Michael looked at the young Robin, his heart burning with even greater anger toward this backward village that felt more like a bad joke.
Because the most laughable part of this enraging joke was…
This was Ohara.
Home to the largest library in the world and the finest team of archaeologists anywhere.
And yet, they still saw a child with a different hair color as a "monster."
But…
Michael's anger wasn't directed at the villagers, but at the World Government, which sat idly by and enforced a policy of willful ignorance.
Ignorance was never the people's fault.
All humans are born ignorant; it's only through nurturing and environment that one can grow.
Compared to little Robin, who was labeled a "monster," weren't these clueless villagers even more pitiful?
"The Navy is handling this. Everyone, disperse."
Michael spoke slowly. While his tone wasn't exactly cold, to little Robin, it was a stark contrast from the gentle voice she'd just heard.
With a single glance, the previously outraged villagers immediately quieted down.
Even the ignorant know how to avoid harm.
So they all shut their mouths and returned to whatever they were doing.
The kids who still wanted to talk back were pulled away by the adults.
Garp was somewhat surprised.
He'd expected that with Michael's usual temper, he'd at least give the villagers a harsh scolding.
But to his surprise, Michael didn't even lose his smile—just spoke in a calmer tone.
His tolerance for civilians… was surprisingly high.
"You… Hello, Navy sir." Little Robin finally found the courage to speak, bowing to Michael in a panic.
"Thank you for helping me."
"What's your name?"
"Robin. My name is Nico Robin!"
"Do they… bully you often?" The gentleness returned to Michael's eyes, rising back to the surface.
"It's okay, you can tell me. I'll help you."
Hearing those words, Robin hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded.
Then she added:
"They say I'm a stray kid with no mom or dad… a black-haired monster. A few days ago, one boy even threw a rock at me." As she spoke, she patted the dust off her worn skirt. "But he missed."
Listening to the soft, childish voice tinged with sadness, Michael sighed quietly.
Then he scooped her up in one arm.
…Too light. She felt like nothing more than a small frame of bones.
"Ahh!" Robin gasped in surprise at the sudden action, nearly dropping her book.
"Robin, look at my wings."
Michael said, gently shaking the angelic wings on his back and spreading them out.
Tiny particles of Holy Light fell softly to the ground, vanishing on contact.
"If having black hair makes you a monster… then doesn't someone with wings and platinum hair like me count as an even bigger one?"
Before Robin could respond, Garp burst into exaggerated, booming laughter with his mouth wide open.
"Hahahaha! I can shoot cannonballs with my hands! Doesn't that make me the real monster!?"
Michael shot Garp a slightly annoyed look.
Damn it! Your logic really is monstrous!
But strangely enough, illogical comments like this were actually quite effective when comforting a child.
Robin was a genius, but geniuses can still be innocent when they're little.
"No, you're with the Navy. Navy people aren't monsters." Robin shook her head, hesitated a little, and then looked up.
"And your wings… are so beautiful."
As she looked up, several small, delicate hands suddenly grew from her body out of thin air.
"This… is the real monster."
But the disgust and fear she expected didn't appear.
Instead, the kind Navy sailor holding her and the towering Navy grandpa beside him simply stared at her extra hands and started talking.
"Michael, this must be a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, right?"
"Yeah. I've seen it in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. If I'm not mistaken, it's the Paramecia-type Hana Hana no Mi."
"Hana Hana no Mi? Doesn't sound like it's meant purely for combat."
"The Hana Hana no Mi lets any part of your body bloom like a flower and grow on any solid surface within view." Michael gently pinched one of Robin's sprouted hands. "Its attack power might not be especially high, but it's incredibly versatile. Honestly, it's a perfect ability for a commander."
Michael and Garp's reaction was something Robin had never experienced before.
She didn't know how to respond.
"You heard him. You're not a monster. You have a very useful ability. So... want to join the Navy, Robin? Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself. How rude of me."
Michael smiled and said:
"I'm Michael. That scary-looking old man who looks like he eats children is Garp."
"As your new friend, I'll tell you a little secret. But don't tell anyone else…" Michael glanced around nervously, making even little Robin gulp nervously in anticipation. "If you join the Navy, there's a chance you'll get access to the legendary Poneglyphs!"
Garp blinked, dug into his ear in disbelief.
Wasn't this exactly the kind of shady line kidnappers use to lure in little girls!?
If he didn't already know Michael's character, just seeing this scene alone would've made him want to lock the guy up on the spot!
"R-Really?"
"Of course it's real!" Michael nodded with a smile. "Whether it's becoming a Marine or studying the Poneglyphs—it's all real."
And just like that, the two adults and one little girl chatted their way to the gates of the Tree of Knowledge.
Robin hopped down from Michael's arms and knocked on the door.
"Knock. Knock knock. Knock knock knock."
With the rhythmic knocking, the massive door of the Tree of Knowledge slowly opened.
Michael and Garp followed behind Robin as she led them in, having no time to be amazed at the world's largest library built from a five-thousand-year-old tree.
Instead, they walked directly toward the old man standing at the center of the library.
The old man turned around.
His originally green hair and beard had faded to a grayish green with age.
His strange hairstyle and beard formed the shape of an upside-down clover.
"I am Clou D. Clover." The old man tensed for a moment upon seeing the Navy follow Robin inside, but relaxed once he recognized who they were. "Vice Admiral Garp, the Hero of the Navy. What brings you to Ohara?"
"Are you one of Ohara's scholars? Do you have authority in this village?"
Garp stepped forward.
At nearly three meters tall, he towered over Dr. Clover, exuding tremendous pressure.
"Of course I do." Dr. Clover nodded. "Did something happen?"
"Gather the villagers immediately! Get everyone aboard my warship for evacuation!" Garp said directly. "The World Government has issued a Buster Call on Ohara. The execution fleet is already on its way!"
"B-Buster Call!?"
The voice didn't come from Dr. Clover. He didn't even know what a Buster Call was.
It came from behind them.
From Saul and Olvia, who had been hiding in the forest.
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