West Blue, Ohara.
The Revolutionary Army did not confront the World Government directly. This time, only Dragon and Kuma came, along with Olvia and over twenty scholars.
The bespectacled man and several others remained at the Revolutionary base. After attending daily ideological lessons, they began organizing and recording their knowledge, refining scattered concepts into a structured core.
This was one of the tasks Rowan had assigned them. At the same time, they were waiting to see how the World Government would respond.
Originally, their plan had been simple. If the World Government chose to act reasonably, they would leave the Revolutionary Army and return to Ohara to continue their research.
But after several days of lessons and reflection, something began to change.
Why were they researching history?
Was it only to preserve it?
No.
The hidden knowledge and forgotten history belonged to the entire world. It should be used by the entire world to make it better.
That shift in thinking was exactly what Rowan intended when he asked them to study, record, and organize their thoughts.
Inside the Tree of Knowledge, the place resembled a massive library.
Clover was still reading, completely absorbed, as if Dragon and Kuma did not exist.
Dragon sighed. "You haven't changed at all. After all these years, your pursuit is still the same."
There was no response.
Olvia stepped in to explain, "He must be at a critical point. We'll have to wait."
The reception area became a workspace. The scholars were busy with their own research, and Olvia also left to continue her work, leaving Dragon and Kuma sitting there in silence.
Two hours passed.
Finally, Clover finished writing the last line, closed his notebook, and looked up.
He paused, slightly surprised. "Dragon? When did you get here?"
Dragon looked helpless. "A while ago. You were too focused to notice."
Clover scratched his head awkwardly. "Bad habit. When I concentrate, I ignore everything else. Wait…"
At that moment, he saw Olvia approaching and broke into a smile. "You're back? I've been worried about you. Good timing, really good timing."
Olvia blinked. "What do you mean?"
Clover sighed softly. "You haven't gone to see Robin yet, have you?"
That question stopped her.
The moment she returned, her first thought had been to organize and store the knowledge gathered over six years. Even after learning that the World Government might have discovered them, she had still been reluctant to abandon those records.
"Your daughter has inherited both your will and her father's," Clover continued. "We tried to keep it from her, but she still reached this point with her Devil Fruit ability. It's almost as if it was inevitable."
Olvia fell silent for a long time.
She knew what it meant once the World Government discovered their research.
But Robin had inherited their will.
"…I understand," she said at last. "I'll go see Robin soon. But Doctor, our research may have already been exposed."
After explaining everything that had happened, Olvia left the decision in Clover's hands.
At this moment, however, what she wanted most… was to see the daughter she had not met since she was two years old.
Clover exhaled slowly and turned to Dragon. "I've heard about you over the past year. The Freedom Fighters becoming the Revolutionary Army. I never expected someone who hated war so much would make such a decision."
Dragon replied calmly, "Someone has to take that step. The world has been oppressed for too long. The people need us, so we appeared."
Clover set his teacup down. "So it's really been discovered. If even you know, then those five old men in Mary Geoise must know as well."
He continued, "To be honest, I always knew this day would come. We are only scholars. We have no power to protect this knowledge."
Dragon looked at him. "You were labeled pirates just for exploring. You should have known from the beginning how much they feared the Void Century. You should have been more cautious."
Clover smiled faintly.
"If we had been cautious, then you would never have come to understand the will of Ohara."
"They want to destroy this history because they fear someone will use it to expose their lies, and use that knowledge to overturn them."
"If that weren't the case, would you have come here?"
He did not wait for an answer.
"Your Revolutionary Army is still young. You don't yet have the strength to oppose them. But you still managed to save Olvia and the others from the Marines. You persuaded some to stay, and set your sights on these books."
Clover's gaze sharpened slightly.
"That instructor you call Spark… he clearly understands the value of this knowledge. So where did he learn it?"
"The greatness of that ancient kingdom… he knows it. The technology of the Void Century, the power that could overturn Mary Geoise… he must know something."
"Because history alone is not enough to change the world."
Silence filled the room.
Dragon and Kuma both remained quiet.
That conclusion… was far too sharp.
But Rowan clearly did know.
Only someone who understood the true value of Ohara's knowledge would care this much.
At that moment, Dragon recalled his first meeting with Rowan, and the words about "future alignment."
"Spark knows many things," Dragon said. "Even the creation of the Revolutionary Army, its purpose, why we fight, who we fight for, and what the future should be… all of it comes from his guidance."
Clover waved his hand. "That does not interest me. Dragon, we have known each other for a long time."
Dragon nodded. "We have. Our positions are close, perhaps even the same. At the very least, we both stand against the World Government."
Clover stood up and slowly walked around the towering bookshelves, as if revisiting the knowledge contained within them.
"Have your instructor come here personally. I will only give you my answer after meeting him."
"History and knowledge are the future of this world. If I am to entrust that future to someone, I need to be sure I am making the right choice."
"Someone entrusted with the future should indeed be met in person."
Rowan's voice came from behind Kuma.
At some point, two cloaked figures wearing masks had appeared inside the Tree of Knowledge.
Clover's expression tightened. This place was too important. It concerned the lives of all the scholars of Ohara.
Dragon covered his forehead helplessly. "Spark… this isn't a Revolutionary base. You should at least give notice before arriving."
"Sorry, sorry." Rowan waved his hand. "I'm used to it. And this time I brought a companion. You might find him interesting."
Behind Rowan, Roger smiled as he looked at Dragon. He knew this man, the son of his old rival, and it was clear he had not become a Marine as Garp had hoped.
Roger chuckled. "Next time, try standing with your backs to a pit. There's a chance he'll teleport you somewhere else… but who knows? It might work."
Dragon and Kuma were both stunned for a moment, then actually seemed to consider it.
Rowan sighed. "My coordinates aren't just for travel. If you contact me through a Den Den Mushi, I can arrive instantly. I'll inform you beforehand next time."
He then looked at Roger. "I'll introduce him later. For now, I need to speak with Dr. Clover."
Clover turned his gaze toward Rowan.
The two stared at each other, both evaluating the other in silence.
Dragon and Kuma left the room.
After a moment of thought, Roger followed them.
Having reached Laugh Tale, he understood exactly what kind of power the knowledge within the Tree of Knowledge represented.
Preserving knowledge, and preserving those who could inherit it, was a gift to the future.
It was also a seed.
If Rowan failed, there would still be hope left for the future.
A new cup of tea was poured, but Rowan did not drink it.
Clover spoke first. "Will you not remove your mask?"
Rowan thought for a moment, then formed hand seals. A puff of smoke appeared.
When the mask was removed, the face revealed was Clover's own.
Another set of hand seals, and it changed again, this time into Dragon.
Even his voice shifted.
"Since the creation of the Revolutionary Army, my true face has not been seen. Revolution is not a game, especially in a world filled with strange abilities."
Rowan glanced around the bookshelves. "There are abilities that can extract and alter memories. Your greatest secret lies underground, your research into the Void Century and the knowledge you have uncovered. That knowledge alone made you realize its greatness."
Clover's eyes widened slightly, his expression turning serious. "You truly know a great deal."
"You should also understand what this knowledge represents. Infinite possibilities for the future. Endless energy. Technology far beyond the current era."
He looked directly at Rowan. "You want this knowledge. You also want the scholars who can read the Poneglyphs. Then tell me… why should I trust you?"
"If your true identity belongs to the World Government or the Marines, then this knowledge will never become a force for the future."
Inside the Tree of Knowledge, only the two of them remained.
Even the scholars had moved elsewhere.
After a long silence, Rowan finally spoke.
"I am a survivor of God Valley. From the moment that place was destroyed, my stance was decided. That is also why the Revolutionary Army exists."
"God Valley…"
The name, erased from maps, was not unfamiliar to Clover.
Through scattered records from across the world, traces of that island still existed. But more than ten years ago, it had been wiped from history.
Rowan continued.
"A Celestial Dragon 'field trip' turned God Valley into their playground. Every resident and every slave they brought became points in a game."
"Absurd, isn't it? Even more absurd is that after it ended, the island itself was erased from the map… and from reality."
"I was young at the time. If not for Kuma and the others, I would not have survived. So you can be assured of my position."
Silence fell once more.
After a long pause, Clover finally spoke.
"Tell me about the Revolutionary Army. I want to understand your ideals."
As the sunlight faded and night fell, the two walked out of the Tree of Knowledge after hours of discussion.
The moment Clover stepped outside, he immediately began organizing scholars to move the books.
But Dragon stopped him.
"You've decided?"
"Take everything with you," Clover said. "Spark is right. Knowledge only becomes a blessing to all life when it is used in the right way."
He reached out and patted Dragon on the shoulder. "You're quite fortunate. Without him, I have no idea what your Revolutionary Army would have become."
Dragon gave a wry smile but did not refute it. "We can handle the transportation tonight. The ships we brought are enough. You can all leave together."
Clover exhaled and smiled. "I won't be leaving. As for the others, I will ask them. Anyone willing can go with you."
Not leaving?
Clover turned around and looked at the scholars who were organizing the books. His gaze swept across the entire Tree of Knowledge, as if trying to engrave every detail into his memory.
"The things they want to erase are all recorded here. The prosperity of that great kingdom, even if only fragments, is enough to make me long for it."
He paused, then continued, "And the future that man spoke of… it allowed me to see such a world again. A world where everyone can truly live."
Clover turned back to Dragon.
"A revolution from the bottom requires both initiators and leaders. But whether those who slay dragons will become dragons themselves… no one can guarantee."
"Dragon… you once despised all war, yet because of that, you helped many people form the Freedom Fighters. After meeting him, that became the Revolutionary Army, and you became their leader."
He looked directly at Dragon.
"If one day, the empty throne that stands above all life on this sea tempts you, remember why you began. Remember what you fight for."
Clover let out a soft, self-mocking laugh.
"With him around… that throne will never belong to anyone."
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