"N-No problem at all!" Spandine trembled from head to toe under the overwhelming pressure of Rosinante's Conqueror's Haki. Cold sweat poured from his forehead as if he had witnessed a terrifying monster.
If Rosinante hadn't deliberately restrained the Haki's intensity to a level tolerable for ordinary people, Spandine might have collapsed on the spot, rendered unconscious by the sheer force of it. Even the two CP9 agents beside him could barely remain composed, their eyes locked onto Rosinante with grim vigilance.
"Little Robin, go on. No one will stop you now. Do whatever it is your heart desires." Rosinante gently patted Robin's head as he spoke.
While speaking, Rosinante casually swept a glance over the two CP9 agents. Their strength was decent—on par with Marine Rear Admirals—but that level no longer meant anything to Rosinante.
Robin nodded and slowly walked toward Olivia.
"Robin!" Dr. Clover called out with concern, watching her approach Olivia. But Robin didn't pause. She quietly arrived at Olivia's side, extended her small hand, and gently held Olivia's. Then she sat down beside her.
"I've wanted to do this for so long… I've always wanted to…" Robin whispered.
Hearing those words, Olivia's tears finally broke free, rolling uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"Robin…" Olivia wrapped her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace.
"Mom…" Robin clung to her, sobbing into her chest.
Just then, the two CP9 agents exchanged a look. With a whoosh, they burst forward, aiming to seize Olivia and Robin.
"Can't you see it's a mother-daughter reunion? Don't ruin the moment!" a calm voice rang out.
Before anyone could see him move, Rosinante vanished from his spot.
In the next instant, an unseen force slammed into the CP9 agents. Their heads and torsos smashed into the ground with a resounding thud, leaving only their legs twitching in the air.
"A-Amazing!" the scholars gasped, stunned.
"One punch… he floored both of them with one punch!" Olivia exclaimed in disbelief.
"It's hard to believe… but considering his bounty, it makes perfect sense," Dr. Clover said with a nod.
Suddenly, cannon fire roared in the distance. Shells began raining down on Ohara—these weren't ordinary shells, but high-powered artillery from Marine Headquarters, far more destructive than anything the scholars had seen before.
"The Buster Call has begun! Run! Get out of here now!" Spandine shrieked in terror, scrambling to flee.
"Allow me to speed up your retreat," Rosinante said as he appeared behind Spandine. With a single palm strike, he sent the CP9 leader flying like a ragdoll.
"Your Majesty! The Navy's assault has started. You must retreat now!" A cloud swept in and condensed into a human form—Shaxia had arrived.
Just as Rosinante was about to respond, tremors rippled across the ground. A massive shadow barreled toward them.
"Who's there?!" Shaxia stepped in front of Rosinante, her stance protective.
"Robin! Olivia! There you are—I've been looking everywhere!" a booming voice called out.
"Saul!" Robin's face lit up with recognition.
"You finally found Olivia, huh?" Saul smiled.
"Saul?! How are you on this island?" Olivia asked in stunned surprise, recognizing the giant Vice Admiral.
"It's a long story, a big misunderstanding really. But this isn't the time. The situation is critical—we need to evacuate immediately!" Saul urged.
"I'm entrusting my daughter to you. Please… keep her safe!" Olivia said sincerely.
Between Saul and Rosinante, Olivia felt more secure entrusting her daughter to Saul. After all, Saul had once risked everything to help her escape and had proven his integrity. Rosinante, on the other hand, was still a pirate—dangerous and mysterious. Despite his strength, she couldn't entrust her daughter's life to someone she didn't fully understand.
"I don't want to leave! Mom, what about you? Aren't you coming with us?" Robin cried.
"There are still things I must do here," Olivia replied firmly.
"If you're talking about the books in the library, then you don't have to worry," Rosinante cut in. "My people are already transporting them to a secure location."
"You're Donquixote Rosinante?" Saul looked at Rosinantemore closely, his expression turning wary.
"What do you plan to do with those books?" Dr. Clover asked anxiously.
"The Marines have enacted a Buster Call on Ohara—five Vice Admirals and ten warships are bombarding the island. Do you really think the Tree of Knowledge and everything inside can survive?" Rosinante asked.
Hearing this, the scholars were shaken to the core. They hadn't imagined the World Government would go this far. This was nothing short of erasing Ohara from the map.
"I already said—I'm interested in those books. That's why I had them transported. In return, I'll protect your escape. If you still want to continue your research, you're welcome to do so on my territory," Rosinante said.
"Your… territory?" Dr. Clover echoed.
"Yes. My territory. And by the way, there's also a Poneglyph there. Interested?" Rosinante added with a smirk.
"A Poneglyph?! You're letting us study it?" Dr. Clover gasped.
They had spent decades searching for just one, and now this man casually offered one up—and the right to study it? And he was a former Celestial Dragon, no less.
If they uncovered the truth behind the Poneglyphs, the Celestial Dragons' divine facade might collapse. And since Rosinante's family was one of the founding clans, wouldn't he be dragged down with them?
"It's just a bunch of ancient dirty laundry. It's been 800 years—who cares? If it brings those bastards down a peg, I'll be the first to cheer," Rosinante said nonchalantly.
"But how will we escape? The island is completely surrounded by the Navy. A couple of us might get through—but all of us? Along with so many books?" Dr. Clover asked.
"I have my ways. Head into the library—someone will be there to guide you out," Rosinante assured them.
"In that case, we'll accept your offer. As long as the Tree of Knowledge's books are preserved, we can continue our research anywhere," Dr. Clover agreed.
"I can't let you leave so easily," a voice suddenly rang out.
The air around them grew scorching hot. A figure emerged—a hard-faced Marine Vice Admiral stepped forward.
"It's been a while, Sakazuki," Rosinante said with a smirk.
The newcomer was none other than Vice Admiral Sakazuki—future Admiral Akainu.