Deep within the valley near Ohara's coastline.
Robin looked at the strange giant and couldn't help but laugh:
"What a weird laugh."
Saul chuckled:
"People have always said my laugh sounds weird since I was little."
"But it's kind of cute when you laugh."
Robin froze for a mont. Saul continued:
"You should smile more often."
"My na's Saul."
"Jaguar D. Saul."
Robin suddenly looked up:
"D?"
...
West Blue, aboard a governnt ship.
A black-suited CP agent picked up the call. A voice ca through the Den Den Mushi:
"This is Marine Headquarters, requesting Spandine-sama."
The CP agent glanced toward the figure at the bow:
"It's for you, sir."
At the bow, Spandine looked out at the sea and sighed:
"You answer it. They're just checking in anyway."
"I'll contact them once we arrive."
"Who cares about Ohara or whatever."
"Why the hell did I get sent to this godforsaken West Blue?"
"Seriously..."
"What a shitty assignnt."
...
Several days later.
Tree of Knowledge.
Nico Olvia stood in the hall, her expression filled with guilt.
"I'm sorry. I brought bad news right after returning."
"But everything I'm about to say is the truth…"
Clover crossed his arms and looked at Olvia:
"So the governnt's finally noticed this land."
Olvia lowered her head in sha:
"Everyone's seen the papers, haven't they?"
"The expedition team that left from Ohara six years ago—all of them, except —"
"were killed."
"After thoroughly examining the belongings of my companions…"
"the governnt concluded that we ca from Ohara…"
"I'm sorry, everyone."
"Because of us, disaster has co to this land."
She covered her tear-streaked face in pain.
Professor Clover looked at her and said:
"You don't need to bla yourself."
"Whether those who went to sea or those who stayed behind—"
"we're all on the sa front line."
"And the ones who've suffered the most this whole ti… are all of you."
"You've been through a lot…"
Olvia stared at Professor Clover in a daze:
"Professor…"
Professor Clover said:
"The governnt has always seen Ohara as a threat."
"Now they probably think they've finally found a reason to act."
Olvia suddenly realized and said urgently:
"Yes!"
"That's why everyone has to run!"
"They want to wipe out all the scholars!"
"Everyone, please flee Ohara!!!"
Professor Clover looked around them:
"Yes… this ti, we probably won't escape their investigation."
"But… Olvia."
"I can't abandon the wealth of human knowledge just to save myself."
"You understand, don't you?"
The surrounding scholars also began to smile.
"We feel the sa, Olvia."
"Hahahahaha."
"We don't know exactly what the governnt's planning—"
"but if we run away, who will protect this place?"
"We'll give it our all this ti too."
Professor Clover looked at Olvia:
"Co to think of it, you still have soone you care about, don't you?"
"She's just like you were when you were little."
"A rare genius."
A gentle look flashed in Olvia's eyes, but then she closed them in pain:
"As long as she's safe, that's enough."
"Now that I've chosen this path, I have to sever ties with her."
"I can't let her beco the daughter of a criminal…"
Just then, the doors were flung open.
"Professor Clover! A ship bearing the World Governnt flag has arrived!"
...
West Blue, Ohara, port.
Spandine said lazily:
"Inform Headquarters."
"We've arrived."
"One by one, move it, move it."
"Ahh, what a pain."
"But once this is done, I should get a promotion."
"Hey!"
"Go round up every scholar on this island!"
A number of black-suited CP agents wearing sunglasses charged toward the island with rifles in hand.
"Yes, sir!!!!"
...
West Blue, near Ohara — the Buster Call fleet was approaching.
The entire fleet had received the news that CP9 leader Spandine had landed on Ohara.
Aboard Sakazuki's warship.
Sakazuki gave a curt nod without speaking.
Aboard Kuzan's warship.
Kuzan opened his drowsy eyes at his subordinate's report and shouted angrily:
"What the hell? You're waking up over sothing this small!?!"
The signal officer stamred nervously:
"S-sorry!"
...
Ohara, deep in the forest.
Bang—
A gunshot rang out. Spandine, walking ahead of two CP agents, suddenly dropped to the ground, screaming:
"Aaaahhhh!!!"
"I've been shot! This is it! I'm dying!"
"You bastards!!!"
"Tell my superiors my son will take my position!"
The CP agent on his right looked at him coldly:
"Sir, please look carefully."
"It only hit your sleeve."
Spandine sat up as if nothing had happened:
"Oh, it was just my sleeve, huh?"
Olvia stepped out of the woods with her gun raised:
"I won't miss next ti."
Spandine sat cross-legged, one hand propping up his chin:
"Aren't you the infamous escapee from Marine prison?"
"What a miraculous encounter, Nico Olvia."
"You always denied having ties with the Ohara scholars, and now here you are."
"That basically confirms this is your hotown."
"In other words, the scholars here are committing the sa cri as you."
A cold sweat trickled down Olvia's forehead:
"My appearance here proves nothing."
Spandine shrugged indifferently:
"Yeah, yeah, I know you won't admit it."
"You probably prepared your excuses in advance."
"You're a smart woman, after all."
"But that doesn't matter anymore."
"As long as we dig deep enough,"
"we'll find evidence."
"Your capture was rely a pretext."
"Every ti we round up archaeologists around the world, we always look for links to Ohara."
"Do you know why?"
Olvia's expression changed as she realized:
"You want to destroy Ohara to warn the world."
Spandine pushed himself up from the ground with one hand:
"Exactly."
"Destroying the sacred land of archaeology, Ohara,"
"will be a major event in the academic world."
"It will show the whole world what happens to those who try to uncover the Void Century."
Olvia gritted her teeth:
"What about the warships waiting offshore?"
Spandine's brows furrowed:
"Just how much do you know?"
"Well, whatever, I'll tell you."
"It's to make sure none of the criminals we're making an example of slip through the net."
"But formally, we still need to confirm your cris."
"After all, we're not pirates."
"I was specially assigned to this operation."
As soon as he finished speaking, Spandine's lighthearted expression turned cold:
"Eliminate her."
Splat—
Two figures flashed past…
Olvia's body slowly fell to the ground…
...
Ohara, plaza in front of the Tree of Knowledge.
All the scholars had been tied up and brought here.
Spandine ordered his n to throw Olvia, her limbs broken, in front of everyone.
"Aaaahhh~"
"Today, the world's greatest archaeologists are going to die."
"My job here is done."
"All that's left is reporting to the Elders."
Robin asked Professor Clover in confusion:
"Why? That can't be true, right, Professor?"
"It's just reading ancient texts—why…"
Spandine overheard Robin and said exaggeratedly:
"You're such a dumb kid."
"Their goal is to awaken powerful weapons."
"To slaughter countless humans."
Robin turned to argue:
"You're lying! They never intended anything like that!"
Professor Clover opened his eyes:
"Don't, Robin."
"There's no point reasoning with a governnt lackey like him."
"Is it really the weapons themselves that the governnt fears?"
Just then, a CP agent handed Spandine the Den Den Mushi:
"Connected, sir."
Professor Clover suddenly spoke:
"Perfect timing."
"Let speak with the Elders—the highest authorities of the World Governnt—before I die."
"I want to report our findings after years of research in Ohara."
"Our deduction regarding the Void Century."
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