Ohara

West Blue.

Ohara Island.

Inside the Tree of Knowledge, an invisible visitor quietly browsed the vast collection of books, while none of the archaeologists noticed anything unusual.

Even the Poneglyphs hidden within had been carefully studied.

This person was Belfinger, who had secretly entered West Blue around January.

Using the power of the Base Armor and Lucifer's assistance, he had copied roughly 68% of the books stored in the Tree of Knowledge in less than three months. The remaining 32% was expected to be copied within another month and a half.

Though it was a pity that this place would be destroyed by the Buster Call, Belfinger had no intention of warning these historians. After all, they had already caught the World Government's attention, and CP Agents were highly likely to be lurking on the island.

Moreover, during their research into the Poneglyphs, Ohara had essentially remained half-open to the public. They had even sent a group into the Grand Line in an attempt to find other Poneglyphs.

If these people were truly smart, they would not have done this. Instead, they should have found an isolated island outside Ohara and conducted their research in secret on a limited scale.

During his three months in Ohara, Belfinger had witnessed these scholars' fanatical pursuit of the Poneglyphs, as well as their naivety.

In the town and harbor district, residents could be heard everywhere discussing rather taboo subjects.

Those topics had clearly leaked from the scholars' mouths. Spread by the residents and carried by passing merchant ships, they gradually disseminated among the common folk on nearby islands.

Did they really think the CP Organization did not exist? The World Government had been searching for evidence that Ohara's scholars were studying the Poneglyphs.

All he could say was that these historical scholars had nerves of steel.

Leaving a Clone in the Tree of Knowledge to secretly copy books and materials, Belfinger had no intention of contacting any scholars.

At least from his secret observations, quite a few CP Organization agents had already infiltrated Ohara and begun investigating its specific circumstances.

At a time like this, even showing up in Ohara could draw the CP Organization's attention. If he warned those scholars, he might very well expose his own existence.

Besides, compared with so-called history, Belfinger valued technology more. The Void Century held little meaning for the Human Reform League.

If it involved Ancient Weapons or Ancient Technology, perhaps Belfinger would have been somewhat more interested.

On a beach.

The sunset hung half-submerged beneath sea level. Under the sea breeze, golden waves seemed to shatter into a glittering expanse of light.

Having changed his appearance, Belfinger grilled a large fish weighing over ten pounds while lying on the beach with his eyes closed in thought.

Though his lazy personality made him seem unmotivated, he had actually dispatched Clones to secretly lurk throughout various places in West Blue.

For example, the homeland known as the Flower Country, which held special meaning in Wang Gao's heart. The upheavals within that powerful and mysterious nation were becoming increasingly clear in Belfinger's intelligence reports.

Lucifer's Skynet was also rapidly spreading through West Blue.

Suddenly, footsteps came from the grass nearby. A dirty little girl with tears in her eyes appeared on the beach.

Then she spotted the campfire in the distance, along with a tall person lying on the ground and resting.

Belfinger turned his head and looked at the stunned Nico Robin, then nonchalantly turned back to gaze at the fiery sunset in midair, continuing to space out.

"Aren't you afraid of me?"

"You mean this?"

A vine extended from Belfinger's body and directly bound Nico Robin, pulling her aside. A hint of surprise appeared in Nico Robin's eyes, as if she had found one of her own kind. "Th-this... you're a monster too!"

Belfinger gave her a pitying glance, turned the grilled fish over, and mockingly said with some disdain, "Didn't those history blocks teach you any common sense?"

"Don't talk about Doctor like that." Little Robin puffed out her cheeks fiercely.

"Really? Then why don't you know about your own ability? This isn't even taboo knowledge. You don't even know what a Devil Fruit is. The so-called island of scholars is truly laughable."

"Devil Fruit?" Little Robin looked utterly confused.

Belfinger molded plates and cutlery from the beach sand while explaining Devil Fruit knowledge to Little Robin.

"So that's how it is. There are many people in this world who are like me. That's wonderful!" Little Robin danced happily with excitement.

Belfinger neither confirmed nor denied it. He cut off a piece of fish and placed it on a plate, then poured a cup of Sea Apple juice and set it before Little Robin. "Eat."

"How could I possibly..."

Gurgle, gurgle. Her growling stomach immediately embarrassed Little Robin.

"If you won't eat it, I'll throw it away." With that, Belfinger ignored her and continued eating grilled fish and drinking juice by himself.

Unable to bear her hunger any longer, Little Robin could not resist the temptation of the food. "Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Picking up the knife and fork, she cut off a large piece of grilled fish that was crisp outside and tender within, then stuffed it into her mouth. Although Belfinger's cooking was only average, to Little Robin, who often went hungry, it was simply a heavenly delicacy.

"Mmm... so tasty..."

The next day, after studying history, Robin took some time to find books related to Devil Fruits and confirmed that what the man had said was true.

It was still evening, still beside that campfire.

Robin came here again, told him what had happened that day, and apologized for checking up on Devil Fruits herself.

"Only by doubting everything can one have the possibility of glimpsing the truth," Belfinger said calmly. Then he poured Little Robin a cup of juice.

"Thank you." Little Robin obediently sat on a Stone nearby.

Belfinger cut her another serving of grilled fish and seaweed, and the two quietly ate again.

After eating, Belfinger entered training mode, demonstrating all sorts of peculiar joint techniques and knowledge of human anatomy.

He also showed how to attach vines to the body to form vine armor, alter body size and appearance, create various Clones, scouting eyes and ears, form wings, isolate the body, and infiltrate seawater.

Little Robin watched with great interest and even tried to imitate him.

Such days passed unknowingly for a month and a half. Like South Blue, July was the coldest winter season in West Blue.

Although Ohara was located in the subtropics and did not receive snow, the weather grew increasingly cold.

July 21.

The evening wind was especially boisterous.

After eating, Belfinger did not train as usual. Instead, he took a book from his backpack.

The book was black. Golden patterns on its cover outlined an abstruse design resembling a tightly shut gate.

On the gate itself, the left side consisted of countless double-helix patterns, while the right side consisted of countless numerical barcodes.

Above the gate was a tightly closed eye.

The book had no title, only the image of a gate. Belfinger handed it to Little Robin. "This is a gift for you. Just drip your blood onto it."

"Drip blood..."

A bone spike extended from Belfinger's finger and pierced Little Robin's arm. He then squeezed out a drop of blood through the bone spike.

The blood fell onto the book, and in an instant, it seemed to come alive, turning into a liquid that attached itself to Little Robin's arm.

"Mister, what is this?"

"Just a parting gift."

Upon hearing this, Little Robin froze and asked blankly, "Mister, are you leaving?"

"Yes. Live well."

After saying that, Belfinger snapped his fingers. A tentacle surged from the sea, opened a passageway, and he stepped directly onto it.

"Mister, you still haven't told me your name!" Little Robin shouted as she ran after him.

"One day, you'll know. Goodbye."

With that, the tentacle wrapped around Belfinger and vanished from the beach, leaving Little Robin alone as she stared blankly into the distance.

The sun set, and the sea breeze grew colder.

A moment later, Little Robin learned what the book on her arm was called, as well as how to use it.

With a thought, a miniature book appeared in her hand. "Book of Truth..."

Thank you all for your support (ω｀)