The Past, Pain

"Eighteen years ago, before the Ohara Incident happened, we had actually sensed that something was wrong long beforehand. That was why Dr. Clover sent some of the researchers away."

"But we couldn't make it too obvious. I was about your age back then, and I was a companion of Olvia, Robin's mother." Ham sat beside Rogge, a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

"I never expected you to have an experience like this." Rogge found it difficult to accept. He had never really believed that Ohara had been destroyed. After all, Oda liked to plant foreshadowing. The people who were supposed to die had already been killed by Akainu, so the people who had truly protected history should have been safe.

He simply hadn't expected Ham to be from Ohara as well—and to be one of the archaeologists capable of translating the Poneglyphs.

"Four other people left Ohara with me back then, but they were all captured by the Marines. I wasn't technically a member of Ohara. I came from another country and happened to meet some of Ohara's archaeologists, so I joined them. That was why the World Government had never traced my identity." Ham remained calm as he exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Why do you want me to spare Nico Robin? Wouldn't keeping her with us allow us to protect her better?" Rogge asked with a frown.

Rogge still didn't fully believe Ham. Having Nico Robin was the greatest guarantee. Only with her could he obtain what he wanted.

Ham knew Rogge's character well. For the sake of his ambition, he had incited them to kill their captain. To grow stronger, he had risked inciting the pirates of the West Blue to rob the Heaven's Tribute. Such things had seemed almost impossible, yet Rogge had accomplished them.

Rogge