Following Jarul into the ancient dwelling, Michael's gaze was drawn to an enormous book resting deep within.
"What Dorry and Brogy saw was likely Joy Boy's log stored in the Owl Library..." Jarul pointed at the massive tome before them.
"But this one contains another portion... However, the revelations about you within were too earth-shattering, so Jorul and I decided to keep this log hidden away privately."
"Shocking and unheard of?" Michael's curiosity was thoroughly piqued by this phrase. "I think having a six-winged angel appearing simultaneously in both the past and present is shocking enough. What could possibly be more outrageous than that?"
Jarul turned back to look at Michael hovering mid-air...
Then his mountain-like body slowly knelt down on one knee.
"The last words Joy Boy left for the giant descendants..."
"Were to have us follow the six-winged angel and completely overthrow the twenty nations established by those demons!"
"He also left one more sentence..."
"Michael, Nika possesses the freest form in this world... but you possess the freest spirit."
"Forms will eventually fade... but the spirit endures forever!"
"Damn... old man, aren't you worried this kneeling might shorten my lifespan?" Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Would today's giants really obey orders from Joy Boy eight hundred years ago?"
"Perhaps not," Jarul shook his head. "But with King Harald's passing, Loki's rebellion, and Elbaf's remote location... once the World Government regains power, they'll inevitably turn their conquest toward Elbaf... All these choices are made for Elbaf and the giants to continue existing."
Michael looked at this four-hundred-year-old giant before him and greatly approved of his words.
It just showed that while giants might appear reckless most times...
Wise men still existed among them.
That decision to spare Charlotte Linlin in a fit of rage was now bearing fruit.
Once Gerd confirmed Charlotte Linlin's giant bloodline, Whole Cake Island would become Elbaf's steadfast ally and shield.
After all, Charlotte Linlin still carried some guilt toward this place.
And that guilt would be enough to bind her to Elbaf.
Imagine an Elbaf closely allied with a "Yonko" - even if the World Government completely turned hostile, they'd at least have the confidence to resist!
"Excellent! Truly excellent!"
Michael had to give credit where it was due - Joy Boy was amazing!
Those few journals had saved Michael countless hours of persuasion!
Of course, it also helped that giants were a long-lived race...
Counting carefully, only about three generations had passed from Joy Boy's time till now, with unbroken historical continuity.
If giants had human lifespans, today's Elbaf would likely be completely different.
Such was the twist of fate.
"By the way, Elder Jarul, there's one more matter where I need the giants' assistance."
"Have you heard of... God Valley?"
...
When Michael emerged from Jarul's dwelling again, night had fallen.
Michael and Jarul had established quite detailed cooperation plans regarding the salvage operation of God Valley's ruins.
As God Valley represented one of the World Government's most concealed dark histories, this salvage operation could only commence after resolving all of Elbaf's vulnerabilities.
Only then could giant warriors be dispatched with salvage equipment to begin operations.
In gratitude for Jarul's cooperation, Michael promised to deliver the captured Numbers from Kaido's Beast Pirates to Elbaf, allowing the giant warriors there to train these artificial creations with ancient giant bloodlines.
"Hahaha, Michael, please head to the West Village first! Tonight's banquet to welcome Dorry and Brogy will be held in that direction!"
"Very well, Elder Jarul. We'll meet again shortly."
With official matters concluded, Michael relaxed and flew toward the West Village.
Soon, he spotted the already-lit colossal bonfire.
The giants had long since begun feasting and drinking merrily!
Whether adult warriors or underage children, everyone was in high spirits—aside from their enormous size, they weren't much different from ordinary humans.
Michael took a closer look and spotted Gerd and Charlotte Linlin seated among them.
Judging by Linlin's flushed cheeks from drinking, her giant ancestry had been thoroughly confirmed.
This meant her indirect role in Yoruru's death had shifted from a racial conflict to an internal dispute.
The difficulty of resolving the matter had decreased by several magnitudes.
Even the easygoing Dorry and Brogy had already started drinking heartily with Charlotte Linlin.
Meanwhile, the Cross Guild trio and Red Hair sat on Linlin's other side.
"Yo, Shanks, where are your crewmates?" Michael descended from the sky, snatching Gaban's wine glass mid-air.
"Don't tell me you came to Elbaf alone?"
"My crewmates dropped me off here, and I gave them a week's vacation. They'll come back to pick me up after that," Shanks replied with a calm smile.
"Hey! Michael! Why'd you take my drink!? My wife and kid are right here—how embarrassing!" Gaban flailed dramatically.
"What kind of boss does that!?"
Michael blinked and looked up.
Beside them stood a giantess and a tall child.
"So you're my husband's boss! My name is Ripley, and this is our son, Colon."
"Whoa! Just like Dad said—you really are a winged pretty boy!"
Michael's eye twitched as he turned to Gaban, who guiltily averted his gaze.
"What kind of nonsense have you been teaching your kid, you bastard!?"
"Ouch! Hiss… Just look at your face! You don't look like a battle-hardened warrior at all!"
As Michael and Gaban engaged in their "friendly exchange" between the shadow boss and the public face, a massive figure emerged in the distance!
"Hahaha! Red Hair! You fools of Elbaf! I, Loki, have escaped from the underworld!"
"You really thought chains could hold me!?"
"If you dare oppose me… then suffer my endless wrath and hatred!"
"I! Am the Sun God who brings the world to its end!"
The sudden appearance of Loki, the Giant Prince, instantly shattered the festive atmosphere, replacing it with tension.
"Huh?"
Michael turned to face Loki.
At the same time, all the powerful figures present turned their gazes toward Loki.
Rayleigh, Gaban, Shanks, Charlotte Linlin, and the Dorry and Broggy...
A surge of oppressive auras and varying shades of Conqueror's Haki erupted.
Loki's expression stiffened.
After a long pause, he suddenly forced a wry smile.
"Well, uh..."
"I just wanted to perform a little act at the banquet..."
"Do you... believe me?"
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