The stolen warship drifted silently toward the docks of Ohara.
The scholars and townspeople were absorbed in their books and daily lives; they barely noticed the vessel until the gangplank lowered.
"That... doesn't look like a normal Marine ship..."
"The flag is crossed out!"
"PIRATES!!"
"Wait... I recognize those faces from the newspaper! It's the Rocks Remnants!!"
"Oh god! The monsters of God Valley are here! Ohara is doomed!!"
Panic spread like wildfire. The residents screamed, dropping their baskets and books, scrambling for safety.
York stood on the deck, sighing.
"Sigh~ What a bother."
"I wanted to keep a low profile, but these people are too loud."
He snapped his fingers.
"Holy Light: Deep Sleep."
A soft, white aura radiated from York's body, sweeping across the harbor town. It wasn't an attack; it was a wave of pure, tranquil relaxation.
THUD. THUD.
The screaming residents froze. Their eyes rolled back, and they slumped onto the cobblestones, snoring peacefully.
"Peaceful silence," York muttered, stepping over a sleeping fishmonger.
The crew walked through the town without resistance, heading straight for the colossal tree that dominated the island's center.
They arrived at the base of the legendary Tree of Knowledge.
The scholars, alerted by the commotion but outside the range of the sleep wave, had barricaded the entrance.
Leading them was an old man with a distinctive clover-shaped beard.
Professor Clover.
He stepped forward, fear in his eyes but determination in his voice.
"Pirates!!" Clover shouted. "This is a temple of knowledge! There is no gold or treasure here! What do you want?!"
"If you intend to destroy this place... we have already notified the Marine Branch!!"
York stopped. He smiled, amused.
"So, you haven't notified them yet?"
Clover stiffened.
"As expected of scholars," York chuckled. "Your minds are sharper than the townspeople."
"Relax, Professor. We aren't here for war."
York gestured to the massive library.
"They say knowledge is the greatest treasure. We're just here to make a withdrawal."
Clover blinked. "Pirates... seeking books?"
"Cut the small talk," York said, his tone hardening. "We're going to stay here and read for a while. If you stay quiet and let us study, we leave peacefully."
"But if you try to be righteous heroes and call the Marines... I'll have to destroy this island."
To emphasize his point, York raised a hand.
SWISH.
A tentacle of holy light shot out, wrapping around a male scholar standing behind Clover.
"Ugh... ah~"
The scholar didn't scream in pain. He slumped to the ground, a foolish, ecstatic grin plastered on his face, lost in a whirlpool of pleasure.
The other scholars gasped, stepping back in horror.
"Are you sure you want to test me?" York asked coldly. "Destruction or Cooperation. Choose."
Clover looked at his drooling colleague, then at the monsters standing behind York (Kaido, Stussy, etc.).
He sighed, defeated.
"The ocean of knowledge is open to everyone," Clover said solemnly. "Even pirates."
"But you must follow the library's rules. Do not damage the books. Otherwise... I will fight you to the death, even if it means burning this tree down myself."
York nodded. "Deal."
And so, the most dangerous crew in the world settled into the Tree of Knowledge.
Clover managed the town's mayor, using the terrifying bounties of the York Pirates (Totaling over 10 Billion Berries) to ensure silence. No one wanted to provoke a Buster Call or a massacre.
Days passed.
Kaido was the first to crack.
"Reading is boring!!"
He grabbed his kanabo and stormed off to the back mountains to train his physique and Devil Fruit powers. York let him go, with strict orders not to kill the locals or leave the island.
York, Stussy, Gloriosa, and Shakky spent their days reading. They devoured history, geography, and secrets of the world.
As the days turned into a week, York noticed something.
Someone was watching them.
A young man. He always stood in the distance, wearing a hooded cloak. His gaze wasn't fearful like the other residents; it was wary, calculating.
York ignored him at first. But today, a memory clicked.
The jawline. The eyes.
'He looks like Garp.'
York closed his book. He recalled the timeline. After God Valley, Garp became a Hero. But what about his son?
That evening, York intercepted the hooded man on a quiet path near the library.
"Monkey D. Dragon," York said casually. "Garp's son. Is that you?"
The young man froze. A flicker of shock crossed his face, but he quickly composed himself.
"How did you know?" Dragon asked, his voice deep.
York laughed. "I was bluffing. But your reaction confirmed it."
"You look like him. And you don't fear me. Ordinary civilians can't maintain that level of calm in front of a 3-Billion Berry pirate."
Dragon shifted his stance, ready for combat. "Are you going to kill me?"
"Why would I?" York leaned against a tree. "I'm just curious."
"Garp is from East Blue. He works out of Marineford. Why is his son hiding in Ohara in the West Blue?"
York looked at Dragon's simple, nondescript clothes.
"You're hiding."
Dragon remained silent. He knew he couldn't lie to this man.
"I... came from God Valley," Dragon admitted quietly.
York's eyes narrowed.
"A deserter?"
"No," York corrected himself immediately. "If you just deserted, Garp could cover that up easily. He's the Hero now."
York stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"You're hiding here because you did something unforgivable."
"You attacked a Celestial Dragon, didn't you?"
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