Next Bonus, 100!!
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"The documents those scholars gave their lives to protect... I couldn't stop worrying about them."
"So I asked Harald and the others to take me back to Ohara."
"When I saw those little books, all perfectly preserved—I burst into tears right then and there."
Saul's voice was filled with a deep, rumbling emotion.
"These books are massive!"
"The letters are huge!"
"Incredible!" Brook and Carina exclaimed in awe.
"Derishishishi..." Saul chuckled. "Amazing, isn't it? The books are all giant-sized now. Any book brought in here just... changes. This is the wondrous Owl Library."
"This is it—almost every book and document from Ohara, from nineteen years ago. I brought them all back."
"Not a single one was left behind."
Robin's gaze swept across the library. Tens of thousands of books were stacked into towering walls, forming a grand hall built from literature itself. She couldn't help but remember the words of Ohara's head librarian.
"This is the greatest library in the world. Do you like to read?"
"I'm so glad you can see these books again," Saul said, his voice thick with emotion.
Robin was overwhelmed, her heart full.
Jin, however, simply smiled. The collection here would be a perfect addition to Ai's database. Tens of thousands of books sounded like a lot, but once digitized, it would only amount to a gigabyte or two of data. After a bit of curation, it would be a fine addition to the Winter Blossom Kingdom's library, enriching its cultural foundation.
"But why did the books get bigger?" Brook asked, ever curious.
"Because of Biblo," Saul explained. "He's the user of the Paramecia-type Grow-Grow Fruit. Any book that enters his field of vision gets bigger."
Everyone turned to look at the massive owl.
"He can make inorganic objects grow," Saul said. "And he considers this library his territory."
"Elbaf isn't affiliated with the World Government, so the News Coos don't come here. But the island's fishermen sometimes buy or... acquire... newspapers from passing pirates. And Shanks brings a batch over regularly. The giants bring them here to read."
Robin looked surprised. "The giants read newspapers now? But isn't this a nation of warriors?" She knew that Saul, a giant from the South Blue, had once looked down on the people of Elbaf, thinking them little more than brutes.
Saul let out a hearty laugh. "The days of Elbaf's warriors rampaging across the world were a hundred years ago. Cursing, violence, pillaging, war—that's all in the past. The times have changed."
"And it's all thanks to the wise King Harald."
"He was the previous king, and he possessed the power of the Ancient Giants. In his time, he was the strongest warrior in all of Elbaf. But he chose to lay down his violent ways."
"He said that it was better to trade with other nations than to go to war with them."
"Although the elders of the villages were always against it, he held firm to his beliefs and dedicated himself to reform. He was a great king."
"It's just a shame..."
"His work was left unfinished. He was killed by his own son."
Saul turned to Jin. "What do you think, King Jin? Was Harald's choice the right one?"
Jin gave a faint smile. "His overall policy was correct. A hundred years ago, the giants of Elbaf pillaged other nations to support their own people. But that's not a sustainable model. It's risky, and it isolates you from the rest of the world. Harald was a visionary."
"However," Jin continued, "his methods—compromising to join the World Government, even being willing to abandon the very foundation of the giants, their martial might—I find those questionable."
Jin was referring to the Walrus School. He had noticed that the giant children there had an unhealthy aversion to combat.
"You think the giants shouldn't have given up violence?" Saul asked.
"No. Violence and strength are two different things," Jin stated.
"Violence is aggression directed at others."
"Strength is the force required to protect oneself."
"A giant race without sufficient strength is just the next Fish-Man race—or worse, a footnote in a history book written by humans."
Jin glanced at the astonished Saul. "You think I'm exaggerating? What's the difference between a domesticated giant who has lost his strength and a slave? Violence brings destruction. But forgetting violence brings destruction all the same."
"Dignity is found on the edge of a sword, and truth is found within the range of a cannon."
"Of course," Jin added with a wry smile, "from my perspective, a gentle, pacified nation of giants would be much better. I would have a hundred different ways to exploit and oppress you."
Saul was at a loss for words. Jin's statement had shaken him.
Thankfully, Carina, ever perceptive, deftly changed the subject, and the moment passed.
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After getting Saul's permission, Jin "swallowed" the books from the Owl Library and had the carrier scan them.
The trade negotiations with the giants would last for a few days. It was a matter of what they had and what Jin wanted.
To that end, Jin wanted to tour the island.
Jarul, however, was too old and still suffering from his old wounds. He wasn't in any condition to act as a guide. So he had Gerd summon Hajrudin, who had been training by the sea, to accompany Jin.
They traveled from the West Village, near the Warrior's Spring, to the Hunter's Village in the northwest. This was a tribe of hunters who made their living from the massive animals of Elbaf, known as "Mountain Lords."
Their pelts could be made into high-end fur coats in the human world, and their massive feathers could be used to make down jackets.
But these animals took a long time to grow, and their numbers had been dwindling in recent years. A large-scale purchase was out of the question.
But for luxury goods, the rarer, the better.
Still, Jin suggested that they domesticate the young of the more docile species and develop a livestock industry to ensure a stable supply. He also advised them to prohibit private hunting and to protect the ecological balance.
Telling this to a giant was a bit like playing a harp for a cow.
Only Hajrudin listened, taking notes in a massive book with a massive pen.
He was Loki's half-brother. He was stronger than the average giant, but he hadn't been born with the awakened blood of the Ancient Giants like Loki. Compared to Loki and his father, he was in a different league entirely.
His personality, influenced by his mother, was gentler than Loki's. He was a man who understood gratitude. He held no jealousy or resentment toward Jin for defeating ten giants; instead, he was filled with respect. And when he learned that Dorry and Brogy were serving under Jin, his respect only grew.
As a young man, he had trained in his village with the goal of surpassing the Blue and Red Ogre seniors.
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