"Your 'notoriety' is now thunderous in the New World! What do you want by barging into Elbaf this time?!"
Rocks showed no fear, instead grinning and laughing loudly, his wild laughter echoing through the hall:
"Wuhahaha! Harald, old friend, this is already the third time I've stood before you!
My purpose has never changed—I'm here to invite you! Become my partner and stir up this world with me!"
He took a step forward, his aura imposing: "Haven't you seen it yet? When has the 'World Government' ever truly cared about Elbaf's demands?
They only fear your strength, but have never given you the respect you deserve! You and I both know in our hearts that those 'gods' entrenched atop the Red Line are the greatest injustice!"
"Enough! Shut up!" Harald growled, his fist instinctively tightening but then slowly relaxing,
"Once we join forces with notorious fellows like you, Elbaf will immediately lose the trust of other nations!"
"Trust?" Rocks scoffed,
"Harald, don't be naive! Are you going to continue enduring the rule of the World Government? Waiting for them to hand out so-called 'equality' as charity?!"
"I am searching for a different path!" Harald said deeply, his voice carrying the weight of a giant king,
"A path that doesn't rely on violence, where all races and all nations can truly coexist in equality! Everyone should be equal!"
At this point, Charlotte Linlin, who had been buried in the Elbaf special giant desserts, looked up upon hearing this.
Equality?
This familiar word actually appeared in this world where individual power could be like a nuclear bomb!
Whitebeard Newgate snorted, seemingly a bit impatient with the argument between Rocks and Harald:
"Hey, can't you be quiet while eating? That giant king, your wine is actually quite good!"
Harald's gaze swept over the various fierce-looking cadres behind Rocks, finally returning to Rocks himself:
"The first step of your plan seems to have been completed. Hachinosu Island has now become your territory, hasn't it?"
"Of course! I always do what I say!" The fire of ambition burned in Rocks's eyes as he spread his arms as if to embrace the whole world,
"And this is only the beginning! With Hachinosu Island as our foundation, we will gather strength, annihilate the Marine, and capture Holy Land Mary Geoise! Finally, I, Rocks D. Xebec, will become the new—king of the world!"
This naked, mad declaration exploded in the hall like a thunderclap, causing even some of the listening giants to show looks of horror.
Charlotte Linlin, hearing Rocks's dream for the first time, was also somewhat surprised.
So that's your goal? But being the king of the world isn't easy~
In her Remembrance, it seemed that no one who wanted to become the king of the world ever had a good end.
Harald was silent for a long while before speaking heavily:
"The enemy... is too powerful. That is the 'World Government' that has ruled the world for eight hundred years."
"So what?!" Rocks said decisively,
"There is no such thing as eternity in power in this world! Someone always has to challenge it, to break this dead Order! Why can't it be us?!"
"Come with me, Harald!" His voice was full of allure,
"The strength of Elbaf, combined with my ambition and this group of partners—together, we would be invincible!"
"Don't try to entice me anymore, Rocks." Harald shook his head slowly, his tone firm,
"I am the king of Elbaf; my responsibility is to protect my people, not to drag them into a destructive war."
"It doesn't matter!" Rocks said almost seductively,
"Once we've taken the 'world', what will there be to worry about?!"
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!