Just after Ross left for the Sakazuki warship, Kuzan finally couldn't resist. He gave an order to his adjutant and then entered Ohara alone.
He and Saul were good friends who shared the same sense of justice.
It was simply what a friend like Saul should receive: to be seen off on his final journey.
With his hands in his pockets, Kuzan arrived at the bay where Saul had been murdered.
In the bay, the last rays of the setting sun cast a feeble glow on the shimmering water, unable to illuminate this corner shrouded in tragedy. The sea breeze, carrying a salty dampness and a hint of barely perceptible sorrow, gently caressed every inch of space.
Saul's enormous body, tens of meters long, now lay lifeless in a horrifying pool of blood.
His fists were clenched, as if still bearing the remnants of his indomitable struggle in life, and a horrifying hole was clearly visible where his heart had been, silently telling the cruelty of the fatal blow. Countless scars crisscrossed his body, some deep as engravings, others thin as whips, like marks left by a demon, recording the suffering he had endured.
"Saul…"
Even though he was mentally prepared, Kuzan still let out a sigh and stared blankly at his friend's corpse.
Kuzan's hand silently touched Saul's body.
A chilling aura filled the air, and Saul's body began to freeze.
In just a moment, Saul's body was completely frozen into an ice coffin, and Kuzan sat atop it.
Kuzan stared silently at the ice coffin, and with a flick of his wrist, a cluster of ice flowers appeared in his hand.
Holding the ice flowers, he gently placed them in front of the ice coffin.
This was his farewell to his old friend.
Sometimes, Kuzan would ask himself if the Marine's sense of justice was right or wrong.
What did the historians do wrong? They didn't harm anyone, yet they were being punished by the Buster Call.
Since the World Government was so powerful, why didn't it spend its efforts to eliminate pirates instead of using the Marine's already limited resources on places like Ohara?
Was the Marine truly upholding justice?
At that moment, Kuzan was confused.
"Hmph, so you were here after all, Kuzan!"
A hoarse voice rang out not far away, startling Kuzan awake, who turned around warily.
When the difference in Observation Haki was not significant, if one person wanted to hide, it was difficult for the other person to detect it.
What's more, he had just been lost in confusion.
However, Kuzan lowered his guard when he saw who it was.
"Sakazuki, what are you doing here?"
"Of course, we're waiting for a possible traitor. Saul's appearance in Ohara could not have been a coincidence. There must be an inside agent within our Marine working with him to stop the Buster Call."
Sakazuki said casually, offering an extremely lame excuse.
When he had made the bet with Ross, he had considered that Kuzan might come, but he figured he would just take a quick look and wouldn't make a big fuss.
Unexpectedly, Kuzan not only came, but also wanted to honor Saul.
The Marine honoring a Marine traitor—such a heinous act...
Hmph!
Sakazuki looked terrible, his hands brimming with molten lava.
Kuzan frowned slightly, feeling somewhat bewildered by Sakazuki's angry stare.
If you, Sakazuki, were heartless, did that mean all Marine personnel were heartless?
Saul had been, after all, a former Vice Admiral, and had connections with him and a number of other Marine officers.
Even if Saul was dead, how could they be considered traitors for coming here to pay their respects?
"Sakazuki, my purpose is similar to yours, but I haven't found any other traitors," Kuzan said calmly.
He didn't want to argue with Sakazuki; Sakazuki was a madman who wanted to kill all pirates.
Trying to reason with a madman like that was like talking to a brick wall.
"That would be best! I will report your whereabouts here to Fleet Admiral Ross and Kong as factually reported."
Sakazuki stared intently at Kuzan for a moment, then turned and walked away.
Even if Kuzan was here, he would have countless reasons to defend himself.
They were on equal footing now, so he really had no reason to do anything to Kuzan.
But after the matter was reported, someone would deal with Kuzan.
In Sakazuki's eyes, a lazy Marine like Kuzan was basically equivalent to a parasite.
People who occupied positions but didn't perform their duties properly should be transferred to the World Government, not remain in the Marine.
The Marine should have an iron will towards pirates and traitors.
...
Meanwhile, Ross quickly led his men back to the ship.
As soon as he returned to the ship, Stella came to greet him:
"Master, you're back!"
"Yes, the newcomers need treatment. Heal them all so they don't miss the grand ceremony later."
Ross nodded slightly and pushed Olvia, who was in his arms, to Stella.
Upon hearing Ross's words, Olvia's eyes lit up immediately, and she subconsciously glanced at Robin.
No one else was injured; the only ones injured here were her and Robin, making it exactly two people in total.
She thought Robin was dead, but Ross didn't want Robin buried there and wanted her to bury Robin herself, so he brought her back to the ship.
Surprisingly, Robin did not die.
Very good!
"Treat little Robin first."
Upon hearing Ross's instructions again, Stella hurriedly went to Gion and began to treat Robin using her Devil Fruit powers.
Robin's injuries were not serious. After forcing the bullet out, her injuries began to heal rapidly under the influence of her Devil Fruit powers.
Seeing Robin's wounds gradually heal, Olvia felt a sense of loss and uncertainty.
There was no doubt that she didn't want Robin to die.
But her actions just now had probably broken Robin's heart.
It was likely that Robin would not only refuse to acknowledge her in the future, but would probably even want to kill her.
In an instant, Olvia tensed up.
She wouldn't lay a hand on her daughter twice unless absolutely necessary.
But Olvia quickly came up with a solution.
"Saint Ross, can I ask you for a favor?"
Olvia looked at Ross pleadingly, grabbing his right hand tightly as if it were a lifeline.
"What is it? Tell me." Ross remained noncommittal.
"Even if Robin wants to kill me, I beg you to protect me until I finish researching that history," Olvia pleaded.
"This request..."
Ross narrowed his eyes slightly. Olvia's obsession with history seemed to have gone to extremes.
However, he could understand.
Even without today's events, Olvia would have been obsessed with studying ancient history, but because she didn't have today's choice, her stance wouldn't have been as firm.
Now that she had made her choice, Olvia did things that were unexpected in order to study history.
"I agree," Ross said calmly.
Upon hearing Ross's agreement, Olvia relaxed completely and collapsed into Ross's arms.
Having already been injured in battle, she had been enduring the pain, and now her body was completely exhausted.
However, a sickly smile still lingered on her face.
Ross's words not only meant that he would temporarily block Robin for her, but also that he would truly keep his promise.
On the way out of Ohara, Olvia had really been afraid that Ross would change his mind, and then she would really have nothing left.
Fortunately, Ross was a trustworthy Celestial Dragon who actually risked taboos by allowing her to continue researching that period of history.
If they had met someone like that sooner, the Buster Call wouldn't have happened, and the texts of the Tree of Knowledge would have been preserved.
As long as... Ross was satisfied and she continued her research.
Whether it was sacrificing oneself, one's companions, or even one's daughter, it was all…