"Do you know, Saul," Robin continued quietly, "there's a hundred-year period in the world's history that no one knows about?"
"You mean the Void Century," Saul replied. "I'm interested too, but the World Government forbids any investigation into it."
He was a little surprised that Robin knew such things, but remembering that she had just declared herself an archaeologist, he accepted it. At the same time, he warned her that researching the Void Century was strictly prohibited.
"My mom is investigating it all over the world," Robin said. "But you must not tell anyone. It's a crime."
Only then did Saul fully grasp what she meant. His eyes widened in shock.
"Are you saying your mother is searching for the Poneglyphs?"
"You know about the Poneglyphs too?" Robin looked up at him, surprised. She had always thought only archaeologists were aware of them.
"It doesn't matter whether I know or not," Saul said urgently. "Listen to me, Robin. You must never tell anyone about this, especially since your mom is still traveling the world…"
Suddenly, a realization struck him. Scattered clues snapped together in his mind, and the conclusion froze him in place.
"Robin," he asked slowly, clinging to a final shred of hope, "what's your mother's name?"
"Olvia."
The name hit Saul like lightning. His mouth fell open, and his massive body swayed before collapsing onto the ground.
He had once been a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral. Some time ago, he had been ordered to capture an archaeologist who violated World Government law. Her name was Olvia. After learning the truth, he had secretly released her and defected from the Marines.
Robin was Olvia's daughter.
Then this place was…
"Is this island O'hara?" Saul asked hoarsely.
"Yes."
"This is terrible," Saul shouted, clutching his head. "How could this happen? How did I drift all the way to O'hara?!"
…
That same morning, Olvia, who had been freed by Saul, secretly returned to O'hara.
Wearing a trench coat to conceal herself, she arrived at the entrance of the Library of O'hara. When she pushed the door open, the scholars inside all turned to stare at her in shock.
"Olvia?"
"Long time no see," she said, removing her beret. Her long white hair fell over her shoulders as she greeted them.
"Weren't you captured by the Marines?" one scholar asked.
"Someone saved me. We'll talk about that later," Olvia replied. "I didn't come back with good news. Everything I'm about to say is true."
Without wasting time, she explained what had happened.
"The exploration team that left O'hara six years ago is gone. I'm the only one who survived. I was captured by the Marines, and from our belongings, the World Government confirmed that we came from O'hara."
Her voice trembled as she bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry. Because of us, O'hara is facing this crisis. The World Government has likely already sent people here."
"It's alright, Olvia," one of the scholars said gently. "Don't blame yourself. Whether those who sailed out or those who stayed behind, we are all comrades. You're the one who endured the greatest hardships. And as for the crisis you mentioned, we already knew."
Dr. Clover then explained the situation to Olvia, leaving out any mention of Redyat. He simply said they had received warning days ago and had already made preparations.
After that, events unfolded much as they were meant to.
The scholars were arrested. The Poneglyphs beneath the library were discovered. Even though no evidence of active research was found, the World Government did not care. Spandine connected the call to the Five Elders.
Dr. Clover stood forward and began to speak of his conclusions regarding the Void Century.
"Kill him," the Five Elders ordered coldly, cutting him off.
Bang.
At their command, Spandine shot Dr. Clover and then pressed the button that activated the Buster Call.
Spandine was about to take Olvia away, but Robin's cries distracted him. Just as mother and daughter were about to reunite in this nightmare, the thunder of naval cannons echoed across the island.
Cannonballs rained down mercilessly on O'hara. One exploded near Spandine, making him jump in fright. To avoid being caught in the bombardment, he immediately abandoned Olvia and the scholars, fleeing with his subordinates.
"Robin, you're here! I finally found you!"
Not long after Spandine left, Saul arrived.
"Saul."
"Oh, you've already met Olvia," he said, noticing her nearby.
"Saul? Why are you on this island?" Olvia asked in shock.
Dr. Clover, bleeding heavily, looked at the giant in surprise. "A giant…"
"I don't know what kind of accident led me here," Saul said quickly. "I was shipwrecked, and Robin saved me. But that doesn't matter now. This is the worst possible situation. We need to leave immediately."
After a brief argument, Olvia made her decision. Saul would take Robin and escape. She would stay behind.
"Olvia, come with me to the library," Dr. Clover said.
"Alright."
Supporting him, Olvia helped Dr. Clover back toward the burning library.
Inside, they found only a few blazing shelves. The scholars who had returned earlier were gone, and the upper floors were completely empty. All of it had already been taken by Redyat and his group.
Olvia assumed the books had been moved earlier by the scholars and let out a breath of relief. She moved to gather what remained.
"Don't bother," Dr. Clover said weakly. "Those are just decoys. The real books and documents were already moved."
"What?" Olvia stared at him.
"We prepared over the past few days. Most of the books upstairs were taken away, and the rest were hidden. A Buster Call is indiscriminate shelling. It can erase the island's culture and life, but not everything beneath it."
"So…"
"Beneath the Tree of Knowledge, below even the basement, we built a shelter," Dr. Clover said, panting. "The others are already there. I'll take you too."
Olvia could hardly believe it. How they accomplished this in such a short time did not matter now.
"But Robin…"
"It's too late. Trust her," Dr. Clover said. "That giant is protecting her. She should already be off the island."
He led Olvia through a hidden passage no one had ever discovered.
The World Government never imagined that beneath the Tree of Knowledge lay a vast underground space. All the books Redyat had not taken were stored there, along with food, supplies, and daily necessities. Someone unknown had delivered them. Only Dr. Clover knew part of the truth.
…
On the coast, Saul fled with Robin in his palm, but they were intercepted by his former colleague, Marine Vice Admiral Kuzan.
"Kuzan," Saul said solemnly.
"A-la-la-la," Kuzan replied lazily. "It'd be embarrassing if the Marines' Buster Call was stopped by a former Marine."
"Kuzan, can you really be proud of this?" Saul demanded. "This is wrong. You know it is. The World Government is just killing a chicken to scare the monkeys. Retreat while you still can."
"If this is for the future of the world, there's nothing we can do," Kuzan said. "Justice changes depending on where you stand. I won't judge your justice. But if you interfere, I can't let you go."
His eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses, unreadable.
Before Kuzan could act, an order rang out from a Marine warship.
"There may be scholars on the evacuation ship. Fire and sink it."
On the deck stood Vice Admiral Sakazuki, his hood shadowing his face. He stared at the distant evacuation ship. It was full of civilians, but if even one scholar escaped, that was unacceptable.
"But Vice Admiral Sakazuki, there are civilians on board!"
"If we act, we act thoroughly," Sakazuki replied coldly. "If one scholar escapes, this sacrifice is meaningless. Evil must be cut off at the root."
Boom.
Flames erupted as the evacuation ship was struck.
On the shore, Saul, Kuzan, and Robin watched in stunned silence.
On the burning ship, the word "Justice" on the backs of Marine coats looked painfully glaring.
Robin collapsed to the ground.
"That bastard," Kuzan muttered.
"Is this your justice?" Saul roared, swinging his arm at Kuzan.
"I never intended to be as extreme as that idiot," Kuzan said, leaping aside with ease.
In that moment, Saul seized the chance. He placed Robin in his palm and ran. He knew he could not defeat Kuzan.
"Ice Time Capsule."
Ice surged forward. Saul's legs froze solid.
"Ice Age."
Kuzan placed his hand on Saul's body. Ice spread instantly, sealing the giant into a frozen statue.
…
An hour later, fireworks of destruction filled the sky. Half the horizon burned. O'hara was reduced to scorched earth. The Tree of Knowledge collapsed in flames. It was officially declared that no one could have survived.
The ten warships ceased fire. Cannonballs were expensive, after all.
Far away, in the distant sky.
"This is the Buster Call," Nelsen said quietly. "I never thought the World Government would be this ruthless. Even the civilians…" He sighed. "No one should have survived."
"Are you sure?" Redyat replied with a faint smile.
Nelsen paused, suddenly thoughtful.
"Did you save the scholars? Didn't the captain say not to?"
"I didn't save them," Redyat said calmly. "They saved themselves. I just gave them a little help."
"Let's go," he added. "It has nothing to do with us now. The Dark Council is coming up. After a few more days here, we return."
…
"What do you mean people escaped?!" Sengoku roared at Spandine, who had returned the silver Den Den Mushi. "We gave you a Buster Call!"
"We tried to pursue them," Spandine said nervously. "But the bottom of our ship was frozen. We could only watch them get away."
Hearing this, Kuzan, seated nearby, broke into a cold sweat.
Sengoku noticed it.
"That's enough," Sengoku said, sitting back.
Spandine continued, "That woman's child is named Nico Robin…"
…
Soon after, a wanted poster spread across the world.
It showed a small girl.
Bounty: 79,000,000 Berries.
Her crimes were listed below. An eight-year-old demon child. A Devil Fruit user. Responsible for the destruction of five warships. A remnant of O'hara. A world criminal.
Blinded by money, the world turned its gaze toward a single little girl.