I am the Bandit King of the East Sea.

Just when the old woman thought the conversation was about to end peacefully, a familiar figure appeared in the palace.

It was an old giant, about twenty meters tall, with a long white beard hanging down his chin like a waterfall, almost touching the floor.

"Mountain Beard? He... is still alive?" The woman's pupils contracted slightly.

Sixty years ago, Mountain Beard and Waterfall Beard were heroes of the giant race and the oldest warriors in the world, revered by the giant people.

Sixty years ago, during the fasting day of the Winter Solstice Festival, five-year-old Lingling suffered her first food craving. She single-handedly stormed the Giant Village. The enraged Waterfall Beard was about to kill Lingling with his sword, but was instead instantly killed, ruining his reputation in his later years.

If you calculate the time, Shan Hu Zi is now four hundred years old, which is frighteningly long-lived.

"Lingling, I made a special trip here because I knew you were coming." Shan Huzi strode over with a sullen face, glanced at the old woman, snorted coldly, and then looked at the Giant King.

"Your Majesty, I do not agree to this marriage," Shan Huzi said in a deep voice.

"Royal marriages are not merely family matters, but matters of great importance concerning our giant race!" Mountain Beard shouted without hesitation.

"Charlotte Linlin is not one of us; she is nothing but an evil god in human form. She must have ulterior motives for this marriage... If we marry her, it will be a disaster for our giant race!"

These words immediately shattered the previously harmonious and friendly atmosphere.

The Giant King frowned slightly, glanced at Shan Huzi, but said nothing.

Giants are known for their martial spirit, and Yamabeki, as the first captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates, holds a high position among the giants of Elbaf. He is also exceptionally long-lived, having been the oldest giant sixty years ago, and is revered by all the giants.

Even as the King of Giants, he had to give face to the Mountain Beard.

Just as the atmosphere became heavy, the middle-aged woman broke the silence.

"Yes, I did have ulterior motives." To everyone's surprise, the woman readily admitted it.

"Hmm?" All the giants present looked at the old woman at the same time. Shan Huzi was also slightly surprised, not expecting the old woman to react like this.

"Mountain Beard, I did do something wrong sixty years ago, and I don't ask for your forgiveness," the old woman continued.

"But... I've always wanted to come back here. I'm an outsider in human society. Only here do I feel... at home."

Family?

The second son, Katakuri, glanced at the seat next to the older woman.

The Charlotte family is indeed a very large family in terms of the number of people.

But...home?

The word was somewhat unfamiliar to him; the Charlotte family was not exactly a warm and welcoming place.

Shan Hu Zi also looked indifferent. He was about to retort when the old woman's next words silenced him.

"The Sheep House...the orphanage that the nun established back then is my home."

Not only Shan Hu Zi, but also the Giant King, who had been looking displeased, fell silent.

Sister Carmel was a special person to the entire land of giants.

She saved a giant warrior who was to be executed by the World Government through acting, and from then on became a bridge between the World Government and the giants. Thanks to her efforts, the relationship between the giants and the World Government was greatly improved, and giant warriors began to enlist in the Navy.

The sordid affair of human traffickers behind the nun has yet to be exposed, which is why the innocent giants still remember and respect the nun.

"Back then, the nun told us about her dream." The older woman's face showed a nostalgic look, as if she had returned to her childhood days at the Sheep House, and she murmured:

"For people, the greatest happiness is equality."

"Whether it's a giant over ten meters tall, an outcast like myself, or a human being less than two meters tall, everyone lives from the same perspective, in an equal country where everyone grows up and lives together... This is the nun's dream."

The giants thought of Sister Carmel and fell silent.

Katakuri and the others were taken aback; this was the first time they had heard of such a thing, and they couldn't help but connect the dots...

"The nun's dream is my dream," the woman said solemnly.

"Over the years, I have painstakingly established the Kingdom of Tottoland, bringing together all races under one kingdom. But two races are missing... one of them is the giants."

At this point, the older woman turned to look at Shan Hu Zi and said:

"Mountain Beard, you were right, I do have something in mind."

"I have always wanted to fulfill the nun's dream, and I have always wanted to become one of the giants."

"So, when I heard that Prince Loki had fallen for my daughter, I was a little too hasty..."

The giants listened to the old woman's words, their expressions somewhat dazed, clearly moved.

The old woman's words, and the nun's dream, actually struck a nerve with these giants.

The giants are so tall and large that they would face many inconveniences living in human society. Many of them have experienced what the old lady went through.

Furthermore, the old woman's mention of the nun deeply moved the giants.

"That's true. Sixty years have passed. Shouldn't we give people a chance to reform themselves?"

"Lingling inherited the nun's dream. For the sake of the nun, Shan Huzi, let's not bring up those unpleasant things from the past." The giants' expressions softened considerably.

The giants of Elbaf are warlike, powerful yet simple-minded, and every single one of them has been completely manipulated by humans from the outside world.

In the original storyline, Casey and his companion were tricked into working as gatekeepers on Enies Lobby for 50 years, Brogy and Dorry were easily outmaneuvered by Mr. 3's schemes, and the young giant Hajrudin was also tricked into becoming a laborer by Bucky the Joker...

Compared to them, the rest of the people in the land of giants were no better off; they had all been sold out by the nun.

"Mountain Beard, you should say less," the Giant King finally spoke up.

"This..." Shan Huzi's expression changed, and finally he sighed:

"Never mind, we did make mistakes before too."

"When children do wrong, it's because we adults failed to guide and educate them properly in a timely manner."

“Lingling, your power is too great. Even if you are kind-hearted, it may still lead to bad consequences... Never mind, it's too late to say this.” Shan Huzi shook his head.

On the other side, Longbread watched the farce with indifference.

"The giants are a bunch of naive fools... They're easily fooled."

Longbread knew many of Carmel's and Big Mom's secrets, so naturally it didn't take them seriously...

"BIGMOM inherited Carmelo's dream, and also Carmelo's abilities? The truth is far more complex than that." Longbread scoffed.

"Charlotte Linlin was reborn after the events on the Ancient Island when she was eighteen."

"This overly powerful body is as if it were cursed by the gods, as a new personality has been born. Without a doubt, the new personality was influenced by both Charlotte Linlin and Carmelo."

Longbread watched coldly, but a smile involuntarily crept onto its lips.

He was an outsider, an observer who knew the truth behind the scenes even better than the woman herself.

"Since that's the case, I won't stop you." Shan Huzi's expression softened considerably.

"There's no time like the present."

"Your Majesty," suggested Mountain Beard, "the Winter Solstice Festival is approaching. Why not postpone Prince Loki's wedding until after the fasting day of the Winter Solstice?"

"Then, we'll celebrate both the holiday and the wedding, enjoying the caramel puff tower and the wedding cake together—wouldn't that be double happiness?"

"That's a good suggestion." The Giant King nodded.

"Let's do it this way, Charlotte Linlin, what do you think?"

The giants whispered among themselves, praising Shan Huzi's suggestion.

Katakuri and his younger siblings were unaware of the inside story and were completely confused, while only the old woman and Longbread and others felt a slight jolt in their hearts.

The Winter Solstice Festival is an important traditional festival for the Giants.

To give thanks for the sun's bounty, the entire race of giants will fast for twelve days when winter arrives.

Twelve days later, the dead sun will be resurrected, and the giants will gather together to eat caramel puff towers and celebrate the festival when the sun shines on Elbaf again.

Sixty years ago, Charlotte Linlin's first bout of illness destroyed the Giant Village on the seventh day of the fast.

"It seems I underestimated the giants..." The old woman's heart sank slightly.

If she refuses, then all those high-sounding words will seem pale in comparison.

If you can't even adapt to local customs, how can you talk about becoming one family?

But if you agree...

"Lingling? Lingling? Do you have any other opinions?" the Giant King asked loudly.

The old woman's gaze swept over Shan Huzi and the Giant King almost imperceptibly. After a moment's thought, she finally made up her mind.

One last push!

After all, she is no longer the five-year-old child she was, and she may not repeat the same mistakes.

Moreover, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As long as she gains the power of the giants, she can become the Pirate King!

"No objections, let's do it this way." The woman nodded happily.

Chapter 1184 The Path of Evolution (4k)

"Winter Solstice Festival? Fasting Day?"

At the port of Elbaf, the land of giants, on a pirate ship docked at the harbor, Kaido of the Beasts listened to Big Mom's words, a hint of impatience flashing across his face.

"Old woman, are you crazy? Why are you arguing with these giants?"

The woman didn't look too good either; fasting for 12 days was indeed a significant challenge for her.

"Let me make this clear first, we're not going to play along."

Kaido said with a stern face.

He came as a relative of the bride's family, but they didn't want to fast for 12 days for the sake of the wedding.

The old woman said, "The Winter Solstice Festival is an important festival in the tradition of the giants. The 12-day fast represents the death and resurrection of the sun. If you don't follow the local customs, you can't really call yourselves family."

“This is a test the giants are putting on me… You don’t have to participate, but during these 12 days, don’t eat in front of the giants. It’s best to stay on the ship and wait for 12 days,” she suggested.

“...Troublesome.” Kaido was clearly not happy.

Whether it was fasting or being trapped on the ship, he felt uncomfortable, and this lasted for a full 12 days.

"The power of the giants should not be underestimated. Kaido, don't cause trouble," Big Mom warned.

"Do you remember when we were young? More than thirty years ago, before the Battle of God Valley, Captain Rocks led his fleet on an expedition to Elbaf, where they faced off against the combined forces of the giant nations."