Ohara was far from peaceful.
The dire information brought by Nico Olvia had thrown the island into turmoil.
Inside the massive Tree of Omniscience, Nico Olvia looked apologetically at the surrounding historians and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Doctor. Because of our stubborn actions out at sea, Ohara has been targeted."
Dr. Clover, however, regarded Nico Olvia with a forgiving gaze. "Olvia, you have nothing to apologize for."
"Although the World Government knows Ohara is researching the Void Century, this isn't solely your fault. We, too, have been studying the Void Century here. If not for your relentless explorations outside, Ohara wouldn't possess so many Poneglyphs. Everyone is striving for the same cause, and you have endured far greater hardships than us old folks who have remained on Ohara."
Nico Olvia's eyes welled up with tears.
She had expected to be reprimanded, never imagining Dr. Clover would harbor no resentment toward her.
However, Dr. Clover's tone shifted as he continued. "But there is someone you have wronged. If there is anyone in Ohara you have failed, it would only be one person."
For a moment, Nico Olvia couldn't guess who this person might be.
Dr. Clover didn't keep her in suspense but instead walked to the side.
The other scholars parted to create a path, revealing a small, slender figure standing in the shadows.
"Robin!"
When Olvia saw her child, tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes. Disregarding everyone else, she rushed to Robin's side and swept her into a tight embrace.
"Robin... my little Robin. Mommy's back."
Robin in her arms burst into loud sobs.
It had been so long since she last saw her mother—so long that her mother's face had grown blurry in her memories.
If not for her mother's sudden return, Robin might never have had the chance to tell her that she had already become a scholar.
"Mommy, Robin has been very good here! And Robin has even become a historian!" Robin looked up, proudly declaring her achievement to Olvia.
Olvia was momentarily stunned, then planted a kiss on Robin's forehead. "Robin, you are Mommy's pride. Mommy wasn't as clever as you when she was little. Mom became a historian much later."
By now, the numerous historians had quietly left the Tree of Omniscience, leaving the brief respite between the impending artillery barrages to the mother and daughter who hadn't seen each other for years.
...
After what felt like an eternity, Olvia emerged alone from the Tree of Omniscience.
Her eyes red with tears as she spoke to Dr. Clover.
"Doctor... I want Robin to survive, no matter the cost."
Dr. Clover nodded in agreement. "Those of us here have already been marked by the World Government. We cannot leave Ohara, and even if we managed to escape, we would be recaptured. But Robin is different. She is just a child."
"The World Government won't be too determined about a child. I know those people all too well. They are always arrogant, forever overlooking those they perceive as weak."
Olvia nodded.
The World Government was indeed as the doctor described.
Arrogant and foolish.
However, sending Robin away was still fraught with immense danger. She needed one more person's help.
In Olvia's home, Saul was fast asleep, snoring loudly.
Ever since arriving in Ohara, he had been awestruck by everything here.
Even the fragments of knowledge shared by the scholars filled him with deep admiration.
Now, he was more convinced than ever that he had made the right choice in protecting them.
Olvia woke Saul.
"What's wrong, Olvia?" Still groggy from sleep, Saul looked confused.
Olvia spoke to him with a guilty expression. "Saul, may I ask you for one final favor? My child, Robin, has nothing to do with the affairs of Ohara, so I want her to survive."
"I came to Ohara for Robin. As long as she lives, any price I pay will be worth it." As she spoke, Olvia began crying again.
The image of that lovely little girl surfaced in Saul's mind.
He scratched his head and chuckled warmly. "Rest assured. I am quite fond of little Robin. I can guarantee you that I will see her safely off the island."
...
The next day, the skies above the waters near Ohara were shrouded in dark clouds.
The heavy thunderclouds made this sea area appear exceptionally terrifying.
Ten massive Buster Call-class warships were lined up in a broad formation, their heavy cannons aimed at the island of Ohara, waiting only for the command to blast the island into ruins.
After directing the formation, Sengoku reported the situation to the Five Elders.
The Five Elders quickly responded to Sengoku: the Buster Call would commence in half an hour.
At this moment, Sengoku was conducting his final inspection of the fleet.
With Saul's precedent fresh in his mind, he feared any mishaps or insubordination during this Buster Call.
Fortunately, all the Vice-Admirals commanding the other ships were people Sengoku held in high regard, and no issues were found.
After completing his rounds, Sengoku returned to his own flagship.
He waited quietly for the appointed time.
Woo-woo-woo!
As alarm sirens blared across the fleet, Sengoku picked up the microphone to command the ten warships.
His voice echoed across every ship's deck.
"Buster Call officially initiated!"
"All warships, check your artillery!"
"FIRE!"
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
Flames shot skyward as the Navy's simultaneous volley made the very sea tremble.
The muzzle blasts from the cannons even killed numerous seabirds that had foolishly approached the fleet.
"Prepare to reload artillery!"
"FIRE!"
Another simultaneous volley followed. With hundreds of large-caliber cannons across the ten warships, they now furiously bombarded Ohara island with heavy, explosive shells.
"Water!"
The artillery operators shouted, and the enlisted men around them quickly poured buckets of cold seawater over the smoking cannon barrels to cool them down.
"Prepare to reload artillery!"
"FIRE!"
Three consecutive volleys from the ten Buster Call warships destroyed all visible dense structures on the coastline of the island, with even the massive Tree of Omniscience sustaining heavy damage near its base.
"Warships disperse! Commence free firing!"
The ten warships gradually spread out in different directions, circling the island.
Their mission was to expend all ammunition on board.
A Buster Call artillery saturation meant every inch of the target area must be shelled—no easy task.
The island's inhabitants had initially believed they could survive by hiding in basements or caves, never anticipating the Buster Call's ferocity would exceed their imagination.
Whether tall buildings or small hills, everything would be flattened.
The tremendous, unending explosions reminded everyone that Death was harvesting lives today.
If there was one person on Ohara who remained unafraid, it was Saul carrying Robin on his back, running toward the evacuation point.
And, as fate would have it, Saul had chosen to break through the blockade exactly where Vice-Admiral Kuzan's ship was positioned.
When Kuzan spotted Saul through his binoculars, he was both shocked and enraged.
"Fucking hell! What is that bastard doing here?!"
Boom!
A cannon shell shot toward Saul's chest, but the giant punched it away with his bare hands.
The deflected shell landed in the water, creating a massive splash.
At this moment, Kuzan watched his old friend with complex emotions, uncertain whether he should step off his ship and block his path.