"Buster Call?!!"
Dragon sobered up a little upon hearing the news.
Kuzan picked up the conversation.
"That's right. The World Government discovered that Ohara's scholars were researching the Void Century, so they ordered the Marines to launch a Buster Call on Ohara. Admiral Sengoku finalized the list of Vice Admirals for the Buster Call this afternoon. They'll set out first thing tomorrow."
"But isn't Brother Mo only a colonel? Why is he taking part?"
Dragon was still completely confused as he asked in bewilderment.
"Because Mr. Garp had something to deal with, so Xingchen is carrying out the mission in his place. And let me tell you, Xingchen beat Sakazuki up again in the meeting room today."
Kuzan first glanced around and, after making sure there was no one familiar nearby, raised a hand to his mouth and leaned closer to Dragon to gossip in a low voice.
"Wow! Brother Mo, you're amazing! You—"
Dragon's drunken eyes immediately brightened when he heard that Mo Xingchen had beaten Sakazuki again. Just as he was about to ask for the details, he suddenly came to his senses. The important thing was the Buster Call.
"Wait! That's not right! Ohara is just a group of defenseless scholars. They're sending out a Buster Call just because they studied history? Isn't that going too far?"
Mo Xingchen looked at Dragon's clear yet foolish eyes, shook his head, and could only explain helplessly.
"This matter isn't that complicated. Although I don't know what exactly was recorded in that blank period of history, I can probably make a pretty good guess. Before any regime is established, it first has to establish its own legitimacy and righteousness. Therefore, the darker or less glorious events from its founding or growth will inevitably be covered up and hidden by the government.
There isn't actually much wrong with Ohara researching the Void Century. Scholars having an interest in studying history is perfectly normal. Even if the World Government bans this kind of activity, as long as you investigate these things privately, the government can't really be bothered to care. But you're researching it openly and in an organized manner. The government already warned you, yet you still went your own way and even made a huge spectacle of sailing all over the world to search for it. Then the government can no longer tolerate it.
For example, if the three of us are drinking and talking badly about the World Government, Cipher Pol won't come arrest us. But if the three of us were giving organized speeches in the town square and publicly slandering the World Government, do you think someone would come arrest us?"
Dragon was speechless after hearing Mo Xingchen's explanation. It was true. They had clearly been warned, but they refused to listen. Who could they blame? Adults had to take responsibility for their own actions. Then he remembered something and asked with a conflicted expression.
"What about Ohara's civilians...?"
Kuzan interrupted Dragon and reassured him.
"The World Government sent Cipher Pol and evacuation ships to Ohara today to organize the civilians' safe evacuation. That's why the Marines are leaving a day later, tomorrow. The extra time is for Cipher Pol to screen the civilians."
"Ah..."
Dragon let out a sigh. Perhaps he was lamenting Ohara's fate, or perhaps he was irritated by his own confusion. He shook his head, opened another bottle of alcohol, and began chugging it down.
Mo Xingchen and Kuzan continued drinking and chatting about their experiences over the past year or so. Kuzan's daily life had been incredibly dull—aside from fighting, there was only more fighting.
Mo Xingchen's life had been far more interesting. He traveled everywhere with his sworn little sister and occasionally captured pirates along the way to spice up life. Perhaps Kuzan's future habit of aimlessly riding a bicycle across the sea had been influenced by Mo Xingchen.
In the end, Dragon drank himself senseless. Kuzan carried him home, while Mo Xingchen shamelessly took photos of Dragon from the side.
The next morning, at the Naval Port of Marineford.
Four Vice Admiral-class warships and ten vessels waited quietly.
On the Dog-head Warship under Vice Admiral Garp's command, Mo Xingchen asked William beside him with a puzzled expression.
"Everything was loaded long ago. Why haven't we set out yet?"
"I don't know either, Colonel. But I don't see Vice Admiral Sauron's warship. Could something have delayed him?"
William was equally confused as he looked around.
Before they could think further, the lighthouse signaled them to depart with flag signals, and the fleet slowly began moving.
Mo Xingchen called Kuzan.
"Kuzan, what's going on?"
"I heard Sauron argued with Admiral Sengoku yesterday, then sailed out with an arrested scholar. He may have already defected from the Marines."
"Ah... another fool who can't see reality clearly. Even stupider than Dragon. I'm going to sleep for a while. Talk later."
On Ohara's northwestern coast.
"Are you from the Giant race?"
An eight-year-old girl stood atop a small hillock, her hands clasped behind her back as she looked up at the giant before her and asked cautiously.
"Dereshishishishi~ Don't be afraid. I'm not some barbarian from 'Elbaf.' I won't eat people."
"I see..."
The little girl was still inevitably afraid and replied half-believingly.
"Don't worry. I belong to one of the more steady Giant tribes. I'm only staying here because I injured my foot. Once it gets a little better, I plan to build a raft and leave."
"Mm."
"Although I know there isn't much hope, I still want to ask you not to tell anyone about this after you go home. My presence might bring some danger."
"Mm. Then I'm going home."
The little girl nodded, waved, and ran away.
The next day.
"Here, big guy."
The little girl climbed up the hillock again, stood on tiptoe, and held the rice ball in her hands high over her head.
"Dereshishishishi, thank you! My name is Sauron. What's your name?"
Seeing the big guy take the rice ball from her hands, even though it did not look bigger than one of his teeth, he had not refused it. The little girl happily smiled and shouted.
"Robin. My name is Nico Robin!"
Thus, the one big and one small became friends. Over the next few days, Robin came to chat with Sauron every day. He was the first friend she had ever made.
"The raft! It's finished! Dereshishishishi..."
Little Robin had originally been happy for Sauron, but her expression gradually darkened. Looking sad, she carefully asked.
"Then... are you leaving?"
"Why are you making such a lonely face? I was thinking of adding a flag, so I'll be staying here a little longer! Dereshishishishi!"
Robin's little face instantly regained its brightness, and she happily said.
"Really? Then I'll tell you a secret. There's a blank period in history that lasted over a hundred years, and my mother is an amazing archaeologist! When I was very little, she went out to sea with everyone to investigate that history all over the world!
I miss her... Even though I can't clearly remember what she looks like anymore, I've studied very hard. I believe she'll definitely come back, and then she can take me out to sea with her, because I'm an archaeologist now too!
But you absolutely can't tell anyone else, because researching that history is illegal."
Sauron's pupils shook violently. No way, it can't be that much of a coincidence. This is Ohara? Robin! Nico Robin! She's Nico Olvia's daughter! He hurriedly asked.
"Robin, is this Ohara? Do you remember your mother's name?"
"That's right, this is Ohara! My mother's name is Nico Olvia."
"Listen to me, Robin! What I'm about to say may be hard for you to believe, but it's all true! A Marine fleet is heading for Ohara. They'll kill every scholar on the island and sink all of Ohara!
So hurry back to town! Maybe your mother has already returned. Find her! Have her take you aboard an evacuation ship! That's the only way you can survive!"
Sauron grabbed little Robin, set her down from the hillock, and pushed her back with a finger, trying to make her run as quickly as possible.
Before you continue