The Killing Begins

"Robin!"

Ross looked calmly at Robin and said coldly, "I never promised you I'd spare Professor Clover."

"Ah..."

Robin stopped crying, frightened by a single look from Ross.

Even though Ross had not used Conqueror's Haki, anyone who possessed it carried immense pressure toward ordinary people in every gesture—even a glance.

"Alright, Olvia, let's return to what we were discussing."

Ross still held that stack of documents in his left hand as he spoke unhurriedly. "You want to continue researching the historical text? Fine. I agree."

"Really?"

Hearing that she could still live—and continue her research—Olvia's eyes immediately lit up.

Professor Clover was already dead. He could never come back to life.

All those who remained alive could do was help Professor Clover fulfill his wish: continue researching the historical text and reveal those vanished hundred years to the public.

There was a full century-long gap in the history of the entire world.

Nine hundred years ago, the pirate world had still been in an age of chaos.

Yet eight hundred years ago, the World Government was founded. The pirate world gradually gained order, and that order had continued to this day.

Any scholar of history would be interested in that missing century.

What kind of history had been sealed away by the World Government and forbidden from being studied?

In their eyes, history belonged to every person in this world. The World Government should not prevent people from learning the truth.

Countless people had followed one another under this belief, and that was how Ohara came to be what it was today.

Born and raised in such an environment, Olvia had long regarded researching and uncovering that period of history as her faith.

Even if she had to give up everything, she would uncover that history!

"It's simple. I have so many sheets of paper in my hand, and each one represents the life of someone from Ohara. For every person you kill with your own hands, I'll give you one sheet."

"If you can collect every sheet, I'll allow you to research that period of history," Ross said teasingly.

"How can you guarantee that you'll keep your word?" Olvia asked nervously.

She knew very well that unless Ross personally granted permission, everyone else in Ohara would have to die today.

If this could earn her the right to research the truth, then it was a deal worth making.

She would carry everyone's final wishes onward!

"I swear it in the name of the Jaygarcia Family," Ross said calmly. "You should understand what that surname represents."

"I do. It is the surname of one of the current Five Elders."

Olvia nodded gently. As a historian, she understood the significance of that name well.

Not even a Celestial Dragon could break a promise made in their own family name. If word got out, Ross would inevitably be stripped of his status as a Celestial Dragon.

She was a smart woman.

At the very least, her worth was not enough for Ross to make such an exchange.

"Get started. There are thirty-nine documents in total. This gun holds eight bullets. You used one just now, so there are seven left. I'll give you four magazines—exactly enough."

Ross handed the platinum pistol to Olvia, not the least bit worried that she would suddenly attack him.

Not to mention that Zephyr, who possessed the strength of an admiral, and Zany, who possessed the strength of a Shichibukai, stood beside him—even if she used that broken little gun, its bullets could not penetrate his defenses without Armament Haki.

Host: Ross

Strength: 815132/600000 (C, Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral)

Overall Rating: A (When out in the world, rely entirely on your status)

Skills: Hakoku Sovereignty, Conqueror's Haki (B), Ancient Language (B), Swordsmanship (C), Gun Technique (C), Physical Technique (C)...

By now, he at least possessed a C-rank physique. Ordinary firearms were already ineffective against him.

"I'm sorry!"

Olvia took the gun and suddenly cried out in anguish.

Then...

Bang!!!

She pulled the trigger, and a historian crouching on the ground fell at once.

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry..."

"..."

Olvia cried out helplessly, her eyes filled with reluctance and sorrow.

Yet her movements were not slow in the slightest.

Every gunshot represented the loss of a life.

"Uncle Oka!"

"No! Aunt Minako!"

"Don't! Mom, stop! Don't kill Grandpa Mode!"

"..."

Watching her mother personally kill the scholars who had once taught her, Robin had long since burst into tears, sobbing so hard she could barely speak.

Compared to Olvia, whom she had barely met a few times, it was these historians who had spent far more time by her side.

It was also because these historians had accepted her that she found the motivation to study history and became an official scholar at the age of eight.

But now...

Those uncles, aunts, grandpas, and grandmas who had treated her so well were being slaughtered by her mother... no, by Olvia.

Why?

Why?

Why could Uncle Willen choose to kill himself for his family, yet her own mother had to be so extreme?

Was researching Poneglyphs really that important?

Important enough that, even after Olvia had secured both their lives, she still had to personally kill the Comrades who had treated Robin so well.

Everyone had always said Olvia was a kind person!

"Someone... someone save them!!!"

Robin cried out helplessly. Everyone else present watched the scene in silence.

Mother Olvia kept saying she was sorry as she carried out the slaughter. Even when blood splattered across her face, she did not seem to think anything was wrong.

Her daughter Robin kept trying to stop her, but Olvia acted as though she could not hear, continuing to raise her gun and fire.

Some historians tried to flee, but CP9 surrounded them. How could they possibly be given a chance to escape?

The moment anyone tried to run, CP9 would kick them back with precision, sending them right in front of Olvia to become the next lamb to be shot.

"Save them?"

Ross calmly watched Olvia's massacre. Sure enough, not every historian was like Willen.

Among them, Olvia was probably the one most obsessed with history.

Ross suddenly turned around and smilingly pinched Robin's cheek.

"Since you want that so badly, I'll give you a chance to save them."

Robin's lifeless eyes immediately lit up as she looked at Ross in delighted surprise.

Ross clapped his hands, stopping Olvia from continuing her slaughter.

Olvia lowered her arm and stared blankly at Ross.

From the moment she fired her first shot, Olvia's heart had already died.

"Saint Ross, have I finished?"

"You killed twenty-four. You're still fifteen short, so it's not enough."

Ross shook his head. Glancing over the small number of people remaining, he spoke in a voice that was not loud, yet everyone could hear it clearly.

"There aren't many people left. I'll count each of them as two, but I won't stop them from resisting. Oh, right—whoever kills you today can leave alive, but they must represent Ohara and publicly admit that Ohara was wrong to research forbidden history."

"Those willing to accept can begin resisting. Those unwilling can wait peacefully for death."

"Ross, didn't you promise to let Olvia leave alive?"

Robin anxiously tugged at Ross's clothes, but at some point, the way she addressed Olvia had changed.

"What I promised you was that the Marines and the World Government would not intervene. But if her Comrades make a move, there's nothing I can do about it. Besides, this is the path your mother chose for herself."

Ross gently shook his head, ignoring Robin's pleas.

If you don't witness the deepest darkness, how can you fall completely into darkness?

You'll find your Comrades someday?

After being betrayed by your own mother, would you still believe in so-called Comrades, in so-called salvation?