Chapter 5: Saul and the Crisis of Ohara
"Why not?" Robin asked, eyes wide. "If we study the Poneglyphs, can't we uncover the truth of the Void Century?"
"Y-y-you… How do you even know about Poneglyphs?! Did you use your powers to spy?! You know interpreting them is a grave crime!"
"But… aren't you all secretly studying them in the basement every night anyway?"
Dr. Clover's jaw dropped.
"You know about that too?! You've been sneaking looks this whole time?! Answer me, Robin!"
"I only wanted to become a scholar because you never let me near the basement! I thought if I earned the title, you'd finally let me join you! That's why I tried so hard!"
Robin's voice cracked with hurt.
Dr. Clover's expression softened, then turned deadly serious. He placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Robin… your knowledge already rivals any scholar here. But you're still a child. We research the Poneglyphs knowing we could lose our lives at any moment."
"Ever since the World Government was founded 800 years ago, the Void Century has been the ultimate taboo. Countless scholars have died for it."
He took a deep breath.
"I'll tell you this now: Ohara is the last place on earth that can still read the ancient texts. We have no way back."
Then, voice firm:
"Robin, swear on the Tree of Knowledge—right now—that you will never go near the basement again. If you do, you'll be banned from this library forever."
"I won't!"
Robin shoved his hands away and ran out of the library in tears.
"Wait!" Luo Lin bolted after her. He hadn't said a word the entire time—he knew this scene was unchangeable.
"She's walking the same path as her mother…" one scholar muttered.
"She doesn't know yet—Olvia was captured by the World Government just days ago. You know what that means for her," another whispered.
Dr. Clover sighed heavily.
…
Luo Lin chased Robin all the way to the beach. With Soru he could've caught her instantly, but she needed to vent, so he let her run.
He had tried—years ago—to warn them. Dropped hints, even mentioned the Buster Call by name. The scholars laughed it off. "The Government would never destroy Ohara!" They didn't believe such a thing existed.
He realized then: this tragedy was locked in. The very first Buster Call in history was coming for Ohara, and nothing he said would stop it.
…
On the reef, Robin sat hugging her knees, sobbing.
Luo Lin had zero experience comforting crying girls, so he just winged it.
"Hey, hey, don't cry. You're still little! When you're older they'll definitely let you research it!"
"Whatever you want to study, I'm 100% behind you! Or—or just sneak in like they do! You've got your fruit—you can read anything you want without them knowing!"
She kept crying. His heart ached.
Damn old man! I've never once made Robin cry! How could you hurt someone this cute?!
"Want me to put my sword to his neck and make him carry the Poneglyphs to you right now?"
He said it with mock menace—he'd never actually do it.
"No…!"
Robin finally looked up through tears. Luo Lin secretly exhaled in relief.
He gently wiped her cheeks.
"They just think you're too young. In a few years, when they see how serious you are, they'll give in."
"Worst case, we wait till we're grown up. By then the old geezer will be in the ground and no one can stop you!"
"…Mm."
She finally responded.
(Yeah… you won't even have to wait a few years. In a few days he'll be gone. The whole island will be.)
The thought made Luo Lin's chest tighten. He'd been trying to get Robin off Ohara for ages—she always refused.
In a few days, Sakazuki and Kuzan would be here. Kuzan might let Robin live… but he definitely wouldn't spare Luo Lin. And right now, Luo Lin knew he wasn't ready to fight an Admiral.
But he had the system. It wouldn't let him die here. He refused to let it.
After a lot of coaxing (and a little deception), Robin finally stopped crying.
Luo Lin suggested they go somewhere fun to cheer her up—secretly hoping to lure her onto a boat and just leave. She still said no.
So they just walked silently along the shore, Luo Lin trailing a step behind.
…
The next day, the two were walking on the beach as usual.
"Robin, look! A giant!"
Robin had been staring at the sand, but Luo Lin spotted him first.
His heart sank—Haguar D. Saul.
He's here. That means the Buster Call is only days away. (He couldn't remember exactly how many.)
Curious, they approached. It was Luo Lin's first time seeing a giant in the flesh.
"He's huge!"
Saul was sprawled on the sand—Robin and Luo Lin barely came up to one of his fingers.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The ground shook as Saul pulled a goofy face.
But neither kid flinched.
Awkward silence.
Saul's face fell. He flopped back down.
"W-Water… water…"
"Water?"
They pointed toward a river.
THUD THUD THUD!
Saul dragged himself over, the earth trembling with every move, then dunked his whole face in.
GLUG GLUG GLUG!
"Pwaaaah~ That hit the spot! I almost died. Wonder if that guy's okay…"
"Thanks for saving me! Is there a town on this island?"
"Yeah!"
"I was kinda hoping I'd washed up on a deserted island…"
Silence again.
Eventually Saul sat up, hugged his knees, and leaned against a small hill.
Luo Lin and Robin had to climb a tall rock just to see his whole body.
The three stared at each other.
"Staring all day won't make anything exciting happen. My leg's injured—that's why I'm sitting. Once it heals I'll build a raft and leave."
"First time seeing a giant?"
"Yep!"
"Let me just say—I'm not like those battle-crazy psychos from Elbaf! There are gentle giants too!"
"…Okay?"
"I know you probably don't believe me, but please don't tell anyone you saw me when you go home."
The two kids exchanged a glance.
"We won't tell!"
Saul's face crumpled.
"You agreed way too fast. You're definitely gonna tell."
"We won't!"
"Kids can't keep secrets."
"What's the big deal?" both asked, genuinely confused.
"Dereshishishishi!"
The weird laugh made Robin tilt her head. Luo Lin kept a straight face—he'd heard way weirder laughs in this world.
"Dereshishi? What's that?"
"It's me laughing! You two are hilarious!"
"That's laughing?"
Robin paused… then smiled too.
"You've got a cute smile! You should do it more often! Unlike the brat over there—stone-faced even when I tease him. Boring!"
"I'm not boring! I'm just having a bad day. I smile plenty!"
Robin blushed a little—she was used to compliments from Luo Lin, but still.
Luo Lin had been minding his own business just fine—until this guy called him boring.
He slowly drew his sword and coated it in Armament Haki.
"H-Hey! It was a joke! Don't do anything rash!"
Only when Luo Lin sheathed the blade did Saul relax.
"That's insane… a kid your age already awakened Haki!"
"Haki? What's that?"
Luo Lin stayed quiet. Robin looked at him curiously.
"You wouldn't understand. It's the mark of a true strong person. And at your age? The seas will know your name one day! Dereshishishi!"
"A strong person… Yeah, Luo Lin really is amazing!"
Saul laughed for a bit, then introduced himself properly.
"Name's Saul. Haguar D. Saul!"
"D.? Luo Lin has a D in his name too! What does it mean?"
"Huh? This kid too? No idea. Everyone in my family has it."
"What are your names?"
"Nico Robin."
"Portgas D. Luo Lin."
"Got it. I'm being hunted, so if anyone finds out I'm here, we're all in trouble."
"We know. We won't say anything!"
…
Through chatting, the three became fast friends.
One Piece recovery is ridiculous—by the next day Saul's leg was completely healed. He started building a raft.
On the third day he scarfed down the food the kids brought (barely a snack for him) and kept working.
"So you two got nothing better to do? You've been hanging around all day for days. Don't your parents or friends worry?"
"I'm an orphan. Only Robin was my friend… until you showed up."
"I have a mom, but she went to sea when I was tiny and never came back. I don't even remember her face anymore. The scholars are nice, but right now they're shutting me out. So it's just Luo Lin."
"You two really are perfect for each other! Dereshishishi!"
"Shut it!"
Luo Lin shook his fist. Robin blushed.
…
Day four.
"Finally done! Dereshishishi!"
"You're leaving?"
"Why the sad faces? I still gotta make a sail. I'll be here a few more days!"
Meanwhile, the townspeople were panicking—countless Navy warships had surrounded the island.
Saul, Robin, and Luo Lin kept chatting, unaware.
"Little Robin, you wanna sail the seas someday?"
"Yeah! My mom never came back because of her research. I want to wait till she returns and takes me with her. That's why I became the youngest scholar—passed the doctoral exam!"
"A scholar? At your age?"
Their conversation drifted to the Void Century… to Poneglyphs.
Suddenly Saul froze—he saw something in Robin's features.
"You… what's your mother's full name?"
"Olvia. Nico Olvia."
THUD!
Saul fell backward in shock.
"Robin is Olvia's daughter… So this island is Ohara?!"
"Yep!"
"Oh no… Of all places…!"
"What's wrong with Ohara? I drifted here too," Luo Lin finally got a word in.
After a minor meltdown, Saul's face turned grave.
"This'll scare you, but it's the truth. Navy warships are heading here right now."
"Why?"
"To wipe out every scholar on this island. Whatever you do, don't let them know you're a scholar!"
"You're lying!"
"I'm not! Go check the town—you'll see something's wrong. And… your mom should be back by now."
"Mom…?"
Robin took off running toward town.
"Hey—wait up!"
Luo Lin chased after her.
He had heard every word. His expression darkened.
These weren't just ships coming to arrest scholars.
They were coming to erase the entire island—and everyone on it.
At that very moment, inside the Tree of Knowledge, Olvia was frantically warning Dr. Clover and the others. They refused to flee.
As they spoke of Robin, Olvia's eyes filled with tenderness and pain.
"I can't see her. I chose this path. I won't let her become the daughter of a criminal."
Suddenly the door burst open.
"Dr. Clover! Terrible news! World Government ships just appeared offshore!"
"They're really here… This is bad."
Olvia pulled open a hidden bookshelf, revealing weapons.
"From this moment on, I'm not your comrade. We've never met. Remember that!"
She grabbed a rifle and ran out—brushing right past Robin, who was racing in the opposite direction… without either realizing it.
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