The West Blue, the sacred land of archaeology: Ohara.
Eight-year-old Nico Robin had finally passed her assessment, officially becoming a junior archaeologist. Today was also her birthday, and the scholars of Ohara gathered to celebrate with her.
"Robin is already eight? Time really flies!"
"Indeed. It might not be long before she takes over for us."
"Hahaha!"
Hearing their laughter, Robin couldn't help but smile. Ever since she was young, forced to live with relatives who shunned her as a so-called Demon Child, only these scholars had ever truly accepted her.
"Robin, what plans do you have for the coming years?" asked the chief scholar, Professor Clover.
Without hesitation, Robin replied, "I want to study the Poneglyphs with all of you!"
The moment the words left her mouth, the scholars' expressions shifted. Clover coughed lightly.
"Robin, you're not ready for that yet."
"Why?" Robin asked, confused.
Clover only shook his head without answering. Robin puffed her cheeks in frustration, huffed twice, and bolted toward the door.
"I'm not talking to you anymore!"
The scholars exchanged helpless glances and sighed.
"Forgive us, Robin. We cannot let you walk the same path as we did."
Hurt and frustrated, Robin ran toward the shore.
"Why won't they let me help?"
As she cried with her head buried in her arms, the sound of heavy footsteps approached. She looked up and froze. A towering giant had just pulled himself out of the sea.
"Y-you… who are you?"
The giant paused, then looked down at the tiny girl.
"Ah… little one. My name is Jaguar D. Saul. I drifted here by accident."
Seeing his soaked appearance, Robin quickly gathered dry twigs and built a fire. Saul's eyes flickered with surprise before he sat down beside her.
"I didn't mean to overhear, but… were you crying?"
For the first time, Robin opened her heart to someone outside Ohara and poured out her frustrations. Saul listened, then grinned broadly.
"When you're sad, you should laugh as loudly as you can! That way all your troubles get blown away!"
"Dereshi shi shi shi!"
His strange laugh echoed across the shore. Robin sniffled, then burst out laughing.
"Saul, your laugh sounds so silly!"
"Dereshi shi shi!"
Their laughter overlapped as they sat by the fire.
"Robin, this place is Ohara, isn't it?"
Robin nodded.
Saul's face grew serious.
"Tell the scholars to run. Now."
Robin blinked, not understanding.
"Saul… what are you talking about?"
"There's no time. The Five Elders have issued a Buster Call. The target is Ohara's scholars. Haven't you noticed the island's civilians have already been evacuated?"
Robin's eyes widened. She suddenly realized she had not seen her relatives for days.
"So you finally realized it."
Her expression tightened in panic.
"Why? Why would they attack us?"
Saul shook his head.
"If you survive, you will understand the answer yourself. But you must leave now!"
"What about you?"
Saul turned away.
"I need to meet an old friend. Come out, Kuzan."
A tall figure wearing a black coat appeared suddenly. Robin gasped.
"Who are you?"
The man exhaled a cloud of cold mist.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan of the Navy Headquarters."
"Robin! Go now!" Saul urged.
Kuzan tilted his head while looking past Saul at the little girl.
"Saul… it's useless. The island is already surrounded."
Saul gritted his teeth.
"Kuzan, can't you at least spare this child a way out?"
Kuzan's voice was calm.
"Even Admiral Ezra D. Vale is here."
Saul's breath hitched. Ezra D. Vale, the most terrifying force in the entire Navy.
"Why would a Buster Call deploy an admiral?"
"To prevent situations like yours," Kuzan said quietly.
Saul pushed Robin away, clenching his massive fists as he clashed with Kuzan.
"Robin! Go! Hurry!!"
Robin fled toward the Tree of Knowledge, her mind blank.
"Everyone! Run! The Navy has issued a Buster Call!"
The scholars halted and turned. Gasping for breath, Robin rushed to Clover.
"Professor! We need to escape!"
Clover calmly cleaned his glasses.
"Robin… it seems we won't escape this time."
"Why?!"
Instead of answering, he stepped aside. A woman with soft black hair appeared behind him.
Robin froze.
"M… mom?"
Nico Olivia wrapped her trembling arms around her daughter.
"I'm sorry, Robin. This is all my fault."
"Why? What did you do?"
"We learned too much, Robin. Far too much."
Olivia revealed the truth: the ancient texts, the erased century, the enormous kingdom, and the threat its ideals posed to the World Government.
Before she could finish… a deafening explosion shook the library.
"They've started firing!"
Olivia swallowed back the final words she wanted to tell her daughter.
"Robin, you must run!"
At that moment, Saul burst through the door, bruised and bleeding.
"Robin! I found a break in the Navy's formation. Come now!"
"But… mom!"
Olivia forced a smile.
"Robin, I'm someone the world has forbidden to live. But you… you still have a future. The Five Elders won't harm you. Go. Go!"
Tears streaming down her face, Robin was lifted into Saul's arms as he sprinted for the shore.
"No! Mom!!"
A cannonball crashed into the library.
Robin's mind went white.
At the shore, Kuzan appeared again.
"Ice Time!"
Saul shoved Robin away just before frost crept across his body.
"Kuzan!! Have you forgotten what justice means?!"
Kuzan's expression twisted with conflict. Even he struggled to accept the Five Elders' order, but in the end, he replied:
"The civilians were spared. Only the scholars are targeted. If Fleet Admiral Sengoku approved the order, then he must have had a reason."
Saul's face contorted in agony.
Kuzan breathed deeply.
"Saul. Surrender."
"Ice Time Capsule!"
Ice surged forward. Saul turned his body, shielding Robin completely.
"Robin… run! I left a small boat for you! Run!"
"Saul! No!"
"Dereshi… shi… Robin!"
"Go to sea! Live! You must live! One day… you will find friends who protect you!"
"Friends who will chase their dreams with you!"
Robin gritted her teeth, sobbing violently, then turned and sprinted toward the shore.