"Monkey D. Dragon, is it?"
Olvia nodded, then turned to look at Saul.
Saul tilted his head and spread his hands, showing no sign of doubt.
"Since I've pointed out the path for you, there's one more thing I'd like to discuss with you," Michael said, pointing to little Robin, who was nearly laughing herself to tears. He smiled.
"Leave Robin to me. I'll raise her to become a Marine—one of the best."
Michael's words carried no exaggeration.
The Marines were always known for their strength.
But those with brains? They were few and far between.
Otherwise, Tsuru wouldn't have become the Chief of Staff, second only to one.
That's the benefit of intelligence.
And Robin clearly possessed the high intellect to achieve such feats.
"Become... a Marine?"
Olvia couldn't pretend she wasn't tempted by the idea.
It would undoubtedly be the best way to ensure her daughter's safety.
But even so, once her daughter grew up, she would still have to face those ruthless pirates of the Grand Line.
"Hey, Olvia, there's nothing to worry about. Sure, becoming a Marine means facing pirates, but it's a lot better than having her grow up only to be discovered as a survivor of Ohara and get hunted down by the World Government," Michael shrugged.
"Besides, look at that old man Garp—he's practically dying to snatch your daughter away for himself. Robin will probably become the second biggest Marine with connections after me."
There was something Michael didn't say out loud...
The residents of Ohara, including Olvia's own brother—how they treated little Robin...
Olvia must have noticed it too.
Though the entire population of Ohara had successfully relocated to a new island, she had been eager to leave, not even wanting to catch up with her family. Aside from her fear that her identity might implicate them...
It also showed that she held some resentment toward the people of Ohara.
If even her brother acted that way, what could you expect from the rest?
Rather than letting Robin stay here and endure scorn, or walk a difficult road alongside her...
It was better to entrust her to the young Marine in front of her.
At the very least, following him would keep Robin much safer.
Though Michael had once said Olvia wasn't a qualified mother,
That judgment was only about her actions—not her feelings for little Robin.
There is no mother in the world who doesn't love her child.
A mother's love can move mountains, even overturn everything she once believed in.
"Alright then, Michael-san..."
"I'm entrusting Robin to you."
Michael nodded, then seemed to remember something.
"Oh, right—give my regards to Dragon-san... and while you're at it, tell him he has a little sister named Rouge." Michael flashed a mischievous grin. "Tell him not to forget it."
...
"Faster! Grandpa Garp, run even faster!"
"Faster? Watch this!"
Garp and little Robin—an old man and a little girl—were having the time of their lives.
Dust flew in the wind, and they zoomed across the ground like a storm!
"Hey! Old man! That's enough! It's time for us to go!"
Michael stood on the deck, shouting to Garp in the distance.
Finally, Garp, mid-run, leaped in a massive jump and landed right onto the battleship.
"Ahahaha! How's that?! Pretty far, huh?!"
Still exhilarated, he plucked little Robin off his shoulders.
"Tsk tsk, old man. You sure were enjoying yourself, huh? Anyone who knows you gets it—you're entertaining the kid. But someone who doesn't? They'd think an old brat's gone wild with a little brat."
Garp didn't care one bit about Michael's teasing. He had always been thick-skinned.
And Michael knew his words had no real effect on Garp anyway.
So, he turned to little Robin.
"Little Robin, just like I told you before—come back with me and become a mighty Marine!"
"...A Marine?" Little Robin blinked, clearly recalling the suggestion that had sounded like a joke earlier. "Can I really?"
She looked over at Garp, tall and strong, with that bold "Justice" cape billowing behind him.
Then she looked at the handsome and kind Michael in front of her...
Her clear eyes shimmered with yearning.
But...
She still turned to Olvia.
"M-Mama..."
This Robin hadn't lived through the destruction of Ohara. She hadn't watched her mother and Saul die before her eyes.
She hadn't yet developed the great resolve to uncover the truth behind the Void Century.
She was simply... instinctively attached to the warmth of her mother's embrace.
No matter how kind Garp and Michael were, they couldn't replace her mother.
This choice—for an eight-year-old girl—was far too difficult.
This mother and daughter... were fated to be apart more than together.
Even if fate had shifted slightly, the overall course hadn't changed.
A child can't make such a choice—but an adult can.
Olvia hugged her daughter tightly, as if to make up for all the lost years.
She stroked Robin's dark hair, feeling the storm of longing within her small body.
"Robin, go. Go and become a Marine! Stay close to Vice Admiral Garp and Michael-san. You'll learn even more valuable knowledge and see a much wider world... Go do what you love!"
Though her voice was light, her eyes were already full of tears.
"Remember, your mama is now a dangerous, wanted fugitive... So dear Miss Marine, please go easy on me one day, okay?"
Michael twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Well, damn. You run, she chases—no escape, huh?
Michael understood now: in this world, you can only max out either intelligence or emotional intelligence.
These high-IQ folks… they're a little too blunt, aren't they?
The kid had been doing fine just a moment ago. One sentence—and now she was bawling her eyes out.
"Uwaaah!!"
Robin's wails instantly panicked Olvia.
She cradled her and coaxed her in a soft whisper for a good while before calming her down.
Robin finally wriggled out of Olvia's arms, her face covered in dust from her romp with Garp, now mixed with tears—making her look like a little soot-smeared kitten.
But on that little face was an expression of unprecedented determination.
"When I grow up, I'll become an excellent Marine!"
"I'll definitely bring Mama back to my side!"
Hearing this, Saul couldn't help but slap his thigh and burst into laughter:
"GYAA HA HA HA HA! You two sure are a strange mother-daughter pair!"
But in his eyes, there was a hint of peace.
He had once aided evil, and made grave mistakes.
But witnessing the reunion of this mother and daughter...
It was as if some small part of his guilt and regret had been redeemed.
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