"What did you say?"
"When you arrived, Zephyr and Benedict had already engaged in a fierce battle, and he was completely knocked out?"
"Benedict possesses Conqueror's Haki? He stunned the soldiers, but didn't kill them?"
"Where is Admiral Zephyr?"
"Zephyr was captured by Benedict?"
Marine Headquarters.
Sengoku's office.
The Den Den Mushi rang, and Kizaru's image appeared.
Sengoku immediately thought of the events on Luoxia Island and answered the call without hesitation.
However, the information Kizaru conveyed left Sengoku utterly shocked.
As a close friend, Sengoku knew Zephyr's strength very well.
Yet, such a formidable existence had been defeated by Benedict, who seemed completely unfazed.
With such power, Benedict was likely no weaker than any of the Four Emperors.
For a moment, Sengoku felt a severe headache.
He couldn't afford to dwell on it. Sengoku summoned Garp and Tsuru, then proceeded to Fleet Admiral Kong's office, relaying the intelligence he had received.
"Has this brat become so powerful?" Garp exclaimed in astonishment upon hearing the news.
He had crossed paths with Benedict before and knew that Benedict hadn't gone all out, and had even held back a significant move.
What Garp hadn't anticipated was that Benedict would knock out an Admiral-level figure like Zephyr and then capture him.
Sengoku stated with a grave expression, "Benedict's power has exceeded our expectations. I suggest we treat him as a force on par with the Four Emperors."
Kong's expression turned grim. Their operation had failed, and now Admiral Zephyr had been captured by the opposing party.
If Benedict were to make any moves, it would undoubtedly be a highly troublesome situation for the Marines.
"Garp, is there any way to contact Benedict? I need to speak with him personally," Kong inquired, his gaze settling on Garp after a moment of contemplation.
"I have no way of contacting him," Garp replied flatly, refusing without hesitation.
What did that mean?
Was he being suspected?
Tsuru, sensing something was amiss when Kong had spoken, and seeing Garp's expression, felt a sense of helplessness and then changed the subject, "The matter of the Xuanwu Marines must be taken seriously."
"But Zephyr's situation must also be resolved."
"If Benedict intends to exploit this situation and threaten us, it will be extremely problematic."
"Therefore, we must now find a way to rescue Admiral Zephyr."
Sengoku nodded heavily. Zephyr was, after all, the face of the Marines, an Admiral, and a friend they had fought alongside since childhood.
Kong fell into a brief period of deep thought.
Zephyr had to be rescued.
But what was Benedict's purpose in coming to the West Blue?
And what was he trying to achieve by capturing Zephyr now?
To threaten them?
Ohara?
Upon this thought, Kong had an idea.
"Contact Kizaru, head to Ohara, and find Benedict."
Sengoku, Tsuru, and Garp offered no objections.
Benedict had contacted Olvia and intervened, clearly showing his involvement in Ohara's affairs.
Although the connection between the Xuanwu Marines and Ohara remained unclear, they couldn't afford to waste more time pondering the matter.
The World Government would never tolerate the existence of Ohara, which had already touched their forbidden limits.
Ohara.
Sakata Gintoki, accompanied by Olvia and the Xuanwu Marines, successfully arrived as night fell.
Upon landing, Olvia wasted no time, hurrying with her companions towards the Tree of Knowledge in the center of Ohara.
The Tree of Knowledge was, in essence, a library built within a giant tree, and its curator was an authoritative scholar of archaeology named Clover.
His distinctive features included a fan-like, exaggerated green hairstyle and beard.
He was Ohara's authority and most respected figure.
Under the cloak of night, Olvia, escorted by Sakata Gintoki, pushed open the doors and entered the library.
Inside, a large number of scholars were gathered, poring over various books and examining documents.
Each person had their own objective and task, engrossed in deep thought, so no one immediately noticed Olvia and Sakata Gintoki entering.
Seeing the familiar and long-missed scene before her, Olvia felt a surge of warmth.
"Everyone, I'm back," Olvia announced, addressing the assembled scholars.
In the next moment, the library fell silent.
All eyes instinctively turned towards Olvia.
"Olvia, heavens, you're finally back."
"Poor child, wandering outside is nothing compared to the warmth of home."
"Robin will surely be overjoyed by Olvia's return."
...
One by one, their familiar neighbors came forward, surrounding Olvia, examining her, and exclaiming with genuine emotion.
Upon hearing her daughter Robin's name, Olvia's body trembled involuntarily.
She also missed her daughter dearly, having not seen her for many years.
However, as an archaeology scholar, her purpose in life was to uncover the truth of history.
Family affection and historical truth, sometimes, truly create conflict within a person.
"Olvia, my child, you're finally back," Director Clover hurried over, and the crowd made way.
Seeing Director Clover, Olvia quickly exclaimed, "Director Clover, we must leave here immediately!"
"Everyone must leave, the World Government intends to destroy Ohara completely."
"Everyone will die."
Olvia's words caused the once lively library to fall into an immediate hush.
However, what surprised Sakata Gintoki, standing nearby, was the scholars' remarkably calm reaction to the news, as if they had already been aware of it.
Indeed, Director Clover's subsequent words confirmed his suspicion.
"We all know!"
"There have been some unfamiliar figures appearing in Ohara, like dragons that appear and disappear without a trace."
"Other scholars doing archaeology outside were either captured or killed. At that time, we knew someone was targeting us."
Clover appeared to be accepting of their fate, even speaking with a smile and a relaxed demeanor.
"Then why don't you leave?" Olvia faltered slightly, then asked with confusion, "The World Government is going to destroy this place now, everyone will die."
Director Clover chuckled, saying, "It's futile. Without powerful martial prowess, we cannot escape the World Government, which is determined to annihilate us."
"We will die, but I believe that someone will eventually uncover the truth of history."
At this point, Director Clover added with a touch of regret, "The only thing we find regrettable is that all the books here will disappear with us."
"That may not be the case," Sakata Gintoki spoke up, having remained silent until now.
Simultaneously, he made his presence known to those who had been ignoring him.