As these words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Nami, Nojiko, Koala, and Perona—who had shielded Robin—though intimidated by the giant race's massive stature, stepped forward without hesitation to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Robin.
Perona even floated ahead of the group, pointing at the Giant Warrior with an air of tsundere pride.
"You know who I am, don't you? I am the Ghost Princess Perona, the Fleet Admiral's most cherished favorite! If you dare cause trouble, the Fleet Admiral will personally demonstrate what it means to protect one's own!"
Just then, the ground suddenly trembled, followed by a hearty laugh echoing from another massive structure across the way.
"Dereshishishi!"
Before anyone present could react, an equally gigantic figure emerged from the enormous building.
The newcomer was a giant over twenty meters tall, with disheveled hair and a simple, honest smile on his face.
The Giant Warrior standing before Robin's group immediately turned and greeted the newcomer with respect.
"Mr. Saul!"
Saul?
Hearing the Giant Warriors' address, Robin's body stiffened abruptly before she whirled around.
That familiar laughter, that familiar orange hair, and the beard resembling a lion's mane.
Over a decade seemed to reverse in that moment, sending Robin's thoughts flying back to the shores of Ohara in the West Blue.
Before her eyes appeared the giant who had built an escape route for her with his very life.
The figure from her memories gradually overlapped with the giant before her.
This giant was none other than the man who had saved her in Ohara all those years ago—Jaguar D. Saul.
Yet, the Saul now appearing before her bore large burn scars across his face and a wooden prosthetic for his right leg!
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Robin struggled to control her emotions, her voice trembling as she cried out.
"S...Saul!"
"Robin!" Saul had recognized her long ago, laughing joyfully: "It really is you! Dereshishishi!"
Hearing that familiar laughter, Robin could no longer hold back, tears streaming down her face.
She rushed forward but stopped less than a meter away from Saul, her vision blurred by tears.
"Saul... you're alive..." Robin raised her hand as if to touch Saul, afraid this might all be an elaborate dream!
"Of course I'm alive! I made you a promise, didn't I!" Saul crouched down, extending his giant hand to gently wipe the tears from Robin's face.
"Don't cry, Robin. You're all grown up now, but still crying like when you were little."
Robin smiled through her tears, wiping at them only for more to fall.
"Saul..." she choked out, "I... I've been trying so hard to live all these years..."
"I know. I know everything."
Saul remained as gentle as ever, just like when he'd saved Robin back in Ohara.
Robin sniffled, composing herself before looking up like a child, her tears turning to laughter.
"Praise me."
Saul paused briefly before breaking into a warm smile: "You've done wonderfully, Robin! You're the strongest, bravest child I've ever known!"
Hearing this, Robin—who had just regained her composure—broke down again, crying like a child.
Saul did not comfort Robin, instead gazing tenderly at the last survivor of Ohara.
Only when Robin's sobs gradually subsided did he speak softly, "It seems you've found someone who can truly protect you."
"Yes!" Robin nodded vigorously.
After taking a deep breath, she looked up at Saul with red-rimmed eyes and explained, "The Fleet Admiral made the World Government revoke my bounty! My current identity is a Trainee Marine at Marine Headquarters!"
A flicker of shock passed through Saul's eyes as he exclaimed, "He made the World Government revoke your bounty?"
Since returning to Elbaf from Ohara years ago, he had rarely paid attention to outside affairs.
Though he knew Marine Headquarters had produced an extraordinary Fleet Admiral, he never imagined this Marine leader possessed such immense authority to make the World Government revoke Robin's bounty.
One must understand that to the World Government, Robin's identity posed a threat far beyond what those lawless Pirates of the Grand Line could ever match!
Yet this very person who threatened the World Government had not only been protected by the Fleet Admiral, but even had her bounty revoked!
Such methods were unheard of to someone like him who had once served as a Vice Admiral at Marine Headquarters.
'If only this Fleet Admiral had been in charge when the Ohara incident occurred...'
'If this Fleet Admiral had been there, perhaps Ohara wouldn't have disappeared? Robin wouldn't have had to hide and flee just to survive!'
Robin nodded again. "Since the Fleet Admiral made the World Government revoke my bounty, no government agents have appeared before me. With the Fleet Admiral protecting me, the World Government wouldn't dare do anything to me!"
Watching Robin's reaction, Saul showed a relieved expression and said gently, "I don't know much about this Fleet Admiral, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that Robin has finally found someone who can protect you for life. Since you've chosen to follow this Fleet Admiral, live happily under his protection from now on!"
Pausing slightly, Saul suddenly turned around. "Come, Robin. I'll take you all somewhere."
"Where?"
"You'll like it."
Saul led Robin and the others through the gate.
After passing through a spacious corridor, their vision suddenly darkened.
Before them appeared a library formed by countless towering book stacks.
Each book tower soared into the sky like ancient trees, with layered bookshelves creating an ocean of knowledge.
The ancient historical atmosphere washed over them, causing Perona, Nami, Nojiko and the others to widen their eyes in surprise.
What astonished them most was the giant owl perched atop the library.
Its wings spread like a dome, its sharp beak wide open, staring intently at these unexpected guests with piercing eyes.
What captivated Robin wasn't the giant owl, but the mountains of books filling the library, making her feel as if she had returned to Ohara, back to the sea of books in the Tree of Omniscience.
Robin covered her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes once more.
Saul's voice chimed in timely, "After the Buster Call ended back then, I brought all the books I could salvage here. Although I couldn't save them all, at least Ohara's books didn't completely vanish."
Pausing briefly, Saul continued to explain, "We have the revolutionary army soldiers to thank for preserving these books. They mobilized a large number of personnel to retrieve these unburned volumes from Ohara's ruins, the sea, and underground!"
Hearing this, Robin quietly took a deep breath before quickly walking to the library shelves.
She ran her fingers over the familiar books as tears silently fell.