#700 - Chapter 500: Promise with Loki
Loki looked at them with a thoughtful expression, then sighed slightly:
"I understand, you can't stay for long.
I also know your concerns, but the secrets of Elbaf are not as simple as what you see now."
Jin looked at Loki, feeling the deeper meaning in his words, and a hint of doubt arose in his heart.
He stared into Loki's eyes and said in a more determined tone:
"We don't plan to stay too long, but... can you tell us more about the history of this island?
Especially those stories mentioned in the Divine Codex."
Loki raised his eyebrows slightly, pondered for a moment, and his eyes were thoughtful:
"These myths… they are not just legends.
Some have been forgotten over time, but some are still buried deep within Elbaf.
If you really decide to continue, you might as well explore the hidden truth yourself someday in the future."
Tenmonth looked at Loki, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
She didn't respond immediately, but slowly turned around and looked at the mysterious forest in the distance.
Her eyes were a little worried and a little reluctant, as if there was something in that forest that she couldn't touch.
She whispered to Jin:
"Maybe we can come back after the New Navy's actions slow down a bit."
Jin did not refute, knowing Tenmonth's thoughts.
He sighed, and a complicated emotion surged in his heart—the myth of Elbaf, the legend of the Sun God, all of this seemed to be intertwined with the mission on their shoulders.
Regardless of whether these legends are true or false, they ultimately have their meaning.
"Let's go."
Jin looked at Tenmonth, his eyes became firm, and finally broke the silence.
He knew that this trip was not the real end, but only a temporary end.
Tenmonth nodded gently, and the two then turned and walked towards the space portal they had just passed through.
She still felt a little reluctant in her heart, but she knew that the most urgent task at hand was to follow the New Navy's footsteps, continue to investigate the movements of the pirates, and ensure that their actions were not interrupted.
Just as the two were about to step into the portal opened by the Door-Door Fruit's ability, Jin suddenly stopped and turned to look at Loki.
"Loki, if we have the chance, we will definitely come back and explore the deeper secrets of this world."
Loki nodded, his expression still indifferent, but the depth in his eyes seemed to hide more complex emotions.
"If you decide to come back, I will be here waiting for you."
He smiled and waved, as if he had seen through some of Jin's doubts.
Loki was stunned when he heard this, and then laughed heartily. His thick laughter echoed in the vast sky of Elbaf, like thunder, shaking people's hearts.
He shook his head, folded his arms, and sighed slightly:
"Haha, you guy knows how to find opportunities to dig a hole for me to jump into."
He looked at Jin, with a bit of helplessness in his eyes, but he couldn't hide a trace of longing.
"What a pity…"
He spoke slowly, his eyes passing over Jin and Tenmonth, looking at the distant mountains and the damaged and unrepaired town.
The giant warriors were still busy, moving boulders and repairing buildings, a lively scene.
Loki's gaze returned from the distance and fell on his palm, which had some small scratches, left by his personal participation in the reconstruction these days.
He smiled wryly, his voice low but firm:
"Elbaf can't do without me right now."
Jin didn't answer immediately, but quietly looked at Loki's tall figure.
Loki, as the prince of the Giant tribe, used to be a person who yearned for battle and pursued adventure, but now, he shoulders the future of an entire country.
He is no longer just a warrior, but the pillar of Elbaf.
Tenmonth tilted her head slightly, her eyes fell on Loki's face, her expression gentle:
"It seems that you have begun to understand the meaning of 'king'."
Loki was slightly stunned, and then showed a wry smile: "In his position, seek his policy.
This sentence seems to fit me perfectly."
It was not that he didn't yearn for battle, didn't yearn to walk freely on this sea like Jin, to meet unknown challenges.
But when Elbaf was devastated after the war, when his people needed him,
He finally understood that the responsibility of a king is not only to wield a battle axe, but also to stand firmly at the highest point of the castle after the war, giving his people shelter and hope.
Jin blinked and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, deliberately teasing:
"I've remembered this sentence. When everything in Elbaf returns to normal, I'll invite you, don't refuse."
Loki raised his eyebrows, folded his arms, looked down at Jin, and said playfully:
"Oh? You want me to be a 'little brother' under your command?"
"How dare I."
Jin spread his hands, deliberately showing an exaggerated expression,
"I want to invite you to fight side by side, don't make excuses for me."
Loki was stunned when he heard this, then laughed heartily and patted Jin on the shoulder—this pat was so powerful that Jin almost staggered.
He narrowed his eyes and showed a heroic smile:
"Okay, when Elbaf is completely restored, you come and invite me, and see if I will let you down!"
Jin also curled his lips and nodded in response:
"It's a deal."
Tenmonth stood aside, quietly watching the interaction between the two, a faint smile appearing in her eyes.
She knew that although they had to take on their own responsibilities now, one day in the future, they would meet again on a certain battlefield and fight side by side.
This day will eventually come.
"Then wait for us to come back."
Jin returned a smile, and then he and Tenmonth walked hand in hand into the suddenly appearing light, disappearing on the land of Elbaf.
This island carries too many mysteries. Perhaps one day, they will set foot on this land again and uncover the long-sealed historical truth.
But at this moment, their mission is still not over, and new challenges are waiting for them in the distance.
Loki stood there, his eyes fixed on the light gate, until its last ray of light completely dissipated in the air, as if it had never existed.
The sea breeze拂过, raising his golden hair. He still maintained the gesture of waving goodbye just now, as if he wanted to deeply engrave that scene in his mind.
He stood there, silent for a long time, until only the rustling of the wind blowing through the giant trees was left around, then he slowly retracted his gaze and let out a long breath.
"I still have to come back."
He muttered to himself, his tone with a hint of regret, but also with a bit of relief.
The arrival of Jin and Tenmonth, like a gust of wind, brought new information and also aroused the fire of adventure that had not yet been extinguished deep in his heart.
But he still had to stay, stay in Elbaf, stay on this land that needed him.
He slowly turned around, his eyes swept around, the scene in front of him was still the ruins after the war.
The people of Elbaf were busy, working in the broken walls, carrying heavy stones, and repairing the homes destroyed by the war.
Everyone's faces were covered with sweat, and some were even covered in dirt, but their eyes were still full of determination.
Loki took a deep breath and stepped forward, walking towards the giant warriors who were rebuilding their homes.
Along the way, the people of the clan kept nodding to him, or calling his name, their tone full of respect and trust.
"Prince, the stone wall here is almost repaired!"
"Your Highness, the wood in the south still needs manpower, how should we allocate it?"
"Prince, should we rebuild the warrior training ground next?"
Loki listened one by one, nodded in response, and his pace was firm.
Although his shoulders were broad, the responsibility he was carrying at this moment was heavier than ever before.
However, he did not flinch in the slightest, but felt an unprecedented sense of steadfastness.
"In his position, seek his policy."
He recalled the words he had just said to Jin, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
In the past, he always felt that "king" was just a symbol of combat power, and the strong were kings.
But after experiencing this war, he finally understood that the king is not only a warrior, but also a guardian.
"It's okay…"
Loki murmured in his heart, slowly clenched his hands, his eyes were as firm as iron,
"When Elbaf is restored to its original state, I will definitely go and see the outside world."
At that time, he will fulfill his promise, fight side by side with Jin, and welcome the real change.
...
