Bab 95: The Village of Elbaf
Every four years, a grand conference known as the Reverie was held for World Government member nations.
Approximately fifty nations, out of the one hundred and seventy or so member states, gathered at Mary Geoise, the World Government's headquarters, for a week-long series of discussions on various topics.
With kings from different nations directly engaging in dialogue, there was always a risk of conflict erupting… but even considering that, the Reverie was a necessary event. After all, with differing values on issues such as wealth, education, religion, resources, and technology, peaceful resolutions were rare.
Still, the benefits of gathering and discussing matters outweighed the risks.
Many issues, such as dealing with pirates, required a global response, and the Reverie provided a platform for such discussions.
– While the kings who gathered for this event publicly declared "equality among nations," the reality was far from equal.
With only about a third of the member states participating, it was clear that some nations held more power than others.
This inevitably led to various underhanded dealings, with each nation seeking to gain an advantage over the others, to amass wealth and power.
"…Such a troublesome affair."
The blond-haired, blue-eyed girl, whom Kanata called Diana, was currently engaged in negotiations with various nations outside the Reverie hall.
While the resolutions passed by the kings were important, the lobbying efforts conducted by their families and advisors were equally crucial. Diana was tasked with this role.
"Nord, which nation is next?"
"Next is the Prodence Kingdom."
"Ah, the one with the 'Fighting King'…"
A king who personally led his troops into battle – it was an absurd idea.
Diana didn't see much value in engaging with such a nation, but antagonizing them could lead to war, which would be a major problem. It would also damage her own reputation.
Of course, if war did break out, that's where the Twilight Pirates came in.
(The volume of our trade has increased recently, and the amount of money flowing around her is also rising. As long as I'm careful not to be outmaneuvered by my rivals, my victory is practically guaranteed.)
Diana smiled faintly, pleased with her current advantage over her competitors. If things continued this way, her position as the future king's consort would be unshakeable.
The Rommel Empire had a complex lineage, with many potential candidates for the throne. It was customary to choose a consort from among the most capable relatives.
Diana was relatively young, and her political foundation was weaker than her rivals' – which is why she had chosen to take a gamble by forming a partnership with pirates.
It had been a risky move, but the results were undeniable. The wealth she had amassed through this partnership was immense, allowing her to engage in various schemes to further her goals.
Kanata, known as the "Witch" to the world, was an angel to Diana, a bringer of fortune.
This relationship was beneficial for both the Empire and Kanata. As long as both sides profited, it would continue.
"There are few nations that can match our Empire – I mean, our Empire – in terms of military and financial power. We can negotiate from a position of strength," Diana remarked confidently.
"It's truly remarkable. Your future is secure, Princess."
Her victory had been practically guaranteed from the moment the king granted her permission to participate in the Reverie at Mary Geoise.
All she had to do now was establish diplomatic relations with other nations.
Even Nord, her loyal knight, seemed pleased, though he kept his emotions hidden beneath a stoic expression.
The only remaining concern was avoiding the Celestial Dragons' attention… but as long as their relationship with Kanata remained a secret, it shouldn't be a problem.
There were countless secrets that nations kept hidden. They simply chose not to reveal them.
"Fufu…"
The allure of power was intoxicating. Diana smiled faintly and began reviewing the information for her next negotiation.
***
New World – Warland Island.
The trees, the creatures, everything on this island was gigantic – and rightfully so. It was the "Kingdom of Giants".
The home of the famed Elbaf warriors, a race of giants renowned for their strength and ferocity.
Decades ago, they had shifted from plundering to trading, following the advice of Mother Carmel. However, the island's location in a dangerous sea made trade difficult, and they had been struggling to maintain their economy.
Feiyun, a member of the Twilight Pirates, was also from this island.
"Wow… It's been a while!"
"Everything's so huge… It's a giant's island, alright."
"Even the creatures in this sea are massive. We'll never run out of food here."
The island seemed largely unchanged since Feiyun had left, and she led Kanata and Scotch towards her village from the harbor.
They had decided to focus on negotiations this time, so only Scotch and Feiyun had accompanied Kanata.
Kuro, incredibly curious about the giant's village, had attempted to stow away, but was caught by Kanata and left behind.
"How long has it been since you last visited your village, Feiyun?" Scotch asked.
"Hmm… About twenty years?"
"…I knew it, but the giant's sense of time is completely different from ours…" Scotch looked shocked and convinced.
Giants were known for their distorted perception of time. Feiyun had adapted somewhat after spending time with Kanata and her crew, but the other giants on board often struggled to keep to a schedule. It was partly due to their biology, partly due to their upbringing and values.
Kanata didn't mind as long as they completed their tasks.
They reached the village, and Feiyun, looking around nostalgically, said, "This is where I was born. It brings back memories…"
As if sensing their arrival, a giant emerged from the village.
"Is that you, Feiyun? It's been a while! How have you been?"
"Gerd!"
It was a female giant, apparently Feiyun's childhood friend. They exchanged greetings, reminiscing about old times.
"You left with your parents to go trading, but you've returned?"
"About my parents…"
They had been killed by Big Mom during a trade expedition. It wasn't a pleasant memory, but Feiyun explained the circumstances, telling Gerd that she was now under Kanata's care.
"Big Mom…"
Big Mom had once lived in this giant village, next to the "Sheep's House," an orphanage for abandoned children. Gerd had played with her as a child, but after a certain incident, even mentioning her name had become taboo. No matter the reason, they couldn't forgive Big Mom for sullying a warrior's pride.
The conversation turned somber, but Feiyun quickly changed the subject.
"Kanata wants to establish trade with this village."
"Trade? Then we should go see the king."
"Yes."
Feiyun knew the way, having grown up here. But it had been twenty years. She had much to catch up on with her childhood friend. As they walked, Gerd told Feiyun about the other villagers – how Hajrudin had become stronger and was now bringing back impressive prey, how Goldberg's cooking had improved… Feiyun listened intently, happily responding to each anecdote.
"What does Elbaf export?" Kanata asked Gerd.
"Hmm… I'm not sure about the details, but mostly lumber," Gerd replied, gesturing towards the massive trees surrounding them.
"We giants cut down these trees and export them. But the volume isn't very high."
There weren't many ships capable of transporting such massive lumber, and few traders dared to venture to this dangerous sea.
Those with insufficient strength often perished before even reaching the island.
With a low export volume, imports were also limited. Giants, requiring significantly more food and clothing than humans, inevitably faced shortages. It was understandable why the Giant Warrior Pirates had resorted to plundering.
"…I see," Kanata said.
This was something she needed to consider. If existing trade was limited, there was ample opportunity for expansion. She would be busy again.
***
The meeting with the giant king regarding trade and negotiations concluded smoothly.
Kanata sought high-quality lumber and giant laborers. In return, she offered to import various goods and provide financial compensation. The king readily accepted her proposal.
It seemed the giants valued Mother Carmel's words – "trade, not plunder" – and were eager to cooperate with Kanata, who was openly hostile towards Charlotte Linlin.
John Giant, a Marine officer, was one of the few giants who had joined the Marines, but the nation itself wasn't officially affiliated with the World Government. They were free to form partnerships with pirates.
"That was surprisingly easy. I thought it would take longer," Scotch remarked.
"Being openly hostile towards Big Mom worked in our favor. I knew Feiyun had explained the situation, but I didn't realize the impact would be this significant."
Big Mom was a constant nuisance, a source of conflict and petty squabbles, but this time, her actions had benefited them. Forming a partnership with the giants, a race renowned for their strength and often called "the world's strongest army", was a significant advantage.
The giant king had excitedly asked, "When are we going to war with Big Mom?" which had surprised Kanata.
She had managed to delay the inevitable war, assuring him that they needed time to prepare… but his sense of time, as expected, was rather distorted. He was willing to wait ten or twenty years, so they had ample time to prepare.
"We'll be busy. Expanding trade is good, but dealing with a nation of giants means a massive increase in volume."
The giants would also be facing a sudden surge in trade volume. But they would start slowly, gradually increasing the scale of their operations.
They returned to Gerd's village and began recruiting giant laborers.
Feiyun knew many of the villagers, making it easier to persuade them.
"Ah, there's Hajrudin!"
"Feiyun?! You're back!"
A male giant, taller than Feiyun, emerged from a nearby house. He was young, but well-trained by the village warriors, carrying various weapons on his back. He had just returned from a hunting expedition, holding a massive boar in his hand. He planned to butcher it and use it as food for the village.
"Let's celebrate. Bring out some sake from our ship," Kanata said.
A toast to Feiyun's safe return, to the newfound partnership between the giants and the Twilight Pirates.
The giants might not have much sake, but they did have their own local brews.
…And perhaps, Kanata thought, introducing them to foreign sake might lead to an increase in trade.
The celebratory feast began in the afternoon, continuing long after sunset.
"Feiyun, I heard you have a bounty exceeding 100 million now!"
"Gerd told me you met Captain Dorry and Captain Brogy!"
"Have you been to Fish-Man Island? The mystical island at the bottom of the sea!"
Feiyun, the center of attention, was bombarded with questions from the other giants, her eyes wide with surprise.
Kanata and her crew sat at a table a short distance away, enjoying the feast while discussing their future plans.
"This trade expansion will take up most of our resources for now. We'll have more leeway once we have more giant crew members, but…"
"We need more manpower. The Rommel Empire is pushing us to increase our trade volume as well."
"I told them to be patient. Morgans from the World Economic News is lurking around, hoping for a scoop. We can't afford to make any careless moves."
Morgans, always seeking a sensational story, was a constant headache for Kanata. While cooperating with him could allow for some degree of information control, he was also a frequent guest at Big Mom's tea parties. Forming a deep relationship with him was impossible.
Kanata wasn't skilled in such underhanded dealings and found it quite troublesome.
"We can do whatever we want with the Giant Warrior Pirates. We can even form an alliance if they're not interested in becoming subordinates."
"Well, a giant army is quite powerful… But how are we going to fight Big Mom?"
"It depends on how quickly we can build trust with the giants. It'll take two or three years to prepare."
Big Mom's crew was a nuisance, an obstacle to their goals. They wanted to eliminate them, just like the Golden Lion Pirates. But if it was that easy, the Marines would have already done it.
Considering Big Mom's strength, her crew's increasing power, and her cunning schemes, thorough preparation was crucial. Spies had been a growing problem recently. They needed to eliminate them soon.
"…We need to settle things with Big Mom. Shiki can wait."
"Shiki's still obsessed with Roger. He's not going to target us anytime soon."
"That man is ill. He won't be able to fight at full strength."
They were prioritizing Big Mom because they wanted to take advantage of Shiki's distraction.
Both pirate crews were too powerful to fight at the same time. Even the Twilight Pirates, with their growing strength, would be fully occupied if they clashed with one of them.
They needed to conserve their strength. The Marines were constantly watching, and other pirates were also seeking Kanata's head.
"We also need to find suitable Devil Fruit users for the fruits we recently acquired."
"We got a lot of them, didn't we? I'm surprised you managed to get your hands on so many."
"The black market in the North Blue was more impressive than I expected."
Having connections in various places allowed them to acquire Devil Fruits. But obtaining over a dozen Devil Fruits at once had been unexpected.
Kanata finished cutting a piece of meat with her knife and took a bite.
The giants raised livestock as well. They were massive creatures, but they were still considered livestock. Roasting them whole produced a surprisingly delicious meal.
Food was essential for war. They were developing deserted islands for food production, and their current output was exceeding their needs. Their preparations were progressing smoothly.
"We'll discuss this after we've built a stronger relationship with the giants – but we're going to take down Big Mom."
It would be a difficult battle. Kanata herself might not survive. But amidst the cheerful laughter and singing around the campfire, only Kanata and Scotch wore grim expressions.
***
The year passed.
The Twilight Pirates were busy expanding their forces, increasing food production, and strengthening their trade with the giants.
Meanwhile, as the "Edd War" raged between the Roger Pirates and the Golden Lion Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates and the Twilight Pirates were on a collision course for a full-scale confrontation.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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