Life had finally returned to normal. As Ritter watched Perona fluttering aimlessly across the deck, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. These days, she rode on Laboon's back from bow to stern like it was her personal playground.
Then it hit him homework! Education! How could a six-year-old like Perona not be studying? That just wouldn't do.
And as luck would have it, Ohara was still standing. The perfect place to send Perona for a little schooling.
With a dramatic sweep of his hand, Ritter gave the command, "All hands, set sail for Ohara!"
"Lord Ritter," Perona asked, her eyes sparkling, "what's Ohara? Is it fun?"
Ritter couldn't even hide his grin. "It's a very stimulating place."
But simple-minded Laboon wasn't convinced. Something about this felt... off.
Would five years of mock exams and seven years of real ones scare her? Of course, he wasn't about to tell Perona that.
And so, after some indeterminate amount of sailing (the author has no idea how long this should realistically take)...
Cue epic transition: Boom! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As the Dawn Phoenix slowly docked, Perona leaned over the railing, her pink twin tails swaying gently in the sea breeze. "Lord Ritter, is that big tree the library? It's huge!"
Ritter looked at her and asked, "Do you like it? Remember, here, you call people 'Teacher.'"
"Eh? Why?"
"Because..." Ritter's smile suddenly turned devilish. "Starting today, you're going to school here."
No way was Ritter going to teach her himself. He remembered too well those tragic internet videos of parents losing their minds helping with homework. That was a horror movie in its own right. Better to let the brightest scholars in the world handle this nothing beats quality tutoring.
Perona's face fell. "S-school?!"
Moria's shadow rolled on the deck, laughing. "Hahaha! Studying is important, little Perona!"
Enel observed from the side, unimpressed. "Boring."
As this strange crew entered the Tree of Knowledge, Director Clover adjusted his glasses. "Pirates? I'm sorry, but we don't—"
Ritter casually tossed a bag of gold onto the desk. "Sponsorship."
The thud of coins echoed through the room. The scholars' eyes lit up instantly. With the World Government's tightening censorship, the institute could definitely use the funding.
"Ahem... welcome to Ohara," the director quickly changed his tone. "Now then, what would this young lady like to study?"
Perona peeked out from behind Ritter, only half her face showing. "I-I want to learn the most powerful ghost magic!"
"This is a sanctuary of knowledge," Ritter said, grabbing her by the collar and plopping her forward. "Just teach her how to read."
A massive tome slammed onto the table like a brick. All of Perona's little ghosts collapsed in shock.
"This is cruel!" Perona kicked her legs in protest as she sulked by the fountain. "I can't even understand those tadpole letters!"
Suddenly, a pebble hit the back of her head.
"Ha! Look at that pink-haired freak!" A few older kids laughed nearby. "She's reading? Is that a ghost? She must be a demon!"
Ritter. Moria. Mood shattered.
Ritter clenched his jaw. "Damn you, Oda. You just love contrast. A place with the world's greatest knowledge always has the world's dumbest people."
Perona's eyes welled up. She was just about to unleash her negative ghosts when
Thump!
A small figure stepped in front of her. A scrawny, bespectacled girl spread her arms like a mama hen shielding her chick. "No bullying!"
The bullies instantly paled. "It's that monster! Run!"
They scattered, leaving behind their trashed lunchboxes.
Perona stared, dumbfounded, at the girl who was half a head shorter than her. "You... why did you help me?"
Robin dusted herself off and began picking up her spilled lunch. It was a simple meal the director had given her. If she didn't eat it, she'd go hungry that night her aunt certainly wouldn't give her anything else.
But none of that stopped Robin from offering a warm smile. "My friend once told me, if you want to make friends, you have to take the first step. So... will you be my friend?"
At first, Ritter didn't plan to get involved. Robin's life was tragic, yes, but she turned out fine.
But Robin... was a good kid. Maybe things could go a little better for her this time.
Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled light on the two girls.
No one noticed the three pools of blood in the distance, hidden in the trees.
Ritter did. "So Saul's already here..."
Just his luck. Watching Kuzan, once a hot-blooded youth, transform into the apathetic slacker he'd become was both painful and amusing. Ritter had no intention of saving the scholars. Honestly, they brought this on themselves zero strength, yet researching forbidden texts, and making sure everyone knew about it. Brilliant.
He respected the spirit of exploration but thought their actions were just dumb. As for Robin, she'd be fine. She'd suffer, but the ending was still good.
Thus began the darkest few days of Perona's young life. Thanks to Ritter's generous bribe, the director gave her full, undivided attention. Perona basically lived the life of a high school student and it was pure misery.
Ritter figured if you locked someone in a cell for a few months and gave them that kind of workload, they'd confess to anything.
(Don't come for the author it's just high school PTSD speaking. T_T)
At one point, someone suggested relocating from Ohara, but when Ritter was firmly rejected, he stopped bringing it up.
A few more days passed.
Enel found Ritter. "There's a Navy warship approaching Ohara."
Right now, Enel was practically a human radar. Another +1 for Enel.
Ritter went to find Perona, who was scratching her head in agony. "Time to go, little Perona."
Perona had just made a new friend in Robin, but honestly, life here was way too painful.
Sorry, Robin. I'm out of here. Goodbye, and good luck!
While Perona was still lost in her imaginary farewell monologue
Ritter had more important things on his mind: mocking Kuzan.
Back when Garp was chasing Roger, it was king versus king, general versus general. But Kuzan? That guy was his personal headache. Couldn't kill him, and he always showed up the second he saw Ritter. Before Ritter got his blood mist powers, Kuzan's fruit was an absolute nightmare to deal with.
He waited under the Tree of Knowledge. Ritter remembered Spandain would soon arrive with Robin's mother. He might as well lend a hand.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. Spandain's voice grated on the ears. His subordinates shoved a woman forward as they approached.
Robin's heart seized up as she saw the familiar face.
"...Mama?" Her voice was barely a whisper, yet Olivia's head snapped up, tears welling in her eyes.
"Robin..." Olivia's voice trembled, guilt and sorrow contorting her face. She couldn't even finish her sentence.
Spandain sneered, "What a touching reunion! Too bad your time's almost up. The Buster Call is almost—"
SLAP!
A crisp smack echoed through the air. Spandain hadn't even finished his sentence before everything went black and he collapsed on the spot.
Don't ruin my mood. Ritter hated characters like this even in the anime. Now that he had power, no way was he letting some two-bit dog of the government dance in front of him.
He'd killed Celestial Dragons before what was a little maggot like this?
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