Pirate: I am a logistics person, what the hell is the emperor

Chapter 428 Straw Hat, The Promise.

Under the azure sky, a falcon spreads its wings and flies by. On the edge of the giant's village, on a large tree on a cliff, lies a huge ruin.

The iron suspension bridge that led up from the underworld extends all the way here, the ground covered with green moss and vines, and weeds growing from the cracks in the old stone bricks.

This is the ruins of Orstow Castle, once the residence of the giant king, which was abandoned after the cursed prince Loki fought against the previous king.

Even for giants, this architectural ruin is quite magnificent. The moment Luffy and his crew stepped off the suspension bridge and into this place, they were greatly shocked by the scene before them.

"What about the cursed prince you mentioned earlier? Isn't the king gone now?"

Usopp asked Jabba a question, as he was very interested in the local customs and culture of Elbaf that this man, who called himself "Uncle Ah-Shan," had told him along the way.

Jabba gazed at the dilapidated castle ruins before him, his expression filled with emotion, as if lost in memories of the past. After a moment, he smiled and said:

"This is a long story. I don't know if you've ever heard of the Cursed Prince Loki. Back then, a battle broke out within the giant race, and he killed King Harald. It was only through the combined efforts of all the giant warriors and Shanks that he was finally subdued and is now imprisoned in the underworld below."

"Huh? Shanks?"

Upon hearing the key words, Luffy turned around and looked over. "Is that guy that strong? It actually took the giant uncle and the others to defeat him?"

"Ah, Loki is not only powerful, but he also ate the legendary Devil Fruit passed down through generations of giants. Before Shanks appeared, almost no one could stop him."

Jabba explained to him.

“Prince Loki? Wait a minute, I think I’ve heard that name before.”

At this moment, Usopp seemed to remember something and hurriedly asked:
"Is he the Loki prince who was supposed to marry Big Mom's daughter Lola, but was instead jilted?"

"You guys have heard about this too, hahaha, it's him, no doubt."

Jabba smiled and nodded.

As for the battle that broke out inside the castle back then, he didn't actually witness it firsthand. At that time, Shanks had just arrived in Elbaf, and the two of them were chatting and soaking in the hot springs when they suddenly heard a commotion inside the castle.

The incident happened so suddenly that by the time they arrived, the situation was already beyond repair.

The fallen guards, the dying King Harald, and Elder Yoruru with a sword piercing his head.
The truth remains shrouded in mystery, but the only certainty is that Loki was undoubtedly the one who stole the royal treasure and the legendary Devil Fruit.

Next, the rampaging Loki used his immense power to fight against all the giant warriors of Elbaf. Shanks stepped in to help suppress Loki, and finally captured him and imprisoned him under the Adam Tree.

"On the way up here, I did sense a powerful aura in the forest. It must be Loki."

Luffy held a piece of meat with bone in his hand, took a bite, and said as he chewed.

Looking back at the ruins before them, everyone couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. They never imagined that such a shocking event had occurred within the country that claimed to be the world's number one.

"Luffy—!"

Just then, a familiar voice came from the sky, drawing their attention.

A falcon swooped down rapidly, and Nami, sitting on it, waved to them. Reiner, Sanji, and the others were also there.

"Hey—! Over here!"

Luffy laughed and waved as he ran up.

After the hawk landed, Reiner and the others jumped down together. Nami grabbed Luffy by the ear as he ran up and said with an annoyed look:
"What's going on?! Isn't Shanks someone you've always admired? I thought you two were close, but why does he look like he wants to fight you?!"

"Eh!"

Chopper was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and immediately looked at Luffy.

However, Luffy didn't seem surprised at all, as if he had known this would happen all along.

"Hehehe, because Shanks and I were already dating back then, when he entrusted this hat to me for safekeeping."

Luffy grinned dismissively, took off the straw hat hanging on his back, and his thoughts drifted back to the port of Windmill Village.

At that time, the Red-Haired Pirates were moving their belongings in preparation for setting sail.

"I will go to sea! Someday!!"

"I'm going to gather a group of friends who are just as good as you! I'll find the world's greatest treasure, and I'm definitely going to become the Pirate King!!"

With his still-youthful face, Luffy clenched his fists and loudly announced his goal to everyone with all his might.

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates all stopped what they were doing and stood there in a daze, staring at the seven-year-old boy in front of them, whose voice was so firm.

"I see. So you want to surpass us?"

Shanks slowly walked forward, a hopeful smile on his face, took off his straw hat, and looked at the nervous Luffy in front of him.

"Then, I'll leave this straw hat to you for now. It's my most precious possession."

Shanks gently placed the hat on Luffy's head and chuckled softly in a gentle tone:

"Keep it safe for me, and return it to me personally when that day comes."

"The day has finally come, Shanks."

Looking at the straw hat in his hand, Luffy's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of emotion appeared in his eyes.

A gentle breeze caressed the moss-covered stone slabs, and the gnarled tree roots struggling to emerge from the cracks in the stones intertwined, while the green leaves swayed gently in the breeze.

At the end of the stone-paved road, the figures of a group of pirates appeared and disappeared, their powerful aura almost impossible to suppress.

"coming soon."

Luffy slung his straw hat back over his shoulder and slowly looked up into the distance.

Swish-!
Suddenly, a gust of wind rose from the ground! The leaves rustled and swirled in the wind, and in an instant, the sky changed color, turning from clear and bright to gloomy and dark.

"This is.!"

"What terrifying Conqueror's Haki! This is way too exaggerated."

The oncoming impact caused the ends of their hair to fly wildly, and Nami and the others frowned, their eyes revealing deep fear.

The immense pressure was suffocating, as if one were being stared at face-to-face by a ferocious beast. Only five people were able to remain calm under this oppressive force.

"As expected, he's still as formidable as ever. He truly lives up to his reputation as Shanks."

Luffy's lips curled up, and his eyes gradually became more intense.

Zoro placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword and took a step forward, his eyes as cold as swords, piercing through space and landing straight into the crowd opposite him.

Sensing his gaze, Hawkeye raised his head, his sharp eyes revealing a fierce edge, and the two instantly locked eyes.

Sanji also stepped forward, standing to Luffy's left and right alongside Zoro. He took out a lighter, lowered his head, and silently lit a cigarette.

"By the way, who is this uncle? He's got amazing skills."

After lighting a cigarette, Sanji looked up and couldn't help but glance at Jabba beside him.

The fact that this old man could remain so calm and collected in the face of such overwhelming power shows that he is definitely not a simple person.

"I'm just an old man who's past his prime. I'm just here to join in the fun, but I have no intention of interfering in your affairs, young people."

Jabba said with a chuckle.

Reiner stood behind, his own powerful aura blocking almost all of the oncoming Conqueror's Haki. Even a Vice Admiral would faint under the shock of Shanks' Conqueror's Haki; the concentrated Haki could even suppress a Marine Admiral. If he hadn't protected them, the people behind him probably wouldn't have even been able to stand.

Luffy stepped forward to meet the impact, his pupils suddenly narrowed, and his Conqueror's Haki surged forth!
Boom! ! !
The thunder was deafening. The moment the two supreme Conqueror's Haki, which stood atop the ocean, collided fiercely, countless black lightning bolts shot out from the middle!

boom! ! boom! ! boom! !

Black lightning exploded on the earth, ravaging the surrounding buildings, and a hurricane swept away everything in its path!
Dark clouds surged wildly, tearing open a massive abyss in the thick cloud layer, splitting the dim sky into two sides, and even the entire sea area near Elbaf became incredibly turbulent.

"Captain! Look at the sky!"

"Was it caused by the clash of Conqueror's Haki?!"

"It's like the end of the world!"

The turbulent currents stirred up huge waves, and the Victoria, which had just left the island and set sail, drifted on the crest of the waves.

Standing on the violently rocking deck, looking at the apocalyptic scene in the sky, Kidd and his crew's solemn expressions grew increasingly grim.

Is this their true power? Compared to that, everything before was just a warm-up.

"hateful!"

Kidd gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, feeling extremely unwilling.

The ruins of Olsto Castle in Elbaf.

The two overwhelming forces clashed fiercely, locked in a stalemate, pushing and shoving each other until they almost leveled the surrounding buildings.

boom! !

As the final, trembling gust of wind erupted, the two overwhelming auras vanished instantly, and the surroundings returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

The red-haired group finally appeared before them.

"Long time no see, Luffy."

Shanks wore a faint smile, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"You've really grown a lot, and you've gotten quite a bit taller too."

"Hehehe, I've finally met you, Shanks."

Luffy grinned and stared at Shanks.

Upon seeing each other again after eleven years, the joy and excitement in his heart made him almost unable to suppress the urge to rush forward.

Usopp's gaze swept urgently across the crowd opposite him, finally landing on a man with a headband tied around his forehead and dreadlocks in his hair.

"Dad!!"

The moment Usopp saw Yasopp, he couldn't help but shout out excitedly, his eyes gleaming as if tears were about to well up at any moment.

"Hey, you brat, what do you think you're doing?"

Jesus' thick lips curled upwards, and he said in a teasing tone:
"I know you've had a tough time, but if you dare to cry, I'll be the first to beat you up, you brat."

"Haha, aren't you being too harsh, Yasopp? You're not usually like this when you talk about your son."

Lucky tore off a piece of meat from his hand, laughing as he chewed it casually and swallowed it. Then he raised it up and waved it vigorously at Luffy opposite him, shouting,
"Hey—! Long time no see, Luffy!"

"Alright Luffy, let's put this heartwarming scene aside for now. Before that, don't forget there's something else we haven't done."

Shanks walked forward softly, standing about ten meters away, and said to Luffy:
"Luffy, do you still remember our promise?"

"Ah, of course."

Luffy nodded with a smile, but his eyes were extremely serious.

"That's good. If you can't surpass us, then you won't have fulfilled your promise."

As he spoke, Shanks' hand was already on Griffin's belt at his waist, and without turning his head, he said to the person behind him:

"Are you all ready? Don't think that they need you to go easy on them. Underestimating young people will make you suffer."

"Don't worry, boss, I'll take care of my brat."

Yasopp leaned the gun barrel on his shoulder and chuckled mockingly, his eyes already fixed on Usopp.

From Buggy's camp next to the Red-Haired Pirates, Hawkeye stepped forward, drew his black sword Yoru from his back, and pointed it directly at Zoro, his tone cold:

"Come with me, Roronoa."

"Right on my mind."

Zoro gave a cold smirk, turned around and nodded to Luffy, then jumped into the ruins with Mihawk.

"Hahaha! Do you still remember me, Straw Hat Boy!"

With a sharp laugh, Bucky flew out of the crowd, dressed as a clown, making faces and baring his teeth as he shouted:
"That's right! It was me, the old man, who almost executed you back in Loguetown."

Who has that red nose?

Before Buggy could finish speaking, Luffy tilted his head in confusion and picked his nose with a bewildered look.

"I don't remember anything at all!!"

Bucky clutched his head and screamed in disbelief.

"How dare they make fun of my nose! That's outrageous! Brothers, get them!!"

Bucky angrily waved his hand, commanding his henchmen to swarm forward!

"Come on!"

"Let's teach this bastard who dared to insult Lord Bucky a lesson!"

The menacing pirates, armed with knives and guns, swarmed out like a bee.

"Who gave you permission to stand in front of me and give orders?"

Crocodile's cold voice came from behind, startling Bucky so much that cold sweat quickly broke out on his forehead, and he stiffly turned his neck backward.

"No, listen to me."

"I don't have time for you right now, we'll settle the score next time."

boom! !

Crocodile kicked Buggy in the back of the head, his lower body turning into a cloud of sand as he surged ahead of the charging pirates. A cigar dangling from his lips, he glanced indifferently at Reiner and roared in a deep voice:
"Black Snake! You haven't forgotten the old score about this arm, have you?"

"Didn't you tear it yourself? It's a bit much to pin this on me."

Reiner raised his hand, creating a void rift and summoning the ghost of Warden Magellan, charging directly at Crocodile.

"We're getting ready, everyone!"

Luffy spread his legs and squatted down, punching the ground, his gaze fixed on Shanks. The two smiled at each other, then moved at the same time, instantly disappearing from their spot!

(End of this chapter)