I Study History

"Sir, we can testify that Willen is the one 'who knows about history.' We've known him since we were children."

"Yes, yes, I can testify too!"

"Sir, this has nothing to do with us. Can we leave?"

"Yeah, I had no idea Willen had slipped into the group. He was even wearing a mask before. Otherwise, I definitely would've reported him. I've been wronged!"

The civilians nearby immediately began identifying Willen after overhearing the conversation.

They did not want to be implicated. They were merely civilians who only wanted to live properly.

"Shut them up and drag them aside."

Ross waved a hand, and the nearby Marines immediately moved, driving the civilians into the distance. Only Ross and his group, along with the Doyle family, remained.

Once the area had been cleared, Ross looked at Willen with a faint smile.

"So this was why you turned yourself in."

"I study history. Most civilians are nothing more than a rabble."

Willen nodded helplessly and said bitterly, "I could fool the Marines, but not my fellow townsfolk. They really do know who I am."

"That's true."

Ross nodded slightly in agreement.

In times of crisis, even parents and siblings could not be relied upon, much less a group of fellow townsfolk.

Willen could pretend to be a distant relative of the Doyle family for now, but before boarding the evacuation ship, he would have to remove his disguise. The moment someone reported him, he would be exposed.

There was no need to gamble on something like that.

To survive, any normal person would choose to report him. Otherwise, if he was discovered, everyone on the ship might die.

"Then why did you try in the first place? I remember you were on the run before. If you hadn't returned, you might still have been able to escape," Ross pressed.

"I study history. In history, those who abandoned their families never came to a good end."

Willen smiled as he looked back at his family, the people he could never bring himself to abandon.

He knew very well that with a warrant out for him, his family could not possibly survive.

Even if they did survive, they would become bait to lure him out. If he still refused to show himself, his entire family would die.

For that reason alone, he had to return.

Not to protect Ohara's Poneglyphs, but to protect his family.

"You're a real man. Aren't you afraid they'll be purged along with you?" Ross asked with a smile.

"Though I study history, saying I'm not afraid would only be deceiving myself. I'm terrified! I became even more terrified after hearing Your Highness's name!"

Willen burst into laughter. He spoke of fear, yet there was not the slightest hint of cowardice in him.

"You really aren't afraid of death." Ross smiled.

This "man who knew about history" was indeed interesting. He suited Ross's tastes quite well.

"Your Highness, only if I die can my family live."

With a smile at the corner of his lips, Willen gazed tenderly at his worried family.

From the moment he began researching the Poneglyphs, he had known this day would come.

But in the end, he could not restrain his curiosity, and it had brought disaster upon his family.

For that, he could only use his own life to atone.

"Are all historians like you?"

Ross saw Willen's resolve to die, and a trace of respect appeared in his eyes.

A man willing to die for his family was still a man.

"I study history. History taught me to understand right and wrong. Unfortunately, because of this damned curiosity, I still made a mistake," Willen replied solemnly.

"I'll give you a chance." Ross drew the Platinum Handgun from the back of his waist and held it out before Willen. "Kill those civilians, or kill one member of your family. Then everyone else, including you, can live. And I promise you that in the future, you can continue researching the Poneglyphs and satisfy your curiosity."

Ross enjoyed watching people struggle, and he also liked giving others opportunities.

This time, however, he had not sworn in the name of his family.

If Willen killed the civilians, Ross would let him live, but he would never again have the chance to study the Poneglyphs.

If Willen killed a family member, Ross would not only deny him the chance to research the Poneglyphs, but would turn him into a slave and throw him into the Celestial Dragons' cricket arena.

If Willen refused, Ross would gladly keep his promise.

"Can I exchange that for another promise from Your Highness?"

Willen took the gun and suddenly raised his head.

"You really aren't afraid of death?" Ross asked in return.

"I study history. I know Your Highness won't make things difficult for me," Willen said with a smile.

"Go on. You're worth the price."

Ross sighed. From the moment Willen picked up the gun and asked that question, he had known what Willen intended to do.

"Please, Your Highness, promise me that you'll treat my family well!"

Willen stared steadily at Ross. He knew the meaning behind every choice Ross had offered.

But he studied history, and he had his own pride.

"Granted!"

Ross sighed softly and gave Willen a solemn nod.

Then he turned around and walked away step by step.

Bang!!!

Behind him came the sound of a gunshot.

It was immediately followed by panicked cries.

"Dad!!!"

"Willen!"

"Willen!!!"

"Uncle Willen!!!"

Robin's cries and sobs were mixed in as well.

Willen had always been very kind to her. She had never expected that, for the sake of his family, he would choose suicide.

At that moment, Robin thought of herself again.

She too had chosen to abandon Sauron for her mother.

The difference was that she had chosen to kill someone else, while Willen had not chosen to kill anyone. He had chosen to kill himself.

Perhaps I should have killed myself back then... Robin's heart filled with regret.

Willen's suicide had struck her deeply.

So Ross's choices could be answered like this too...

Ross did not join the commotion. Instead, he walked forward at an unhurried pace.

Several seconds later, Gion appeared beside him and respectfully handed back the Platinum Handgun.

Only after watching Ross take the gun did Gion purse her lips and ask:

"Did Willen have to die?"

"No one ever has to die. He knew how he could live." Ross glanced at Gion and said calmly, "It's just that, to some people, certain things are more important than life."

"More important than life..."

Gion's eyes flickered, and a trace of melancholy appeared in them.

"Enough. You'll have plenty of time to think after we return. Now, it's time to meet the other scholars and see whether they have the same backbone."

Ross settled the sobbing Robin securely on his shoulder and strode forward.

"Saint Ross, how should the Doyle family be handled?"

As they walked, the Navy Rear Admiral beside him stepped forward to ask despite his fear.

Ross had made a promise, but he still had to clarify it. What if Ross went back on his word?

"Let them board my warship, then arrange for them to live in the Marines' family district. As for Willen's body... ask his family and do as they wish," Ross said indifferently.

"Yes, sir!"

After receiving the order, the Navy Rear Admiral immediately hurried away.

Upon hearing Ross's instructions, both Zephyr and Gion looked at him quite differently.

They could accept Ross's cruelty, but they also respected those who protected their families like heroes.

Ross's willingness to grant the dead some dignity already placed him above most Celestial Dragons and nobles.

"Don't move!"

Beneath the Tree of Knowledge, Spandine led a group of CP9 agents as all the historians were gathered together.

Most of the historians were trembling as they crouched on the ground with their heads in their hands, not daring to move at all.

It was not that they lacked courage. Those with courage had already fallen in pools of blood.

Looking at the scholars lying on the ground in the distance, the remaining historians trembled even more violently.

Of course, not everyone was like those scholars.

Professor Clover stood at the front of the scholars, glaring fixedly at Spandine. Beside her, Olvia stood with pursed lips, glaring angrily at CP9 as well.

If looks could kill, Spandine would have died tens of thousands of times already.

But unfortunately, looks could not kill. They were merely a group of powerless scholars.

"Don't fucking look at me like that. Heh, if it weren't for Your Highness's orders, I would've shot you evil bastards dead already."

Spandine swept his gaze across the crowd disdainfully. He did not take these people seriously at all.

They did not have even a shred of strength, yet they clamored every day about researching lost history. Where did they get the nerve?

"You are the evil ones! What's wrong with researching that period of history? History belongs to everyone. Telling everyone the truth is the wish of all people in the world," Olvia retorted emotionally.

"Huh? The wish of all people in the world?"

Spandine looked at Olvia as if she were an idiot. "Have you studied history until your brain rotted? Who said it was the wish of all people in the world? I don't wish for it. Besides, the World Government explicitly forbids it. That is the wish of all people in the world."

"The World Government is wrong. I want to speak with the Five Elders," Professor Clover said in a deep voice.

"You think you're worthy?"

Spandine spoke disdainfully. If Saint Ross had not ordered him to spare these two, he would have dealt with them long ago.

"Sir, a powerful person is approaching. Judging by the sheer pressure alone, we probably wouldn't last a single exchange against them."

A CP9 agent in black hurried to Spandine's side and whispered a warning into his ear.

"Not an enemy. Your Highness should be here. Prepare to receive him."

Upon hearing the black-clad CP9 agent's words, Spandine knew Saint Ross was coming. The moment he turned around, he immediately put on a different expression.

He watched several black dots draw near and shouted excitedly:

"CP9 Chief Spandine, together with all CP9 members, welcomes Saint Ross!"

The instant his voice rang out, every CP9 agent dropped to the ground in the direction of Saint Ross as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

The sight of CP9 doing this left both Olvia and Professor Clover stunned.

The title Saint.

It could only mean that a Celestial Dragon had arrived.

They had never expected that Ohara's Buster Call would actually draw the arrival of a Celestial Dragon.