The Shallow-Sea Contract

Thirty-three years ago, five years after the God Valley incident, a group of sailors recounts a terrifying encounter. One man says, "BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING HUUUUGE AND SHADOWY EMERGING FROM THE MUST BEHIND THEM!!" Another exclaims, "I COULD'VE SWORN PIRATES WERE APPROACHING THE SHORE!!" while a voice adds, "MMMMM..." The discussion continues with "SURE IT WASN'T A SEA KING ATTACKI" and replies of "WE WERE NOTHIN' BUT FISH FOOD!!" and "OUR SHIP WAS IN RUINS BEFORE WE KNEW IT!! EVERYTHING JUST WENT KABOOM AFTER THAT!!!" The scene shifts to the underwater prison Impel Down. Sailors insist, "NO WAY!! IT WAS SHAPED LIKE A HUMAN!!" and "ANYWAY, THAT MONSTROUS THING WAS DEFINITELY HUMAN-LIKE!!" Others retort, "FAT CHANCE!! WE DON'T FISH NEAR THAT REGION!!" and "DON'T TELL ME YOU WERE IN THE INFAMOUS WATERS OF THE FLORIAN TRIANGLE" as panic and shock fill their faces.

Narrations explain that during this period a rumor began to circulate among the Grand Line countries: "THEY SAID A MONSTER LURKED DEEP IN THE FOGGY SEAS, TARGETING PIRATE CREWS." A massive shadowy figure looms over a ship as sailors scream "WOAAH!!!" and the sea churns violently. The text continues, "FEW WHO SAILED THOSE WATERS HAD EVER SEEN THE MONSTER WITH THEIR OWN EYES... SO TO THEM, HE WAS NOTHING LESS THAN A GIANT WITH THE VERY EMBODIMENT OF FEAR." The monster's identity is revealed as none other than Harald. The narration states, "HARALD NOW WORKED IN THE SHADOWS TO BACK UP THE NAVY AS PART OF HIS ATONEMENT FOR THE LAST THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY," showing the giant clashing with ships amid debris and impact effects.

The narrative continues: "...CONTINUED TO RISE IN PROMINENCE, AND OVER THE NEXT DECADE OR SO... EACH OF THEM WOULD PEAK TO BECOME A DEFINING FACE OF THEIR GENERATION." Images show intense close-ups of roaring pirates. Meanwhile, "THE PIRATES WHO HAD GONE THEIR SEPARATE WAYS AFTER GOD VALLEY..." clashed over territory. One crew achieved the impossible: "THEY CIRCUMNAVIGATED THE ENTIRE WORLD!" as the Oro Jackson sails through stormy seas. However, "ONE CREW BROKE THROUGH ALL THE OTHERS..." leading to clashes. The public execution of the captured Pirate King was meant as a spectacle and "A DISPLAY OF THE WORLD GOVERNMENT'S POWER'S POWER. HOWEVER..." The scene erupts with pirates cheering "THEY WERE HAILED AS THE CREW OF THE KING OF THE PIRATES—GOLD ROGER!!!" amid raised swords and battle cries.

The world was plunged into even greater turmoil as countless souls set out in pursuit of the vast treasure Roger left behind—the One Piece! Navy Headquarters found itself caught off guard. As a result, more than ten giants were drafted into the Marines from all over the world in an effort to consolidate strength. No one had anticipated the advent of the Great Pirate Era. He was finally granted formal permission to visit the Holy Land. And that very year... During this stretch of time, Harald waited on the Navy hand and foot. A shallow-sea contractI In a grand city square, civilians gawk at a towering giant. "He's an ancient giant!!" "I wanna make him my slave!!" "Did you see how huge he wasI!"

A massive horned warrior in ornate armor declares, "God's Steel. It is a great honor!!" An elderly figure with a long mustache replies, "Consider yourself the right hand of the God's Knights... That is correct." Only 13 individuals in the entire world receive that privilege. The deep-sea and deep-deep sea contracts are reserved for those who are bound fully to the true God. The shallow-sea contract is a more minor pact. There are three levels of contract. "What do you mean by 'God'I" In an ornate hall, several seated figures react with shock. A horned warrior sweats, exclaiming, "Could Elbaf become a member nation thenI!" An elder warns, "You will only come to know the greatest depths of this world... on the day you become a full Knight of God."

The horned warrior shouts, "I'm grateful for this opportunity to prove myself!!" Saint Garling replies, "Naturally, Harald. At that point, the entire world would be clamoring to welcome you." A grand vista shows the Knight's Temple - Shangara, domain of the gods. Saint Garling sits imposingly with sword in hand, labeled "Captain of the Knights of God (Figarland Family) Saint Garling." Three figures react: one growls, "Of course. Just say the word." Another asks, "You're gonna obey us even though you're King of ElbafI" A third questions, "What is the Great One planningI" Garling states, "You'll be free to travel the surface world, but you are forbidden to speak of our dealings. Understood!!" A close-up shows a stern face replying, "We'll keep a long-distance Transponder Snail on hand and call if we have need of you."

Twenty years ago - Ryugu Kingdom, Fish-Man Island. A scene shows a sea king-like creature and figures laughing wildly. "Hoh hoh hoh!!" "Baraha ha ha!!" Neptune and a fish-man companion roar with laughter. "Me too, Pal-Jamon!! We both have our fair share of headaches, don't weI!" "I haven't laughed this hard in a long time, Neptune!!" Neptune continues, "When the time is right, why don't we betrothe Loki to my future daughter!!" The fish-man replies, "I'm just being brutally honest!! Anyway, did I tell you a fortune-teller predicted I'd have a daughter in four years-Jamon!!" Neptune laughs, "Well, when you put it like that..." Another figure adds, "Let's not forget what your youth was like!!" Neptune concludes, "To be honest, I don't think your son is that bad, deep down!!"

In a lively Elbaf hall, a mustached kingly figure raises a toast with a mermaid and her companions. "HERE'S TO THE FUTURES OF MY MISCHIEVOUS TROUBLEMAKER AND YOUR LITTLE MOBA-MOBA!!" he declares. Another voice answers, "WELL NOW, THAT DOES SOUND LIKE A PERFECT MATCH!! LET'S HAVE A TOAST..." The mermaid protests, "DON'T CALL HER THAT!! SHE WON'T BE SHAGGY!!" while laughter erupts: "BARABA HA HA!! NOW YOU'RE GOING TOO FAR!! CUT IT OUT!!" and "HEY, DON'T WRITE HER OFF SO FAST, SHE'S NOT GONNA BE JUST ANY OLD MERMAID!!" A thought bubble adds, "MY DAUGHTER MIGHT WELL BE BORN WITH A POWER NO ONE ELSE COULD EVER HOPE TO HANDLE, JAMON!!" The scene shifts outdoors to an older man in a tall hat speaking with a horned armored warrior. "IF WE GET OTHER LEARNED FOLKS ON ELBAF..." the warrior muses. "WHAT IS ITI" the old man asks. The warrior replies, "ACTUALLY, THERE'S ONE THING I'D LIKE TO ASK. DON'T MENTION IT! YOU'RE WELCOME TO LIVE FREELY HERE, SAUL. THANKS A BUNCH." A sign reads "THAT SAME YEAR - OWL LIBRARY, ELBAF." The old man exclaims, "A SCHOOL, HUH... THAT'S A NICE IDEA!" The warrior stands before a grand tree library and declares, "...TO OPEN A SCHOOL HEREI! WOULD YOU BE WILLING..."

Fifteen years ago at Mary Geoise, a frantic man with a scarred face clutches his head. "HUFF... HUFF... THE CELLS ARE BROKEN!!" he gasps. "HURRY!! OR DO YOU WANNA BE THEIR PET FOREVERI!" A massive caption states, "MY SLAVES ARE RUNNING AWAAAA!!" and "A MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE HOLY LAND OF MARY GEOISE..." Explosions rock the Holy Land as figures flee. "DAMN IT!!! IS THAT A GOD'S KNIGHTI!!" someone yells. A cloaked figure dashes through debris with "SHIFT..." A desperate captive pleads, "I'LL TELL YOU THE LOCATION..." while another warns, "LISTEN, THE ARMORY WILL BE LEFT UNLOCKED FOR YOU." Gunfire and impacts fill the air with "G'AAAAH!!" and "KII!!" as chaos spreads.

Amid the Mary Geoise chaos, a voice cries, "HURRY, BIG SIS!!" as explosions erupt with "G'AAAAH!!" and "GUNPOWDERI!" A young Koala is urged, "HURRY, KOALA!" A box notes, "THIS ATTACK ON THE HOLY LAND WAS CARRIED OUT..." A tearful girl whispers, "THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE... SOMEONE FIGHTING TO FREE US FROM THIS HELL!!" The narration continues, "...WE WOULD GO ON TO BECOME CAPTAIN OF THE SUN PIRATES!!" and "IN THE WAKE OF THIS INCIDENT... BY FISHER TIGER!!" as slaves including a long-haired woman and others flee through smoke and debris while a stern bearded man watches.

In the opulent halls, a horned armored man gestures. "HUHI" reacts another. "THERE'S SOMEONE I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO, HARALD. HIS NAME IS..." A box reads, "NOW, IT'S UP TO US TO FIND THE CULPRIT. I CAN'T WAIT TO EXECUTE THEM!!" and "THEY SAY SOMEONE WITH THE GOVERNMENT MUST'VE LEFT THE ARMORY OPEN FOR THEM." "SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH..." The horned man continues, "FOR THE TIME BEING, HOWEVER, HE'S BEEN GIVEN THE RANK OF GOD'S KNIGHT, JUST LIKE YOU....I BELIEVE HE'D MAKE A GREAT ASSET, ON PAR WITH SHAMROCK. HE'S SUFFERED MANY HARDSHIPS IN THE SURFACE WORLD. IF HE WERE TO FORM A DEEP-SEA CONTRACT... HE'S SHAMROCK'S YOUNGER BROTHER. THEY WERE SEPARATED A LONG TIME AGO DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES." The horned man adds, "I KNOW I SAID THE SAME THING WHEN I FIRST MET SHAMROCK TOO. BUT... I CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING THAT I'VE MET YOU BEFORE..." A young man with a scar replies, "GUESS I MISTOOK YOU FOR SOMEONE ELSE. I WAS BLESSED FROM BIRTH WITH FIGARLAND BLOOD IN MY VEINS!! HAVE NO DOUBT, I'M GOING TO BECOME A KNIGHT OF GOD BEFORE YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU'RE JUST SOME GIANT COMMONER FROM THE SURFACE!! DON'T ACT SO FAMILIAR WITH ME."

In a grand hall, Saint Shamrock confronts Saint Shanks. Shamrock declares, "YOU CANNOT FATHOM THE ANGUISH OF HAVING THE LAST 24 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE WASTED!!" Shanks replies calmly, "IT CAN WAIT TILL YOUR WOUNDS ARE FULLY HEALED, SHANKS..." Shamrock presses on, "AND I SHALL APPREHEND THAT TRAITOR TO CLAIM THE CREDIT I DESERVE. ARE THERE ANY LEADSI!" and "COME ON, SHAMROCK. I WISH TO DEEPEN MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY LAND." Shanks retorts, "NO WONDER THE REST OF THE WORLD SEEMED SO ALIEN TO ME!!" Nameplates identify them as "KNIGHT OF GOD (FIGARLAND FAMILY) SAINT SHAMROCK" and "GOD STEEL DEVOTEE (FIGARLAND FAMILY) SAINT SHANKS". Below, a flashback shows a horned figure, then a bandaged young man clutching his face and shouting, "I HATED EVERYTHING DOWN THERE!!"

In Elbaf's fishing village the same year, a fish-man-like elder questions the value of ties to the World Government. A horned warrior named Harald lies injured in bed while a curly-haired woman named Ida tends to him. She says, "LET'S CALL HARALD AND SEE IF HE CAN GET US IN TOUCH WITH A MORE SKILLED DOCTOR." and "IT'S NO GOOD!! MY MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IS TOO LIMITED..." Harald protests, "WHENEVER HARALD'S HOME, HE ALWAYS GOES STRAIGHT TO THE ELDERS... AND BEGS THEM TO ALLOW YOU TWO TO LEGALLY MARRY." Ida answers, "YOU HAVE TO GET BETTER! HARALD WILL BE HEARTBROKEN IF YOU DON'T, YOU KNOWI!" and "I CAN RECOVER ON MY OWN." She adds, "I ENJOY BEFRIENDING SAILORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD." and "THAT FOOL... HE KNOWS I'M HAPPY WITH MY TAVERN." Harald worries, "NO WAY, HOW CAN I KEEP THE TAVERN OPEN..." Ida smiles softly, "BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M HELPING HARALD BY DOING THAT." and "IT MAY NOT BE MUCH..."

Outside the tavern, Ida laughs, "THE TAVERN'S MAIN HANGOUT SPOT!! I WANT HER TO REOPEN IT!!" while a small figure yells, "HEY!! FOREIGN HAG!!" Loki rides a massive horned beast and shouts, "COOK UP THIS MEAT FOR THE OLD HAG, WILL YAI!" Inside, the horned warrior Hajrudin speaks with Ida about the children. He says, "YOUR BOYS......LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR....EVEN WITH HAJRUDIN AND HIS FRIENDS AWAY..." Ida replies, "I'M GLAD YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP HIM IN LINE..." and "...GOOD GRIEF, THAT TROUBLE MAKER HAS GROWN OUT OF HAND." She continues, "BUT IT DOES MAKE ME SMILE..." and "I'LL BE FINE. EVERYONE'S BLOWING THIS OUT OF PROPORTION."

Loki swings his massive hammer in rage, roaring "AHHHH!!! L-L-LOKI!!" as Ida cries out. She pleads, "LOKI IS STILL MY CUTE LITTLE SON..." while villagers panic, "MATO!! WE CAN'T HOLD OFF ON RINGING HARALD ANYMORE!!" Ida reflects, "WE MAY NOT BE RELATED BY BLOOD... BUT I SEE HIM THE SAME WAY I DO HAJRUDIN..." Loki shouts, "WHAT'D YOU JUST SAYI" A panel reveals the village sign: "ELBAF - ALCOHOL VILLAGE (HOMETOWN OF LOKI'S BIRTH MOTHER)". In the chaos Loki yells, "I STILL REMEMBER MY BIRTH MOTHER... SHE HATED ME!!" and "...THE ONLY MOTHER I'VE EVER KNOWN!!" Ida smiles through tears, "I BET YOU MUST GET PRETTY LONELY, RIGHT, LOKII WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER TO STAY WITH USI" The narration states "HIS TRUE FEELINGS POUR OUT!!" as Loki's hammer strikes and the chapter ends.

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