Setting Out for Ohara

Seeing the grave expressions on Gion and Zephyr's faces, Ross said nothing more and simply turned toward the cabin.

He had already said everything that needed to be said.

If he wanted his subordinates' wholehearted loyalty, benefits and personal bonds alone would not be enough.

Most importantly, their goals had to align with his own. Those beneath him had to feel that they were striving toward the same goal.

That was why faith was the ultimate secret of loyalty.

If he had been capable of spreading beliefs, Ross would have wanted to establish a theocracy. Unfortunately, he lacked that ability, so he could only think about it.

Since he could not rely on faith, he would settle for the next best thing: a shared goal.

Right now, Zephyr and Gion had no particular ambitions. They simply believed in order.

What Ross needed to do was equate their vision of the future with the order he wanted to create.

Put simply, he had to keep selling them dreams and keep brainwashing Zephyr and Gion.

Ross had never put it into practice, but he had seen enough. No matter how bad the society in that other world was, it was still more advanced than the slave system of the Pirate World.

After subtly guiding them over time, even if the Revolutionary Army's ideology spread in the future, Gion and Zephyr would not be confused. They would only stand firmly at his side.

A day passed quickly.

During that time, Borsalino and Akainu came to Ross's warship and met with him, becoming familiar with each other.

Borsalino had an S- rating, while Akainu only had a B.

By now, Kuzan was the only one he had yet to meet.

Kuzan had remained aboard his own warship these past few days, perfectly pretending Ross did not exist.

As long as Ross did not summon him, he would not take the initiative to visit.

From Kuzan's actions, Ross could also see the current thinking of the Navy's dovish faction.

Do not provoke, do not approach.

The doves believed they were upholding justice, not working themselves to death for the World Government.

Such innocent, simple-minded thoughts. They were all good people.

But in any world, good people were always the ones who lived the most miserable lives.

The sea breeze drifted gently by as Ross stood at the bow of the warship and gazed into the distance.

An island ahead gradually grew larger, and the towering tree upon it slowly came into view.

Behind him, Gion and Zephyr stood straight in CP0's white suits.

"Ohara, the Holy Land of historians. The Tree of Knowledge, which has survived for five thousand years, really is magnificent."

Ross raised his head and looked at the towering tree that nearly covered the entire island, a trace of amazement entering his eyes.

Ohara was not small. Even if it was a little crowded, it could easily house a hundred thousand people.

Yet the Tree of Knowledge alone occupied nearly half of Ohara.

Its incomparably lush canopy was especially like a vast cover blotting out the sky, bathing most of the island in its shade.

"Unfortunately, today it will become history."

Sakazuki walked to the bow, his tone cold.

He did not care about some five-thousand-year-old relic. So long as he believed something was right, he would carry it through to the end.

"What are the procedures according to the plan? I recall that civilians are to be evacuated as well?"

Ross looked at Sakazuki. With Ross supporting him from behind, Sakazuki was the true commander of this Buster Call.

"Hmph. Headquarters has ordered the evacuation of civilians. Only all historians are to be killed. Once everyone has been evacuated, the Tree of Knowledge will be destroyed."

Sakazuki crossed his arms, his face revealing his dissatisfaction with Headquarters' orders.

In his view, those people at Headquarters were far too merciful.

Since they dared study forbidden taboos that had been explicitly banned, they should be prepared to die.

The fact that those civilians lived near the Tree of Knowledge proved they were connected to those historians. They had most likely provided the historians with assistance, and historians were probably hidden among them as well.

Justice that was not absolute was absolute injustice.

"Since that is Headquarters' decision, we'll do it that way. I'll land on the island with you."

"But speaking honestly, I still think more highly of Vice Admiral Sakazuki becoming Fleet Admiral. If you were Fleet Admiral, those historians probably would not have dared conduct their research recklessly. This Buster Call might never have happened."

Ross's seemingly casual remark made Sakazuki's eyes flicker.

Had he not wanted to become Fleet Admiral?

But within the Navy, advancement required more than just strength.

"Enough. Let's go ashore. Vice Admiral Sakazuki, contact me anytime if something happens. CP9 reported that they found some interesting people on the island, so I won't be going with you."

Ross waved at Sakazuki. His main purpose in coming to Ohara was still to satisfy his collector's obsession. What happened to Ohara and its historians was not within his consideration.

"Yes, sir!"

Sakazuki rarely bowed to Ross. It looked like an ordinary farewell to a superior, but in truth, it expressed the change in his attitude toward Ross.

Ross's lips curled up slightly. He took two steps forward, and Zany obediently lowered herself, allowing Ross to step onto her back.

Ohara had a harbor, but since they were preparing to carry out a Buster Call, the warships naturally would not dock there. They would remain in the shallow waters, ready to provide artillery coverage at any moment.

To reach the island, they first had to cross roughly one kilometer of sea.

He had only just begun learning Geppo, and he had not obtained any related traits recently. For now, he could not easily cross that kilometer.

Swimming over would be far too damaging to his image.

But then again, he was a Celestial Dragon.

Once Ross had steadied himself, a pair of Devil Wings extended from Zany's back, while a heart-shaped Succubus Tail emerged from behind her.

The slender Succubus Tail swiftly coiled around Ross's waist, ensuring that his body would remain stable in the air.

After doing all that, Zany beat her Devil Wings and carried Ross into the sky.

Gion and Zephyr used Geppo to his left and right, following alongside Zany.

Not even all of Ohara was as important as Ross's safety.

If something truly happened to Ross in Ohara, every Navy officer carrying out the Buster Call would be implicated.

Standing on Zany's back, Ross quickly reached Ohara's shallows.

"Your Highness, allow me to carry you for the rest of the journey," Zany said respectfully.

"Forget about carrying me. I'm not slow, and the situation over there isn't urgent."

Ross shook his head and stepped down from Zany's back.

Although riding Zany was quite comfortable, he was not about to treat her as a mount.

After spending these days together, Ross had more or less come to understand Zany's personality.

As long as she was given an order, Zany would do her best to carry it out perfectly.

But at the same time, Zany's greatest wish was to receive fewer orders each day.

Ross could not simply stop giving Zany orders. That would go against his original intentions.

But giving her a little time to relax was not a problem.

"Yes!"

Zany silently retreated behind Ross, spreading her Observation Haki outward as she vigilantly watched their surroundings.

Her task was to protect Ross. Even if she wanted her daily life to be a little easier, she would still complete every task perfectly.

"Gion, where are they?"

Hearing Ross's question, Gion immediately reported, "According to the information sent by Spandine, Nicole Olvia is at the Tree of Knowledge, while Nico Robin is at Sauron's hideout."

"Let's go take a look at Sauron's hideout first."

"Saint Ross, given Sauron's strength, he may pose a threat to you..." Gion frowned slightly.

"With this old man here, what can a mere Sauron possibly do?"

Zephyr snorted, not taking Sauron seriously at all.

So what if he was a Giant Vice Admiral? He was not even in the same league as Zephyr.

Whenever Zephyr thought of the former Navy families in Ross's palace, he wanted nothing more than to beat Sauron senseless.

It was fine if he was dissatisfied with the Buster Call. Fine if he wanted to betray the Navy. But why did he have to drag a group of colleagues down with him?

After dragging down that group of colleagues, it would have been fine if he had done something meaningful. Yet he had done nothing, instead running to Ohara to die. He might as well have turned against them while the Buster Call was underway.

After all that, what had the Navy soldiers who helped Sauron become?

It was not frightening when someone had thoughts of their own. What was frightening was stupidity. Zephyr truly understood the meaning of that saying now.

Today, he would personally purge the Navy of this traitor.