"Saul!!!"
Robin's tearful cries echoed throughout the bay.
She knew Saul was dead, because of her choice.
At this moment, Robin didn't dare to look back at Saul's corpse; she just turned away and cried incessantly.
"Have you felt the fragility of life?"
Ross bent down and gently picked up the crying Robin, placing her on his shoulder.
At his current height, Robin could sit comfortably on his shoulders.
He wasn't afraid that Robin would threaten him. With his current physique, it would be impossible for Robin to break through his defenses. She was just an innocent little girl.
"Waaaaah..."
Robin just pursed her lips, tears streaming down her face.
She disagreed with Ross, but dared not refute him.
She was scared.
Fearing that Ross might kill her mother if she got upset.
If she couldn't even save her own mother, then Saul's sacrifice would have been in vain.
"Robin, do you remember my name?"
Ross, with Robin in tow, walked step by step toward the direction where Saul had died.
"I remember, Saint Jaygarcia Ross!"
Robin nodded vigorously, while covering her eyes with her hands.
She had already seen Saul lying on the ground, the big guy who would comfort her with that peculiar laugh, dead!
"Very good, remember this name, imprint it in your heart."
Ross gazed calmly at Saul's corpse, his tone seemingly gentle, yet the content of his words sent a chill down one's spine:
"I can easily kill those that others can't. I can easily solve problems that others can't. Everything in this world depends on whether I want to do it."
"Your choice this time has brought me joy."
"As a favor, you can choose any person or ask a question. As long as it interests me, I will give you the corresponding future according to your desired outcome."
"Take a good look at the corpse before you, Nico Robin. This is the consequence of your choices, and the result of being my enemy."
Robin had already lowered her hands from her eyes without her noticing, and was just staring blankly at Saul's corpse.
Poor girl...
Gion stood beside Ross, her gaze toward Robin filled with pity.
Girls this age have no idea what power or strength means.
But at this moment, Ross broke through her defenses with his actions, planting a seed called 'Saint Jaygarcia Ross' inside her.
The fear this seed brought her may be hard for Robin herself to understand, but it would definitely take root and sprout in the future, becoming the biggest shadow in her heart.
Gion had actually seen quite a few children like this.
Those homes were destroyed by pirates, and the few survivors were all in similar mental states.
Most of these people became extreme as they grew up.
Either embrace darkness yourself, or resist darkness with extreme measures.
It was said that Sakazuki witnessed his hometown and family being killed by pirates when he was young, which led to his current personality.
But in any case, this girl named Nico Robin would never be like an ordinary girl in the future.
Gion silently withdrew her gaze and collected her thoughts.
She was willing to join the Marines, which showed she was a kind person.
She considered speaking up about Robin, but ultimately didn't know what to say.
Without Ross, given Robin's identity and her experiences helping Saul these past few days, death would be her ultimate fate.
Even if she survived by chance, Ohara would be destroyed, and she would never be able to be an innocent girl again.
So what could she say?
There may be things more important than life, but to be alive was already an immense blessing in this world.
If anyone's to blame, it was Robin's irresponsible mother.
Knowing full well the consequences of researching taboos, yet still persisting despite their powerlessness, they pushed themselves, their families, and even their hometown into the abyss.
Let's go.
When Ross saw Robin gradually stop crying and her gaze towards Saul become calmer, he knew he had succeeded.
His identity as a World Government noble destined him to be at odds with this group of historians.
Since that was the case, why not let Robin turn completely evil and make him Robin's greatest fear?
There were many ways to like and possess, but Ross was not bound by formalities; he only cared about the final result.
With Robin still perched on his shoulders, Ross strode toward the Tree of Knowledge.
Now, it was time to wrap things up.
...
On his way to the Tree of Knowledge, Ross suddenly received a call from Sakazuki.
"What's up?"
"A historian has surrendered at the location of the refugee ship. Should all civilians be exterminated, or should only the ringleaders be executed?" Sakazuki's cold voice came through.
"Surrendered?"
Ross raised an eyebrow; this term was quite new in the world of One Piece.
After considering the distance, Ross said directly:
"I'm not far from there. Take him and those who know the situation into custody. I'll handle the rest. You're in charge of arranging the evacuation of the other civilians."
"Yes, sir!"
Sakazuki quickly hung up the phone and began to act as Ross instructed.
Without Ross's orders, he would have chosen to kill all those in the know, and even execute all civilians to protect the Marines' reputation.
But since Ross was coming in person, he wouldn't interfere.
"Gion, tell Spandine to take control of everyone. We'll be there shortly."
"Yes!"
Gion nodded in agreement and began contacting the Spandine Den Den Mushi.
She was also quite curious about the historian who suddenly turned himself in.
It was rare to see someone deliberately courting death when they had already boarded a refugee ship.
The group was very close to the port; they arrived in five minutes.
Sakazuki had been waiting for a long time, and when he saw Ross come over, he immediately nodded to him.
"Saul has been executed, Sakazuki, shall we make a bet?"
Upon meeting, Ross didn't look at the person who had surrendered first, but instead turned his gaze to Sakazuki.
Compared to Sakazuki, this S-class prize, the historians could wait.
"How would you like to bet?" Sakazuki frowned slightly.
He didn't like gambling, but he wouldn't mind playing with Ross if he could get something out of it.
"Let's bet on whether anyone would go and collect Saul's body," Ross said with a laugh.
"Collecting corpses? Does he have accomplices?" Sakazuki's face revealed murderous intent.
The traitor's accomplices were all evil people and deserved to die!
"Of course not. Just referring to my colleagues in the Marines, do you think any of them would go?" Ross asked.
"Impossible, the Marines didn't have such an idiot around!"
Kuzan's image flashed through Sakazuki's mind, but he still gave his reply decisively.
"How about this then? If the Marines go to collect Saul's body, I win. Otherwise, you lose, how about it?" Ross smiled.
With just one bet, Ross was confident he could earn the reward for defeating his opponent.
The reward for defeating an S-rank enemy was equivalent to that for an A-rank enemy, which would allow his strength to take a leap forward.
...
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