This time, Magnus himself was the bait.
No matter what, as long as he showed up — even knowing it was a trap — the Navy and CP0 would have to swallow it.
Because the ones truly holding the initiative had always been Magnus and the White Wolf Pirates.
Even if the Navy took Elbaf…
As long as Magnus didn't come, everything they had prepared would be for nothing.
But Magnus came anyway.
Like a great sage stepping across the heavens to shatter the firmament.
If he was to never return…
Then so be it.
"Come and fight!"
Magnus's roar shook the skies above Elbaf, mingling with the thunderous clashes of four mighty fighters.
—Earlier—
In the hidden refuge of the giants on Elbaf's yōkai (Surface Realm).
"Stop right there!"
Two giants, hiding in a tree hollow, stiffened at the sound of footsteps and raised their weapons in alarm — but what appeared before them was a familiar figure.
"Ripley!?"
"Ripley, you're back!?"
Seeing her, the two giants' eyes lit up with joy — then dimmed with worry.
"No, Ripley, why did you come back?"
"That's right… Elbaf's already been taken by those wretched little people. Even His Majesty Harald has been captured by them."
The hunchbacked giant grit his teeth.
"If only Captain Dorry and Captain Brogy were here…"
If the two captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates had been here, even if they couldn't win outright, at least they could have driven the Navy back.
Harald wouldn't have had to fight two-on-one.
They didn't even know about the CP0 commander hidden alongside Rona and Kong — the bald giant naively thought that if the two captains came back, the battle could be turned.
"Uncle Kashi, enough already! Are Great-Grandpa and Elder Yaruru here? I have something important to tell them!"
Ripley had made a promise with Magnus.
After sunset, Magnus would launch his assault on Elbaf to draw the Navy and CP0's attention.
And she was tasked with finding the giants' refuge beforehand and convincing them to fight back — to take back their captured King Harald and the royal guards.
"…Fine!"
Kashi nodded quickly and started to lead her to the hideout.
But then he noticed the two figures behind her — Rocks and Newgate.
"No way!"
Kashi stopped in place and shouted, "Ripley, you can go in — but not these two little people. They're the same as those invaders outside!"
"Uncle Kashi, what are you saying?"
Ripley's voice rose with frustration. "They're just like me — they're part of the White Wolf Pirates. They're our comrades, nothing like those Navy and CP0 scum!"
"What difference does it make?"
Kashi bellowed, "If not for the White Wolf Pirates, those little people wouldn't have attacked Elbaf in the first place! We heard it ourselves — they only came here because the White Wolf Pirates stayed in Elbaf!"
He glared at Rocks and Newgate, his eyes full of fury.
"So what you're saying…" Ripley's voice trembled as she raised her head. "…is that it's my fault Elbaf ended up like this?"
Kashi flinched and shook his head quickly.
"Of course not, Ripley. You and those in the White Wolf Pirates, you…"
"What makes us any different?"
Ripley stared right at him, her voice loud and clear. "I'm a member of the White Wolf Pirates! Should I have never been born in Elbaf? Never grown up here? If that's how you see it… then I shouldn't have come back at all!"
Because to her, Elbaf was home. Because it was her home, her captain had chosen to risk everything to save it.
"For me, for all of us, Captain is willing to throw himself into danger and fight against the Navy's strongest. But in the end… you don't hate the Navy and CP0. You hate us!?"
Kashi opened his mouth to speak, but he froze.
Ripley — who always wore a smile — now stood before him with tears streaming down her face.
"Captain… he could die!"
Even though he always smiled at her, how could she not know how dire this battle really was?
Even so, she couldn't stop Magnus. Couldn't tell him to turn back.
Because of her… because she was the one he was betting his life on.
If her own people couldn't even believe in them, then who would?
"Kashi!"
From deep inside the cave, an old voice barked out.
"Let Ripley in!"
"Kashi, you little punk — how dare you bully my great-granddaughter!"
"Elder Yoru, it's great-great-granddaughter!"
"Same thing!"
Two ancient giants emerged from the tree hollow with a crowd of others. Seeing Ripley's tear-streaked face, the elder with a beard like a waterfall glared at the hunchbacked Kashi.
"Ripley, tell us. What's the plan?"
Unlike dim-witted Kashi, Elder Yaruru understood all too well — the World Government hadn't wanted to enslave them just yesterday or the day before.
But the giants' strength was not what it once was. In their heyday, there had been several giants as strong as King Harald.
Even forty years ago, with Dorry and Brogy present and the old king alive, the World Government wouldn't have been able to conquer Elbaf without heavy losses.
But now?
The old king was gone, Dorry and Brogy were absent due to their duel, and Harald had stood alone for too long.
Years of complacency, lured by the Government's false overtures of peace…
And now…
It was clear that peace had been a lie.
Beyond their friends outside Elbaf, there were still enemies.
Once Ripley had calmed down and explained Magnus's plan, Yaruru immediately understood.
If they were going to make this work, they had to cooperate!
"Redin — can you contact the others hiding elsewhere?"
"I can… I think…"
"Don't worry about being overheard!"
Though ancient, Yaruru — once captain of the famed Giant Warrior Pirates centuries ago — had not lost his resolve.
"When White Wolf Magnus appears, we'll launch our counterattack on the Navy."
Even in their current state, it would cost them dearly.
But—
"If our friend is willing to bet his life…"
"Then we can only gamble ours alongside him!"
"Let's stake our lives on it!"
(End of Chapter)[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][www.p@treon.com/euridome][Thank You For Your Support!]