Grand Line, G-7 Branch.

In the vast fortress hall, Sengoku fed a sheet of paper into the mouth of his pet goat.

“This time I called you here for a top-secret mission.”

“Operation Buster Call.”

Saul stared in disbelief.

“Initiate the Buster Call?”

With arms crossed, Sengoku replied:

“Yes.”

“It requires ten warships and five Vice Admiral-level commanders.”

“And you are one of them.”

“Saul.”

Saul said in shock:

“They’re just a group of scholars!”

“Why do we have to go this far!”

“All those people we’ve captured so far—”

“To me, they only wanted to understand real history!”

“If that research is really so dangerous—”

“The government should be helping them!”

“We’re the ones who’ve been killing all along.”

“Then at least give me solid proof that they’re pure evil!”

Sengoku frowned, scoffing coldly:

“Are you doubting the government?”

“Execute the order!!!”

He turned and left, leaving Vice Admiral Saul standing there stunned.

…

G-7 Branch, prison.

Thud…

Saul sat directly in front of the cell holding the white-haired woman, Nico Olvia.

Her scar-covered body slowly lifted her head.

Saul spoke in a low voice:

“I want…”

“To hear what you think…”

…

The next day, G-7 Branch.

The prison guard, who had been knocked unconscious by Saul, regained consciousness.

Seeing the empty cell, he rushed out in a panic.

He sounded the alarm…

BZZZZ—Mmmm—BZZZZ—

“Emergency situation!”

“Vice Admiral Saul has escaped with the prisoner!!!”

“Notify everyone!!”

“Deploy and chase immediately!!!”

“Go!!!!”

In the fortress hall, Sengoku looked at the assembled officers.

“That guy knows the entire plan for this operation.”

“We must bring Saul and Nico Olvia back.”

“If necessary, open fire.”

He then waved his hand, signaling everyone to go after them.

Narrowing his eyes toward the distance, Sengoku muttered to himself.

That bastard…

…

Far from G-7 Branch, out of sight.

Two stolen Marine warships sailed side by side before gradually parting ways.

Saul and Olvia each sat aboard one of the hijacked warships.

Olvia looked at Saul on the other ship.

“Saul, you won’t be able to stay in the Navy anymore.”

Saul looked back toward G-7 Branch.

“Doesn’t matter…”

“I don’t believe in them anymore.”

“So I can’t stay.”

“Legally speaking, this operation is too brutal.”

“I’m just following my own sense of justice…”

“You should return to your homeland and warn them, Olvia!”

Olvia turned her back to Saul.

“I won’t thank you.”

She headed to the bridge. For people professionally trained like them, navigating a ship was no problem…

Saul stood tall on the deck of the other warship, flashing a big grin. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the NoveI-Fire.ɴet

“Good luck!!”

“Dya ha ha ha ha!”

…

Grand Line.

Sakazuki, en route to rendezvous at G-7 Branch, suddenly received a transmission.

Reading the message on the paper, Sakazuki took several deep breaths.

Boom—

The paper burst into flames in an instant.

“Idiot!”

“A Vice Admiral brainwashed by a criminal.”

“Is stupidity contagious?”

Karol looked puzzled.

“What happened?”

Sakazuki rubbed his temples.

“Saul spoke with the criminal from Ohara.”

“In the middle of the night, he broke her out of prison and escaped.”

“No one noticed until the next day.”

Karol’s face darkened.

“…This.”

He didn’t even know how to respond. With intelligence like this, and he still claimed to be a wise giant…

Sakazuki looked exasperated.

“Just brain-dead.”

“This bunch of morons…”

“I swear…”

He held back a curse, took a deep breath to suppress his rage.

“Huu—”

“Forget G-7 Branch.”

“Head straight to Reverse Mountain’s entrance, see if we can intercept them.”

“If not, wait for them to regroup there.”

Karol replied:

“Understood.”

…

West Blue, Ohara.

Another day of being hated and bullied had ended.

Robin pushed open the door of her aunt and uncle’s home.

“I’m back.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

But the dim interior, and the long shadows cast by the setting sun, made it clear—no one was home.

“Aunt?”

Robin asked again, timidly. No response.

She looked around.

Then closed the door behind her and walked to the dining table, where a piece of paper stood upright.

She unfolded it and read the contents.

“To Robin.”

“Today is our daughter’s birthday.”

“So the three of us went out to eat.”

“There’s still some bread at home, help yourself.”

“Remember, go easy on the jam.”

“Before we come back, you must wash the dishes and clean up.”

“Then bring in the dried laundry.”

“And finally, go obediently up to the attic on the second floor.”

Robin folded the paper away and picked up a slice of bread.

She spread a thin layer of jam and ate in silence.

Afterward, she quickly began cleaning.

Who knows how much time passed…

The sun was about to set.

And Robin was still on her knees, scrubbing the floor.

Thinking of that harmonious family from earlier in the day, tears welled in her eyes.

Drip, drip—tears fell onto the floor, only to be wiped away moments later…

…

Midnight.

Robin, finally done with her chores, left the house alone and headed to the Tree of Knowledge.

Professor Clover, who had been waiting for some time, finally saw Robin’s figure through the window.

“Robin’s here!”

“Everyone, take your positions!”

Soon, the doors of the Tree of Knowledge swung open.

Creak—

“Good evening, Professor Clover. I’ve come to return my book.”

Pop pop pop—

The hidden scholars suddenly appeared.

They pulled string cannons, releasing confetti.

Then the lights came on, and everyone celebrated joyfully.

“Congratulations, Robin!”

“Amazing! Robin, you’re truly a genius!”

“There’s cake too!”

Clover beamed warmly.

“Robin, congratulations on scoring full marks on your doctoral exam last time!”

“From today onward!”

“You can officially call yourself an archaeologist!”

“You are now one of us, and we’ll be conducting research together!”

“Here, this is proof that you’re a scholar.”

“Take it, Robin.”

He handed over a golden medal.

Robin received it with awe and pinned it on herself as the others showered her with congratulations.

Moments later, as the celebration calmed down.

Clover cleared his throat.

“Alright, Robin.”

“Now let me tell you what it truly means to be an archaeologist.”

Robin nodded enthusiastically, her voice bright:

“Yes!”

“Professor Clover!”

With a serious face, Clover said:

“Knowledge is history.”

“This Tree of Knowledge, with a lifespan of five thousand years—”

“Houses a countless trove of documents gathered from all over the world.”

“This is an irreplaceable treasure for all of humanity.”

“This is the world’s largest and oldest library.”

“With us—the brilliant archaeologists gathered under this Tree—”

“By studying these books, there’s no historical mystery we can’t solve.”

“Understand, Robin?”

Robin smiled joyfully.

“I understand!”

Clover patted her head, smiling.

“I hope you’ll study all kinds of cultures.”

“And make your own contribution to the world.”

Robin nodded firmly.

“Mhm!”

“Doctor, I want to uncover the mystery of the Void Century.”

Her words made Clover break out in a cold sweat.

“No! You must not study those texts!”

Robin looked confused.

“Why?”

“Can’t we just study the historical texts—”

“And find out what happened in that hundred-year gap?”

Clover tensed.

“How do you know about that?”

“Did you sneak down to the basement with your powers again?”

Seeing Robin’s guilty expression, Clover began to sweat even more.

“You know that deciphering historical texts is a crime, right?”

Robin turned away.

“But everyone still sneaks into the basement late at night to study…”

Clover was stunned.

“Robin, how do you even know that?”

“Just what is going on? Did you spy on us again?”

“Answer me! Robin!”

Robin raised her head.

“Because even if I asked you, none of you would let me come.”

“That’s why I wanted to become an archaeologist…”

“So I could be with everyone…”

Clover fell silent, then crouched down.

“Robin, you’re still a child.”

“We’ve all prepared ourselves to lose our heads if things are exposed, yet we press on with our research.”

“Ever since that topic became taboo 800 years ago—”

“Countless scholars have died for it.”

“But in all of history, only we—the people of Ohara—have deciphered this far.”

“We have no way back.”

“I want you to swear on the Tree of Knowledge that you’ll never approach the basement again.”

“Otherwise…”

“I’ll forbid you from ever entering the research facility and the library again.”

“Understood?”

Robin’s tears overflowed. She couldn’t believe how distant Clover suddenly felt…

She ran out the door.

The others wanted to stop her but, remembering something, remained frozen.

After she disappeared, Clover let out a sigh.

A nearby scholar voiced concern.

“She’s walking exactly the same path as her mother.”

Clover’s face turned grim.

“She doesn’t yet know what happened a few days ago.”

“Robin’s mother, Olvia, has already been captured.”

“And what comes next… we can only imagine…”

“Sigh…”

—

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