Thor was being tended to by Loki and Hajrudin, who carefully wiped away the dried blood on his skin and checked his bandages, while Gerd found herself in conversation with one of Xebec's crew members, a woman named Buckingham.
It was the first time Gerd had ever seen a human up close, and even as a child, she couldn't help but feel a strange fascination toward them.
To her, humans appeared small and adorable, almost fragile-looking, yet lively and expressive.
Buckingham, on the other hand, seemed equally taken by the young giantess, smiling warmly as she looked up at Gerd's massive but innocent face.
"How cute, what's your name, little lady?" Buckingham asked with a playful tone, smiling brightly as she craned her neck upward to meet Gerd's eyes.
"Gerd," the young giant replied softly, her voice cheerful and polite. Her simple answer and shy smile made Buckingham laugh lightly, finding her absolutely delightful.
The interaction drew a few curious looks from the other Rocks Pirates nearby.
Not far away, Goldberg and Stansen were being watched by Shiki and Ganzui. The two pirates had remained quiet until then, but in their silence, darker thoughts formed.
They both knew the high price that giants could fetch on the black market — especially Ganzui, who had dabbled in smuggling before joining Xebec's crew.
His gaze lingered for a moment too long on the young giants, his mind wandering toward temptation.
Before either of them could act, Newgate noticed the glint in their eyes. Even at this early stage of his life as a pirate, he was already protective of children, no matter their race.
He immediately walked toward them, his large frame casting a heavy shadow that made both Shiki and Ganzui stiffen in place.
When they saw him approaching, they clicked their tongues in frustration, realizing that he had already seen through their thoughts and neither dared to make a move while Edward Newgate was watching.
Meanwhile, Xebec stood near Thor, observing him closely. Thor was now fully wrapped in bandages, the work of Buckingham, who had skillfully treated his wounds despite Thor's size.
Loki was at his brother's side, trying to ask what he wanted to eat or drink, but Thor wasn't paying attention.
His body hurt all over, but the pain didn't matter. What mattered to him was that he had faced someone of Xebec's level — someone near the ceiling of strength in this world — and had managed to stand his ground for a time. That, to Thor, was a victory in itself.
He also began to notice that his recovery was accelerating. Every few seconds, he could feel faint pulses of warmth and relief moving through his muscles.
Unknown to Thor, Stormbreaker, resting near his bedside, was releasing small electric impulses across his body.
They were barely noticeable but constant, stimulating his nerves and causing micro muscle contractions that helped speed up his recovery.
After a short while, Thor sat up. His breathing was still heavy, but his strength had returned enough that he knew he could fight again if needed.
Still, he wasn't reckless. Despite being a warrior by nature, Thor wasn't foolish enough to rush back into battle for no reason.
"Let's go to the castle. I'll call Pops and let him know you're here," Thor said, standing slowly. He raised his hand, and an enormous bird made of pure ice formed from the air, even larger than the one he had summoned for Loki earlier.
"Let's go! Vohahaha!" Xebec laughed loudly, motioning for his crew to follow. The other Rocks Pirates gathered quickly, some still whispering among themselves as they prepared to move.
Gerd, Stansen, and Goldberg chose to stay behind, knowing that they were not of royal blood and that only Harald's children — Thor, Loki, and Hajrudin — were expected at the royal castle.
"Bye-bye!" Gerd shouted enthusiastically, waving her giant hand toward Buckingham, who smiled back and waved in return.
Once the group began moving, Buckingham walked over to Newgate, who was sitting quietly nearby with his arms crossed, watching the children leave. She leaned slightly closer to him, her tone soft and almost teasing.
"I want our child to be that adorable," Buckingham said, half-joking but clearly serious underneath.
Newgate turned his head toward her, his expression blank with confusion. "Why would we have a child? We're not in a relationship," he said bluntly, his straightforward nature cutting through the moment like a blade.
Buckingham pouted, but before she could respond, laughter broke out nearby. Ganzui, Shiki, Ochoku, and Don Marlon — who had been hiding among the trees, observing everything — couldn't help but laugh loudly.
They had seen this scene play out many times before. Buckingham often made advances toward Newgate, and Newgate, despite his own talk about wanting a family someday, always rejected her attempts in the most literal way possible.
Moments later, the massive ice bird soared across the cold skies of Elbaf, carrying Thor, Loki, Hajrudin, and the Rocks Pirates straight toward the heart of the kingdom.
The wind howled against the frozen feathers, and below them stretched endless forests of frost and towering roots of ancient trees.
When they finally reached the royal castle, the Rocks Pirates couldn't help but stare. The structure was enormous, far grander and taller than anything they had ever seen.
Dozens of giant guards surrounded the area, each armed and alert. The sheer number and size of them were enough to leave even the infamous pirates momentarily speechless.
The guards immediately noticed Thor and Loki. A shiver ran through them, not from the cold, but from memory — every time Thor returned home, their training sessions would often end with them injured or exhausted. They had learned to fear his "visits."
But Thor ignored them entirely. He led Xebec and his crew straight into the grand hall and down a long corridor that led to the chamber where he and Loki stayed whenever they were at the castle.
Inside the room was a massive Den-Den Mushi, so large that even Newgate had to look up at it.
Thor climbed up to it and began to dial. After a few slow rings, the creature's eyes opened, and a deep, familiar voice came through.
"Thor? Why are you calling? This is the first time you've ever done that. Is everything alright?" Harald's voice sounded worried.
It was unusual for Thor to call him; usually, it was the other way around, and even then, Harald rarely got an answer.
"Pops, everything's fine," Thor replied. "But there's someone here looking for you."
Before he could say more, Xebec leaned forward, grinning wide. "VOHAHAHAHA! Harald! Where are you? I miss you!" he shouted directly into the Den-Den Mushi.
There was a long pause, followed by silence — and then Harald's voice erupted like thunder. "XEBEC! YOU BASTARD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY COUNTRY? WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SONS? IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THEM, I SWEAR I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
"You hurt my feelings," Xebec replied casually. "Do I look like someone who'd harm a child?"
"YES!" Harald roared back without hesitation. The Den-Den Mushi's face twisted to mimic his anger, and in the background, other voices could be heard — Harald shouting commands to prepare for immediate departure back to Elbaf.
Thor hung up after that, shaking his head slightly before turning toward Xebec. "Happy now?" he asked with a faint grin.
Xebec nodded, satisfied. Thor, exhausted beyond words, lay down on his bed, while Loki remained awake, watching quietly. He still couldn't understand how Thor could speak so calmly with the man who had just nearly killed him hours earlier.
"You're welcome to rest here for a while," Thor said drowsily. "I don't doubt Pops will come back right away." His eyes slowly closed, and within moments, he fell asleep, unconcerned about the pirates still inside their home.
Deep down, Thor knew that Xebec, despite his reputation, would never allow his crew to cause harm — not here, not in the house of his old friend.
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When Thor finally woke up, the first thing he noticed was the silence. The room, which had earlier been filled with voices and movement, was now empty.
The faint smell of cooked food still lingered in the air, but there was no sign of anyone — not even Loki. For a brief moment, a hint of panic flickered across Thor's face.
He quickly sat up, glancing around the large chamber, wondering if something had happened while he was asleep.
Before his thoughts could spiral further, a burst of loud laughter echoed through the castle halls. The sound was deep and boisterous, unmistakably belonging to Xebec.
It came from the direction of the grand dining hall — the same place where feasts were held whenever guests visited.
Relief washed over Thor as he stood and began walking toward the noise, his heavy footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor.
When he entered the feast hall, the sight before him was almost surreal. The long table was crowded with members of the Rocks Pirates, each one eating enthusiastically, their plates overflowing with the gigantic portions that only the kitchens of giants could provide.
The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread, and the sound of clinking mugs filled the hall.
Even the normally composed Newgate had a large mug in hand, silently eating but visibly impressed by the quality of the food.
At the far end of the table, Loki sat quietly, chewing with small, careful bites. His plate was full, but unlike the others, he didn't seem to be enjoying himself too much — just eating because it was there.
When he noticed Thor entering, Loki gave a small nod of acknowledgment but said nothing, returning his attention to his meal.
Xebec, meanwhile, was seated across from a massive figure — Harald himself. The two of them were deep in conversation, their tones firm but far from friendly.
The tension between them was so thick that even the loud chewing and laughter from the pirates seemed muted around their table.
"Don't be stupid!" Harald's voice boomed, shaking the walls slightly as he leaned forward, pointing a large finger at Xebec. "If I anchor myself with a thug like you, I'll lose all the goodwill I've built with my allies!" His words carried both frustration and authority, echoing through the room.
Xebec only grinned, resting his chin on his hand, looking entirely unbothered by the insult.
The moment Harald noticed Thor entering the hall, he paused mid-sentence, his expression softening slightly.
Xebec turned his head toward Thor as well, the corners of his mouth curling into a knowing smirk.
For a brief moment, the entire table went quiet. All eyes turned toward Thor, who stood at the entrance, looking between his father and Xebec, unsure what kind of discussion he had just walked into.
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