, an ironwood box was carried in front of Aiden.
When the box opened, a strange fruit covered in spiral patterns rested quietly inside. It was shaped like a bunch of purple grapes, but every single piece seemed to have a scaly texture.
"Is this... a Devil Fruit?!" Kane froze.
Aiden glanced at the fruit. He took out the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia he had previously exchanged from the System Shop from his system storage space, quickly flipped through a few pages, and then stopped on an illustration.
After comparing them, Aiden smiled.
"Ha... this luck."
"This is good stuff."
Aiden closed the encyclopedia and looked at the fruit in the box, calculating inwardly.
"Zoan-type, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Triceratops."
"This was originally supposed to be a fruit for the Beasts Pirates... I didn't expect to intercept it here."
The Ancient Model Dragon-Dragon Fruit was known for its strong defense, recovery, and endurance. In a place filled with dangerous fighters like the New World, this definitely counted as a great fruit.
He picked up the fruit, weighed it in his hand, and casually tossed it to Kane in front of him.
"Catch."
Kane caught it in a panic, looking completely confused. "Commander? This is?"
"Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Triceratops."
Aiden explained plainly.
"Even though it's not a Logia-type, this is an Ancient Model, much rarer than a normal Zoan-type. By eating it, your strength should increase by a lot."
"You've been following me for a while, and I'm quite satisfied. But dangerous fighters are everywhere in the New World, and you won't survive long using only your brain."
Aiden looked at his loyal adjutant and switched to a relaxed tone, not wanting to pressure him too much.
"This thing is yours now, use it to boost your self-defense. Next time we run into Harald, you're not allowed to just faint like that."
Kane held the fruit, his hands trembling.
This was a Devil Fruit, and an Ancient Model at that! It was a rare treasure that couldn't be bought on the open sea! And his commander just casually awarded it to him?
"Th... Thank you, Commander!!"
Kane was so excited that his hands trembled. He brought his legs together and gave a perfect military salute.
"I swear to follow you to the death!!"