Aboard the Golden Dragon.
"Are you sure about this?"
Ian looked at the two giants. "The World Government definitely has ulterior motives toward the Giant Kingdom."
"Gababababa! If it's just trade, then there's nothing to worry about!"
Brogy said indifferently. "At least ninety years ago, our country still lacked a lot of resources."
"So trade with the outside world was fairly common."
Dorry added, "We're not like Wano, shutting ourselves off from the world."
Ian thought about it and agreed.
The giants were all massive in size, which meant they were fundamentally incapable of developing a refined industrial processing system.
In terms of combat power, the Giant Kingdom might truly be the strongest nation in the world.
But when it came to economics and industry, that was another story.
They relied heavily on foreign trade for many things.
"That's good, then."
Only then did Ian feel relieved.
If the World Government actually managed to gain the power of the Giant Kingdom, Ian would feel as disgusted as if he'd eaten crap.
Wouldn't that be the ultimate NTR?
"That doesn't matter at all!"
Dorry and Brogy lowered their bodies simultaneously, filled with anticipation. "So, in the end, who won?"
Ian smirked and cleared his throat. "Brogy, in the end, you took down 1,235 enemies."
"Over a thousand?"
Jack nodded.
That was truly impressive—eliminating so many opponents in such a short time.
This was the power of the giants.
"Only a thousand?"
Yamato, however, found the number a bit low.
If it were her, she could easily freeze the entire island and wipe out tens of thousands.
Brogy also felt it was too little. "Only a bit over a thousand?"
Was that really more than Dorry?
Dorry looked at Ian expectantly. "What about me, Ian?! I definitely took down more, right? Two thousand? Three thousand? Maybe even ten thousand?!"
You sure dream big.
Weren't the two of you always fighting side by side?
You both faced the same batch of enemies.
How big could the difference be?
No, even to say it.
"Dorry," Ian smiled and said, "The number of people you took down is 1,235."
"Huh?"
Black Maria was stunned, "Ian, did you repeat that?"
Broggy's eyes instantly lit up, "Does this mean...?"
Ian, the little bear, shrugged, "I find it hard to believe too, but the fact is, the number of people you guys took down is the same."
"Originally, Dorry was supposed to have one less, but the guy he threw his sword at and killed made up for the number."
This is the truth.
It almost made Ian believe it was fake.
These two guys probably had a fifty-fifty setup in the world's settings.
The fact that they could achieve a precise fifty-fifty in such a chaotic battle was honestly a bit hard to believe.
But strictly speaking, Dorry should have won.
After all, the guy he took down in the end was a CP9, and their weight should be a bit higher.
"Huh?"
Broggy opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
"Hehehehe!"
Dorry laughed loudly, "Still no clear winner?"
Broggy understood his meaning, "Then let's continue! Let's keep fighting!"
Oimo and Kashii immediately chimed in, "Captains, are you two really going to continue the duel?"
"No!"
The two shook their heads at the same time, then laughed, "Even a duel won't settle this! Let's just compete in all sorts of ways to decide who wins!"
"Like—"
Both of them lowered their heads and looked at Ian, "Ian! Do you still have any alcohol?"
Ian helplessly shook his head, "You just want to drink, don't you?"
"Ga ba ba ba ba!"
"Kie kie kie kie kie!"
Laughter echoed across the Golden Dragon ship.
Soon after, on a stretch of sea outside Water City, Luffy and the others, escorted by fishmen, quietly returned in a small, coated boat.
"The thing you wanted."
Law handed Ian the blueprint he got from Tom, looking a bit curious, "So, what exactly is this blueprint?"
Ian opened the blueprint casually and said, "It's a blueprint for a pretty amazing ship."
The first impression of the blueprint was very complex.
It was hard to understand.
But there was one thing that could be confirmed.
The complexity of it wasn't much different from the blueprint of the flying vehicle from Birka.
So, that blueprint must've been the one for Birka's flying machine back then?
"I've done what I promised you," Enel walked up to Ian, holding an apple and chewing it, his tone stiff, "What about your promise to me?"
"Hey! Kid!"
Hancock immediately snapped, "How dare you speak to Ian like that! Do you want to be turned to stone?"
Ian patted Hancock's head, making the beautiful woman instantly soften like clay, leaning on him with her cheeks flushed, breathing heavily.
He smiled, "You've kept your end of the bargain, so of course, I won't go back on mine."
"Jack," he called.
"Leave it to me, Brother Ian!"
The instructor Jack aboard the Golden Dragon ship stepped forward without hesitation. He looked at Enel and raised his right hand. "From now on, I'll be the one to teach you, Enel!"
Enel's eyes narrowed as he saw Jack's massive right hand suddenly turn pitch black.
"This is the power known as Haki!"
Enel began his pursuit.
The people had been saved, and the blueprint of the Pluton was already in hand. There was no reason to stay any longer.
The Golden Dragon ship sailed straight ahead, passing through the Florian Triangle, and arrived at Sabaody Archipelago.
From there, it dived into the deep sea to reach Fish-Man Island.
After a short rest on Fish-Man Island, Ian caught up with King Neptune and his wife, and took another group of immigrants with him.
About a month later, the Golden Dragon ship was once again sailing the seas of the New World.
It is worth mentioning that the attack on Enies Lobby was also not reported in the newspapers, and the World Government once again covered it up.
A little reflection reveals that this sort of thing has happened many times before.
Today, the weather in the New World was unusually calm and sunny. On the deck of the Golden Dragon ship, the crew played and exercised.
Ian sat at the side of the ship, fishing.
"Are we heading to the Giant Kingdom next?"
Yamato sat beside him, smiling cheerfully.
"Well, we're eventually going back to Hive Island," Ian replied nonchalantly, "The Giant Kingdom isn't far from here. We might as well send Dorry and the others back."
Saying that, he shouted, "Dorry, we shouldn't be unwelcome, right?"
"Heh heh heh! Elbaf is always happy to welcome friends!"
Nearby, Dorry, who was arm-wrestling with Brogy, laughed heartily.
"When we get there, we'll make sure to treat you all well, Ian!"
Brogy also smiled brightly.
The Giant Kingdom, huh? They haven't been back in ninety years. I wonder if it's changed compared to back then.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Ian said leisurely.
"The Giant Kingdom, huh?"
Hancock, sitting beside Ian and holding the snacks and drinks she had prepared for him, also seemed a bit excited. "I wonder what it's like."
"There must be a lot of powerful people there!"
Yamato said with admiration.
Hancock frowned in disdain.
The naturally rough white-haired girl!
The Giant Kingdom must have many unique sights. What she was most looking forward to was, of course, exploring the Giant Kingdom's scenery with Ian!
"Gaba gaba gaba! Of course!"
Brogy shouted loudly. "In our Giant Kingdom, what we have the most is powerful warriors!"
"Oh!!"
Yamato's eyes lit up, as though she was about to be fired up.
Ian didn't speak.
But he was still quite looking forward to it—
Hm?
Ian suddenly jumped up.
"What's that?"
Enel, who had been training Haki with Jack, instantly transformed into lightning and appeared on the mast, looking out over the distant sea. He was very confused. "The ship... is singing?"
There's only one place in the world where ships can sing!
Ian also saw it.
In the distance on the sea, a massive ship was approaching.
On the front of the ship, there was a playful, laughing face, and at that moment, it was singing leisurely.
"Ian!"
Yamato pulled out the wolf fang club from her back.
Hancock's expression instantly turned serious.
Ian put away the fishing rod and grinned, "Well, this is quite an unexpected surprise!"
It seemed that they had indeed gotten close to the Charlotte family's territory.
On the large ship across from them.
Charlotte Linlin was sitting on a cloud, soaring into the sky, wearing a bright smile. "Mom, mom! If we're going to visit the Giant Kingdom, then take me along too!"
**********
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