Chapter 157: As Expected of Ralph, Dropping Big Ne... Old News Like It's Nothing!
Upon hearing Ralph's words, Nami first widened her eyes, then revealed an expression that said, "I knew it."
"As expected of Ralph," she whispered to Zoro and Usopp, "casually dropping a major piece of news we had no idea about."
Immediately afterward, fear crept onto her face.
She lowered her voice, her expression urgent:
"But you can't just say it right in front of him! What if this giant gets angry? We might never leave!"
Sure enough, the moment Nami finished speaking, the bearded giant man, the Red Ogre Brogy, visibly darkened his expression.
Two streams of white air shot from his enormous nostrils, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the battleaxe bulged, and the atmosphere in the entire camp suddenly grew tense.
Usopp, on the other hand, was more concerned about the truth of what Ralph had said.
He had just learned from Brogy about the two giants' century-long duel on this island.
He was deeply moved by that warrior's honor spanning generations, even secretly wiping away tears a few times while listening to the story.
No matter what, Usopp couldn't imagine that the king of the giants' homeland, the warrior nation of Elbaph, would do something as seemingly weak as "pledging allegiance to the World Government."
"It's fake, right? It must be fake!"
Usopp shouted, jumping up and down, "Ralph, say something! How could the king of the warrior nation Elbaph do such a thing? Tell me, this is a lie you made up!"
On one hand, he didn't want to shatter his admiration for the warrior nation; on the other, he didn't want Brogy to fly into a rage and get them all killed here.
Suddenly—
Brogy reached out a massive hand and, amid Nami's screams, grabbed Ralph's body, leaving only his head exposed.
"Kkk..."
A teeth-grinding squeezing sound echoed.
Ralph felt his ribs groaning, his lungs compressed to the point where he could barely breathe.
The giant's strength far exceeded imagination; even Brogy's "gentle" grip was enough to be fatal for an ordinary person.
Then, a thunderous voice exploded beside Ralph's ear, making his eardrums ring:
"That's right! You liar! How dare you fabricate such a shameful lie about Elbaph! Do you want to die?!"
The giant's spit sprinkled like light rain on Ralph's face.
Brogy's eyes were wide like two lanterns, burning with insulted fury.
For a giant warrior who valued honor more than life, slandering the king of his homeland was an unforgivable crime.
Zoro's hand was already on his sword hilt, ready to risk his life to rescue Ralph.
Nami stomped her feet anxiously but had no idea what to do.
Usopp slumped to the ground, muttering, "It's over, it's over."
However, despite his face flushed from lack of oxygen and his entire body's bones protesting, Ralph, clutched in the giant's palm, showed no trace of fear in his eyes.
"Everything I said is true..." he struggled to speak, "Harald... used this seemingly weak act... to change the world's perception of Elbaph..."
Brogy's grip loosened slightly, allowing Ralph to continue:
"People learned that Elbaph was no longer a warlike, barbaric nation... merchant ships began trading with Elbaph... and even giant generals appeared in the Navy..."
...These changes are truly happening across these seas... It's just that you don't know about them...
Upon hearing these words, Brogy's massive eyes contracted sharply in their pupils.
Whether he believed it or not was another matter, but at least Zoro, Nami, and Usopp were convinced.
The examples Ralph had cited—goods from Elbaph, members of the Giant Tribe joining the Navy—were not classified intelligence.
Anyone who inquired a little along the Grand Line or glanced at the Navy's promotional materials could verify these were true.
However, from this perspective...
Wasn't King Harald doing something good?
Could such actions truly be called "weak"?
Just as Usopp was about to use this reasoning to argue on behalf of the Giant Tribe, Brogy suddenly sprang to his feet.
The movement triggered a minor earthquake, nearly scattering the campfire.
"Uncle Brogy! Where are you taking Ralph?!"
Nami exclaimed.
But Brogy paid no heed.
Still clutching Ralph in his giant hand, he took long strides and charged deep into the jungle.
Each step shook the earth and mountains.
"Wait!"
Zoro was the first to give chase, his three swords clinking rhythmically as he ran.
Nami gritted her teeth and followed, while Usopp, wearing a woeful expression, had no choice but to keep up with his companions.
"Uncle Brogy! Please let Ralph go! He hasn't fully recovered yet!"
Nami shouted as she ran.
"Our captain values him greatly! If anything happens to him, our captain won't let you off!"
Usopp tried to sound threatening, but his trembling voice betrayed his fear.
Brogy remained deaf to their pleas.
There was only one thing on his mind now:
to bring news of their homeland to his sworn brother, Blue Ogre Dorry.
A hundred years...
Had so much really happened in the outside world over the past hundred years?
Harald becoming king—that was to be expected.
As the crown prince of Elbaph, it was only natural for him to inherit the throne.
But for Harald to "apologize" to the World Government?
To break the horns symbolizing the giants' pride?
To obey the World Government's commands?
That was absolutely impossible!
In the hearts of Brogy and Dorry, Harald was a childhood friend they had grown up with.
From a young age, he possessed a larger frame than ordinary giants, and the pair of majestic horns on his head had been the envy of countless warriors. Despite being the crown prince, he never acted superior, often leading the two troublemakers into mischief.
How could someone as proud as Harald ever do such things?
Dorry had to know about this!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The giant's heavy footsteps crushed rocks, startling countless birds from the forest.
Zoro and the other two had to exert all their strength just to keep up, dodging collapsing trees and flying debris.
Before long, Brogy broke through the dense forest, and the view opened up before them.
It was a wide clearing, with another massive bonfire burning at its center.
Sitting beside the bonfire was another giant—Blue Ogre Dorry.
Indeed!
Unlike Brogy's full beard, Dorry sported a thick, long black beard, wore an iron faceguard helmet, and appeared to be about the same height as Brogy.