Chapter 6: The Buster Call and the Qualifications of a King
Robin ran panting all the way to the Tree of Knowledge, Luo Lin right behind her. The moment she burst in, her first words were:
"Has my mom been here?!"
The scholars froze. They had no idea how she knew, but they stammered out an answer.
"What are you talking about? There's no way your mother is on Ohara! Why would you suddenly ask that?"
Robin's shoulders slumped in disappointment, but she quickly added:
"Right—there's something else! I heard Navy warships are coming to kill every scholar on the island!"
"So the panic has already started… Looks like we're in deep trouble this time."
Clover turned to her gravely.
"Listen carefully, Robin. If anyone asks, you must never admit you're a scholar. You're still a child—no one will suspect you."
At that moment the doors were kicked open with a BANG, nearly hitting Robin.
Luo Lin's hand was already on his sword, eyes icy. He was about to move when Dr. Clover subtly shook his head.
"Move it! Move it! We suspect serious crimes involving the interpretation of Poneglyphs! Everyone put your hands up and get outside! We're searching the place!"
"How rude! Don't break our things!"
"Shut up, old man! Everyone out! Search every corner!"
"Yes, sir!"
The same scene was playing out across the island. Civilians with no ties to archaeology were being herded toward evacuation ships.
At the beach, Saul saw the ring of warships and realized what was coming.
All the scholars were gathered on the open ground outside the Tree of Knowledge. Dr. Clover sat at the front.
"Luo Lin, Robin—there are evacuation ships! You two need to get on one. It's going to get dangerous!"
"No! I'm staying with everyone!"
Clover looked pleadingly at Luo Lin, hoping he'd take Robin and leave.
"Don't look at me. Robin's my only friend. Where she goes, I go."
The Buster Call hadn't started yet. The island was still safe—for now. At worst, a few CP9 agents might show up. Six Styles, no Haki. Not even a warm-up for him.
Clover opened his mouth to argue, but a smug laugh cut him off.
"Gyahahaha! How's the operation going, boys?"
"Hard at work, Chief!"
Spandine strode in, and the agents behind him threw a battered Olvia to the ground with a heavy thud.
Robin's heart clenched.
They're treating a woman like that… that's awful!
The scholars clenched their teeth. Clover leaned close to Robin and whispered:
"Robin, you and Luo Lin get to the evacuation ships—now!"
Hearing her name, Olvia painfully lifted her head and saw the grown-up Robin.
"She's gotten so big…"
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the island. Spandine's Den Den Mushi rang. When the call ended, he threw his head back and cackled.
"Charges confirmed! You're all guilty—death sentence! The world's greatest scholars are going to die together! Gyahahaha… How boring. My job's done. Just gotta report to the Five Elders and I'm out."
Robin couldn't believe her ears.
"Dr. Clover… is everyone really going to be killed? Why? Just for reading ancient texts?!"
"Idiot brat! You're impossible! They're trying to awaken ancient weapons and murder millions!"
"That's not true! They never wanted that!"
"Enough, Robin. There's no reasoning with scum like him."
Spandine grinned.
"Perfect timing. Let me have a little chat with the Five Elders before I die of boredom. Luo Lin—take Robin and get out of here. What I'm about to say will make you criminals just for hearing it."
Luo Lin didn't need telling twice. He grabbed Robin's hand and bolted toward the beach.
He could kill Spandine and his men right now, but he wouldn't.
If Clover hadn't made that final speech to the Five Elders, Ohara might not have triggered the Buster Call. That speech was what pushed the island's threat level to "exterminate immediately."
He had zero sympathy for Olvia. If she wanted to chase truth so badly, why abandon Robin to suffer alone on Ohara?
He wasn't strong enough yet to have the World Government hunting him for life.
They didn't get far before Robin yanked free and refused to run farther. She stood at a distance, watching.
Saul was also searching frantically for Robin.
Robin couldn't hear what Clover said into the golden Den Den Mushi, but the next second Spandine pulled a pistol and shot the old man point-blank.
At the same moment, the Five Elders gave the order:
"Activate the Buster Call. No survivors."
Robin saw Clover collapse and sprinted back.
"Doctor!!"
"Robin… you foolish child! You shouldn't have come back! Run to the evacuation ships!"
"No!"
Spandine pulled out a golden Den Den Mushi.
"Buster Call—activate."
No one knew what it meant yet, but they knew it was bad.
Then the Tree of Knowledge erupted in flames.
"Put out the fire! Robin—get out of here!" Clover gasped with his last strength.
The Buster Call was live. Luo Lin couldn't afford to be casual anymore. He had to reach Saul fast—that was their only escape route.
But right then Robin locked eyes with Olvia and childhood memories flooded back.
"You… are you my mom?"
"You have a kid?" Spandine sneered.
Olvia's face twisted in pain. After an agonizing moment, she forced out:
"You've got the wrong person."
"It's me, Robin! I've grown up! Don't you remember? I've been waiting for you this whole time! You really aren't my mom…?"
Olvia broke. She collapsed, sobbing into her hands.
"I studied so hard to become a scholar so someone would hold my hand and walk on the beach with me… I can even read Poneglyphs now!"
Spandine's eyes widened.
"That little girl?!"
"Don't leave me alone again!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Explosions drowned her out. The shockwave sent Spandine tumbling head-over-heels.
"Damn it! We're still on the island! Are those bastards trying to kill me too?!"
"Sir, the girl just admitted she's a scholar!"
"True or not—remember her face. She doesn't leave this island alive! Retreat!"
"What about Olvia?"
"Who cares! She'll die here anyway! My life comes first!"
As soon as Spandine fled, Robin ran forward and took Olvia's hand.
"Robin!"
"Mom…!"
"I'm sorry, Robin… Can you really read Poneglyphs?"
"I'm sorry… I just wanted to understand them so badly!"
"Not many people can master the ancient texts… You're incredible, Robin!"
Olvia showered her with praise. Robin cried even harder.
"We're out of time! Olvia, Luo Lin—take Robin and run! Sneak onto an evacuation ship!"
Saul came thundering up.
"Robin! There you are! You found your mom!"
"Saul!"
Olvia stared in shock.
"Saul… you're here too?!"
"Long story—my ship sank, I washed up, these kids saved me!"
"No time—go!"
Olvia pushed Robin toward Saul.
"Take Robin and get her out!"
"Mom—what about you?!"
"I still have things I have to do!"
"No! I won't be left alone again! We finally found each other!"
Olvia smiled gently, already resigned to death.
"Robin, as a scholar of Ohara you should understand: history belongs to humanity. It will light your future.
But history passed down through generations will fade if no one carries it forward.
Ohara never wanted to expose the truth—we only wanted to protect the voices of those who came before us!
Even if our research ends and Ohara is destroyed, never abandon hope for the future!"
"I don't understand…!"
"One day you will."
She placed Robin in Saul's huge palm. Saul and Olvia exchanged a nod.
"Go, Saul!"
Saul turned and ran. Luo Lin kept pace. No matter how much Robin screamed, they didn't stop.
"Live on with our hope, Robin!"
Olvia's shout echoed behind them.
Saul charged forward. Luo Lin sliced several incoming shells in half. The Navy saw everything.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan—fugitive ex-Vice Admiral Saul is on the island!"
"Saul… let me go back!"
"I can't!"
"Your mother is an amazing woman. Ohara is amazing. You should be proud!
One day, you will tell Ohara's story to the world. It fought a great fight!"
Back at the Tree of Knowledge, scholars hurled books into the sea, trying to save what they could.
Most shells were blocked by Luo Lin, but one slipped through and exploded against Saul's body. He curled protectively around Robin.
"Damn it—if Robin gets hurt, everything's for nothing!"
To protect her, Saul abandoned any lingering loyalty to his former comrades. He set Robin down, grabbed a warship, and hurled it into another, smashing it to pieces.
That bought them a brief respite.
Saul urged Robin toward the evacuation ships.
"It's not safe that way!"
Luo Lin blocked her path. He knew those ships would be sunk—and Robin would never be allowed aboard anyway.
"Luo Lin, what are you doing?!"
No time to explain. Spandine's men were screaming that Robin must not escape.
"CP9? Out of my way!"
Saul charged toward them, ignoring the shells exploding against his body.
Then—
"Ice Age — Two Thorn Spear!"
Two spears of ice pierced Saul and sent him crashing down.
"Vice Admiral Kuzan!"
"Aokiji!"
"Ara ara… A Buster Call stopped by a former Marine Vice Admiral would be pretty embarrassing."
"Aokiji… do you agree with this attack? You know it's just to make an example—no matter the cost, they're wiping out all of Ohara. Do you think that's justice?"
"For the future peace of the world, sometimes these things are necessary. The scholars did break the law, didn't they?
Everyone has their own justice. I won't argue philosophy—but if you try to stop us, I have to act."
BOOM!
A massive explosion. The evacuation ship became a fireball. Everyone froze.
"When dealing with evil, you must uproot it completely."
Akainu justified his actions—it was obviously him.
"You bastard!"
Even Aokiji cursed under his breath.
"Is that your justice? Can you live with yourself?!"
Saul, enraged, attacked Aokiji.
"I never wanted it to go that far!"
Aokiji leaped away.
Saul seized the chance to grab Robin and run—Aokiji was no ordinary Vice Admiral.
"Ice Time Capsule!"
Ice raced toward Saul.
A sword flash cut it in half—Luo Lin.
He had known how this ended, but seeing it happen—watching thousands of innocents murdered—ignited pure fury.
He despised the Navy's actions. The rage had to go somewhere.
"Hm? Kid, you're getting in my way?"
Aokiji was genuinely surprised. A ten-year-old had just blocked his attack.
Luo Lin said nothing, face dark, blade (the Great Grade Sword Shinrai) pointed straight at the Admiral.
"Then let's see what you've got. Ice Spear!"
Armament Haki coated the blade. Soru. Using Observation Haki he dodged the spears and slashed at Aokiji with full-force Armament.
Aokiji's eyes widened. This level of Haki control—from a child in the West Blue, nowhere near the Grand Line?
He barely evaded.
"This is shocking, kid. You can use Haki? You're clearly not from around here—all scholars on this island, right?"
"I don't owe you answers. I'm protecting Robin, and I despise everything your Navy is doing right now!"
"Then we've got nothing to talk about. I have justice to uphold!"
"Justice?! Trampling freedom and lives just to protect your own power and authority—that's your bullshit justice?!"
Luo Lin roared.
In that instant, an overwhelming pressure exploded from him, sweeping across the entire beach like a shockwave.
Aokiji froze. A bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple.
"Conqueror's Haki…? You've gotta be kidding me…"
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