The Freedom drifted in the sky.
It faced off against the colossal elephant ahead.
Though the Freedom was as minuscule as an ant before the giant elephant, its presence, due to Kongtai, allowed this ant to threaten the elephant.
The Elephant Lord possessed the ability to hear the voices of all things, and as Kongtai had not concealed his aura, the moment the Freedom appeared within the Elephant Lord's sight, it sensed the power within Kongtai's small body, a power that demanded its utmost seriousness.
In the past few hundred years, it had never encountered anyone who had reached the level of the silver-haired imp.
This was not due to physical strength or raw power.
If one were to be strict, there were those stronger than the silver-haired imp.
For example, the one it met decades ago, who always laughed carelessly, also possessed the ability to hear the voices of all things, and could converse with it – "Roger."
However, neither Roger nor any other strong individual it had met before, not even its companion from over eight hundred years ago, "Joy Boy," posed the same threat as this little one before it.
This imp gave it a feeling akin to the starry sky above, endless and unfathomable, instilling a chilling sense of facing a deity.
This was the acute intuition of an animal sensing danger.
This was why it had immediately assumed an attacking posture when the Freedom approached.
"Hmm?"
Hearing Kongtai's voice, the Elephant Lord's attacking stance faltered. Then, a deep voice, full of the vicissitudes of time, echoed in Kongtai's ears.
"You... can converse with me?"
Gazing into the Elephant Lord's eyes, Kongtai smiled faintly, his soul vibrating, and he replied with a chuckle, "Indeed, I can."
He did not, of course, possess the innate ability to hear the voices of all things like Roger, Momonosuke, and others. However, he could receive the voices of these intelligent beings through his spirit.
Ordinary animals were naturally beyond his reach, but for intelligent beings like the Elephant Lord, whose intellect was in no way inferior to humans, he could easily receive the information they conveyed.
Looking at the Elephant Lord, Kongtai projected goodwill from his soul and then said, "We have come only to obtain a Road Poneglyph from the furry kingdom on your back. We bear no ill will."
The Elephant Lord lowered its trunk, looked at Kongtai deeply, and then transmitted its voice.
"May you keep your word."
It then lowered its guard.
"Alright, let's head over!"
Seeing the Elephant Lord relax its guard, Kongtai turned to his companions behind him and chuckled, "This big fellow is quite reasonable after all."
"Quite reasonable?"
Kuina looked at Kongtai, asking curiously, "You can converse with this giant beast?"
They had been wondering just moments ago.
Wondering what Kongtai was muttering to himself about, only to realize he was conversing with the Elephant Lord.
"Mm!"
Kongtai nodded, "Just a few little tricks."
"Alright, let's head over!"
Following this, Kongtai controlled the Freedom, which shot forward towards the Elephant Lord with a "whoosh."
As they passed by the Elephant Lord's head, everyone leaned over the side of the ship, gazing at the colossal beast with curiosity and awe.
Only up close could one truly feel the Elephant Lord's magnificent presence.
On the Elephant Lord's back.
The Mokomo Kingdom.
The Elephant Lord's unusual behavior was immediately noticed by "Inuarashi."
He was one of the two kings of the Mokomo Kingdom, known as the "Duke Inuarashi," a Dog Mink, the King of Day, ruling the daylight, and as famous as the King of Night, "Nekomamushi."
In truth, both of them had, long ago, been retainers of Kozuki Oden of Wano Country, among the Nine Red Scabbards. They had also accompanied Kozuki Oden as members of the Whitebeard Pirates and Roger Pirates.
Standing up, he took the long sword by his side, hung it at his waist, put on his cape, and Inuarashi walked out of his royal palace.
"Why has the Elephant Lord suddenly stopped and let out a warning roar? Has it encountered a powerful enemy?"
In the many years since his return to the Mokomo Kingdom, this was the first time he had seen the Elephant Lord behave in such a manner.
This compelled him to take the matter seriously.
Outside, he summoned the Musketeer Squad, and Inuarashi, along with them, quickly made his way towards the edge of the kingdom.
"Lord Inuarashi, has something happened?"
During their movement, the captain of the Musketeer Squad, "Sicilian," asked, looking at Inuarashi's retreating back.
"I don't know," Inuarashi glanced back at Sicilian before turning his gaze towards the city walls ahead, his expression grave. "The Elephant Lord seems to have encountered some trouble. I can feel its tension."
"Tension?"
Upon hearing Inuarashi's words, everyone froze.
"Mm!"
Just then, as if sensing something, Inuarashi stopped abruptly with a "hiss."
"Lord Inuarashi, is there something..."
The Musketeer Squad members all stopped.
Without Inuarashi needing to say anything, they had already seen it.
At the limit of their vision, a two-masted sailing ship was rapidly drifting towards them.
"Gin, Gin, Silver-haired Pirate Crew."
Looking at the giant windmill head on the sail, Sicilian felt a chill run down his spine, his speech becoming faltering.
Two days ago, just two days ago, they had seen the news about the silver-haired one.
If before, the silver-haired one had been considered a powerhouse comparable to an Emperor in their eyes, then now, in their eyes, he was truly the strongest in the world.
This was because he had killed Kaido and Charlotte Linlin.
And now, such a significant figure had arrived at their Mokomo Kingdom. If he had come with hostile intentions, how could they possibly resist him?
Although they had heard that the silver-haired crew was different from ordinary pirates, they had not personally experienced it, and who knew if the rumors were true?
Therefore, the moment they saw the Freedom, let alone Sicilian, even Inuarashi, who had seen much of the world, involuntarily adopted a defensive posture, his face etched with seriousness.
"Look, a flying ship."
At this moment, more people noticed the Freedom. They all looked up, gazing at the Freedom with expressions of curiosity.
Of course, there were many who recognized the windmill on the Freedom and what it represented, causing their faces to turn pale and their bodies to weaken.
Kongtai paid no mind to the numerous citizens of the Mokomo Kingdom below. He could sense their unwelcoming attitude towards humans.
Much like the fish-men of Fish-Man Island not welcoming humans.
Therefore, Kongtai had no intention of landing here.
For them, who had experienced Skypiea, the scenery here, though wondrous, was nothing extraordinary. Moreover, the inhabitants did not welcome them.
Why bother going down and making trouble for themselves?
He also noticed Inuarashi standing in the middle of the street, fully on guard.
This fellow, along with Nekomamushi, another retainer of Kozuki Oden, had accompanied Roger to the final island, Laugh Tale.
Therefore, he must have had a thorough understanding of Laugh Tale.
However, Kongtai had no intention of going down. If he wanted to know the true appearance of Laugh Tale, he would see it for himself, not learn it from others.
The Freedom made no stop, heading directly towards the Whale Forest behind the Mokomo Kingdom.
There lay the Road Poneglyph he sought.
It was hidden within the Whale Tree.
This was something he knew very well.