Chapter 1118 - 660: Elbaf (2)
Even for ability users, not all of them can attack from a distance, especially from so far away—even close range can be effective.
"Captain! We’re running out of ammunition, and we haven’t reached the designated site yet to await resupply."
A gunner commanded from the cabin to the deck, shouting to the captain.
"How much is left?"
"About a thousand rounds."
"Fire them all!"
The captain unsheathed his curved sword, "Once they’re fired, we’ll board and leap onto the enemy! We O’hara soldiers aren’t made of mud! Even if we sink the ship here, we must clear the route to prevent the support ships from encountering unforeseen events!"
It was this fearless spirit and the growth of his resolve on the battlefield that made him stand out.
And such individuals weren’t few among those enlisted this time.
Their fleet wasn’t without strong individuals; they just weren’t on this ship. When a fleet deploys, there’s definitely a general commander and vice commander.
The vice commander is responsible for naval battles, while the general commander is the Pirate Lord of the Disaster Pirates. With them overseeing, ordinary pirates can’t launch surprise attacks.
This was part of his confidence; the major figures were being watched from above, and if the ones below couldn’t handle it, it would indeed be disgraceful to the kindness of the great master and betray their loyalty!
However, no need to board and leap onto the enemy.
Under constant bombardment, as several ships of the Pirate Alliance were blasted to pieces and sank into the sea, the remaining ships had no choice but to turn around and retreat in defeat.
There was no way to advance; the firepower was too fierce. Pirates who can survive in the New World, especially those with large bounties, must be strong. But ultimately, they haven’t reached the level where they can ignore so many cannonballs.
If this continues, even if they win in the end, what good is it for him alone to win? Winning emptily?
Better to preserve the living forces and retreat for now.
"I won’t let you off, disaster!!"
Before leaving, the pirate with a bounty over three hundred million roared in exasperation.
At this, the young captain sneered, "What big talk! You won’t spare us? Have you ever piloted a battleship? This is the O’hara battleship, personally crafted by Lady Renedia! The cannon fires farther than you can, and you can’t dodge even the lead bullets! You won’t spare us, but you’ll only watch your great master Sage win! Goodbye!"
With the heavy firepower of the Disaster Fleet, repelling the attacking pirates was expected. They dispatched a reconnaissance ship to stealthily follow them to their headquarters, then sneaked in to record the coordinates, leaving life paper, and waiting for the subsequent fleet and strong individuals to arrive and wipe them out together.
Due to intelligence reports, it was easy to assess the pirates’ actual levels, generally judging people by their bounties.
Those in the tens of millions don’t need anyone; relying on the numbers of O’hara soldiers for extermination, first bombing the targeted points on the sea like a Buster Call, then sending people in to see if there are any survivors.
For those over a hundred million, it’s the seasoned Disaster Pirates who are sent in.
For three or four hundred million, it’s the captains of the Disaster Pirates, not the cadres of O’hara soldiers.
Above five hundred million, an evaluation is required. Typically, it’s not the Flying Six and Totto Land Ministers descending, but seven-star level cadres.
If they’re even more formidable, then it’s the Three Phases, King, and Katakuri who step in.
Since they only cared about paving the way to the designated location without slowly ruling it, it progressed quickly. Faced with the latter half almost like scattered sand, Sage nearly completed the unification of the first part of the New World.
Personnel, weapons, strong individuals, fleets...
In every aspect, he surpassed the scattered sand of the latter half, advancing quickly and easily dealing with even strong opponents as mere silver medal contenders.
Sage was just at the O’hara Royal Palace, hearing reports of victory daily.
"What? Request leave?"
But the battle had barely begun, when Sage suddenly heard a strange news.
In the sleeping chamber, Sage had just asked Bella to pour him a drink when he saw Lily calling to report that the New Giant Warrior Pirates wanted to request leave.
"Yes, they want to return to Elbaf for a while. Didn’t we previously encounter Cyan and Red Ghosts on Egg Island? They’re summoning them back, seemingly traveling for a while, and those guys are planning to head to Elbaf with the Straw Hat. They seem to be holding a banquet, and to respond to the rare banquet, Hajrudin and others want to request leave."
"During wartime, they still want leave. A banquet? I haven’t even held one, what leave are they requesting..." Sage clicked his tongue, but thought for a moment, "What’s Hajrudin’s situation?"
The New Giant Warrior Pirates, along with the two giant brothers from the first half of the Grand Line, totaling seven, now want to all return to Elbaf.
As giants, their combat power is naturally massive, with that terrifying size alone sufficing for many occasions.
Although Sage has a vast empire, it doesn’t matter whether the giants participate in the battle or not, but asking for leave at this critical moment is certainly creating chaos.
However, he isn’t unsympathetic.
Hajrudin came clean with him very early on!
This guy isn’t just any ordinary giant, merely one who had childhood companionship with Big Mom.
This guy is the illegitimate child of the previous King Harald, having the qualification to contest for the throne!
Especially in Elbaf, after the giant named Loki killed his father and was imprisoned, he is the most qualified.
Elbaf, the world’s strongest country, deserves the title. No matter how well O’hara develops, it can’t change the public’s current impression.
A nation of giants, ruler of the seas by strength, is the strongest nation. O’hara can be called the first in prosperity, first in wealth, and even Sage, the first pirate here, yet in people’s minds, the strongest nation still belongs to Elbaf.
Fishmen, Fur Race chiefs, tall, long-armed legs, fundamentally similar in size, can also undergo blood transfusion, and self-identify as ’human.’
But giants are different.
Too giant.
So giant the entire world seems created for them, with lifespans three times longer than humans, generally living three to four hundred years, the long-lived reaching four hundred fifty.
The juvenile stage is also very long, roughly sixty years, with intense growth after sixty, experiencing a full youth period.
You see Stansen looking like an uncle, but do you believe he’s just come of age?
The uniqueness of their race also left Sage clueless in ruling them; these are people not governed by force alone, genuinely stubbornly human—all killed, and they’d still refuse to acknowledge.
But fortunately, Hajrudin acknowledges him.
After long companionship, the New Giant Warrior Pirates still recognize him as their captain.
"Hajrudin wants to go back; he hasn’t returned to his homeland in a long time. Sage, are we going to take action against Elbaf?"
"Hmm..."
Sage pondered momentarily, then smiled, "Let Hajrudin contact me, I’ll ask about the situation."
"Understood."
After Lily hung up, soon the radio snail rang again, and Hajrudin’s voice came through upon answering.
"Governor..."
"Hajrudin, do you want to become king?" Sage chuckled.
"Governor, the King of Elbaf, I want to achieve it with my strength! That is our tradition and honor, asking for help wouldn’t be honorable!" Hajrudin’s voice was resolute.
"Oh... but you know, I don’t have a king here, so if you become the king, you don’t intend for Elbaf to join here?"
"No, I truly hope for giants to join O’hara in shared prosperity, but let me first try by myself... Governor, only by proving myself can I bring the giants into O’hara to share the prosperity. You are human; giants won’t recognize you as king—only I can do this."
"Hehehehe, very well... then do according to your wish, but before that, won’t you invite me to visit Elbaf? That Red Hair was previously mingling with Cyan and Red Ghosts." Sage laughed quietly.
Red Hair is highly likely to surface there!
If seen in advance, it’s not impossible to deal with him first!