While the Barlorick Family was in turmoil and Rocks's crew were miserably rowing…
Fang Huo's days on Ohara were proving rather comfortable and easy.
After befriending the Mink Three Sheep, he actually sought out Nico Olvia, Nico Robin's mother.
But he soon discovered this world follows the custom of taking the husband's surname.
Right now there was no such person as Nico Olvia—Olvia's family name was unknown.
Fang Huo did locate the Nico Family, an ordinary scholar clan on Ohara.
The Nicos had a one- or two-year-old boy who might be Nico Robin's father.
Fang Huo quickly brushed aside these trifles; such minor characters were irrelevant.
Inside the tree of knowledge, he kept searching for records of every ability and its successive users, studying more development paths.
He also gathered intel on other islands, piecing together information related to the events and people he remembered.
"This thing actually exists?"
In the miscellaneous volumes of the tree of knowledge, Fang Huo came upon a rather surprising legend.
"In the Grand Line?"
Fang Huo's eyes flickered as he weighed whether to investigate.
Yet he had no idea a colossal crisis was about to descend.
Stussy was collecting the biotech intel she wanted as usual, while Linlin immersed herself in books on every race and rare species.
Thunder Cloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus had been ordered by Fang Huo and Linlin to hover above as lookouts, monitoring ships on the sea.
Should any World Government or Marine vessels appear, they were to report instantly.
But after several uneventful days, even Zeus and Prometheus slackened their vigilance.
A blond-haired man had already set foot on Ohara via a merchant ship.
Figarland Garling likewise spotted the thunder cloud and fireball in the sky.
"Kozuki Fang Huo! You won't escape this time!"
Saint Garling had planned to capture Kozuki Fang Huo, Charlotte Linlin, and Stussy alone, scoring points with Lord Imu.
But recalling that Fang Huo and Linlin could both fly…
…he played it safe, using spatial communion to brief Lord Imu and the Gorosei.
Meanwhile, on a secluded Ohara beach, he activated a teleportation array, summoning a Celestial Dragons Knight he trusted.
A black-haired woman stepped out of the array.
She carried a double-edged longsword, her expression detached.
Yet her cropped top revealed a slender waist, and her pretty face brimmed with allure.
A rose ornament adorned her long black hair.
"The famed Saint Garling, who boasts a hundred-percent mission success rate, actually thought of me?"
Makas Petygrew gave Garling a cool glance; the lone-wolf perfectionist was asking for backup.
"Enough talk! The two of us might not handle Kozuki Fang Huo and Charlotte Linlin—they can both fly!"
Saint Garling spoke coldly. Though his Deep-Sea Mark granted immortality, he had yet to find a Devil Fruit that satisfied him.
For now he remained a non-user.
"We ambush them—cripple them in one strike and ground them for good!"
Makas Petygrew spun her blade, her face full of confidence.
Every Celestial Dragons Knight is an elite among Celestial Dragons.
Otherwise they wouldn't receive the immortality personally bestowed by Imu.
Both Gorosei seats and Celestial Dragons Knight posts are limited in number.
Countless thinking Celestial Dragon elites crave eternal life!
Below the Gods Knights are the Divine Blade, who likewise yearn to ascend.
So don't assume life is easy inside Celestial Dragon circles—the elites are just as cut-throat.
If you're content to be an ordinary Celestial Dragon, life is blissful and carefree.
But for those elites who have tasted immortality, becoming a Knight or a Gorosei is their lifelong obsession.
"I've reported to Lord Imu and the Gorosei; Imu attaches great importance to Kozuki Fang Huo—one of the Gorosei will descend!"
Saint Garling spoke calmly; he could already guess which Gorosei it would be.
After all, only one of them could fly.
Part of why he summoned Makas Petygrew was to share the credit.
Makas Petygrew hailed from that very Gorosei's clan.
Martial God of Environment Saint Markus Mazesaint, Mythical Zoan Itsumade user.
He was the perfect counter to Kozuki Fang Huo.
"A Gorosei lord is coming in person?"
Makas Petygrew's expression turned solemn; as a Knight from a Gorosei bloodline, she held extra reverence.
After all, one of the Gorosei was her own ancestor.
Knights like Saint Garling and Saturn Mars longed to become Commander of the Gods Knights, hungered for a Gorosei seat.
Deep down they viewed the Gorosei clans as rivals.
Knights such as Makas Petygrew and Shepherd Ten Somaz Saint, scions of Gorosei families…
…usually kept an uneasy, competitive distance from rising stars like Saint Garling and Saturn Mars.
Yet in the end, their rivalry hinged on strength and Lord Imu's favor.
With Imu's blessing, even a Gorosei could be replaced—let alone the Commander of the Gods Knights!
"If I'm right, it will be your esteemed forebear."
Saint Garling shrugged. Ambitious he might be, but not so arrogant as to openly slight a Gorosei.
The post of Holy Knights Group Leader was vacant—prime time to vie for it.
Only by securing that seat could he qualify to stand against the Gorosei.
Learning her ancestor was on his way, Makas Petygrew grew deadly serious.
One Gorosei plus two Gods Knights should handle Kozuki Fang Huo's trio without issue.
The primary target was Kozuki Fang Huo alone; Charlotte Linlin was incidental, and the scientific bandit Stussy could be ignored outright.
Such ants weren't worth a second thought.
High above, Sun Prometheus and Thunder Cloud Zeus were still foolishly scanning the horizon for World Government or Marine banners and battleships.
Little did they know the enemy had already landed and was at their doorstep.
As Saint Garling activated another special transport array, a black array marked with the numeral 3 appeared on the shore.
A savage burst of Conqueror's Haki instantly erupted, sweeping across Ohara.
Inside the tree of knowledge, the moment Fang Huo sensed that evil Conqueror's Haki, he grabbed Charlotte Linlin and Stussy and evacuated at once.
"Not good—the World Government's old monster is here!"
Fang Huo didn't hesitate, wonder, or investigate; he executed an immediate strategic withdrawal without the slightest delay.