"Chief Spandam!" The marines hurried forward.
Rhett unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, and they all dropped like flies.
He turned to the people inside the house. "Run. This is the final payment for teaching Perona how to read."
Robin ignored the fallen Spandam. Her gaze was fixed on her mother.
Years of grievances, anger, and confusion boiled over. "Why... why didn't you care for me all these years? Do you know what I've been through?!"
Olvia's tears fell. She reached out to touch Robin, then drew back. "I'm sorry... Robin, I really... I'm truly sorry..."
Robin's chest heaved. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, to vent all her pain.
But then: Saul! Her friend might be in danger. She had to warn him.
"Saul..." Robin gritted her teeth. After a final, long look at her mother, she ran toward the Tree of Knowledge's rear. Olvia reached out, but her hand fell.
"I know you are Mr. Rhett. Mr. Dragon told me that your thoughts are above ours. Mr. Rhett, please save my child," Olvia knelt before Rhett.
"Don't you think it's strange to ask for help right after your daughter ran away?"
"I infiltrated the World Government and memorized a large number of unknown secrets, including various plans the World Government is implementing and will implement against the Revolutionary Army. Because the World Government is pursuing me, I didn't have time to write these down. Before I could deliver the information to the Revolutionary Army, I couldn't die. I'm not a qualified mother. Please, Mr. Rhett."
Rhett looked at Olvia. Dragon's Revolutionary Army... He revised his opinion. If they were all warriors like this, maybe they could succeed.
"Olvia, you may not be a qualified mother, but you are a qualified revolutionary warrior. I will protect Robin. As for whether you can escape, that depends on your ability."
Rhett walked out the door. Olvia knelt, watching him go. This might be all a powerless mother could do for her daughter.
Outside, Rhett used Moon Walk to dash toward the back mountain. "Hehehehe, Kuzan, here I come."
The cold wind howled, and frozen earth spread.
Saul's massive body stood before Aokiji. His breath condensed into white mist, but his eyes were firm.
This should be the scene where Saul delays Aokiji to buy Robin time to escape.
"Kuzan! Do you really believe in this kind of 'justice'?!" Saul's voice was full of emotion. "The scholars of Ohara only wanted to uncover the truth of history. What did they do wrong?"
Watching from the sidelines, Rhett thought: The problem is huge.
Aokiji had his hands in his pockets, a hint of hesitation hidden beneath his calm. He frowned slightly, and frost silently spread beneath his feet.
"Saul, we both know... you are a marine. You uphold justice."
"So we should just watch innocent people be slaughtered?!" Saul roared. "Kuzan, you are a warrior with a passionate heart! Are you still yourself now?!"
Aokiji remained silent.
A black shadow descended from the sky. Rhett landed steadily using Moon Walk, a playful smile on his lips.
"Yo, Kuzan, long time no see. What's going on? Why aren't you fired up? Get burning!"
Aokiji glanced at him. He had sensed Rhett's Conqueror's Haki earlier, and now his eyes were filled with excitement.
It seemed he didn't have to wallow in self-blame: "Rhett... are you getting involved in this too?"
"I'm just passing by, here to watch the show." Rhett shrugged, but his gaze swept toward Saul. "But Saul is right—you don't really believe in your 'justice' anymore, do you?"
Aokiji's frown deepened.
Rhett walked over to Saul and patted his leg (since he couldn't reach his shoulder), smiling: "Saul, did you know? Kuzan knows better than anyone. And that 'justice' on his back has crushed so many people."
Aokiji's fingertips trembled slightly, ice crystals forming in his palm.
"Shut up, Rhett."
"What? Hit a nerve, did I?" Rhett grinned.
Evolve, Kuzan!
"Kuzan, you know this is wrong, but you chose to stand by. You could have saved the people of Ohara, but you chose to 'follow orders.' Is this your 'burning justice'? Or... are you just too scared to admit your cowardice? Ohohoho, Kuzan, can you handle it?"
Rhett: My verbal skills aren't bad, huh? I'm a keyboard warrior after all.
Aokiji's pupils contracted sharply.
Saul seized the moment. "Kuzan! If you still consider me a friend, please let Robin go! She's just a child! She's just a child who loves books and is isolated."
Aokiji's breathing quickened, frost swirling around him. He slowly raised his hand, a cold light gathering in his palm.
"...Enough."
Extreme cold erupted!
"Ice Age!"
Saul was frozen, but his expression remained firm.
Rhett took a few steps back and clicked his tongue: "Well, he still got frozen..."
Aokiji slowly lowered his hand, his gaze complex as he looked at the frozen Saul.
"Rhett, are you going to fight me?"
Rhett smirked: "Kuzan, let me guess—you really want to fight me right now so you don't have to make a choice, right? But I don't want to fight you. Go fulfill your mission. I won't stop you."
The passionate Aokiji is still too much to handle right now. Let's go for something more laid-back.
Aokiji didn't respond. He left in the opposite direction from Robin, knowing he couldn't stop Rhett alone.
Rhett watched his retreating figure. "Shaky justice will eventually collapse, Kuzan."
He looked up at the distant Tree of Knowledge. Flames were already rising.
"Time to find that girl..."
The Buster Call's cannons exploded at Ohara's port. Flames shot into the sky.
The Bluma Jackson sailed away. Rhett stood at the stern. Enel at the bow unleashed electricity, shattering the incoming cannon fragments.
Perona held Robin tightly, comforting her. Robin's eyes were blurred with tears as she stared at the fading silhouette of Ohara, a suppressed sob caught in her throat.
"Mr. Rhett... those scholar uncles..." Perona's voice was soft.
Rhett was silent for a moment, then sighed softly and ruffled her hair. "I couldn't save them."
His voice was low but no longer cold. "Two Marine Admirals, ten top-tier warships, plus CP9 elites... I couldn't protect them."
Rhett: Asking me to risk my life against the Marines for this—our relationship isn't that deep.
Moriah's shadow twisted anxiously on the deck, letting out an eerie laugh: "Fosissisi... that woman, Olvia..."
Robin suddenly broke free from Perona's embrace, her eyes red. "You're so strong! Why—"
Rhett didn't interrupt roughly. He crouched down and looked her in the eye.
"Robin," his voice was unusually gentle. "If I were to charge back now, what do you think would happen?"
Robin bit her lip and didn't answer.