Chapter 187 - The More They Oppose, the More It Proves I'm Right
"Renji, your thinking is indeed ahead of its time. The destruction of Ohara truly does relate to them."
At first, Issho couldn't understand why studying history would lead to death. Then he suddenly realized Renji was right—his own thoughts had fallen into a dead loop.
Since the World Government had explicitly forbidden such research, doing it without the strength to resist them naturally invited destruction. In that sense, they bore part of the blame.
"That's the truth."
Renji wasn't taking the World Government's side. He was simply lamenting Ohara's foolishness. These people risked their lives for so-called history.
Perhaps that, too, was what they called a dream.
"So, Renji, what do you plan to do?"
Issho was curious. Would Renji stop it—or simply watch Ohara perish?
Renji had just called their actions foolish; did that mean he wouldn't stand with them?
"Of course, I'll preserve a few seeds. There aren't many left who can read the Poneglyphs."
He would definitely go to Ohara. Apart from the reward draws, he needed those who could read the ancient script. At present, aside from Oden, only the scholars of Ohara could do so.
As for people like Pudding, she hadn't even been born yet—he couldn't exactly rely on her.
The final island wasn't fixed in one location; it might be a moving island that required the four red Poneglyphs for positioning. Without them, it might never be found. That was likely why the World Government had never been able to erase it.
Im could have destroyed it instantly, even with repeated Buster Calls, but hadn't. That could only mean they couldn't locate Raftel at all.
"Didn't you say before that they were foolish?"
Issho agreed with Renji's reasoning, yet this seemed contradictory. If Renji thought they were foolish, why get involved? Was it merely to study the Poneglyphs?
"Because of the World Government!"
"Because of them?"
Issho frowned slightly. Renji's logic sometimes leapt too fast for him to follow.
"The more they oppose me, the more it proves I'm right."
The stricter the World Government's bans, the more determined Renji became. Their opposition only confirmed he was walking the correct path.
Why forbid the study of history?
Because that history contained truths that endangered them—and those were precisely what he needed.
Ohara lacked the strength to protect itself, but he did. What he wanted was the Tree of Knowledge and the scholars who could work under him.
Not only would they study history, but he also planned to form a scientific division. The technology from eight hundred years ago surpassed even the present. Science in this world was absurdly advanced; relying solely on Queen wouldn't be enough.
Queen's research skills were far inferior to Vegapunk's. Integrating other scholars might yield valuable breakthroughs in the future.
"I understand. It seems you already have a plan. Then I won't accompany you. I'd like to stay in Wano a bit longer."
Issho wasn't surprised by the answer. The World Government rejected something—so of course Renji would do it. Thinking back, he wondered why he hadn't seen that pattern sooner.
Still, he wouldn't join this operation. He wanted to explore more of Wano. The place fascinated him; the more he saw, the more he wanted to understand.
That suited Renji perfectly. He didn't intend to take all of Ohara's people anyway. He would rescue those of value, leaving the rest behind.
If Issho went along, his compassionate nature might drive him to save everyone—and Renji didn't want that.
Too many people would expose Wano's secrets quickly. Once the scholars arrived, their movements would have to be restricted. Otherwise, familiar faces might give them away when trade began.
Ohara.
After finishing her studies for the day, Nico Robin walked through the forest toward the coast. She was going to meet her new friend.
Because of her Devil Fruit powers, everyone on Ohara called her a monster. None of the other children wanted to play with her. Her mother had left her in her uncle's care, but her aunt clearly disliked her, making life difficult.
Without friends, Robin often spent her time in the Tree of Knowledge with the doctors and scholars—or wandering alone through the forest and along the shore.
They were the only ones who didn't despise her. She was happiest when with them, though she couldn't stay forever; by dusk, the adults always left to study things she wasn't allowed to see.
With nothing else to do, she'd walk along the beach. A few days ago, she'd discovered a giant lying unconscious on the sand—Jaguar D. Saul.
He looked fierce, but was unexpectedly gentle. They had quickly become friends.
Thinking of this, Robin's pace quickened.
"Saul, I'm here!"
She waved from afar, running toward him with a bright smile. She took out the bread she had secretly saved and placed it before him. Her face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
She had stolen it from the scholars' pantry. In the past, she would have eaten it herself, but now she wanted to share it with her friend.
"Sorry, Saul. Should I go find some wild fruit for you instead?"
She was about to run into the forest when Saul laughed.
"Dahaha! Robin, no need! Look at the fish I caught!"
He held up the catch proudly. Despite his injuries, he was still a Navy vice admiral—catching fish was nothing for him.
He had noticed Robin's poor living conditions, though he hadn't said much. Saul wasn't good with words and tended to be shy, but he helped in his own way.
Just like he once told her—when you're in pain, you must laugh even more. That was how he expressed his care.
"You're amazing, Saul!"
Fish!
She hadn't eaten fish in such a long time.
Watching Saul skillfully light a fire and roast the fish, Robin's stomach growled as the flame flickered and the rich scent filled the air—even without seasoning, the aroma alone was irresistible.
Feeling embarrassed, Robin swallowed hard. In the end, it was Saul who ended up treating her to a meal.
"Dahaha! Robin, today you shared your bread with me. As your friend, of course I have to treat you to roasted fish!"
"Mm!"
Though it wasn't quite equal, Robin gratefully accepted Saul's kindness.
Her eyes widened as she watched the fish roasting over the fire, and the greedy little look on her face made Saul laugh heartily. His laughter was infectious, and soon Robin found herself laughing too.
Maybe her life wasn't so miserable after all.
"Robin, it's ready! Here, take this one."
Saul handed her the largest fish.
The two of them ate by the shore as the campfire burned gently, a quiet peace settling over them. Robin felt content.
While eating, Saul asked curiously, "Robin, where is this place?"
His wounds had mostly healed over the past few days, and he had decided to set sail again.
He had once been a vice admiral involved in the mission to capture the scholars investigating the ancient ships. When Sengoku ordered him to carry out that secret operation as one of five commanding vice admirals, his faith in justice had begun to waver.
He had sought out Sengoku for the truth but was refused. So Saul turned to Nico Olvia, and after learning everything, he released her and tried to follow her to Ohara to warn them. Unfortunately, he had been shipwrecked before arriving.
Now he had no time to waste. Though he hated to part from his new friend, there was something more urgent he had to do.
"Ohara," Robin answered between bites, telling him the island's name.
The moment she spoke, Saul froze. His eyes went wide as his hand holding the fish trembled. "What did you say? This is Ohara? How can this be Ohara?!"
All appetite left him instantly.
He knew all too well—the Buster Call would soon arrive. It might already be on its way.
If this really was Ohara, that meant he had been here all along. He could have warned them sooner—but instead, he had wasted precious time.
"What's wrong, Saul?"
Robin noticed his sudden change. Why had he stopped eating, and why did he keep muttering that this couldn't be Ohara?
If not Ohara, then what did he think this place was?
"Listen carefully, Robin. There's something very important you must hear. The Navy is about to launch a Buster Call against Ohara. A Buster Call means total destruction—every living thing in the target area will be wiped out! Tell everyone on the island to escape immediately!"
Saul didn't know exactly when it would arrive, but that no longer mattered.
If the people of Ohara didn't evacuate now, they would all die. The Buster Call would annihilate everything.
"H-how could this be?"
Robin shook her head in disbelief. Ohara had done nothing wrong. Why would the World Government destroy them?
"Robin, I'm not lying. Please, tell everyone to run!"
Saul's tone was grave, and it made Robin's heart race with fear.
No—she had to warn them!
She trusted Saul. He would never lie to her—they were friends.
After bidding him farewell, Robin ran back to the island, knocking on every door and shouting the warning to everyone she saw.
But despair filled her as no one believed her. Even her uncle thought she was playing a prank.
That crushed her. Why wouldn't anyone believe her?
The Tree of Knowledge.
Trembling, Robin told Dr. Clover and the other scholars what Saul had said. The room fell silent.
Their silence only deepened her anxiety. Did they not believe her either? Her heart sank.
Seeing her unease, Dr. Clover patted her head gently. "Good child, we understand. But we can't run. You should leave with the civilians. You'll be safe."
From the moment they began studying history, the scholars had known the price if the World Government found them. They knew escape was impossible.
Robin's warning confirmed their fears—the Buster Call was indeed coming. If even a child knew, then there was no hope.
They couldn't run.
But they wouldn't drag Robin down with them. Researching history was their burden, not hers.
"But…"
"Go, Robin. This is our responsibility."
"Yes, Robin, you weren't part of this."
"You don't have to worry about us."
They comforted her, unwilling to let her share their fate.
"But I can read the ancient language too!"
So she knew after all!
Dr. Clover sighed, then his expression hardened. "Robin, never tell anyone that again. From this moment, you're just an ordinary citizen of Ohara. You have nothing to do with history."
Perhaps that was for the best—at least one seed would survive.
Ohara.
Olvia was running as fast as she could. She had to warn everyone to flee—and see her daughter one last time.
She didn't regret studying history, only that she had neglected Robin for so long. If she didn't find her now, she might never see her again.
"You run fast for a criminal!"
Spandine sneered, ordering CP agents to seize Olvia. She was a wanted criminal of the World Government; capturing her would mean another promotion.
"Go! Take her to the scholars!"
His twisted grin met Olvia's look of despair.
And as the first bombardments of the Buster Call rained down upon the island, the people fleeing toward the evacuation ships finally realized—Robin hadn't been lying after all.
Spandine's cruel smile deepened amid the chaos.
(End of Chapter)
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