I Study History

"Sir, we can testify that Willen is that 'Informed of History.' We've known him since we were kids."

"Right, right, I can also confirm!"

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

"Yeah, I didn't know Willen had infiltrated the group. He was wearing a mask before, otherwise I definitely would have reported him. We're innocent!"

"..."

The civilians nearby, overhearing the conversation, immediately began pointing fingers at Willen.

They didn't want to be implicated. They were just ordinary people who wanted to live their lives peacefully.

"Make them shut up and move them aside."

Ross waved his hand, and the Marine soldiers beside him immediately took action, driving the civilians to a distance. Only Ross, a few others, and Doyle's family remained.

After clearing the area, Ross looked at Willen with a half-smile.

"So that's the reason you turned yourself in."

"I'm a historian. Most civilians are just a mob most of the time."

Willen nodded helplessly, saying bitterly, "I could fool the Marines, but I couldn't fool these fellow villagers. They really know my identity."

"Indeed."

Ross nodded slightly in agreement.

In times of crisis, one couldn't even rely on parents or siblings, let alone a group of fellow villagers.

Earlier, Willen could still pretend to be a distant relative of the Doyle family, but he had to remove his disguise before boarding the evacuation ship. Once the villagers reported him, his disguise would be blown.

There was no need to gamble on this.

To survive smoothly, any normal person would choose to report him, otherwise, if discovered, everyone on the ship could die.

"Then why did you try to turn yourself in? I remember you were on the run before. If you hadn't come back, you might still have had a chance to escape," Ross pressed.

"I'm a historian. Those who abandoned their families in history never had a good ending."

Willen smiled as he looked back at his family, the people he couldn't bear to leave behind.

He knew very well that with him being a wanted man, his family wouldn't be able to live.

Even if they survived, they would become bait to lure him out. If he didn't show himself, his entire family would die.

For this reason alone, he had to return.

Not to protect the Poneglyphs of Ohara, but to protect his family.

"As a man, aren't you afraid of being implicated?" Ross asked with a smile.

"Although I'm a historian, it would be self-deception to say I'm not afraid. I'm not only afraid! I'm even more afraid when I hear Your Highness's name!"

Willen laughed heartily. While he spoke of fear, there was no trace of timidity in his voice.

"You truly don't fear death." Ross smiled.

This 'Informed of History' was quite interesting, fitting his taste perfectly.

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

Willen's lips curved into a smile as he gazed tenderly at his worried family.

From the moment he started researching Poneglyphs, he knew this day would come.

But alas, he couldn't control his curiosity, which ultimately harmed his family.

For this, he could only atone with his own life.

"Are all historians like you?"

Ross saw the resolve to die in Willen's eyes and looked at him with a hint of respect.

Anyone willing to die for their family was, after all, a man.

"I'm a historian. History has taught me to be reasonable. Unfortunately, because of this damned curiosity, I still made a mistake," Willen replied solemnly.

"I'll give you a chance." Ross took out the Platinum Handgun from his back and offered it to Willen.

"Kill those civilians, or kill one of your family members, and everyone else, including you, can live. Furthermore, I promise you that in the future, you'll be able to research Poneglyphs and satisfy your curiosity."

Ross enjoyed watching people struggle and also enjoyed giving them opportunities.

This time, he hadn't sworn on his family's name.

If Willen killed the civilians, he would let Willen live, but there would be no chance to research Poneglyphs in the future.

If Willen killed his family, not only would he not be allowed to research Poneglyphs, but he would also be turned into a slave and thrown into the Celestial Dragons' fighting pits.

If Willen refused, he would gladly keep his promise.

"Can I have another promise from Your Highness instead?"

Willen took the gun and suddenly looked up.

"Are you truly not afraid of death?" Ross retorted.

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

"Speak, you're worth the price."

Ross sighed. From the moment Willen picked up the gun and asked, he knew what the other party intended to do.

"I only ask Your Highness to promise me that you will treat my family well!"

Willen looked steadily at Ross, knowing the meaning behind every choice Ross made.

But he was a historian, and he had his own pride.

"Granted!"

Ross sighed softly and nodded solemnly at Willen.

Immediately, he turned around and walked away step by step.

Bang!!!

Behind him, a gunshot rang out.

Following that were cries of panic:

"Daddy!!!"

"Willen!"

"Willen!!!"

"Uncle Willen!!!"

"..."

Robin's shouts and cries were mixed in among them.

Willen had been very good to her, and she hadn't expected him to choose suicide for the sake of his family.

At this moment, Robin thought of herself again.

She had also chosen to abandon Sauron for her mother.

The difference was that she chose to kill others, while Willen did not choose to kill anyone else, but chose to kill himself.

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

Willen's suicide had a huge impact on her.

So, this was another option Ross gave...

Ross did not participate in the commotion, but walked forward at a very slow pace.

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

Seeing Ross take the handgun, Gion pursed her lips and asked, "Did that Willen have to die?"

"There was never a 'must die'; he knew how to live," Ross glanced at Gion and said unhurriedly. "It's just that for some people, some things are more important than life."

"More important than life..."

Gion's eyes flickered, and a touch of melancholy appeared in their depths.

"Alright, you'll have plenty of time to think about it back there. Now, we need to go see the other scholars and see if they have the backbone."

Ross placed the tear-swollen Robin steadily on his shoulder and strode forward.

"Saint Ross, how should the Doyle family be dealt with?"

As they walked, the Rear Admiral beside him, though frightened, stepped forward to inquire.

Even with Ross's promise, they still needed to clarify, in case Ross went back on his word.

"Have them board the warship I'm on, and then arrange for them to be placed in the Marine family quarters. As for Willen's body... ask his family and do as they wish," Ross said calmly.

"Yes, sir!"

The Rear Admiral immediately hurried away after receiving the order.

Hearing Ross's instructions, Zephyr and Gion looked at Ross with changed expressions.

They could accept Ross's cruelty, but they also admired the heroic act of protecting his family.

Ross's willingness to grant dignity to the deceased already surpassed most Celestial Dragons and Nobles.

"Don't move!"

Under the Tree of Knowledge, Spandine led a group of CP9 members. All the historians were gathered together.

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

It wasn't that they lacked courage, but that those with courage had already fallen in pools of blood.

Looking at the fallen scholars not far away, the remaining historians trembled even more violently.

Of course, not everyone is like these scholars.

Doctor Clover stood in front of the scholars, his gaze fixed on Spandine. Beside her, Olvia stood with her lips pursed, also glaring at CP9 with angry eyes.

If looks could kill, Spandine would have been killed tens of thousands of times over.

But unfortunately, looks can't kill. They were just a group of scholars with no power whatsoever.

"Stop looking at me like that, hmph. If it weren't for the Prince's orders, I would have already executed you scoundrels."

Spandine scanned the crowd dismissively, not taking them seriously at all.

They had no power, yet they clamored about researching lost history every day. How dare they.

"You are the scoundrels! What's wrong with us researching that history? History belongs to everyone. Revealing all the truth is the expectation of everyone in the world." Olvia retorted emotionally.

"Huh? Everyone in the world expects it?"

Spandine looked at Olvia as if she were an idiot. "Have you gone crazy from researching history? Who told you that everyone in the world expects it? I don't expect it. Besides, the World Government has explicitly forbidden it, and that is what everyone in the world expects."

"The World Government is wrong. I want to speak with the Five Elders," Doctor Clover said sternly.

"You lot? You think you're worthy?"

Spandine said dismissively. If Saint Ross hadn't told him to spare the lives of these two, he would have already dealt with them.

"Sir, a powerful individual is approaching. Judging by their aura alone, we estimate we wouldn't last a single round against them."

A black-clothed CP9 agent ran up to Spandine and whispered in his ear.

"They're not an enemy. It must be the Prince arriving. Prepare to welcome him."

Upon hearing the black-clothed CP9 agent, Spandine knew Saint Ross was coming. The moment he turned his head, his expression changed instantly.

He excitedly watched the few black dots approach and shouted with fervor:

"CP9 Officer Spandine, along with the members of CP9, respectfully welcomes Saint Ross!"

The instant his voice rang out, all the CP9 members, as if rehearsed, knelt towards Saint Ross's direction.

This display by CP9 completely stunned Olvia and Doctor Clover.

The title "Saint."

It could only mean a Celestial Dragon had arrived.

They hadn't expected that the Buster Call on Ohara would actually attract a Celestial Dragon.