Saul's resolve deeply moved the scholars of Ohara. After a long night of discussion, they made a difficult decision: to entrust the future of the island's people to this Marine Vice Admiral.
Even if Saul was one of the five Vice Admirals ordered by Marine Headquarters to carry out the Buster Call.
News that the Marines were about to execute a Buster Call on Ohara spread swiftly across the island. Tourists and residents alike began packing their belongings, preparing to board evacuation ships and flee Ohara.
However, something terrifying happened.
One of the evacuation ships, already filled with civilians and having just departed Ohara, was intercepted at sea by the Marines.
"Vice Admiral Burning Mountain, the ship we intercepted did indeed come from Ohara. We've detained the captain and crew," a report came in.
"According to their testimonies, these are just island residents who heard about the Buster Call and are trying to evacuate."
A few thousand meters from Ohara, two warships under Vice Admiral Burning Mountain's command intercepted the vessel. Listening to the report, the Vice Admiral lit a cigar, took a heavy drag, narrowed his eyes, and said in a deep voice,
"Detain the captain and all the crew. The rest, send them back to Ohara."
As he spoke, the muscles on his face twitched slightly. A smile of unclear meaning tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Vice Admiral... those are just civilians."
The Rear Admiral delivering the report, fearing his superior hadn't understood, repeated himself.
His meaning was clear. The order was to execute a Buster Call on Ohara, but everyone in the know understood, the real target wasn't civilians, but the so-called "criminal" scholars illegally studying the Void Century.
Evacuation ships carrying ordinary citizens were clearly not part of the target.
"Ah, I understand your point," Burning Mountain replied casually. "But can you guarantee that no scholars are hiding among them?"
"Rear Admiral Kruger, we must verify the identities of every single passenger to ensure there are no illegal scholars among them."
"After returning them to the island, you'll lead the inspection. CP9 is part of this operation too, right? Have them stop standing around. Let them help with the screening. Only once they're cleared may they leave."
Cigar still clamped between his teeth, Burning Mountain spoke with an amiable tone. Rear Admiral Kruger's eyes lit up at the assignment. Saluting crisply, he turned and left the deck in a hurry.
Vice Admiral Burning Mountain.
While considered a hawkish figure among the Marines' mid-generation leaders, he wasn't as extreme as Sakazuki. He had his own principles when it came to civilians.
His belief was simple: never let a single pirate escape.
What he decided today didn't conflict with that belief.
The captains and crew of the evacuation ships were detained and locked in the warship's brig for strict interrogation.
Then, on his order, the evacuation ship was sent back to Ohara. His men disembarked and began inspecting all ships attempting to leave the island.
After landing, Burning Mountain locked down all surrounding waters, leaving only a few soldiers behind to inspect civilians on the island.
He didn't bother targeting the scholars. In his view, there was no need. No matter where they hid or what they discovered, under the Buster Call, no one would survive. All their research would be buried along with Ohara.
As the Marines and CP9 landed, the island's atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Until now, the Buster Call had been little more than a rumor to most civilians.
It was like someone telling you the world would end tomorrow, until it happens, you go about your life as usual.
But when those around you start panicking, fear becomes contagious.
"Let me on board! I'm a Viscount of the Kingdom of Whiteshire! I only came to observe!"
"Please, I beg you, let my family on board! My child is only two! We're not scholars!"
The harbor of Ohara rang with such pleas. Crowds surged into the narrow passageways, shouting at the Marines guarding the evacuation ships, desperate to get a spot.
Faced with the flood of people, the Marines held their ground with stony expressions.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd lashed out, punching a Marine in the face. The soldier stumbled and fell, creating a gap in the line.
That was all it took.
Seeing hope, people trampled over the fallen Marine and rushed toward the lowered gangplank of the ship.
Then,
Bang!
A sharp gunshot pierced the chaos. Standing atop the ship, Rear Admiral Kruger held a smoking pistol aloft.
As the noise settled, he glared coldly at the crowd.
"Line up one by one for inspection by the Marines!"
"Those who try to disrupt order, "
He leveled his pistol at the civilians. At that moment, the other Marines followed his lead, dozens of rifles aimed squarely at the mass of people.
Faced with gun barrels, the crowd finally quieted down and begrudgingly formed a line.
From a warship stationed offshore, every detail was visible.
At the bow stood Kuzan, hands resting on the railing, eyes fixed on Ohara, his thoughts in turmoil.
"Whose men are those?"
Behind him came the calm voice of Issho.
Kuzan turned slightly, glancing back at the blind swordsman making his way toward him.
"Vice Admiral Burning Mountain's," he replied. "The warship docked at the harbor belongs to him."
Issho nodded. "Do we need to assist?"
On the way here, they'd already learned the reason for the Buster Call. The World Government and Marines had set their sights on the scholars studying forbidden history.
They didn't fully understand why the Void Century was so heavily guarded, but according to Admiral Sengoku, researching that era was strictly prohibited and would allegedly cause "worldwide upheaval."
Worldwide upheaval.
What a terrifying phrase.
Bound by this grand notion of "justice," Kuzan and Issho had arrived at Ohara. They wanted to see firsthand what kind of people could cause such upheaval.
They had just arrived in time to witness Kruger suppressing the unrest.
So far, neither Kuzan nor Issho had any objections to the Buster Call. From their perspective, it was a clear-cut choice, illegal scholars versus global order. What more needed to be said?
And yet, Kuzan's gaze toward Ohara was heavy with worry. A figure, long buried in his memory, had begun to resurface.
"I wonder how she's doing... could she be in Ohara?"
Letting out a long sigh, Kuzan continued to watch silently, waiting for the other Vice Admirals to arrive and begin the operation.
That night, unable to sleep, Kuzan sat up in bed. That image in his mind wouldn't go away. Troubled, he grabbed his cloak, opened the door, and stepped into the frigid wind.
On the deck, he gazed toward Ohara, its harbor still lit despite the late hour. The people didn't dare sleep, terrified that if they stepped away, they'd lose their chance to board an evacuation ship.
Kuzan stood for a long time before suddenly vanishing from the railing with a leap. As the sea breeze carried a swirl of frost, his silhouette drifted silently toward Ohara.
At the heart of Ohara.
The Tree of Knowledge, the world's largest library, was still ablaze with light. Inside, the giant Marine Vice Admiral Saul was helping scholars move books.
"Vice Admiral Saul, you've really helped us so much!"
"If it weren't for you, our progress wouldn't be nearly as fast. Thank you, truly!"
Before the Tree, Saul bowed slightly, cradling an armful of books.
"You flatter me, Doctor. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing what I believe in."
Clover smiled as he watched Saul's towering figure disappear into the night.
"A kindness like this... I fear I won't live long enough to repay it, Vice Admiral Saul."
He looked skyward.
The night was overcast. Not a single star could be seen.
Ohara's streets lay silent. Not even a dog's bark disturbed the peace.
Hands in his pockets, Kuzan wandered aimlessly, absorbing the silence.
This place... she once lived here.
Just thinking about that made his heart settle. No one would understand what he was feeling, not even himself.
Eventually, he arrived at a grassy hill on the west side of town and sat beneath a tree, gazing down at the darkened streets. Leaning back against the trunk, he slowly closed his eyes. A soft snore escaped moments later.
"Hey, mister? Mister? Wake up!"
In his drowsy consciousness, a childlike voice echoed. He opened his eyes to see a young girl with long, straight black hair and bright, curious eyes staring at him.
She looked about eight, with wheat-colored skin, not from the sun, but natural. Though still young, her defined jawline and delicate features gave off a sharp intelligence.
Those dark eyes... felt strangely familiar.
"Mister? Are you okay? Why are you sleeping here? You'll catch a cold!"
Her voice was filled with concern. She gently patted his knee.
After a pause, Kuzan smiled. "Didn't your parents teach you not to talk to strangers?"
"I could be a kidnapper, you know."
The girl blinked, then burst into giggles.
"Don't joke around, mister. You're wearing a Marine uniform. How could you be a kidnapper?"
"And don't underestimate me just because I'm young. I'm a scholar personally recognized by Professor Clover. That kind of trick only works on little kids."
Clever as she was, she easily saw through his bluff, and teased him in return.
Kuzan laughed. "Alright, alright. Sorry for treating you like a kid."
"A scholar, huh?"
He smiled, but it quickly faded. Standing up, he gently patted her head.
"You shouldn't go around saying you're a scholar," he said. "You're just a child. That's all you need to be."
The warmth of that hand surprised her. Aside from Professor Clover and her rarely-seen mother, no one had ever touched her so kindly.
She was a genius in every sense, Ohara's youngest-ever scholar, with knowledge others took decades to amass. But without her mother's protection, life had been difficult.
She loved reading. Not because she loved books, but because it brought her closer to her mother. Because it pleased Clover and the other scholars.
But this stranger treated her like a normal child.
Still, she thought he didn't believe her. She clenched her fists and shouted at his retreating back,
"I really am a scholar! Professor Clover says so!"
"I'm not lying!"
Kuzan stopped. Looking back, he stared at her for a long while before softly replying,
"No, you're not."
And then, he vanished into a swirl of frost.
Robin frowned, then stubbornly declared,
"I am!"
Her name was Nico Robin. Her brain could hold vast knowledge, but when it came to people and the world, she was still a child. She didn't yet understand that on this island, the word "scholar" could mean death.
Kuzan returned to his ship, his mind even more tangled than before.
He stood at the railing, staring at Ohara.
In the days that followed, he often went back. Each time, he sat beneath that same tree overlooking the town.
And each time, that little girl became his companion.
Robin was lonely. Even though her mother had returned, she was too busy with the other scholars to pay her much attention.
That strange Marine uncle became someone she could talk to.
Because unlike everyone else... he didn't treat her like a monster.
They would sit under the tree until sunset, and only then would Kuzan return to his ship.
But sleep never came easily. His mind was in chaos, though he didn't know why.
When the remaining Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals arrived in the waters surrounding Ohara, he finally understood.
"Rest today. Tomorrow morning, we execute the order."
"Align all cannons. Full alert. Not a single fly escapes Ohara."
Just a few hundred meters off the island, Sakazuki's warship anchored. Standing on deck, phone in hand, he shouted coldly into the golden Den Den Mushi.
Under the sunlight, its shell gleamed like a blade.
✦✦---------------------------------------------------------------------✦✦
100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
For Advance Chapters, please visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon!
p(a)treon.com/_Aartemis
50 Advanced Chapters