"Director Spandine!" The marines rushed forward.
Rhett released his Conqueror's Haki, and one by one they all dropped into a slumber as peaceful as a newborn's.
He turned toward the people inside the building and said, "Go. Consider this the last payment for teaching Perona how to read."
Robin ignored the unconscious Spandine. Her eyes locked firmly on her mother.
Years of resentment, anger, and unanswered questions burst forth all at once.
"Why… why did you ignore me all these years? Do you have any idea what I've been through?!"
Olvia's tears rolled down her cheeks. She reached out toward Robin, but her hand trembled and withdrew.
"I'm sorry… Robin, I truly… truly am so sorry…"
Robin's chest rose and fell sharply. She wanted to demand answers, to release all the pain she'd bottled up.
But then she remembered Saul was still out there! Her friend might be in danger, and she needed to warn him.
"Saul…" Robin bit her lip hard, gave her mother one last, deep look, and turned to run toward the back of the Tree of Knowledge.
Olvia stretched out her hand as if to stop her, but in the end, could only let it fall helplessly to her side.
"I know who you are, Mr. Rhett. Mr. Dragon told me your ideals go beyond ours. Please… save my child." Olvia dropped to her knees before him.
"Don't you think it's strange," Rhett replied, "that your daughter just ran off, and the first thing you do is beg someone else to help her?"
"I infiltrated the World Government and memorized countless hidden secrets among them, strategies they're preparing to use against the Revolutionary Army.
Because of their pursuit, I haven't had time to put this information into writing. Until I get these messages back to the Revolutionaries, I can't die. I know I haven't been a good mother… but I beg you, Mr. Rhett."
Rhett studied Olvia. His view of Dragon's Revolutionary Army shifted if all their members were like her, maybe they really could succeed.
"Olvia, you may not be a good mother, but you're a fine revolutionary.
I'll keep Robin safe. As for you… whether you escape or not will depend on your own ability."
Rhett walked casually toward the door. Olvia remained kneeling, watching him leave perhaps this was all a powerless mother could do for her daughter.
Outside, Rhett stepped into the air using Moonwalk, heading toward the back mountain.
He grinned to himself. "Heh, Kuzan, here I come."
The wind howled, frost spreading across the ground.
Saul's enormous figure stood between Kuzan and the Tree of Knowledge. His breath condensed in the frigid air, but his eyes burned with resolve.
This had to be the moment Saul was buying Robin time to escape.
"Kuzan! Do you really believe this is justice?!" Saul's voice rang with emotion. "The scholars of Ohara only sought the truth of history what crime is that?!"
From the sidelines, Rhett thought: Oh, there's a very big problem with that.
Kuzan kept his hands in his pockets, his expression hiding the turmoil within. Ice spread silently beneath his feet.
"Saul, you and I both know… we are marines. Our duty is to uphold justice."
"And does that mean standing by while innocent people are slaughtered?!" Saul roared. "Kuzan, you're a man of passion! Is this still the real you?!"
Kuzan remained silent.
At that moment, a dark figure descended from above. Rhett landed lightly on the ground, a playful smile on his lips.
"Well, well, young Kuzan. Been a while. What's with you? Lost your fire? Come on, heat up."
Kuzan shot him a glance he had sensed Rhett's Conqueror's Haki earlier.
His heart stirred. Maybe… he didn't have to be trapped in this self-reproach.
"Rhett… are you going to get involved in this too?"
"I'm just passing by, enjoying the show," Rhett shrugged, but his gaze slid toward Saul. "Still, Saul's right you don't even believe in your own 'justice' anymore, do you?"
Kuzan's frown deepened.
Rhett strolled to Saul's side and patted his leg he couldn't reach the shoulder smiling. "Saul, you know, Kuzan here probably understands better than anyone. And behind him, that so-called justice has crushed more people than you think."
A faint tremor passed through Kuzan's fingers, ice forming in his palm.
"Shut up, Rhett."
"What's wrong? Hit a nerve?" Rhett grinned wider.
Time to evolve, Kuzan.
"You know this is wrong, yet you stand by. You could save the people of Ohara, but you choose to 'follow orders.'
Is that your 'burning justice'? Or are you just afraid to admit you're a coward? Oh-ho-ho, Kuzan, can you handle the truth?"
Kuzan's pupils tightened.
Saul seized the moment. "Kuzan! If you still see me as your friend, let Robin go! She's just a child a lonely girl who loves to read!"
Kuzan's breathing quickened, frost swirling around him. Slowly, he raised his hand, cold light coalescing in his palm.
"…Enough."
In an instant, the cold exploded.
"Ice Age!"
Saul froze where he stood, his expression locked in unyielding defiance.
Rhett stepped back a few paces, clicking his tongue. "Tch. Still froze him, huh…"
Kuzan lowered his hand, his eyes shadowed as he looked at the frozen giant.
"Rhett, are you going to fight me?"
Rhett smirked. "Kuzan, let me guess you'd love to fight me right now, so you wouldn't have to make a choice. But I'm not in the mood. Go do your duty. I won't stop you."
Right now, a fired-up Kuzan was far too easy to manipulate better to let him lie low.
Kuzan said nothing and walked in the opposite direction from Robin. He knew there was no way he could stop Rhett alone.
Rhett watched his back and murmured, "A wavering justice will collapse sooner or later, Kuzan."
He looked toward the distant Tree of Knowledge flames were already leaping skyward.
"Time to find that little girl…"
At Ohara's port, the Buster Call bombardment thundered, pillars of fire erupting.
The Bruma Jackson had long since left the shore. Rhett stood at the stern while Enel unleashed arcs of lightning from the bow, shredding every piece of shrapnel from incoming cannon fire.
Perona clung to Robin, trying to comfort her. Robin's tear-blurred gaze stayed fixed on the shrinking silhouette of Ohara, a muffled sob trapped in her throat.
"Lord Rhett… those scholar uncles…" Perona's voice was barely above a whisper.
Rhett was silent for a moment, then sighed and ruffled her hair. "Can't save them."
His voice was low, but no longer cold. "Two Marine Admirals, ten top warships, plus CP9's elites… I can't protect them all."
Rhett thought: The favor they have with me isn't nearly enough for me to die fighting the Marines over this.
On deck, Moria's shadow writhed restlessly, letting out an eerie chuckle. "Fufufufu… that woman, Olvia…"
Robin suddenly broke free from Perona's arms, her eyes red behind her glasses.
"You're all so strong! Why—"
This time, Rhett didn't cut her off harshly. He crouched down so their eyes were level.
"Robin." His voice was unusually gentle. "If I went back right now, what do you think would happen?"
Robin bit her lip hard and stayed silent.
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