A Hidden Consciousness; Listening to the Memories of Time

"Follow me!"

Dongze ignored Enel and took the lead, carrying Robin swiftly to a stretch of land.

"Dongze?"

Robin steadied herself on Dongze's arm as she landed, looking puzzled.

Dongze did not answer. He merely nodded. Robin was clever enough to guess what he intended by now, and she glanced at Enel.

Dongze looked back at the White Sea, which was gradually growing calm. His expression turned complicated.

If not for that notification, he was certain the lightning brat in the sky would already be on his way to his next life.

But at this stage, he still had no idea how Sword Intent worked. He had finally stumbled upon one that might awaken if he got struck by lightning, and he could not bear to give it up.

So he had planted a strand of Sword Intent in Enel's skull to keep him under control.

"Hey! You, Dongze! What exactly are you planning?"

"Be my son!"

Remembering Old Whitebeard's famous line for recruiting followers, Dongze almost blurted it out.

He gave a wry smile to himself.

Damn, that line's contagious. I almost said it! Do I have a thing for adopting sons too?

Old Whitebeard was getting on in years, so taking in a son was fair enough. No one would have batted an eye if he took in a grandson.

But Dongze was still young. If he said that aloud, Enel might explode on the spot.

Speaking of adopted sons, most of it was easy enough to understand. One detail, though, had bothered him for a long time.

Garp and Whitebeard were of the same generation. Ace called Garp Grandpa, but he called Whitebeard Pops. The whole thing sounded like a family drama.

Thankfully, none of them seemed to mind. Otherwise, it might have sparked another great battle.

Watching Enel fly over, Dongze said calmly, "Want to go down and have a look?"

Enel glanced at Dongze. He seemed to have guessed what Dongze wanted, but Dongze held his life in his hands. What choice did he have?

So he nodded.

Dongze was asking nicely for now. If Enel refused, the Sword Intent buried in his head would probably stir. He had enough sense to know that much.

Everything that followed fell into place. Once he calmed down, Enel could be reasonable. He had simply grown into a problem child because no one had ever kept him in check.

If Enel had not opened with a Raigo straight to the face, Dongze would never have gone this far. After all, he did not want to attract too much attention from the World Government.

He was no longer alone on his ship. He had a long-legged woman with a generous heart aboard now, and drawing too much attention could put them in danger.

He had even sneaked outside the city to fight Crocodile, just to avoid prying eyes.

"Where are we going next... Boss?"

Still unused to his new position, Enel sounded awkward.

Dongze looked at the enormous vine and sighed softly.

"To witness history!"

"Keep up!"

With that, Dongze swept Robin into his arms and used Geppo and Shave again. Their flickering figures traced a line through the air.

Watching the two nearly vanish from sight, Enel felt a tangle of emotions: relief, anger, resentment, curiosity, and reluctance.

It was impossible for him to let go of his grudge against Dongze. He simply had no choice but to yield.

Whatever crossed his mind then ended in a quiet sigh.

A flash of lightning followed as he gave chase.

Before long, Dongze brought Robin to the vine. He reached out and rested his hand gently against it.

Then he activated his advanced Observation Haki: the Voice of All Things.

About fifteen minutes later, Dongze slowly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed deep within them.

"Found it!"

Surprise flickered in Enel's eyes as he looked at the enormous Golden Bell.

In the years he had ruled Sky Island, his Mantra had reached into practically every corner. He had never expected to find a Golden Bell here.

"A Poneglyph!"

Different people noticed different things. The instant Robin arrived, her gaze locked onto the Poneglyph beneath the Golden Bell.

She was so excited she nearly jumped for joy.

To an archaeologist, these stones were the pursuit of a lifetime—her ultimate dream.

"How did you do that?" Enel asked, baffled.

"Observation Haki awakens differently in everyone. Some can see distant things, some can predict the future, and some can hear the Voice of All Things!"

"As it happens, mine lets me hear the Voice of All Things!"

Enel walked over and knocked on the Poneglyph. "What's this thing for?"

"Recording history!"

"History?"

"What use is that?"

Dongze chuckled. "To most people, it's useless. But to some, it's worth as much as mountains of gold and silver!"

"Dongze, why did you send him away?"

Dongze sighed. Of course he knew what was written on the stone: Poseidon. The fewer people who knew about it, the better. As far as he was concerned, Enel was still a problem child. Who knew what he might do with that knowledge? Better to keep it from him.

"He was eager to leave."

"I left a strand of Sword Intent in his head! It's the same move I used to cut through the desert!"

"No wonder the lightning guy's been so well-behaved. I was wondering what had made him so cautious. He's nothing like he was when we first met."

"I couldn't help in that fight either. I'm sorry!"

"It's fine. You were never meant to be a fighter on my crew. I wasn't expecting you to help."

"Aren't you afraid he'll listen in?"

"He's not the only one with Observation Haki! Besides, he's probably busy trying to get rid of that Sword Intent. He has no time to pay attention to us!"

"You're not worried?"

"Heh."

"In the year 640 of the Sea Circle Calendar, after countless hardships, we finally discovered the ruler of the seas. We named it Poseidon..."

Robin slowly translated the Poneglyph, speaking at an even pace. Since learning of Pluton, she was no longer entirely unfamiliar with Ancient Weapons.

Dongze lay beside her, listening closely.

After an unknown length of time, a notification suddenly rang in his ears.

A smile touched his face.

World Will (unlocked): 2/10

Swordsmanship (Minor World locked on): 1/10 Peerless Sword Case (awaiting unlock) Divine Weapon Storage 0/13;

Swordsmanship (locking on to Minor World): 2/10.

A Hidden Consciousness, Listening to Time's Memories

"I came here and guided this text to the final place. Gol D. Roger, pirate."

Robin froze when she reached that line.

"Dongze, it looks like Roger was here!"

Dongze nodded slightly. "Mm."

Robin turned to him, curious. "Was he an archaeologist too?"

Dongze was silent for a moment before answering softly, "No."

"Then how did he know this ancient script?"

Looking at the words Roger had left behind, Robin could barely contain her excitement.

"Does 'the final place' mean Laugh Tale?"

Dongze sighed softly. "Yes."

"Dongze, do you know what happened during the Void Century?"

"No."

"But as Garp said, it probably has to do with the present World Government. If what's buried in that history came to light, the whole world might erupt—especially after Roger ushered in the Great Pirate Era!"

Something seemed to occur to Robin. "Then Gol D. Roger and his crew knew the history of the Void Century?"

"Mm."

"Why didn't they tell the world?"

Archaeologists had a special attachment to history. They believed it should not be buried; everyone should know it.

Dongze had his own theory. Roger's crew had reached the Final Land, Laugh Tale, and learned its terrible truth. But in the end, they had found themselves powerless. Even they could not bear the weight of it.

Then Roger's illness had led to his grand act in Loguetown. Before countless onlookers, he had ushered in the Great Pirate Era, hoping to draw on the strength of the whole world to fulfill his dream.

Sometimes Dongze wondered if everyone who came after Roger in pursuit of the Pirate King was working for him without realizing it.

With that thought, Dongze said, "Not everyone is like the scholars of Ohara. Roger and his crew knew they couldn't stand against the behemoth that is the World Government, so they chose to stay silent!"

"As scholars, you must have studied why Roger said what he did at the end of his life. What was he trying to accomplish?"

"Maybe that century's history is far heavier than you imagine. Even the Pirate King couldn't bear its weight. Knowing that, will you still choose to investigate it?"

"Robin."

Robin fell silent. Some things became suspicious as soon as you thought them through, but most of the pirates rushing out to sea had overlooked them.

The scholars of Ohara had studied Roger. After all, he was the most famous man on the seas in recent years. In the end, they had reached a strange conclusion.

Roger had another purpose in starting the Great Pirate Era, one most people could not understand. He had hidden it well.

Only today, after seeing Roger's message on the Poneglyph, had Robin connected it to the Void Century.

Perhaps that had been Roger's true purpose.

"Yes! Even if I'm alone, I'll keep going! I'll finish the journey my mother and the professors couldn't. It's my duty as Ohara's last survivor!"

"The world is vast. There's still a long road ahead if you want to uncover the truth buried in history. Are you ready for it?"

Robin smiled at Dongze. "Of course, Captain Dongze!"

"Next, it's time to deal with that."

At Dongze's words, Robin looked over. He had walked to a spot near the Poneglyph.

"Dongze, what are you going to do?"

"Forge a sword. I'm still short on materials!"

Realizing what he meant, Robin hurried over, spread her arms, and planted herself in front of him.

"I won't let you destroy an ancient relic!"

Seeing the stubborn look on Robin's face, Dongze smiled wryly. He had forgotten this side of her.