Arriving at Aurust Castle, Road tells the Straw Hats that no one has entered it in the fourteen years since Harald’s death. Still, the broken gate and lack of guards worry him. Zoro points out that it could not have been invaders since the gate was broken from the inside, but Luffy rushes in anyway. Inside, the Straw Hats are stunned by how massive the castle is. Nami says exploring it on foot would be impossible, so Road carries them through.
As they move through the castle, the Straw Hats notice more damage. Road explains it all came from the battle between Harald and Loki, saying that level of destruction was unavoidable. They come across piles of giant skeletons, and Road reveals that Loki killed over a hundred soldiers. The only survivors were Loki and Jarul, and since then the castle has been off-limits.
Portrait of King Harald
Luffy notices a skull with large horns that remind him of Oars. Road explains that some Giants carried the blood of “Ancient Giants,” though none are pure-blooded anymore. They then find a portrait of King Harald. Road calls him the best king they ever had because he wanted to connect Elbaph to the outside world. He also reveals that Harald had ancient giant blood, but chose to tear out his horns because he saw the ancient giants as part of an “era of wars,” which surprises the Straw Hats.
Road then tells them that the person who hates Loki the most for killing Harald is Hajrudin, revealing that he is the king’s other son. Nami is shocked, but Road explains they are half-brothers. Hajrudin’s mother was not the queen and was from another kingdom, which meant she was never allowed to become queen. In Elbaph, mixing blood with other giants is seen as tainting, leading Nami to comment on their discrimination. Zoro questions why Road would serve someone with “dirtied blood.” Road remembers when he first met Hajrudin, who offered him friendship after seeing his map-making skills, something that set him apart as a child with no friends.
Enter Figarland Shamrock, son of Garling
Road tells the three that Hajrudin is an honest person. Even though he was treated differently because of his mixed heritage and his mother was looked down on, Hajrudin endured it all. He still proudly declared that he would unite all the giant tribes and become their king. Road says he wants to help him achieve that goal. That’s when Luffy notices several giants laying on the ground.
Down in the Underworld, Gunko—who has eaten the Aro Aro no Mi—attacks Loki using arrows she generates from her clothes. Loki tells her he’s only taking the hits because he can’t move, but her partner says it wouldn’t matter even if he could. Gunko can’t believe someone like Loki would reject their offer as her arrows hover around his face. Loki figures out that the arrows show where her attacks will land. She asks him again to join them, but he refuses. The arrows strike him exactly where he expected. Eventually, Loki collapses from his injuries and Gunko’s partner tells her to stop.
The man removes his hood and reveals himself as Figarland Shamrock, Garling’s son and a commander of the Knights of God. Shamrock tells Gunko to contact Mary Geoise. Their goal is to bring the giants of Elbaph under the control of the World Government by any means necessary.
