...
"I already told you long ago—the World Government bunch are nothing but a group of sanctimonious, untrustworthy scum. The promises they make are like mirages: they look beautiful, but they shatter at the slightest touch."
Rocks paused, his expression turning somewhat serious: "Although from the light curtain, it seems in the future there really are giant warriors who joined the Marines—this might be part of what you hoped to see back then.
But, Harald, have you ever considered…"
As he spoke, Rocks' gaze sharpened, and his voice lowered slightly: "Why in those future scenes is there almost no information at all about you, the king of Elbaph—Harald himself?
With your personality and strength, if you were still alive and the giants had truly been accepted by the world, how could you possibly remain so obscure?
The light curtain showed so many future fragments involving all sorts of forces, yet your figure is the only one conspicuously missing. This forces me to suspect…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but Rocks' meaning was already very clear!
In the future, you—Harald—have very likely met with misfortune, so the later changes in the giant race (whether voluntarily or forced to join the Marines) may not have developed entirely according to your original ideals…
Hearing Rocks' words, Harald's massive body trembled slightly. Rocks' words were like a huge stone thrown into his already turbulent heart lake.
He longed to see the giant race step out of isolation and be accepted by the world—this was his goal in life.
Seeing the figures of giant Marines on the light curtain had indeed given him his first reaction of surprise and gratification, feeling that his ideals seemed to have been realized in the future.
But Rocks' suspicion was like a basin of ice-cold water mixed with shards, poured over that surprise.
Thinking carefully, it was indeed the case. In the future fragments, there were young giant warriors in standard Marine equipment, yet there was no trace whatsoever of him—this giant king—making decisions, leading, or even existing.
Coupled with the previous revelations from the light curtain about the World Government's heinous atrocities—racial massacres, slave games, disregard for civilians…
These actions were completely at odds with words like "justice" and "inclusion."
A "result" he desired, yet possibly stemming from a "process" he could not accept—even at the cost of his own disappearance?
This thought filled Harald's heart with immense bewilderment and contradiction.
The desire for his people to gain recognition clashed fiercely in his heart with his disgust and vigilance toward the true nature of the World Government.
"But… in the future, it seems the giant race really… was partially accepted by the world. I actually… feel quite happy about it."
Harald's voice was somewhat dry, carrying a rare hesitation and uncertainty for a giant.
He honestly expressed his feelings: an instinctive joy that his ideals seemed achieved, yet shrouded by a thick layer of shadow from the cruel possibilities of reality.
Looking at his old friend's conflicted state, Rocks—though usually domineering and ruthless—held a rare understanding and patience toward the "brothers" he acknowledged.
He knew Harald wasn't foolish; he was simply burdened with the expectations of an entire race and too eager to find a better path for Elbaph.
"Since you're still so hesitant…"
Rocks patted Harald's rough fingers, his tone carrying the implication of "then let you see with your own eyes."
"Then keep watching closely! See how these self-proclaimed 'gods,' these sanctimonious fellows, truly treat the 'mortals' and 'other races' they look down on in the future!
See what filthy dealings are hidden beneath their mask of justice!"
Rocks believed that as long as Harald saw enough, he would naturally make the right judgment.
Although they had once clashed over whether to engage with the World Government, even parting on bad terms.
But in Rocks' heart, Harald had always been one of the few heroes he acknowledged and could truly call a "brother."
After hearing Rocks' suggestion, Harald fell silent for a moment. Finally, his huge head slowly nodded in agreement.
He was indeed in a state of wavering, needing more information to help him judge.
Since he couldn't leave this God Valley shrouded by the light curtain for now, continuing to observe everything that happened in the future was perhaps the best choice at the moment.
He needed to know whether the giants' future "integration" was the beginning of glory or the start of another trap or tragedy.
...