"Thank you, Dr. Clover!"
Inside the Tree of Omniscience, which was already on the verge of collapse, Dr. Clover had told Leon the "truth" he had deduced from his research into history.
But to Leon's disappointment, nearly everything Dr. Clover had discovered was something he already knew...
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
"Carry on."
"?"
Dr. Clover and the archaeologists around him, all surrounded by flames, heard Leon say this as casually as could be and finally couldn't hold back their question marks.
Could he really not see what was happening?
"The Tree of Omniscience is going to fall!!!"
One of the archaeologists, realizing something was wrong, let out a terrified cry.
A huge, twisting creak rang out. The Tree of Omniscience, having withstood the Navy's relentless attacks, could no longer hold on. Its thick, sturdy roots tore free of the earth...
The giant tree was about to fall!
With his back to the others, Leon suddenly leaped high into the air. As everyone watched in despair, his hand caught the trunk of the Tree of Omniscience.
Compared to the Tree of Omniscience, which had grown for over 5,000 years, Leon's small frame seemed utterly insignificant.
The others had closed their eyes, ready to meet their deaths, but the pain never came.
Dr. Clover opened his eyes and saw something he could hardly believe—
The Tree of Omniscience, which had been about to fall, was forced upright and shoved back into the earth.
Dr. Clover seemed to see the silhouette of a monster, its body glowing with a faint blue light. The monster merely waved a hand, and the raging fire that had seemed impossible to extinguish on the Tree of Omniscience abruptly changed course and surged into its body.
Dr. Clover rubbed his eyes. There was no monster before him—only that strange young Marine.
Leon waved at the others, who had temporarily escaped death.
"Sorry, this is all I can do."
"Though Ohara can't escape destruction..."
"As long as its knowledge is passed down, Ohara's spirit will live on forever, won't it?"
"Yes!"
A glimmer of hope flashed in Dr. Clover's eyes, and he sprang to his feet.
"Quick! Use this chance to save the books!"
Leon watched the archaeologists, who had just escaped death only to rush straight back to the bookshelves, and felt an emotion he couldn't quite name rise within him.
He spoke with conviction. "Dr. Clover."
"One day, everyone in this world will know the truth of history."
Dr. Clover paused. Dragging his badly injured body, he picked up a book and hurled it with all his strength into the lake below.
"Really?"
Tears welled in his eyes.
"That would be... wonderful!"
Farewell, Dr. Clover.
Leon turned and walked out of the Tree of Omniscience. The Marines, realizing something was wrong, had turned their cannons and were concentrating their fire on the tree.
The flames blazed anew.
One book after another fell into the lake, sending tiny ripples across the water.
After an unknown amount of time, the lake grew still.
The Tree of Omniscience fell.
On the other side of Ohara Island, an icy path appeared across the water, leading somewhere unknown.
The sun was about to set. Flames soared above the island, their light reflecting on the swaying figures below.
Kuzan, sitting on a tree stump, waited for Robin, who came running all the way from the island.
His face was shrouded in shadow, making his expression impossible to read.
"Absolute justice can sometimes turn people into weapons."
"I've decided to let you leave this island."
"I want to see what the seed Sauro gave his life to protect will grow into..."
Robin, her eyes full of tears, boarded the small boat Kuzan had prepared for her.
An unimaginable life of hardship and wandering awaited her, but in the end, Robin was lucky.
She eventually found the companions Sauro had described—people worthy of her trust and reliance.
"I saw that, Kuzan."
"You let Harry Potter go!"
"Huh?"
Kuzan, who was leaving the shore, ran into Leon coming toward him.
Under Leon's teasing gaze, Kuzan guiltily turned his head away.
"She's just a little girl. If she ever does anything that threatens the world..."
"I'll arrest her myself!"
Kuzan declared with absolute certainty.
Leon yawned.
"I'm tired. Let's go."
A smile appeared on Kuzan's face, and he fell into step beside Leon.
"I've already heard about what happened between you and Sakazuki."
"Don't worry, Leon. I'll help you deal with him."
News spread rapidly through newspapers to every corner of the world: Ohara Island, a holy land of archaeology, had been destroyed by a Buster Call because its archaeologists had secretly researched the Ancient Weapons and intended to threaten the entire world.
As the only surviving Ohara archaeologist, eight-year-old Nico Robin was also wanted by the World Government.
Devil Child Nico Robin. Bounty: 79 million Beli.
"Hey, Leon."
Leon had just returned to Marineford with the warship when he ran into Rosinante, who seemed to have been waiting for some time outside Garp's courtyard.
Before Leon could reply, Rosinante reached out and draped an arm over his shoulder.
Before you continue