The next day.
Deep within a valley near the coast of Ohara.
Robin looked at the strange giant and couldn't help but chuckle:
"What a peculiar laugh."
"Yahahaha?"
Sauro laughed, saying:
"People have always said my laugh is weird since I was little."
"You look cute when you laugh."
Robin blinked in surprise. Sauro continued:
"You should laugh more."
"Yahahaha!"
"My name is Sauro."
"Hagward D. Sauro."
Robin suddenly looked up:
"D?"
----
West Blue, aboard a government ship.
A black-clad CP agent answered the Den Den Mushi. A voice came from the other end:
"This is Marine Headquarters, calling for Director Spandam."
The CP agent picked up the phone and looked at the figure at the bow of the ship:
"It's for you, Director."
Spandam, standing at the bow, gazed at the sea and sighed:
"You can take it. They're just here to confirm the situation."
"I'll contact them when we reach our destination."
"Who cares about Ohara, or Opera."
"Why do I have to be sent to this godforsaken place in the West Blue?"
"Honestly..."
"What kind of garbage work is this."
----
Several days later.
The Tree of Knowledge.
Nico Olbia stood in the hall, her face filled with guilt.
"I'm so sorry, I've brought bad news as soon as I returned."
"But what I'm about to say is the truth..."
Professor Clover crossed his arms and looked at Olbia:
"So the World Government has finally noticed this land."
Olbia lowered her head in shame:
"Everyone has seen the newspapers, right?"
"The expedition that set out from Ohara six years ago, except for me,"
"was wiped out."
"After the World Government meticulously examined the belongings of my companions..."
"they deduced that we were from Ohara..."
"I'm sorry, everyone."
"It's because of us that disaster has befallen this land."
She then covered her tear-streaked face in anguish.
Professor Clover looked at her and said:
"You don't need to blame yourself."
"Whether it's those who went out to sea or those who stayed here,"
"we are all on the same side."
"And it is you who have suffered all along."
"You've worked hard..."
Olbia stared blankly at Professor Clover:
"Professor..."
Professor Clover continued:
"The World Government has always viewed Ohara as a threat."
"They must think they've finally found a handle now."
Olbia suddenly realized and said urgently:
"Yes!"
"So everyone, flee quickly!"
"They want to eradicate all scholars!"
"Everyone, escape from Ohara quickly!!!"
Professor Clover looked around:
"Yes, it seems we can't slip past their investigation this time."
"But, Olbia,"
"I cannot abandon the wealth of humanity just to save my own life."
"You understand, don't you?"
The scholars around them also smiled.
"We feel the same way, Olbia."
"Hahahaha."
"Even though we don't know what the World Government plans to do,"
"if we run away, who will protect this place?"
"We will do our best this time as well."
Professor Clover looked at Olbia:
"Speaking of which, you still have someone you care about, right?"
"She's just like you were when you were little."
"A rare genius."
A flicker of tenderness crossed Olbia's eyes, then she closed them in pain:
"I just hope she's healthy."
"Since I chose this path, I had to cut ties with her."
"I cannot let her be the daughter of a criminal..."
Just then, the door was suddenly flung open.
"Professor Clover! A ship flying the World Government flag has arrived!"
----
West Blue, Ohara, the harbor.
Spandam said lazily:
"Tell Headquarters."
"We've arrived."
"One by one, quickly, quickly."
"Ah, what a hassle."
"But I'll probably get a promotion after this is over."
"Hey!"
"You, go and control all the scholars here."
CP members, dressed in black suits and sunglasses, holding flintlock pistols, charged towards the island.
"Yes!!!"
----
West Blue, the Buster Call fleet, nearing Ohara.
All of them received the news that Spandam, the Director of CP9, had arrived at Ohara.
On Sakazuki's warship.
Sakazuki nodded, remaining silent.
On Kuzan's warship.
Kuzan, hearing his subordinate's report, opened his sleepy eyes and roared:
"What is it? Is this tiny matter worth waking me up for!!!"
The messenger looked nervous:
"Y-yes, I'm sorry!"
----
Ohara, deep in the forest.
*Bang—*
With a gunshot, Spandam, walking in front of two CP members, fell down and screamed:
"Aaaargh!!!"
"I've been shot! I'm done for! I'm going to die!"
"Damn you!!!"
"Tell my superiors, my position will be inherited by my son!"
The CP member on the right said indifferently:
"Director, please take a closer look."
"You've only hit your sleeve."
Spandam sat up immediately, appearing unconcerned:
"Ah, so it was just my sleeve."
Olbia emerged from the trees, holding the gun:
"Next time, I won't miss."
Spandam sat cross-legged on the ground, propping his chin with one hand:
"Isn't this the repeat offender who escaped perfectly from the naval prison?"
"What a miraculous coincidence, Nico Olbia."
"The woman who has consistently denied any connection to the Ohara scholars appearing here,"
"is practically announcing to us that this is your hometown."
"Which means the scholars here are committing the same crime as you."
Olbia's forehead beaded with cold sweat:
"My presence here doesn't prove any connection."
Spandam said nonchalantly:
"Ah, you won't admit it anyway."
"You've already prepared your excuses, haven't you?"
"After all, you're a smart woman."
"But it doesn't matter anymore."
"As long as we conduct a thorough investigation,"
"we'll eventually find evidence."
"Chasing you was merely a catalyst."
"Every time we apprehend an archaeologist worldwide, we search for clues related to Ohara."
"Do you know why?"
Olbia suddenly understood:
"You want to destroy Ohara to warn the world."
Spandam pushed himself up with one hand:
"Precisely."
"Only by destroying Ohara, the holy land of archaeology,"
"which would be a monumental event in the academic world,"
"can we show the entire world the consequences of researching the 'Void Century'."
Olbia gritted her teeth and said:
"Then what about the warships stationed offshore?"
Spandam frowned:
"How much do you really know?"
"But it doesn't matter, I'll tell you."
"It's to ensure that those being made an example of have no escapees."
"However, it's still necessary to confirm your crimes, formally."
"After all, we are not pirates."
"I was specifically sent here for this."
As he finished speaking, Spandam's cheerful demeanor crumbled:
"Deal with her."
*Swish—*
Two figures flashed by...
Olbia's body slowly fell...
----
Ohara, the plaza in front of the Tree of Knowledge.
All the scholars were bound and brought here.
Spandam had his subordinates throw Olbia, her limbs broken, before them.
"Aaaaah~"
"Today, the world's foremost archaeologists are going to die."
"My work here is done."
"Now I just need to report to the Five Elders."
Robin, standing next to Professor Clover, asked in confusion:
"Why, it's a lie, Professor."
"They only deciphered ancient texts, why..."
Spandam, hearing Robin's words, exclaimed dramatically:
"You child are so foolish."
"Their goal was to awaken powerful weapons."
"And massacre a large number of people."
Robin turned and retorted:
"You're lying! They never intended anything like that!"
Professor Clover opened his eyes:
"Don't say anything more, Robin."
"It's useless to argue with someone like him who's just running errands."
"Does the World Government truly fear those weapons themselves?"
At that moment, a CP subordinate handed Spandam a Den Den Mushi:
"Connected, Director."
Professor Clover suddenly spoke:
"Perfect timing."
"Let me speak with the Five Elders, the highest authority of the World Government, before I die."
"I wish to report to them, that Ohara, through extensive research,"
"has formulated a hypothesis regarding the 'Void Century'."