The sight of Director Kutu, battered by pirates, snapped the scholars out of their fear. These bookish folks, usually trembling at the thought of pirates, threw caution to the wind. One by one, they charged forward, planting themselves between Kutu and Brook, shielding their beloved director.
Some, legs shaking but jaws set, gripped rolled-up books as makeshift weapons, glaring at Brook with righteous fury. They didn't have the strength to fight, but their defiance spoke volumes.
"Gurarara! That's some guts!"
Whitebeard Newgate's booming laugh shook the air, rattling eardrums and sending the scholars' hair and "weapons" quivering. His voice alone turned their faces pale with fear!
"To die is human, but for the sake of civilization's knowledge, we'll protect the Tree of Knowledge even if it costs our lives!"
A refined man with black hair, trembling as he adjusted his thick glasses, raised his book like a sword and shouted. His words rallied not just himself but the other scholars around him.
Brook eyed the fearless scholar, his gaze catching the book in the man's hands—its pages were etched with ancient script.
"You're an archaeology scholar? How much ancient script can you read? And what's your name?"
Brook held a shred of respect for scholars who could decipher ancient texts. Well, for any useful scholar, doctor, or scientist, really!
"I'm Nico Barobi, and I've earned my doctorate in archaeology from the Tree of Knowledge!"
The black-haired man's eyes lit up at the mention of his title. That doctorate meant he could finally study the indestructible historical texts housed in the Tree of Knowledge's archives!
Nico? Brook's mind raced. This guy's Nico Robin's father? No, age-wise, that doesn't add up. Her grandfather, maybe?
"Hey, Barobi, you can't just take those books out of the Tree of Knowledge!"
A silver-haired man smacked Barobi on the head, exasperated, while shooting a wary glance at Brook. The World Government strictly forbade studying ancient scripts, and Barobi was risking everything!
"Sorry, Pero!" Barobi winced, embarrassed. In the heat of the moment, he'd grabbed a forbidden ancient text from the secret archives to confront the chaos outside.
He moved to tuck the book away, but a bony, pale hand snatched it from him. Brook flipped through the pages, squinting.
Yup, not a single word I can read!
"Give it back!"
Barobi's face flushed with panic. Forgetting the vast gap in their strength, he lunged at Brook.
"No, Barobi!"
The silver-haired man, Pero, dove to stop his impulsive friend, desperate to keep him from throwing his life away.
With a casual wave of Brook's hand, ice encased both men from the chest down, freezing them in place. The other scholars, poised to rush in, halted at the sight.
Director Kutu, still nursing an ice-bound arm, was dragged back by his colleagues. Did he really think he could charge in and make it a three-for-one deal?
"Sorry, Pero, I dragged you into this!"
Barobi, now immobilized, calmed down. He'd failed to reclaim the forbidden book and gotten his friend stuck, too.
"It's fate," Pero sighed, a hint of regret in his voice. "I just hate thinking how sad Olvia and Herodotus will be when we're gone."
"Yohohoho! And what's your name? Pretty loyal friend you've got there!"
Brook was impressed. Even facing death, these two didn't turn on each other or start pointing fingers.
"Hmph! Listen up, pirate! I'm Charles Pero, also an archaeologist. Death? I'm not scared! The moment I chose this path, I was ready to die!"
Pero, trapped in the ice, refused to beg. He stared Brook down, defiant, knowing today might be his last.
Charles Pero? Brook frowned. Never heard of him. Probably some minor character who bites the dust early.
Pero noticed Brook's dismissive look and bristled. Why was this pirate so interested in Barobi but brushing him off? Was he somehow less impressive than his friend?
Just as Pero opened his mouth to prove his knowledge rivaled Barobi's, a silver-haired girl broke free from a frail black-haired boy's grasp and rushed forward.
"Bad guy, don't kill my daddy!"
The girl, tears streaming, threw herself at Pero's ice-bound legs, shouting at Brook in a squeaky, toddler-like voice that carried no threat.
"Olvia, get back! Herodotus, pull her away!"
Pero's heart raced at the sight of his daughter. He wasn't afraid to die, but he couldn't bear the thought of her falling to pirates.
The black-haired boy, trembling, shuffled forward. He'd meant to grab Olvia but, seeing Brook and the pirates, burst into tears and clung to Barobi's ice statue.
"Daddy, I don't want you to die! I'm scared!"
The two five- or six-year-olds, each hugging an icy father, left Brook dumbfounded.
Olvia? As in Nico Robin's mother? But shouldn't she be calling Nico Barobi her dad?
The puzzle grew messier. Nico Olvia, Charles Olvia?
Then it clicked. Charles Olvia must have married into the Nico family, taking their surname, becoming Nico Olvia! That meant the frail black-haired boy—Herodotus—was likely Nico Robin's father. Brook pictured Robin's delicate frame and dark hair as a child.
Yup, that checks out.
The Nico family's black-hair genes clearly overpowered the silver-haired Olvia lineage. Barobi and Pero, best friends and archaeology buffs, had passed their passion to their kids and became in-laws! No wonder Robin, poor as she was, could study at the Tree of Knowledge for free and even earn a doctorate by age eight. Her family's deep ties—generations of scholars—meant the Tree's staff looked out for her.
Those exam fees for each degree level? Robin could never have afforded them without her dad and granddad's connections pulling strings.
Brook mused on One Piece world naming quirks. Mothers rarely got the spotlight—Oda didn't exactly dwell on them. But he recalled Nefertari Vivi's mother, Nefertari Titi, taking her husband Cobra's surname, following Japanese marriage customs.
-----------
+240 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg