West Blue, Ohara.
Rowan had come here again just two weeks after his last visit, yet he showed no sign of familiarity.
Inside a small base in the town, the scent of tea filled the air.
Spandine clumsily prepared tea, muttering as he worked, "I've always thought this stuff isn't as good as alcohol, but the higher-ups love it. It's expensive too, makes it easy to please them."
"When I was sending gifts last time, I got extra. See if you like it. If you do, you can take it all later."
Rowan picked up the half-filled cup and drank it in one go, smacking his lips before shaking his head. "Looks like we have the same taste. This stuff just doesn't compare to alcohol."
They chatted casually for a while before the topic shifted to Rowan's recent progress.
"How was the training camp? You came out and jumped two ranks straight to Headquarters Colonel. I heard you even got the title of monster?"
Spandine grinned, narrowing his eyes. "That title is exactly why I could help you smooth things out this time. In the Marines, whether it's the Fleet Admiral or the Admirals, strength is everything."
"Most people only went up one rank. This time, if you follow me on this operation, you might go up another."
Rowan smiled and handed over a slip of paper with a location written on it.
Spandine took it immediately and tucked it away. One slip meant a chest of treasure. That was the unspoken balance between them.
"These scholars are really that valuable?" Rowan asked with a faint smile. "Enough for CP to openly require Marine cooperation, and for someone like me, who just got promoted, to rise again?"
Spandine hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice after a quick glance around.
"That group of scholars is touching a taboo. The Void Century from eight hundred years ago. That history contains the secret of ancient weapons, and those weapons have the power to destroy the world."
Rowan showed a suitable expression of surprise before scoffing lightly. "A single weapon destroying the world? That sounds ridiculous."
Spandine choked on his words for a moment before replying, "That's what they say above. Just remember, it's a forbidden subject. Neither you nor I can touch it."
Rowan straightened his expression. "Understood."
Spandine finally relaxed and continued, "The investigation over the past few days is done. Those scholars are basically ordinary people. CP9 alone is more than enough to deal with them, but the higher-ups still ordered a Buster Call."
"You know what that means, right? Five Vice Admirals and enough firepower to wipe out the entire island. And when it starts… that's up to me."
Getting carried away, Spandine grabbed Rowan's shoulder. "When the operation begins, I'll have my people cooperate with you. Grab a few targets. When we go back, I'll write the report and highlight your contributions."
"As for the Marines, just let them fire from outside. In the end, what gets written is up to me anyway."
Three days passed in a flash.
The Marine warships from Headquarters had already approached Ohara, and Spandine began the operation.
CP9 agents sealed off all the ports, while another team moved directly toward the Tree of Knowledge.
Soon, the defenseless scholars were all captured and gathered in front of the tree.
Gunfire echoed across Ohara as civilians ran in panic, only to be driven back and eventually forced toward an abandoned port where ships awaited.
Seeing this, Spandine nearly lost his mind and immediately pressed the Golden Den Den Mushi, trying to order the surrounding Marine fleet to destroy the ship.
No one could guarantee that no scholars were on board. Even if the investigation suggested otherwise, if something went wrong later, he would be held responsible.
But then…
"Brr… brr…"
The Golden Den Den Mushi went silent.
Spandine slapped it repeatedly, but the lifeless snail refused to respond.
"What kind of garbage is this? It dies at a time like this, dies!"
Rowan quickly stepped closer and spoke in a low voice, "You can't say that out loud. Just connect it."
Spandine froze for a moment, then immediately understood.
He glanced at his subordinates nearby, who all deliberately looked away.
In the next second, Spandine raised the dead Den Den Mushi.
Facing a completely non-functional snail, he loudly issued orders, declaring the start of the Buster Call and instructing the Marines to bombard the evacuation ship.
After finishing, he hung up and casually tossed the Den Den Mushi behind him.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and slammed into a scholar who had been standing with his head lowered.
"You bastard! Trying to interfere?! Luckily, I've already issued the order. Just wait for your deaths!"
"Do you even know what a Buster Call is? This island will soon be reduced to ruins. Every single one of you will die here!"
Amid the crowd, Clover slowly stood up and walked forward, followed by all the scholars of Ohara behind him.
"A Buster Call… so they are afraid."
"Hah? Afraid? Afraid you'll die too quickly?"
Spandine arrogantly pointed his gun at the old man. "At your age, are you still dreaming? You're about to die, and this island will be destroyed. Understand?!"
Clover calmly pushed the gun away from his forehead.
The scholars behind him glared at Spandine with burning anger.
"History belongs to the entire world. No one can conceal it forever!"
"We have done nothing wrong! It is your masters who are afraid!"
"Bang!"
A bullet pierced straight through a scholar's heart, dropping him to the ground instantly.
His companions rushed to hold him, but the blood pouring from his chest could not be stopped, and within moments, he was gone.
A CP captain sneered at the scene. "If you commit a crime, you accept the punishment. No matter when, you should first understand whether you even have the strength to back your actions."
Clover looked at the fallen scholar and let out a soft sigh before turning back. "So in the end, all possibilities must be built upon strength. That is the truth."
"I want to speak to the Five Elders!"
"And who do you think you are?"
"A criminal wants to speak to the most exalted people in the world?"
With the gun pressed against his forehead again, Clover showed no fear. He had never intended to leave this place alive.
"This world hides many secrets. The truth of the past may not be what the people have been led to believe."
"What nonsense are you spouting, old man!"
Spandine shoved the gun harder against his head, spittle flying as he spoke. "Aren't you the ones trying to revive ancient weapons and threaten the world? If you commit a crime, you accept it!"
"Brr… brr…"
At that moment, a Den Den Mushi rang. It bore the CP insignia.
Spandine's expression instantly changed.
"Five Elders."
The voice on the other end spoke directly, "Why has the Buster Call not been initiated yet?"
Cold sweat nearly broke out on Spandine's back, but remembering Rowan's earlier hint, he steadied himself.
"Five Elders, I already pressed the Golden Den Den Mushi. I'm also wondering why the Vice Admirals haven't begun bombardment yet."
He quickly added, trying to emphasize his contribution, "But rest assured, all of Ohara's scholars are already under control. After several days of investigation, not a single one has escaped."
There was a brief silence on the other end, as if considering why the Buster Call had not yet begun.
The mention of Vice Admirals lingered in their thoughts, along with the memory of the South Blue incident.
At that moment, Clover's voice rang out loudly, "Five Elders! History belongs to the entire world. One day, someone will uncover it and understand it!"
"The World Government cannot stop it!"
Ohara's coastline.
On the warship, Sakazuki stood on the deck, staring at the island.
Still not started?
Those CP fools were too slow.
"Sir! A refugee ship has been spotted!"
The report made him frown. "Weren't all ports sealed and ships controlled? How is anyone still leaving Ohara?"
Under the pressure, the adjutant's forehead was already covered in sweat. "It… it seems to be a hidden port. There are two ships, and the decks are filled with civilians."
"Civilians?"
Sakazuki turned his gaze toward his subordinate. "Can you guarantee they are all civilians? If even one scholar is hidden among them and spreads that forbidden knowledge, do you understand the consequences?"
Faced with the barrage of questions, the adjutant swallowed hard, unable to answer.
On those refugee ships, there were countless children visible even through a telescope.
If even one scholar might be hidden among them… then everyone would have to die.
"Open fire."
The adjutant looked up, disbelief written all over his face.
"I said, open fire."
Sakazuki's gaze remained fixed on the distant ships. "For the sake of justice, sacrifice is inevitable. There may be scholars among them. That cannot be allowed. So… Captain, fire."
The adjutant's body trembled as he bowed, his lips moving as he tried to obey.
But in his mind, the faces of the children on those ships flashed repeatedly.
Was he really going to kill them all?
A necessary sacrifice for justice?
But this… was not his justice.
All his life, as Sakazuki's subordinate, he had never hesitated when facing pirates or criminals.
But now…
What stood before him were children with no ability to resist.
After a long moment, as the refugee ships drifted farther away, Sakazuki spoke with clear dissatisfaction. "As expected, still too weak. With that kind of personality, how can you uphold justice?"
As his words fell, he shot into the air, the air beneath his feet exploding as he stepped forward.
The overloaded refugee ships were slow, and under Sakazuki's Moonwalk, he quickly closed the distance, hovering above them as he looked down at everyone onboard.
"Marine-sama, please save us! We are not scholars, we have nothing to do with those criminals!"
"I always thought they were suspicious, gathering together late at night! Marine-sama, I can report them!"
"The Marines are here, does that mean we don't have to run anymore? Can we go back?"
"Those men in black are killing people everywhere, even those who aren't scholars! And the cannons!"
"Please… save us…"
At that moment, a little girl on the deck stretched out her hand toward the airborne Sakazuki, her eyes filled with curiosity and innocence, but unable to reach him, she lost her footing amid the crowded deck and fell straight into the sea.
Cries of alarm erupted from the ship, but Sakazuki did not move.
Instead, he slowly raised his arm, which transformed into molten magma.
That single action silenced everyone who had been about to rush forward to save the child.
"I cannot determine whether there are scholars among you, nor can I inspect each of you one by one. Therefore, for the sake of justice, you will have to make this sacrifice."
The magma gathered and surged.
A terrifying heat spread across the deck, making everyone feel as though death had already arrived.
Then suddenly, A figure burst forth.
A fist coated in Armament Haki smashed the descending magma apart, while in his other arm he held the little girl who had just fallen into the sea.
A sharp sound of steam rose as the seawater evaporated.
"Figures. Just like you people, openly deciding that others should sacrifice themselves. This kind of sacrifice… costs them their lives."
The man wearing a cloak slowly raised his head, revealing a face identical to Sakazuki's.
"You dog. Truly the perfect hound of the World Government… Sakazuki."
Sakazuki's gaze sharpened. "A user of the Clone Fruit? Or some kind of ninjutsu? Whatever it is, you shouldn't appear before me like this, especially wearing my face."
As his voice fell, a massive fist of magma formed and slammed down toward the sea, erupting into a violent surge of steam.
On the refugee ship's deck, Rowan reappeared after using Flying Thunder God, placing the little girl down safely.
"Go," he said calmly. "I'll hold him here. From today onward, Ohara will cease to exist, and even the reason for its destruction will be rewritten."
"The future of this world… the memory of Ohara may only remain with you. Leave now, while the steam still covers you."
Before anyone could respond sakazuki suddenly appeared again, his arm swinging as magma poured downward.
"You think anyone is leaving?" his voice thundered. "For the sake of justice, they must all die here!"
The magma shattered under another clash, and Rowan stepped into the air once more.
A three-pronged kunai spun out from his hand.
Sakazuki tilted his head slightly, his Observation Haki guiding him as he effortlessly avoided it.
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