One Piece: We already have the Four Gods, so my Six Paths Sage is reasonable, right?

"So it's confirmed that Ron and Monkey D. Garp are two different people, right?" Im slowly approached the cloaked woman.

"Yes, Lord Im." The cloaked woman lowered her head, her tone steady and respectful. "Although Ron's information has not yet been compiled and submitted, according to the information the Navy gathered on Beehive Island, their next destination is the land of giants, Elbaf."

"Elubaf?" Im paused slightly, then repeated the name in a low voice. A moment later, a wicked smile slowly appeared on his lips.

"Heh." Im chuckled coldly, but said nothing more. He reached out and took Garp's file from the cloaked woman, slowly flipping through it, his gaze moving down line by line.

In [Year XXX], Garp joined the Navy along with [Name XXX] and [Name XXX].

[In XXX year, Garp displayed outstanding bravery and immense potential, and was promoted to XXX.]

……

[In XXX year, Garp swept away pirates, making outstanding contributions to the World Government, and was promoted to Vice Admiral.]

As you flip further down the page, the style begins to change. It shifts from records of achievements to issues of conduct.

[In [Year XXXX], according to a naval soldier, Garp insulted the Celestial Dragons, calling them "trash."]

In [Year XXX, Garp stole the Celestial Dragons' fine wine while escorting supplies].

Wait...wait.

Im only glanced through a few pages, his gaze lingering for a moment on the lines filled with "misdeeds," the smile on his lips neither deepening nor fading.

Then, he casually tossed the documents in his hand onto the ground, the pages scattering with a soft "thud," which sounded particularly clear amidst the quiet flowers.

The cloaked woman's gaze shifted slightly, but she did not look up.

"Lord Im," she asked in a low voice, "do we need more information about Monkey D. Garp? Or... should we keep him under surveillance?"

Im slowly turned around, his back to the garden full of flowers and the slanting morning light, his voice calm: "Ignore this idiot... He's just a reckless brute with a slightly abnormal mind. Inform the Five Elders, I have something to tell them."

The cloaked woman nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Yes, Lord Im."

-------------------------------------

Much later, in the land of giants, Elubaf.

Deep within the castle, Harald, seated on his throne, stared expressionlessly at the Den Den Mushi before him.

This tiny creature carries his deepest obsession since he took office.

"Harald".

The Den Den Mushi slowly transmitted a voice: "After the final assessment by the World Government, Elubaf's civilization index, maritime jurisdiction, and security stability have initially reached the minimum standards for member states."

Harald's fingers, resting on the throne, tightened slightly as he humbly said, "Thank you for the World Government's fair consideration. All the subjects of Elrubaf will remember this kindness."

"but......"

The voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was slow and precise, like a razor blade probing into fat: "The World Government still has great concerns about your country's 'reputational risks.' As you know, the rumors of the 'Barbarian Giants' are deeply rooted among the member states. If the World Government agrees to Elubaf's admission, all the kingdoms will unite to protest and even threaten to withdraw from the World Conference."

"Those are all slanders." Harald's gaze was lowered, his tone sincere. "Our civilization is far older than that of most of the constituent republics. If you permit, I can send a delegation of scholars to Mary Geoise..."

"Harald," the Den Den Mushi interrupted him, a subtle chill creeping into his voice, "Of course we know it's a rumor. Otherwise, the expedition wouldn't have passed the initial assessment. But the problem has never been 'the truth,' but 'perception,' you understand?"

silence.

An extremely long silence.

Harald slowly rose to his feet, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow on the wall, like a sleeping giant finally raising its head.

"So, what 'action' does the World Government expect Elrubaf to take in exchange for this ticket?"

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, I could hear the rustling sound of pages turning.

a long time.

"The Rocks Pirates. You should be familiar with them."

Harald did not answer immediately. He merely narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I have indeed met him a few times. But that was a long time ago."

"Intelligence shows that Rocks frequently travels to Elrubaf, staying for three to five days. The World Government doesn't pursue this, since your country hasn't joined and has no obligation to enforce the maritime blockade. But... the member states don't see it that way. In their eyes, Rocks' anchor is irrefutable proof that Elrubaf is linked to 'evil'."

Harald closed his eyes.

He could hear the string deep within his heart being slowly tightened by a hand.

That hand came from the Holy Land, from those high above who had never set foot on the frozen soil of Elrubaf.

They would never understand how, over the decades, he had gradually pulled the giants out of the stigma of being raiders.

"Then," Harald opened his eyes and asked calmly, "what if I could make Lox 'disappear' in Elrubaf?"

The Den Den Mushi remained silent for five seconds.

Then came a very soft laugh.

"Harald, the World Government is merciful. We do not wish for a monarch who sincerely joined us to bear the infamy of murdering his own kind. Moreover, though Rocks is evil, he is ultimately just a banner."

"You mean...?"

"In the Rocks Pirates, there is a guy known as the 'Cold-Blooded Butcher' named Roon."

"If this person 'accidentally' dies on the territory of Elrubaf, and your royal guards personally deliver his head to Mary Geoise... then the World Government will have sufficient 'case evidence' to prove to all member states that Elrubaf is a civilized nation that is irreconcilably opposed to evil."

Harald's gaze froze for a moment.

He understood the full weight of those words.

Killing a pirate in exchange for an admission ticket seems like a simple price, but the other end of that rope is tied to the future of the entire giant race.

Once he agrees, Elubaf will no longer be an isolated fortress in neutral waters, but a giant pawn on the World Government's chessboard.

"Of course," Den Den Mushi added, "even if you fail to kill him, as long as this 'Butcher' can leave the Rocks Pirates, we will still vindicate you, Elbaf."

Harald lowered his eyes, and a very faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.

"I see."

"Very good. At that time, we will find a way to lure the Rocks Pirates to Elbaf."

"No need."

Harald interrupted, "I will personally invite Rocks. Our matter will not trouble the World Government."

The Den Den Mushi fell silent for a moment.

A satisfactory, almost mild, response followed.

"King Harald, you are more suited to this crown than we thought."

-------------------------------------

The New World, on a certain island.

The place where Ron and his group were temporarily resting.

In a dream.

Ron was walking in a pitch-black space when suddenly, in this pitch-black space...

Two enormous eyes suddenly opened and looked down at him.

"Hey, are you mute? Why haven't you responded to our calls so many times?"

(There will be another chapter later. When the ratings came out yesterday, the data was halved, which was disheartening.)