One Piece: Rayquaza of the Beasts Pirates

A sign with a clinking wine glass design hangs from the roof of the building.

Brogy took the lead, pushing open the tavern door with a creak. Before he was even fully inside, his loud voice echoed throughout the tavern: "Beverly, give me the strongest rum!"

That practiced manner clearly indicated that he was a VVVIP customer of the tavern.

Dongli, Cassie, and Oimo followed suit, vying to name their favorite wines even before they reached the door.

"Beverly? Are you looking for my mother?"

Behind the bar, a sweet-looking, energetic giant girl looked up and asked curiously.

She wore a light-colored belted coat with a clean reddish-brown apron tied around it, and a string of lustrous white pearls around her neck, making her look both neat and girlishly elegant.

As she asked, she skillfully poured Broki a large glass of bubbling, strongly scented liquor.

“Beverly is your mother? She was running this tavern before I left Elbaf.”

Looking at the young girl in front of him, Brogy suddenly realized that he had been away from his hometown for a long time.

Indeed, more than a hundred years have passed since he set sail.

With a touch of emotion, he tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of strong liquor.

That familiar, fiery, burning sensation spread through his throat, and he nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, that's right, it's still the same taste, not changed at all!"

The girl smiled upon receiving the affirmation and introduced herself, "My name is Madonna. My mother retired twenty years ago and handed this tavern over to me. And you, sir...?"

Just then, a middle-aged giant who was drinking nearby turned around upon hearing the sound.

When he saw what Dorry and Broki looked like, the wooden wine glass in his hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," splashing wine everywhere.

"You, you, you are Captain Dorry and Captain Brogy!"

His voice stammered with extreme shock and excitement.

"Huh? Aren't you Reading?!"

Donley and Brogy recognized the former crew member, and their faces immediately lit up with great surprise.

Redding looked at the two younger brothers beside the captain: "Cassie, Oimo, did you two bring the captain back? Well done!"

The two burly giants, for once, showed a shy expression.

After all, being deceived by the world government and guarding the gates for over forty years is hardly a glorious experience.

"Hahaha, you two idiots! You've been fooled by those guys from the World Government for over forty years!"

Reading didn't hold back in making fun of his two younger brothers.

Upon hearing this, the other giant patrons in the tavern burst into laughter.

They didn't mean any harm; they just laughed when they heard something funny.

Having finally stopped laughing, Redding looked at Kane solemnly and said, "Kane, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, we don't know when the captain and Cassie would have been able to return."

"There's no need to repeat thanks. If you really want to express your gratitude, how about you treat me and my companions to some of the most authentic wines from Elbaf?"

Kane smiled and waved his hand.

This suggestion was exactly what the giants wanted.

Reading thumped his muscular chest and declared with boundless pride, "No problem! All the drinks for everyone today are on my tab! We're drinking until we drop!"

"Oh oh oh—!!!"

The giants inside the tavern immediately erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

I've found another reason to have a big drinking session.

Seeing the giants' performance, Kane roughly understood why the pirate industry had been the most successful among the giants over the past eight hundred years.

With a personality that readily indulges in heavy drinking, it's certainly impossible for them to engage in sophisticated industrial production.

"Captain Donley, Captain Brogy, welcome back."

As Mado deftly prepared drinks for the guests, he said with a smile, "If Haildin knew this news, he would be overjoyed!"

Who is Haildin?

Dorry and Brogy exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

They had been away from their homeland for so long that they didn't recognize most of the giants of the younger generation.

“Haydin, he is the king’s eldest son and also my apprentice.”

Redding took a big gulp of wine, his face full of pride: "That kid has now grown into a qualified and powerful Elbaf warrior!"

"He has always admired you guys and even took you as his role model. He formed a new Giant Warrior Pirate Crew and set sail! Judging by the time, they should be back from this voyage soon."

"Oh? He did a good job."

The older folks laughed with satisfaction and downed another big gulp of wine.

"That little guy from back then can now stand on his own!"

Cassie sighed with emotion, recalling how Haldin was just a thirty-year-old boy when he set sail to find the captain.

Mentioning Haldin, Kashi casually asked, "Speaking of which, how is King Harald doing these days? Is he still pushing for Elbaf to join the World Government and become a member state?"

If he could, Kashi would love to tell the King about his and Oimo's experience of being deceived by the World Government for decades.

Make him understand that the world government is by no means a trustworthy partner.

They will only exploit the power of the giants, but will not genuinely grant Elbaf the status and benefits it deserves.

However, to his surprise, the moment King Harald was mentioned, the atmosphere in the once noisy and lively tavern suddenly changed.

The laughter abruptly stopped, the smiles on the giants' faces froze, and they fell silent, their eyes lowered.

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Cassie asked, looking puzzled.

Reading's smile vanished, replaced by a deep sorrow and desolation: "King Harald passed away seven years ago..."

The four Dongli were greatly surprised.

This is impossible!

King Harald was clearly not even two hundred years old, and was in his prime!

Chapter 167 The Story of Loki

"It's all that cursed prince's fault!"

A giant drinker with a flushed face slammed his fist on the table and growled through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, the other giants around him also showed the same expressions of hatred and indignation.

Yamato, Robin, Hiyori, and the others exchanged glances, all seeing surprise and curiosity in each other's eyes.

It feels like I've stumbled upon some incredible gossip!

Kane, who knew only a part of the truth, remained calm and composed as he savored the amber-colored Giant's Wine in his glass, even nodding slightly in approval.

It must be said that despite their rugged appearance, these giants possess truly exquisite brewing skills, producing a rich, robust, and lingering liquor.

Perhaps it's because of the giants' long lifespans, but there's no shortage of fine wines aged in the cellars here.

"Prince? You mean... Halding?" Donley and the others were even more confused.

Brogy scratched at his massive helmet. "Weren't you just praising that kid for doing a good job?"

"No, it's not Prince Halding."

Reading shook his head, the muscles in his face twitching slightly from intense emotions—a complex expression that mixed anger, resentment, and even a hint of indescribable regret.

"It is Loki, the second son of King Harald."

Then, under the solemn gaze of everyone, Redding began to recount the past that concerned the bloodline and fate of the Elbaf royal family.

He began by recounting the origins of Haldin and Loki.

Haldin's mother, Ida, was an ordinary giant whom Harald met while traveling the sea in his youth. The two fell in love and had their eldest son, Haldin.

Although Harald was determined to marry Ida and make her his queen, the inhabitants of Elbaf resolutely refused to allow outsiders to become members of the royal family. In the end, Harald had to give up and instead married Estrina, the daughter of an Elbaf nobleman who also possessed the blood of the Ancient Titans.

The two married and had Loki.

"However, the shadow of disaster seemed to have loomed over Elbaf from the moment Prince Loki was born."

Reading's voice trembled slightly: "From the day he was born, a terrible rumor quietly spread throughout the royal city, saying that he was the 'cursed child'."

"As the rumors spread, a prophecy also emerged: Loki will bring about the destruction of the world in the future."

At this point, Redding grabbed his glass and took a large gulp, as if he needed the alcohol to suppress the palpitations brought on by the memory. He continued with lingering fear, "The most terrifying thing is that the prophecy is beginning to come true. Elbaf is facing the beginning of a series of calamities."

"In the very year he was born, Elder Hero Yoruru was murdered by that damned Charlotte Linlin at the Winter Solstice Festival!"

"At the same time, Elbaf also began to frequently suffer from rare natural disasters, such as fires, storms, cold waves... Abnormal weather took turns ravaging, causing devastating damage to our agriculture and fisheries. Elbaf even experienced a terrible famine that had not been seen in hundreds of years!"

"But just when we finally survived the famine, 10-year-old Loki began to command giant beasts from the underworld to attack villages and set them on fire!"

"If...if that's all there is to it."

Reading's voice was hoarse from suppressed anger: "We can barely accept it, at most we can just stay away from him. King Harald has also been trying his best to make amends for his mistakes and appease the victims."

"but--!!"

"boom!!!"

Reading slammed his massive hand down on the thick table with a deafening thud, making even the wine glasses bounce.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared like a wounded lion: "His most unforgivable crime was committing patricide to steal the legendary Devil Fruit passed down through generations of the Elbaf royal family!!!"

"That's right!!"

"Absolutely unforgivable!"

"That patricide!"

The giants inside the tavern were furious, their roars almost lifting the roof off.

For the giants, Loki's previous actions may still fall into the category of "mistakes," but patricide—this has touched the absolute bottom line of morality and ethics, and is an unforgivable, eternal stain branded on the soul!

Loki has tarnished the honor of warriors!

"That Prince Loki is so wicked! How could he do such a thing!"