At the gateway waters of the New World—
A massive warship flying the flag of the World Government was sailing forward.
On deck, agents in black suits and noble servants bustled about everywhere.
This ship belonged to the Holy Knights.
Leaning against the railing, Figarland Garling stood quietly, sea breeze brushing past him as he gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
Before long, Sommers walked over and said, "Just thinking about going to Whole Cake Island to fight the Roger Pirates makes my skin crawl. Damn it… it reminds me of the feeling of being cut in half by that bastard Rayleigh…"
"We are the knights of God—immortal and undying. What's there to fear?" Garling replied calmly.
But as he spoke, a dark glint flashed in his eyes. "Though, mentioning Rayleigh… it just fills me with rage. When the time comes, we'll join forces and take that bastard down first!"
The hatred of having his woman stolen!
Clearly, even after all these years, Garling still hadn't gotten over the grudge of Shakky being taken from him by Rayleigh.
Especially after that encounter in Mary Geoise, when Valthior casually mentioned that Rayleigh and Shakky even had a child—that only made it worse.
Sommers froze for a moment. Seriously, man? You really think the two of us teaming up is enough to take down Rayleigh?
Still, seeing Garling grinding his teeth in anger, Sommers chose not to pour cold water on him. He simply nodded. "Fine. We'll team up and try to kill Rayleigh."
Just then, that troublesome woman Maffey approached with Gunko, saying, "Compared to Rayleigh and the others, I'm more interested in Valthior. If we really wipe out the Roger Pirates this time, he'll have completed his mission and should return to Mary Geoise, right? With his strength now, he definitely deserves a place among the Holy Knights. I'm really looking forward to it."
"I think you're just looking forward to picking things back up with him," Sommers shot back sarcastically. "Too bad he doesn't seem interested in you at all. Stop flattering yourself."
"Hmph. Are you just bitter because I rejected you?" Maffey sneered.
Sommers blinked, baffled. "When the hell did I ever pursue you? Don't make things up!"
Garling, enjoying the drama, chuckled. "So something like that happened between you two? I've never heard about it before. Sommers, you're into women like Maffey?"
"I'm not!" Sommers snapped. "Who would like someone like her? There's nothing romantic or tragic about her at all!"
Then he turned to Gunko. "Hey, if I remember correctly, Saturn intended for you to become Valthior's wife, right? Aren't you supposed to be engaged? And you're just letting Maffey say all this?"
Maffey casually threw an arm around Gunko's shoulders. "You wouldn't understand. Gunko and I are good friends. Sharing Valthior isn't a problem. I'm not fighting for the 'main wife' position anyway. Right, Gunko?"
Gunko, clearly not used to this kind of teasing, had a faint blush on the visible half of her face. "It's just a proposal… nothing's been finalized yet."
After some more idle chatter, Garling shifted the topic. "Aside from the Whole Cake Island mission, we have another task on our return trip. It was assigned by Saint Saturn."
"Huh? What task? I didn't hear anything about it," Sommers asked curiously.
"Have you heard of Vegapunk?" Garling asked.
"No," Maffey shook her head.
"Doesn't ring a bell," Sommers added.
Gunko, however, seemed to recall something. "Last year's Ibel Peace Prize winner?"
"Exactly," Garling nodded. "The scientist who won for developing a method that makes flowers bloom from gunpowder."
"Sounds like a ridiculous invention," Sommers scoffed.
Garling ignored that and continued, "A few years ago, the 'Loan Shark King' Lu Feld funded a research group in the underworld called MADS. It gathered many top-tier scientists, and Vegapunk is their leader. Recently, CP agents conducted a routine investigation and discovered they're researching something very unique—'Lineage Factor.' It seems they've already made some progress. That result has caught Saint Saturn's interest."
"So our job is to bring this research group back to Mary Geoise?" Maffey asked.
"No," Garling shook his head. "Saint Saturn specifically wants to meet Vegapunk. We only need to bring Vegapunk back for an audience."
Clearly, the World Government hadn't yet decided to arrest MADS. This would be Vegapunk's first meeting with the Five Elders.
In the original timeline, it was after this meeting—just a couple of years later—that MADS made a breakthrough in their research on Lineage Factor. Only then did Saint Saturn order Vegapunk's arrest, marking the beginning of his service under the World Government.
As they were discussing this, the massive warship suddenly began to slow down.
Sensing the change, Garling and the others turned their gaze toward the sea ahead.
There, on a small isolated island, stood an enormous giant figure—waiting for their arrival.
"That's the Giant King, Harald?" Sommers pushed up his sunglasses, his tone filled with curiosity. "First time seeing him."
Although Harald had worked with the World Government for years and often assisted the Marines in dealing with pirates, he had never crossed paths with the Holy Knights before.
Only many years later would he truly step into Mary Geoise and formally interact with them—by then, it would be the era when Shanks was active.
"Same here," Garling said, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes. "They say he's a monster on par with Rocks… makes me want him as my slave."
"Keep dreaming," Maffey said bluntly. "Even if someone like him became a slave, he wouldn't belong to people like us."
"I heard from my old man that if he performs well this time and wipes out the Roger Pirates, he might be allowed to join the Holy Knights—and even be granted immortality," Sommers added.
"What? Why haven't I heard about this?" Garling frowned.
As the commander of the Holy Knights, he hadn't been informed?
Sommers hesitated, then awkwardly added, "Maybe it's just an idea from the Five Elders… not finalized yet?"
"In that case, it's even more impossible for him to become our slave. What a shame," Maffey clicked her tongue.
Soon, the warship reached the island, and Harald saw the Holy Knights standing on deck.
After years of cooperation with the World Government, he had gradually adapted, even changing in temperament.
The Giant King dropped to one knee and said in a deep voice, "Harald greets you, my lords."
If Rocks could see the King of Giants kneeling before the Celestial Dragons like this, he'd probably claw his way out of hell in rage.
The so-called Giant King… was nothing more than a tragic clown.
If not for Sommers mentioning that Harald might join the Holy Knights, Garling might not have shown him any courtesy.
But things were different now.
Once Harald officially joined, he would gain the status of a Celestial Dragon. At that point, they would be "equals."
So Garling, considering future relations, smiled and said, "No need for formalities, Harald. From here on, we'll be partners. Let's get along well."
Harald hadn't expected such a polite response from a Celestial Dragon and was momentarily stunned. Then he smiled.
"Thank you. I hope we can work together smoothly… and eliminate the Roger Pirates!"
...
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