The center of the island.
"Linlin, have you remembered everything I just told you?"
Reno looked at Linlin expectantly. Linlin was a very important part of the plan.
If it succeeded, there might be unexpected gains.
"Yeah, Linlin remembers everything."
The super big cake promised by Reno made Linlin nod, afraid that Reno would go back on his word.
"Rogge, they're coming soon. You should hide too—don't expose yourself."
"Yes, young master!"
Rogge waved his hand, and all the guards around him vanished, hiding in various parts of the forest.
...
...
"These bastards!!"
Hajrudin looked back, his pupils suddenly shrinking. In just a moment, the Silver Wolf Pirates had nearly caught up to his ship.
At this rate, it wouldn't take more than a few minutes for him to be overtaken.
And now that he was seriously injured, he was no match for Lester. If they caught him, there would be no good outcome.
"Let's head for that island ahead. Maybe I can escape."
Hajrudin glanced quickly ahead. Even from a distance, he could see the towering old trees covering the island.
With the forest as cover, there was a slim chance he could slip away—and this was his only shot.
Thinking of this, Hajrudin gritted his teeth, bore the pain, and pushed the ship toward the island at top speed.
"Huh???"
"Boss, Hajrudin wants to land on the island!"
The members of the Silver Wolf Pirates behind him immediately picked up on Hajrudin's intentions.
"Boss, the island isn't big, but the forest is dense. If he gets inside, it'll be hard to catch him."
The scarred strategist of the Silver Wolf Pirates frowned and analyzed the situation.
"Hmph, you stole my stuff, killed so many of my brothers, and you think you can run? Speed up!!"
"Today, I'll chop him up with this blade and drink his blood!!!"
"Oh oh oh!!!"
The lackeys shouted as they gave chase at full throttle. In their eyes, this cat-and-mouse game was coming to an end.
Not long after, Hajrudin stopped the boat and docked—he didn't even take the stolen treasure with him.
He hoped that once Lester and the others took back the treasure, they'd stop chasing him and leave.
If he took the treasure with him, they would never stop hunting him down.
But he was already gravely wounded and had lost too much blood—he staggered even as he walked.
He hadn't gotten far before Lester and the others caught up to him.
Wherever Hajrudin walked, a trail of blood was left behind. Lester and the others could tell Hajrudin was at the end of his rope, so they slowed down.
"Hahahahahahaha... boy, did you really think my treasure was that easy to steal?"
"You don't stay in your Elbaph and dare to run wild outside? You really don't know how to live!!"
"You killed so many of my brothers—today I'll make sure you die with them!!"
The furious Lester, face full of scars and muscle, was snarling with rage.
"You... you..."
Hajrudin, completely drained, was gasping for breath, face pale, and collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
He'd run as far as he could. He had nothing left.
"I'm a giant, Lester. If you kill me, you should know what the consequences will be!!"
Clinging to a desperate will to survive, Hajrudin brought up his identity as a giant.
Though Lester was notorious for cruelty in this area, who didn't know how fearsome the giants of Elbaph were?
Unless you were one of the world's strongest, no one dared say they weren't afraid of giants.
Now, Hajrudin pinned all his hopes on Lester being too scared of the giants to finish him off.
But Lester's next words crushed those hopes completely.
"Hehehehehehe... Hajrudin, don't try to scare me with that giant crap."
"I may not be able to beat a giant face-to-face, but who's gonna know if I kill you right here?"
"If you wanna blame someone, blame yourself. Time to die!!"
Lester, face twisted with murder, didn't bother with more talk—he raised his blade, ready to slash down.
"Is it okay if I know about it?"
Just as Lester was about to strike, a childish voice cut in, clear and abrupt.
"Linlin knows too."
Lester paused slightly and turned his head.
Everyone else looked toward the voices as well.
Two children walked out from the other side.
Although Linlin was massive, her facial features hadn't matured yet—she still looked like a child.
Reno was only twelve years old. Though his thinking was unlike most, he was still a child.
The sudden appearance of the two put everyone on alert.
Lester narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings carefully. Seeing no one else besides the two kids, he relaxed a little.
"Are you a giant too??!"
He ignored Reno and focused on Linlin, examining her up and down.
After all, her size was abnormal—no normal person could grow that big. Anyone would be suspicious at a glance.
"Linlin's not. Linlin's human."
Linlin answered obediently while munching on her cake.
"Human? You're huge for a human."
"Where'd this brat come from, daring to mouth off here? Boss, should we kill her?!"
Reno ignored them, taking Linlin straight over to Hajrudin. He noticed Hajrudin's condition was critical—if he didn't get bandaged soon, he could die from blood loss.
"You… you should leave now. These guys are brutal. They won't let you off."
Hajrudin, anxious and hurting, tried to warn them through the pain.
If these two died because of him, he'd never forgive himself—even in death.
"Don't worry. We won't die. And you won't die either."
Reno replied calmly, completely unfazed.
"You..."
"Linlin, once you're done eating, kill them, they're getting annoying."
Before Hajrudin could finish speaking, Reno raised a hand and cut him off.
"Okay, big brother. Wait a sec, Linlin will go finish them off."
Linlin nodded sweetly, shoved the last bite of cake into her mouth, and slowly walked toward Lester.
Hajrudin: ??? ??? ??? ???
Lester: ??? ??? ??? ???
Pirates: ??? ??? ??? ???