Elbaf is a significant arc in One Piece, expected to reveal events reminiscent of what transpired in God’s Valley. King Harald is known as the greatest king in Elbaf’s history and is also one of the most powerful figures.
Unfortunately, King Harald has passed away. The information available about Harald primarily comes from the perspectives of other characters. Harald was beloved in Elbaf, and many regarded him as a legendary figure. However, the truth might be more complex than just being a good king; he also had a deep concern for his people.
King Harald was about to face a devastating downfall for an extended period
When King Harald was first introduced in One Piece, he was depicted as a good king. However, he tragically fell victim to the treachery of Prince Loki. Nevertheless, Luffy might have the opportunity to converse with Loki without direct conflict, which could signal a significant shift in Harald’s legacy.
Over time, more information about King Harald has emerged, indicating that he was a king who genuinely sought to expand trade with the world and promote peace in Elbaf. It is said that he was a pacifist, even going so far as to oppose violent legacies left by the previous rulers.
Fourteen years prior to the current storyline, within the grand palace of Aurust, King Harald was attacked by Loki. Jarul was also present at the scene, witnessing the events unfold. It is noted that on that day, a hundred lives were lost in that brutal encounter.
However, there was a moment when Oda delved too deeply into the narrative surrounding Harald while portraying Loki as a malevolent figure, which only served to reinforce the notion of Harald’s nobility. This concept was further highlighted by Mosa-ko, a character well-acquainted with Loki, who expressed that deep down, Loki possesses a human heart. Thus, it becomes increasingly clear that at this point in the story, Loki is a tragic figure and that there’s something more profound at play against Harald.
Did King Harald have a good relationship with the World Government?
King Harald may not have been a direct ruler over the World Government, but there are indications that he had some connections or at least desired to establish them. This is evident from the fact that there was a mysterious Abyss event occurring right next to the throne room in the grand palace of Aurust. Therefore, the Holy Knights likely visited the Aurust palace before the events depicted in chapter 1130.
This implies that fourteen years ago, the Holy Knights had at least made one visit to the Aurust palace. Regarding the reasons for their presence in Elbaf, the answer remains quite simple. They sought to assert control over the land during that tumultuous period.
What transpired during that time is still unknown. However, chapter 1140 of One Piece provides a stronger hint about the overall situation. It appears that the good king of Elbaf had a rather close relationship with the Holy Knights. Given that the Holy Knights arrived in Elbaf, they must have had some compelling reason for their visit related to Harald’s reign.
It is clear that Harald and the Holy Knights had a good relationship, suggesting that he was a key ally of the World Government, potentially even involved in plans to expand or strengthen the region’s influence or return it to its former glory. Fortunately, this scenario never materialized as Harald had already died.
Thus, one key point established in the narrative at this moment is that King Harald certainly was not a benevolent figure. However, what he wanted to bring back was a sense of restoration for Elbaf, meaning that his death has profound implications for the future of the kingdom.
