Ohara Scholars

Under the night sky, tree shadows swayed.

Niveya fled swiftly toward the western shore. She had long since changed back from her beast form, and despite gasping for breath, she kept running toward the edge of the island.

She could only hope that Taigu, using Maximum Wheel: Life Enhancement, could hold on a little longer and give her time to leave this island.

That boy named Ye Qiong was mysterious and powerful. His combat techniques rivaled the Navy Six Powers, and his Devil Fruit ability was formidable. Everything about him had exceeded her expectations.

That Ohara Island, which revered knowledge, actually had a resident with such combat power. Not even the World Government had provided any information about this.

Most importantly, he knows who we are. He probably already knows why we came here. I have to contact headquarters as soon as possible!

Niveya thought this, only for a figure to suddenly appear before her and reach out to seize her throat.

Niveya's pupils contracted as she stared in horror at that familiar face before her.

How could he have caught up so quickly?!

Niveya could not understand it no matter how much she thought about it. Fear surged into her chest like a tide, crushing her tightly.

"What a pity. If I hadn't left a Space Mark beforehand, you really might have gotten away."

Ye Qiong's hand gripped her throat as he gently shook his head.

The island was not small. Finding a CP9 member determined to hide and escape would truly have been like looking for a needle in the sea.

But with the record of the Space Mark, Niveya was like a lighthouse. Within a certain distance, Ye Qiong could sense her and teleport at will.

Ye Qiong was still a head shorter than Niveya, yet when he raised his hand, he lifted her until her feet hung above the ground.

Niveya felt the hand around her neck gradually tightening. The strength she had gathered throughout her body ebbed away bit by bit, and death arrived as promised.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

"You're a smart woman. I know what you want to say, but I already know everything. So you have no value."

Ye Qiong's eyes were cold as his hand continued tightening around the smooth, snow-white neck in his grasp.

Very soon, Niveya kicked her legs a few times before they finally drooped limply, her eyes losing their bright spark of life.

With a casual flick, Ye Qiong threw her corpse to the ground.

Tonight, there were still many things to do.

Ye Qiong's figure flashed and vanished from the moonlight.

Tree of Omniscience.

Moonlight quietly bathed the ancient tree with five thousand growth rings. Its branches and leaves flourished, casting a vast shadow over the island.

It was already late at night. The residents had long since gone to sleep, but the basement of the Tree of Omniscience library remained brightly lit. A group of scholars surrounded an enormous square stone, studying the strange words carved upon it, consulting books, or making notes and records with utmost seriousness.

"Dr. Clover." A middle-aged scholar called from the entrance to the basement.

"Hm?" Dr. Clover stopped writing and looked up at him in puzzlement.

"Someone is looking for you outside," the middle-aged scholar hurriedly said.

"Who would come looking for me so late at night?" Dr. Clover asked.

"It's that child from town, Ye Qiong. He says he has something urgent to discuss with you."

"Ye... All right, I'll go."

Dr. Clover nodded. Remembering what had happened at noon, he put away his books and left the basement.

In the library, Ye Qiong sat in a chair. Seeing Dr. Clover emerge from the basement, he stood and said, "Sorry to disturb you so late, Dr. Clover."

"It's fine. Sit." Dr. Clover smiled unconcernedly and took a seat beside Ye Qiong. "You must have some questions if you came to see me."

"No. I came tonight because I hope you can leave this island tomorrow," Ye Qiong said, shaking his head.

"Leave? Why?" Dr. Clover asked in surprise.

"You should have heard the name Nico Olvia," Ye Qiong said.

Dr. Clover's expression changed. Then he looked at Ye Qiong with a trace of sorrow. "Robin told you, didn't she? I also regret what happened to her mother. Six years ago, she went out to sea to travel..."

"Doctor." Ye Qiong slightly shook his head, interrupting him. "I know. Back then, Robin's mother—Olvia—was one of the thirty-four archaeologists who went to sea to study the Poneglyphs."

"And a few days ago, she was captured by the Marines. I believe you already know about this."

Dr. Clover looked at him in shock. Ye Qiong, whom he still saw as a child, actually knew everything he had deliberately kept hidden from Robin.

"I know this cannot be told to Robin. Even if she knew, it would be useless. That is why I came tonight to persuade you to leave," Ye Qiong said.

"Why should we leave? As long as the World Government cannot find evidence that Ohara scholars are studying the Poneglyphs, we are still safe." Dr. Clover still shook his head. After so many years of concealed research, he did not think the World Government would act against them so casually.

"Doctor, you still do not understand the World Government's ways. Over the past few decades, scholars all over the world have continuously searched for traces of the Poneglyphs. How could the World Government not be angered by that? On the surface, they may claim to be fair, just, and righteous, but your research has already touched their bottom line.

"Once the World Government decides to disregard the consequences and make an example of someone, Ohara Island, the authority on archaeology, will become a target they intend to eradicate!" Ye Qiong clenched his fists and stared into his eyes as he spoke seriously.

"You are..." Dr. Clover looked at him gravely, his face filled with disbelief and alarm.

"That's right. If I'm not mistaken, whether or not they have found conclusive evidence, the World Government will soon send the Marines to Ohara Island to destroy or erase everything that threatens their rule." Ye Qiong sighed helplessly. Everything he said was what would happen in the original story. It was not speculation, but what would happen in just a few days!

"This..." Dr. Clover fell silent. Although hearing those words from a child made them seem unreal, some things revealed by the Poneglyphs over the past few years had made him deeply question the World Government.

Now that Ye Qiong had said it, he almost believed it completely.

"Doctor, if you do not leave now, it will be too late once the Marines blockade the island in a few days!" Ye Qiong reminded him.

Dr. Clover had no response. After a long while, he stood up and waved for Ye Qiong to follow him.

Ye Qiong followed him toward the basement.

When they reached the basement entrance, the scholars inside all turned their eyes toward Dr. Clover. Seeing Ye Qiong standing behind him, they looked somewhat puzzled.

"Everyone, please listen to me." Dr. Clover raised his voice, his expression solemn. "You all know that Olvia was captured a few days ago. The World Government may use this as a pretext to come to Ohara Island and arrest us scholars."

"Now, I hope you will choose to leave the Tree of Omniscience and depart Ohara Island as soon as possible tomorrow morning!"

After Dr. Clover finished speaking, the basement fell into silence.

"Doctor, you're joking, right?" One scholar forced out a difficult smile.

The others remained silent.

"I am absolutely not joking." Dr. Clover shook his head. A bright light gleamed in his wise eyes. "The more deeply I interpret the Poneglyphs, the more I discover problems from the past, and the more clearly I see through certain mysteries surrounding the current World Government."

"Actually, from the day I began studying the Poneglyphs, I knew this day would come. It was only a matter of time. I hope you can leave and preserve a seed of hope."

At this point, Dr. Clover could not help lowering his head.

"Then what about you, Doctor?" A scholar could not help asking.

"Me?" Dr. Clover raised his head, his eyes sweeping over the books and materials around him. A burning light shone in his gaze. "There are countless historical treasures of human civilization here. My life has taken root here. Therefore, I have nowhere to flee. I will live and die with the Tree of Omniscience!"

Dr. Clover's tone was as firm as iron.

"Doctor, I am also willing to live and die with the Tree of Omniscience!" An elderly scholar spoke up.

"So am I!"

"I won't leave. I want to protect these remaining treasures of humanity!"

"I won't leave either. I am willing to live and die with the Tree of Omniscience, with all of you!"

One after another, the scholars in the basement spoke with determination. Not one of them suggested leaving.

"You..." Dr. Clover's eyes reddened, but he tried to look angry as he roared, "Do you even understand?! If you stay, you'll die!"

"We are willing to live and die with the Tree of Omniscience!"

The scholars did not stop. Their scattered voices gathered into an incomparably resounding declaration that echoed endlessly through the basement.

They were scholars without strength, yet at that moment, even Ye Qiong standing outside the door was moved by their spirit.

For the light of dawn, they were willing to die before sunrise.

These were the scholars of Ohara, the world's only remaining scholars capable of deciphering the Poneglyphs. (Actually, the Kozuki Clan could as well, but the knowledge had already been lost in Momonosuke's father's generation.)

"Ye, we have decided. We will not leave this place." Dr. Clover turned back and spoke apologetically to Ye Qiong.

Ye Qiong shook his head. "Everyone has their own path to choose. Doctor, I admire you. The world should be proud to have scholars like you."

"I'll be leaving now." Ye Qiong turned to go, but Dr. Clover called out to him.

Dr. Clover retrieved a bottle from a wooden cabinet on one of the basement bookshelves and handed it to him.

It was an ordinary glass bottle. Inside was a thumb-sized seed, its yellow embryo covered in tender green, as though it were about to sprout.

"This is a seed of the Tree of Omniscience! The only one. It has been passed down from my father's generation until now. I hope you can take it and leave this island safely with Robin." Dr. Clover gazed wistfully at the glass bottle in Ye Qiong's hand and sighed.

Ye Qiong left the library, but Dr. Clover's final words still lingered in his ears.

He hoped that one day, this seed holding wisdom would sprout and grow into a Tree of Omniscience that basked in sunlight, welcomed the breeze, faced the sea, and touched the blue sky.

Ye Qiong let out a long sigh. The clearly cold glass bottle in his hand now felt scorching and warm. He unconsciously tightened his grip and left without looking back.