I'm A Plunderer In The World Of One Piece.

Chapter 657 - 657: 657: Decline of Elbaf’s Warriors

"It's best not to let the other Giants hear what I'm about to say."Shirogai snapped his fingers softly.

A transparent spatial barrier instantly enveloped the Giant leaders along with him, isolating them from the outside.

"The inheritance of the Giant warriors has been broken for a long time. There must have been signs long ago."

Shirogai sat calmly in the main seat, a faint smile on his face as he pointed toward the fleeing Giant children within the illusion.

"It's quite interesting. The descendants of Giants, a race feared across the seas for their overwhelming strength, now see violence as shameful and battle as evil. I'm curious, what exactly happened to your nation?"

Beside him sat a massive figure, towering like a mountain, none other than the elder of Elbaf, Jorul.

Jorul stroked his long white beard, which brushed the ground, his gaze fixed on the illusion as he sighed heavily.

"The God King speaks the truth. Long ago, the younger generation began losing their desire to fight. Fewer and fewer Giant children were willing to learn combat or train as warriors. At the time, we didn't think much of it."

He paused briefly, his tone turning solemn.

"After all, Elbaf has always been known as the world's greatest warrior nation. To us, battle was as natural as breathing. How could we have imagined a future without worthy successors?"

His eyes darkened.

"But reality proved otherwise. Those children who showed interest in combat began to disappear, dying under tragic and unexplained circumstances. The ones who remained had no interest in battle. And their elders, having witnessed too much loss, no longer wished for their children to walk the same path."

"The Giant Race slowly abandoned its own legacy. We no longer truly revere the Elbaf God of War."

Jorul's gaze shifted toward the defeated Giants within the illusion, his expression heavy.

"I don't know when it began, but the title of the strongest Giant warrior stopped being earned through battle. Instead, it became something others simply assumed."

His voice grew colder.

"And even worse, the younger generation genuinely believes that they are the strongest race in the world by default."

He clenched his fist slightly.

"In the past, when other races praised us, it was recognition of our strength, something we fought for. Now, it's nothing more than empty labels placed upon us."

Shirogai leaned back slightly, listening in silence.

Jorul continued, his disappointment unmistakable.

"Compared to previous generations, the current Giants are far weaker. The decline began three generations ago. Now, this generation rejects the very battles we once relied on to survive. The hidden danger has finally surfaced."

"This doesn't seem like coincidence," Shirogai said calmly. "It feels more like a calculated move."

Jorul's expression stiffened before he let out a long sigh.

"Even if a Giant possesses immense strength, how could we stand against the World Government?"

He looked at Shirogai, his tone bitter.

"If they deliberately spread rumors across the seas, portraying Giants as violent, destructive, and dangerous, we would have no way to deny it. After all, those claims are not entirely false, just incomplete."

Shirogai gave a faint nod.

"No one ever mentions that a Giant's appetite is dozens, even hundreds of times that of an ordinary human. Without their strength, they wouldn't even be able to sustain themselves. Without it, the Giant Race might have already vanished."

He glanced at Jorul.

"So the disappearance of Giants in other regions wasn't accidental either. Someone has been eliminating them in secret, haven't they?"

Jorul nodded slowly, his face grim.

"I cannot say for certain what happened in those lands, but it is very likely connected to the World Government. To them, the Giant Race has always been an unstable factor."

Shirogai's gaze shifted downward, toward the depths beneath the Treasure Tree Adam, the Underworld where criminals were imprisoned.

"Then what about Elbaf? This situation here is also tied to them, isn't it?" he asked. "What exactly happened to Loki?"

Jorul fell silent for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.

"That child… Loki…"

His voice softened slightly.

"It is unfair to him, but the truth cannot be revealed to everyone. Fortunately, he is patient and reasonable."

Jorul's expression hardened.

"But that Devil Fruit… it has brought him nothing but disgrace. A cruel fate forced upon him. If not for those despicable people, he would never have been labeled a curse."

His eyes burned with anger.

Shirogai spoke casually, as if stating something obvious.

"The World Government infiltrated Elbaf to steal the Devil Fruit you were guarding. After his father was assassinated, Loki had no choice but to eat it himself to keep it out of their hands."

Jorul froze, staring at Shirogai in shock.

"You… how do you know this? Did you use that ability to read my thoughts?"

Shirogai chuckled softly and waved a hand.

"I don't use the power of the Whisper-Whisper Fruit on friends."

He smiled slightly.

"Sometimes, the truth is just that predictable. A simple guess was enough."

Jorul took a deep breath before speaking again.

"In our ancient myths, there is a terrifying black creature, a being that serves as the arms of an evil god. It is said to bring destruction, devouring the world and destroying Adam, the very foundation of our survival."

He lowered his gaze.

"We once discovered a Devil Fruit that closely matched that legend. For generations, it was sealed within the royal treasury of Elbaf to prevent its power from ever returning to the world."

His voice turned heavy.

"For many years, everything remained peaceful."

Then his expression darkened completely.

"But a few years ago, the king was assassinated… and the Devil Fruit was stolen."

He clenched his fists.

"And in the end, it was eaten by the prince himself."

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