Chapter 410: King Harald
Brook was deep in thought, plotting how to crack open the situation in Elbaf. His original plan was to use Warrior Village as a foothold, gradually expanding influence outward while grooming Rocky to become a giant warrior capable of rivaling King Harald himself!
But now, it was clear he’d underestimated Harald’s strength and the sheer power of the legendary Spear. Rocky, bless his heart, probably didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of surpassing Harald in this lifetime.
Thalrik’s arrival threw another wrench in Brook’s plans. A clash with Harald was now inevitable—when the second-strongest giant in Elbaf vanishes in Village, it’s bound to draw a swarm of giant troops.
The truth would come out sooner or later, and Brook knew it’d spark the giants’ wrath. He had to act first.
Given the Elbaf giants’ fierce territorial pride, Brook decided to move Warrior Village out of Elbaf entirely. He’d set it up just across the sea, close enough to wade to, cutting off any excuse for Harald to come swinging.
...
Over the next few days, Brook had Golden Lion Shiki relocate Warrior Village to a spot less than a hundred meters offshore. Shiki even piled up the seabed to create a shallow crossing—giants could wade to the new site with ease.
Brook renamed it Hell Warrior Fortress, a nod to its origins, echoing Warrior Village from afar. Shiki, ever the showman, grabbed a few peaks from Elbaf’s mountains and tossed them onto the old Warrior Village site, giving it a rough semblance of its former self.
He also leveled part of Warrior Village, turning it into a simple trading market to lure other giants for commerce.
The giants of Warrior Village had already flocked to Hell Warrior Fortress, effectively joining the Hell Pirates as an affiliated crew.
Giants sent out earlier to spread the word started returning, bringing curious Elbaf giants eager to see if Warrior Village had truly become a bustling trade hub connected to the outside world.
The market in Warrior Village offered basic swords, shields, and spears, but the real treasures—alloy armor and weapons—were only available at Hell Warrior Fortress. Intrigued giants waded across to the fortress, marveling at the array of finely crafted weapons and exotic goods.
These visitors grabbed Hell Warrior Fortress flyers and headed back to their villages, ready to trade their prized possessions for the fortress’s weapons and fine booze!
...
Half a month later, word of Hell Warrior Fortress had spread to most of Elbaf’s villages. A giant clad in gleaming alloy armor strode into Royal City, carrying a letter from Brook.
"What?! A new island popped up across from Warrior Village? It’s the Hell Pirates’ turf? They’ve opened a trade market?
The entire Warrior Village population joined Hell Warrior Fortress and turned pirate? Thalrik tried to seize the fortress, only to get captured by that overlord Brook?
Even the Kratos War Axe was taken, and they might melt it down to forge human-sized weapons?"
King Harald, hearing the alloy-armored giant’s report and reading Brook’s letter (penned by a giant proxy), nearly exploded with rage.
The Hell Pirates had quietly sunk their claws into Elbaf’s doorstep!
Thalrik had gone to nab Dorry and the others, only to get greedy and try to plunder the Hell Pirates’ fortress. Now he was a prisoner, and Harald had to ransom him back.
Harald crushed Brook’s letter, his face dark with fury. They’d done all this and still had the gall to talk about "establishing diplomatic ties" with Elbaf?
"Honored King Harald, Brook-sama also sent a special Den Den Mushi bred for giants. Please accept it!"
The alloy-armored giant cautiously handed over a massive, meter-tall Den Den Mushi to Harald.
"You joined the Hell Pirates too?"
Harald eyed the messenger. The giant’s armor outshone even that of his own generals and guards.
"Aye, King Harald! Brook-sama’s got the Warrior Village folks eating like kings, drinking like sailors, and decked out in alloy armor and weapons. It’s a blast! He welcomes everyone to come enjoy the booze!"
The giant launched into a gushing rant, praising Hell Warrior Fortress’s endless supply of world-class goods—fine liquor, top-notch weapons, you name it.
Some of Harald’s booze-loving warriors practically drooled, itching to check out this so-called fortress.
"Enough! Get out!"
Harald clutched Brook’s Den Den Mushi, sinking into thought.
Cooperation? More like roping giants into slaving for you.
Thalrik and the Kratos War Axe had to be ransomed, no question. But just because it’s not Elbaf soil doesn’t mean the giants won’t come for you!
"Boru boru~"
"Yohohoho! King Harald?"
After hearing the alloy-armored giant’s full report, Harald knew Brook wanted to negotiate directly through the Den Den Mushi.
"New World overlord Brook, your reach is long and your nerve is longer. Even Ice Demon and Vesper never dared pull this!"
At two hundred years old, King Harald’s wisdom was as sharp as his spear. He saw through Brook’s scheming and called him out.
"Now, now, let’s not get heated. I’m just doing honest business on my own turf. Thalrik’s the one who came knocking, and frankly, I owe him for delivering that Kratos War Axe. I’m itching to forge a batch of new legendary blades with it!"
"You’re picking a fight with all of Elbaf! Aren’t you afraid we’ll sail out and crush your little empire?"
"And you’re picking a fight with the Hell Pirates? Aren’t you afraid I’ll fly over and level Royal City? Let’s see if your tens of thousands of giants outnumber my hundreds of thousands of pirates!"
Brook didn’t flinch, firing back with a threat of his own. The Hell Pirates’ airship fleet was infamous—who wouldn’t tremble at the thought?
"Name your price," Harald growled after a pause.
"Since you’re being so direct, here’s my deal: I want Gungnir Steel and first dibs on Adam Wood trading rights. The Steel better be worth more than Thalrik and that Kratos War Axe combined, or I’ll melt the axe down for kicks!"
Brook’s laugh echoed through the Den Den Mushi. Gungnir Steel and Adam Wood were as good as his.
"Hmph! Trading my own people for my own resources? Brook, you think you can scam me like that? Push us too far, and Elbaf will team up with the Marines to wipe you out!"
Harald’s face darkened. Brook’s attempt to pull a fast one didn’t sit well with the hot-tempered giants. If the Kratos War Axe got melted, so be it—he wouldn’t swallow this insult!
"Alright, what’s your offer?"
Brook knew dealing with a hothead like Harald meant cutting to the chase. No point in grandstanding or overreaching, or they’d skip haggling and go straight to blows.
"At most, 45 kg of Gungnir Steel and fifty percent of Adam Wood at market price. Take it or leave it—otherwise, brace for war!"
Harald barely contained his fury. For Thalrik and the Kratos War Axe, he’d pay the ransom, but he’d settle the score with Brook later!