"Their deaths held no meaning."
"They were merely obstacles in the 'righteous cause' of saving the world, and were thus conveniently eliminated."
"Later historical records would only briefly mention them."
"Because they were utterly insignificant, much like Ohara."
"Your existence allows the world to retain a sliver of memory of Ohara. If you had died back then, not a single soul would remember you, or the place called Ohara."
"Within mere decades, the name Ohara would vanish into the river of history."
"Just like the islands erased by the World Government."
Robin's eyes were tightly shut on the sofa, sweat streaming down her forehead.
She suddenly opened her eyes and quickly pushed open the door, leaning on the fortress wall with both hands, gasping for air.
Sakazuki's words, like demonic incantations, shattered Robin's past perceptions and worldview.
On one hand, she felt Sakazuki was right, yet her own tragic past told her he was trying to sow discord...
Inside the office.
Sakazuki shook his head.
Disregarding Robin's sudden departure, he began reviewing the latest intelligence.
Kurooru wore a helpless, wry smile.
He picked up his water cup and stood to leave.
Walking over to Robin, who was still gasping for air and hadn't calmed down, he handed her the cup:
"Drink some."
Robin reached out and took the cup, drinking greedily without any regard for appearances.
After finishing the water, she placed the cup on the wall and said in a hoarse voice:
"Thank you."
Kurooru smiled:
"You're welcome."
Robin leaned against the wall, gazing out at the sea, lost in thought.
Kurooru stood beside her, also looking into the distance, and said:
"It's quite persuasive, isn't it?"
Robin remained silent for a long time, then sighed softly:
"Yes."
Kurooru chuckled:
"But it's the truth."
Robin said with a bitter smile:
"Did the people who died at Ohara truly have no meaning?"
Sakazuki's assessment of Ohara had nearly shattered Robin's convictions. The endeavor Ohara had pursued for centuries being dismissed with the single phrase 'insignificant'...
It was unbearable for her...
Kurooru sighed inwardly. While he didn't want to discourage Robin, he had to help her face reality:
"Do you think it had meaning...?"
After a moment of thought, he changed his approach and asked:
"In Ohara's recorded history, you should be able to find many islands erased by the World Government, right?"
Robin nodded. That was true. Ohara documented a significant portion of world history, allowing them to find many histories concealed by the government.
Kurooru continued:
"During Ohara's investigation of history..."
"Did they ever pause for a single minute for those islands?"
"Their size, how many people died, when they disappeared..."
"Why?"
"Because they were insignificant."
"Ohara only sought to pursue the so-called truth and paid no mind to the islands being erased by the World Government. Because those erased islands..."
"Had nothing to do with you. In your eyes."
"Those things were 'insignificant.' You only sought the truth that the World Government concealed. Those things were unimportant, why bother with them?"
"You couldn't bring them back to life, so why would you seek to condemn the World Government on their behalf?"
"That would be a foolish act."
Kurooru also leaned on the wall, feeling the gentle breeze, watching the shimmering waves:
"The destruction of Ohara was the same..."
"Not many people cared about that place."
"The only one who cared was you, the survivor of Ohara."
"If Kuzan hadn't let you escape back then..."
"Then no one in this world would hold any hatred towards Fleet Admiral Sakazuki for the Ohara incident."
"Because it had nothing to do with them..."
"They had no reason to resent Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, after all, it wasn't their island that was destroyed, nor were their loved ones killed..."
Kurooru seemed to recall something and looked at Robin beside him:
"Strictly speaking, you have no reason to resent Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
Kurooru's words struck home, leaving her unable to refute them. The scholars of Ohara certainly hadn't spoken out for the erased islands, because, to Ohara, they were truly...
Insignificant...
However, when it came to the destruction of Ohara and the hatred towards Sakazuki, Robin still frowned:
"Why?"
Kurooru said:
"What your mother did was strictly forbidden by the World Government."
"Including the scholars on the island, they broke the law knowingly, and this process continued for centuries."
"Don't talk about having the right to know the truth."
"You cannot deny that the sole authoritative institution in this world is the World Government."
"This has been the case for the past eight hundred years."
"The scholars of Ohara did not adhere to the World Government's rules; instead, they chose to step outside those rules, like pirates, shouting for freedom."
"Ohara merely changed their methods, their profession, shouting for truth."
"This is the reason for Ohara's demise."
"As for the civilians on the island seeking revenge, there's even less reason for that."
"Those people, didn't they refuse to let you board their ship? And your sharp-tongued aunt? Your indifferent uncle? You have no reason to resent Fleet Admiral Sakazuki because of them."
"They might have had reason to hate, but they are all dead."
"And that karmic link has ended."
Robin opened her mouth, then finally sighed powerlessly:
"Are you all brainwashing masters..."
She could no longer refute, nor could she think of anything to retort against Kurooru...
Kurooru smiled and said:
"Without some means, how could we have reached this point?"
"Ultimately, it's Fleet Admiral Sakazuki who is formidable."
"He taught me, and I..." /
"Taught you."
Robin sighed softly and remained silent, her arms resting on the wall as she gazed into the distance.
Kurooru watched the scenery with Robin for a while, then stood up and stretched:
"Actually, there's no need to dwell on it."
"Because in this world, apart from those few who control it,"
"Everything else has nothing to do with everyone else in this world. To them, everything in this world is insignificant."
"Because the only ones who control the world are those few individuals, deciding their fate, and the fate of the world."
"Among these people."
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki is one."
"There are a few within the World Government."
"Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army..."
"He counts as half."
A few dark lines flashed across Robin's forehead:
"Half?"
"And..."
"Don't the Four Emperors of the Pirates count?"
Kurooru looked at Robin with a strange expression:
"I almost forgot."
When he told Sabo that the Industrial Revolution and "Oppression and Resistance" were written by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, Robin had already fainted. Kurooru began to explain:
"The Industrial Revolution I taught you was written by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
"The book of revolution, 'Oppression and Resistance,' which is considered the manifesto of the Revolutionary Army, was also written by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
"Vegapunk's technical support for the Revolutionary Army was also permitted by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki..."
As if fearing Robin couldn't accept it, he changed the subject to pirates:
"As for those pirates."
"They are not worthy."
"They are merely weeds that sprout everywhere by the roadside every spring. The Four Emperors are just slightly stronger weeds."
"They can be cut down with a single sweep."
"Over the past eight hundred years, there have been countless strong and heroic pirates on the sea, yet very few are truly memorable."
"Even someone as strong as Rocks, in today's sea, would be unknown."
"Perhaps only Roger, and the pirates of this era, will be recorded in future history."
"Do you know why?"
Robin shook her head.
Seeing this, Kurooru chuckled, looked towards the distant sea, and said softly:
"Because these pirates were enemies of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, their names will be recorded in future historical texts."
"And this..."
"Will be their supreme honor..."