Looking out at the blazing island, Sakazuki continued, "In the freezing cold, dressed in thin clothes, they'd be forced to work day and night on construction.
"That massive project in the East Blue... it's been going for seven hundred years. Where do you think the manpower comes from? They're all prisoners from around the world, and their descendants, generation after generation.
"Do you really think that kind of life is kindness? Your so-called mercy only brings them endless suffering and darkness.
"As for the sin of bombing the evacuation ship, you don't need to carry that burden. Stop drowning yourself in pity and doubt. Spend too much time around that idiot Garp and your brain starts to rot too."
Clenching his fists, Kuzan turned to leave. He knew Sakazuki was right, but that was exactly why it was so hard to accept.
Every word stabbed into his heart like a knife. Not only could he do nothing, he couldn't even shoulder the guilt that came with it.
Sakazuki sensed Kuzan leaving but didn't say a word. He had already said everything. If the man still turned out to be that same lazy fool, then he was beyond saving.
"People always like to throw around idealistic nonsense without thinking…" Sakazuki muttered softly. "How laughable. Save them? With what? Words? Ideals?"
Enel stood silent, watching the island with no expression. He understood Sakazuki's difficulties.
Everyone wants to be the good guy, but who's going to take the blame? Who will bear the sin and the hatred?
Foolish idealism...
Shells continued to rain down from the sky. In the sea of fire, Ohara had become a living hell.
* * *
Inside the Tree of Knowledge.
The flames had grown so intense that the trapped scholars could no longer throw books out toward the lake through the window.
The air was choking, and many had collapsed to the floor.
Clover stared at the burning books as tears rolled down his cheeks. 'So... this is the history mankind has chosen. How shallow humans are...'
Olvia shut her eyes tightly. In the final moments of her life, she thought of her daughter. 'I'm sorry, Robin. As your mother, I never even got to talk to you properly… I'm sorry…'
Boom!
The Tree of Knowledge, planted five thousand years ago, collapsed.
* * *
Evening. Ohara.
At a quiet spot along the shore behind the mountain.
Robin had run all the way here, only to stop in fear when she spotted Kuzan ahead.
He was sitting on a rock, with a small wooden boat placed in front of him. Without turning around, he spoke, "Justice… can sometimes turn people into weapons. I don't know if this is right or wrong, but I've decided to let you leave this island. I want to see what kind of person the seed Saul protected with his life will grow into.
"You're free to hate whoever you want. But be grateful you're still alive. Try to live quietly. I've frozen a path across the sea. Follow it, and you'll reach the next island."
Kuzan rose and strode past her, his back now facing her. "Remember this. I'm not your ally. On the contrary, if you ever commit a crime, I'll be the one to come after you first."
Robin spun around. "My mother's still on the island. We can still save—"
The vice admiral's cold voice interrupted her mid-sentence. "There's no one left alive on this island, but if you want to die, that's your choice too."
And so...
Two figures, one large and one small, headed down their own paths.
* * *
Ten warships, with hundreds of cannons combined, bombarded Ohara through the night.
The raging fire engulfed the entire island, lighting up the dark sky. Even from several kilometers away, one could feel the heatwave and see the blood-red glow in the air.
Robin sat in the small boat, crying... drifting farther and farther away.
* * *
On the top deck of the warship, Sakazuki and Enel stood motionless, simply observing the inferno rage.
They witnessed the flames consume everything until nothing remained but scorched black land and rising wisps of smoke.
At dawn—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed as Carlo walked to the front of the ship. "Vice Admiral, the rest of the fleet is awaiting orders."
Sakazuki said calmly, "Send out teams. Begin the search."
"Yes, sir." Carlo gave a nod. After a pause, he added, "Vice Admiral... last night, the mission in South Blue's 73rd branch failed. Of the seven-member team assigned, only one survived. Avis and the base commander died together."
Keeping his eyes toward the sea, Sakazuki asked, "Were all traces cleaned up?"
Carlo responded, "There's no problem. The high-powered explosives that Avis detonated destroyed nearly half the base."
Sakazuki's mind briefly recalled the names and faces of Avis and the others sent to the 73rd branch. "Anything else?"
Carlo hesitated. His voice turned stiff. "Avis wanted me to deliver a message. He's sorry. He did his best."
Sakazuki went silent for a few seconds. "I understand. Learn from it. Also, have people search the base perimeter. See if you can find Avis's Devil Fruit. Dismissed."
Carlo replied, "Yes, sir." Then he and Enel left.
Only Sakazuki stayed, gazing at the sea in silence.
After a long while, he turned and walked away.
* * *
Ohara. Ruins of the Tree of Knowledge.
The once-massive tree that had covered half the island was now a blackened stump lying in ashes.
Soldiers stepped across the smoke-filled island, searching carefully.
"This is terrifying."
"So this is the Buster Call..."
"There's no way anyone could've survived."
"The whole place is full of craters and charred remains."
"Enough talking. Focus on the search."
"Hey! Look over here!"
A group of chatting soldiers suddenly cried out in shock.
"This lake... it's filled with books!"
"What?! Let me see!"
"This is...!"
Inside the lake, it was packed with books thrown in by the scholars of Ohara.
That vast body of water had been turned into a vault for humanity's history...
* * *
Several days later. Grand Line. G-7 Marine Base.
Spandine and Sengoku had gathered here to review and archive the operation.
A photo lay on the admiral's desk, while Kuzan sat on the nearby sofa, also holding a photograph.
Spandine pointed and said, "This is the brat. I saw her with the scholars of Ohara. There's definitely a connection."
He looked toward his subordinates. "Where did you find her?"
One officer stood at attention. "On a passenger ship northeast of Ohara, sir. But we lost track of her almost immediately..."
Spandine scoffed. "That kid got real lucky. I saw her with my own eyes—she was on a small wooden boat, breaking through the fire surrounding Ohara. But when we tried to chase her, the helm wouldn't budge. It was like it had been frozen in place. Unbelievable."
Sengoku glanced at Kuzan, who was quietly sweating on the couch, then turned back to Spandine. "If she has ties to the Ohara scholars, she might be able to read the Poneglyphs too. Even if she's just a child, we can't let her go. Use whatever means necessary to bring her back. Otherwise, everything we've done this time will have been for nothing."
Spandine agreed. "Right. Let's come up with a reason and issue a wanted notice. I'll go report this to the Five Elders first."
Sengoku nodded with a hum.
Once Spandine left, the large office was silent, save for the sound of the goat munching on documents.
"This can't happen again, Kuzan..."
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