As Robin quietly explained everything, everyone wore expressions of vague amazement. The history she spoke of had been buried for far too long. Even Sherlock, despite being exceptionally well-read, knew absolutely nothing about that forgotten era.
"T-The Great Cataclysm?" Usopp swallowed nervously. "Just what kind of disaster could wipe out such a massive kingdom in an instant?"
Sanji raised one of his curly eyebrows and guessed, "Could it have been a war? Was that kingdom destroyed by another nation?"
"Yes... Archaeologists initially believed the same thing." Robin took a light sip of her coffee and nodded.
"Many surviving historical records indicate that the Kingdom of Aska was once a powerful nation renowned across the seas for its swordsmithing. Armed with weapons of extraordinary quality, it waged campaigns in every direction and carved out an enormous territory."
"At the time, however, there simply wasn't any military force capable of silently annihilating such a powerful kingdom in such a short period."
"In that case..." Chopper lowered his head in thought before a spark of inspiration flashed through his mind.
"It must have been a plague."
The little reindeer's fluffy face became unusually serious.
"Dr. Kureha once told me that medicine wasn't very advanced back then. Many diseases brought about devastating consequences!"
Nami and Zoro nodded in agreement.
"Among all the theories, a plague is indeed the most plausible," Robin said as she set down her now-empty coffee cup.
"But... it's still only a theory."
Robin turned her gaze toward Maya.
As always, Maya's eyes were captivating—languid, carefree, almost lazy. Yet Sherlock still caught the faint flicker of burning emotion hidden deep within them.
A certain famous detective once said:
"There is only one truth."
Archaeologists were much the same.
To those who valued evidence above all else, any speculation unsupported by ruins or verified historical records could simply be ignored.
Because history itself had only one truth.
And uncovering that truth was something no archaeologist could ever resist.
Robin, clever and calculating as she was, was no exception.
"Miss Maya."
Robin steadied herself before asking seriously,
"Do you know the truth behind the Great Cataclysm that struck the Kingdom of Aska a thousand years ago?"
Silence fell over the room.
Everyone turned to look at the blue-haired girl.
Maya's eyes swept across each member of the Straw Hat Pirates. A trace of inner conflict flashed across her face before she finally shook her head firmly.
"I'm truly grateful that you saved me... but I'm sorry. I can't tell you about this. And please... don't investigate it any further."
"It will bring endless calamity upon you."
"You're all good people. I don't want to drag you into it."
"Calamity?" Zoro curled his lip dismissively.
The green-haired swordsman, who had even subdued the cursed sword Sandai Kitetsu, naturally scoffed at things like curses and ominous disasters.
The others, however, didn't share his confidence.
"That's fine, that's fine! We don't want to know either! What's in the past should stay in the past! Hahaha..." Usopp laughed awkwardly as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
His instincts told him that getting involved with the Great Cataclysm would bring nothing but danger and endless trouble.
"I see..."
Robin let out a soft sigh. The disappointment in her eyes was impossible to hide, but seeing how resolute Maya was, she chose not to press the matter.
"For the time being, though, you'll have to stay with us, Miss Maya."
Sherlock adjusted his glasses before continuing,
"You already know what happened earlier. If we split up now, Penguin's enforcement squad will capture you again."
"Tomorrow night there's a pre-tournament gathering. The competition itself begins at sunrise the following day. Once it's over, we'll leave these waters. By then... you'll truly be free."
"Mhm!" ×N
Luffy, Nami, and the others all smiled warmly at Maya.
Even Sanji, despite the overwhelming reluctance in his heart, sincerely felt happy that the blue-haired girl would finally regain her freedom.
"Th-Thank you, everyone!"
Feeling the kindness radiating from these pirates, Maya's eyes welled up once more.
She knew all too well that if she hadn't been fortunate enough to meet the Straw Hat Pirates, the life awaiting her would have been nothing short of hell.
"Come on now, don't cry."
Nami smiled gently as she pulled out a handkerchief and stepped forward to wipe the tears from Maya's cheeks.
Although the two girls were about the same age, the independent and strong-willed navigator carried herself with far greater maturity.
Whenever she was around the timid blue-haired girl, Nami couldn't help but act like an older sister.
"Come to think of it, you were pretty brave," Nami said, gently patting Maya's head. Her silky blue hair felt surprisingly soft.
"As a Devil Fruit user, you actually sailed alone. Luckily, after the shipwreck you climbed into a barrel. Otherwise..."
She suddenly froze.
(Wait... Devil Fruit user... sailed alone... shipwreck... escaped in a barrel... rescued by pirates...)
(...Why does this sound so familiar?)
Almost simultaneously, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Sherlock all turned toward the Straw Hat captain, who was still happily stuffing his face, before looking back at Maya.
Their expressions became rather strange.
Of course...
The outcomes after those two were rescued by pirates couldn't have been more different.
"Uh... why are you all looking at me?"
Luffy asked innocently through a mouthful of food.
"This beef is really good. Aren't you guys eating?"
"It's nothing." Sherlock chuckled.
"We just happened to think of an idiot who set sail with only a few days' worth of food... and didn't even bring a Log Pose."
"Oh, I get it."
Luffy nodded seriously.
"Hahaha! That guy really is an idiot."
The blockhead had absolutely no idea that Sherlock's "idiot" was referring to him.
"...Hopeless."
The others all covered their foreheads, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.
"A Log Pose... a Log Pose... Log Pose..."
Maya murmured to herself.
Fine beads of sweat gradually formed across her smooth forehead.
Then her expression suddenly changed.
She frantically searched through every pocket on her clothes.
Unfortunately...
The thing she was looking for wasn't there.
"Oh no!!!"
Maya suddenly cried out in alarm.
"What happened, Miss Maya?"
Seeing her face turn deathly pale, Sanji asked anxiously,
"What's wrong?"
"It's gone...! The Log Pose that points to Lost Island is gone!"
Maya stood frozen as though struck by lightning, her eyes vacant as she muttered,
"I can't go home anymore..."
"I can't..."
Lost Island?
Robin narrowed her eyes.
So that's where the survivors of the Kingdom of Aska fled...
"Did you lose it during the shipwreck?" Chopper blinked.
"Calm down."
Sherlock frowned slightly.
"Don't you have a spare? With your Devil Fruit ability, you should have another Eternal Pose stored in your pocket space."
"N-No..."
Maya covered her face with both hands, her spirits sinking completely.
"My Devil Fruit... can't store living things."
"Huh?"
Usopp looked utterly confused.
"But what does that have to do with a Log Pose?"
He thought it over carefully.
A moment later, his expression changed dramatically.
"Don't tell me... that Log Pose..."
"That's right."
The blue-haired girl nodded.
"The Log Pose that points to my homeland..."
"...is alive."
--
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