"So why'd you pick Ohara as our first stop?"
The ship was trashed.
After an hour of sword-clashing mayhem, Mihawk finally worked off his frustration. Watching Aus snap everything back to perfect order with one finger, he remembered to ask.
"The reason..."
Cool ocean breeze hit his face as Aus leaned on the rail, staring at the horizon. That black dot was growing fast—stupid fast.
"Simple. If we don't go now, we'll never get the chance. It's a trip, right? Gotta hit the tourist spots."
"Never get the chance?" Mihawk didn't follow.
Islands don't just disappear. How could they miss it?
With warp speed, the Grand Line to Ohara was nothing. Any pirates stupid enough to try robbing them either couldn't keep up with the teleportation or got their ships chopped in half by Mihawk.
As they approached, the Oro Jackson docked at a cliff instead of the proper port. Aus and Mihawk warped onto the "Island of Knowledge."
"Damn, that tree's exactly as advertised—absolutely massive!"
Looking up, Aus spotted the colossal tree dominating the island's center. Thing was so huge it nearly swallowed the sky.
"They say it holds every book in the world. Wonder if they've got those kinds of books?"
"What?" Mihawk frowned.
"You know... those kinds. Forget it, never mind."
Seeing the straight-laced boy's confused look, Aus remembered—Mihawk wasn't into women.
They chose not to warp straight into the tree. Sure, it was faster, but it killed the whole travel vibe. Aus wanted real journeys—seeing everything firsthand, not speed-running from spot to spot.
If he wanted that bullshit, Aus could probably check off every island in the world within months.
That special-ops style wasn't his thing.
Walking out of the cliff forest, getting lost wasn't a concern. Observation Haki helped, but mainly the tree was so fucking massive they could just follow their eyes.
But mid-walk, Aus's Observation Haki caught several kids nearby. One especially grabbed his attention.
Seeing him suddenly switch directions, Mihawk just raised an eyebrow and followed.
They reached the forest's other side, where some seriously messed-up shit was going down.
"Look, look! It's that freak!"
"Everyone, nail her with tomatoes!"
"Hahaha!"
Kids' cruelty is pure instinct. For laughs, for fitting in—whatever.
Obviously, some lonely orphan girl who just wanted to read made the perfect punching bag.
Tomatoes smacking her head didn't hurt much, but the cleanup sucked. She worried more about getting home to wash the juice off—would her aunt bitch about using extra soap?
But these little shits weren't done.
Desperate, she tried that ability that worked before—the one that made them call her a freak. Maybe it'd scare off this mob.
Too bad she'd overused it. Half these kids weren't scared anymore. How much power could some starving little girl have?
She hugged her head, bracing for the beating before escaping to the library. But the expected pain never came.
"What... what's happening?"
What the hell?
Looking up, this tall, intimidating figure stood in front of her. Those kids who always picked on her were dangling by their collars in his grip, lumps already forming on their heads.
Who... was this guy?
Was he protecting her?
Like Saul did.
"You ugly little shits picking on people—real fucking classy..."
After giving each brat a few skull bumps, they ran off bawling.
Mihawk watched Aus looking all satisfied after bullying children. Zero dignity whatsoever.
Though after witnessing that scene, he'd wanted to smack those ugly brats too.
Aus felt great. Since age six, he'd ruled Duramos Island's kids with an iron fist. Under his reign, he did the bullying—never saw kids ganging up on each other.
"Hey, Nico Robin. Where you going?"
Watching the little punks scatter, Aus turned to Robin, who was also trying to bail.
She froze solid.
This guy just said her name?
"Yeah, I'm talking to you. Show us around this island. Play nice and I might throw you some cash."
Aus grinned.
His charm was maxed out, but this time he whiffed completely. Robin's nightmare childhood left her trusting absolutely no one.
She bolted toward town.
"Tch... pain in the ass."
Aus clicked his tongue. After hanging with red-light district girls so long, he thought his people skills were godlike.
Then he spoke quietly:
"Don't move, Nico Robin."
With that crisp command, something fucked up happened.
The skinny girl mid-sprint suddenly locked up like someone hit her with a freeze ray. Couldn't budge an inch—even her expression stuck in that panic moment.
"What the hell..."
Mihawk's brow furrowed. First time seeing Aus pull this move.
New Devil Fruit technique?
Staring at frozen little Robin, Aus got this look like he just had the worst idea ever. Evil grin spread across his face.
He walked over, watching the kid's pupils shake with terror. Aus reached out his wicked hand toward her...
Books.
"Listen up, little Robin. Try running again and I torch your books."
Evil Aus's eyes gleamed as he yanked the book she'd been clutching.
Aus couldn't read jack shit written inside.
No shock there. Raised by pirates, never saw a classroom—reading newspaper headlines was an achievement.
By this world's standards, Aus was part of the illiterate masses.
Sure enough, after hearing that evil threat, when Aus released the freeze, little Robin stopped trying to escape.
She just stared at this handsome but terrifying "adult" with fearful, trembling eyes.
"Please... please don't burn my books..."
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