"Mom, this meat patty is so delicious."
"Mom's cooking just tastes so amazing."
"Mom, I want more of this..."
In the small, modest room, the laughter and joy of Nicole Robin and her mother, Nicole Olivia, filled the air.
Robin's voice, in particular, was a source of healing and warmth for Olivia's heart.
Sakata Gintoki, as an outsider, had initially intended to remain uninvolved.
However, he found it difficult to refuse Olivia's invitation.
Thus, Sakata Gintoki played with Nicole Robin and savored the delicious food prepared by Olivia.
But this happy time did not last long.
After the meal, Olivia began packing their belongings with Nicole Robin.
"Mom, are you leaving again?" Nicole Robin asked softly, her gaze falling on the packed luggage, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Olivia paused for a moment upon hearing this but quickly understood her daughter's feelings.
She stepped forward, hugged Nicole Robin, and gently kissed her forehead.
Seeing Robin's crestfallen expression, she smiled tenderly and said, "Yes, I will be leaving, but I will always be with you, Robin."
Upon hearing this, Nicole Robin's face lit up with joy. She wrapped her arms around Olivia's neck and exclaimed happily, "That's wonderful! We can be together always."
Outside the door, Sakata Gintoki, resting and enjoying the cool breeze, couldn't help but smile as he overheard their conversation.
Despite his own disappointment, Olivia, now a mother and wife with such a lovely daughter, had not neglected her duty to protect Robin.
This night was a night of complex unease for everyone on Ohara Island.
While they dined with their families, sharing moments of laughter, the fear was evident on their faces as they packed their belongings.
They did not know what kind of escape lay ahead.
But if they stayed, they would undoubtedly die here.
Therefore, if they wished to live, they had no other choice.
As the sun began to rise, the residents of the island, carrying their packed belongings, began to arrive at the port and board the ships.
Three enormous cargo ships were also laden with various books and documents hastily packed the previous night.
These were the fruits of the Ohara scholars' labor, and so, Clover and some scholars chose to stay on a separate cargo ship, away from their families.
As the grand evacuation of Ohara was underway, the forces of Marine Headquarters and the World Government appeared in the distance, rapidly approaching Ohara.
Concurrently, Benedict, piloting a warship, also appeared off the coast of Ohara. Seated beside him was a person whose hands and feet had been freed by Benedict, leaving him powerless.
On another side of Ohara, Benedict's clone, along with Saul's warship and cargo ships, was converging with Sakata Gintoki and his group.
"Twenty warships."
"The commanding officers are either Vice Admirals or Rear Admirals."
"With such formidable strength, destroying Ohara would be all too easy."
Benedict remarked to Zephyr, who sat beside him, as he observed the warships in the distance.
Zephyr's expression was cold, lost in thought, and he remained exceptionally silent.
Benedict paid him no mind, for Zephyr was too parched and weak to offer any retort.
"They are merely scholars with no means to defend themselves. All they do is seek the history of this world, pursuing the truth of history."
"Yet, you, as Marines, in the name of justice, upholding the entire ideology of the navy, have continuously committed atrocities and persecuted innocent civilians."
"Now, you are about to destroy Ohara. What difference is there between what you are doing and the heinous act of slaughtering civilians on Ruoru Island?"
"In the end, you are the most hypocritical."
"Admiral Zephyr, tell me, are you not hypocritical?"
"Is the justice you uphold truly genuine?"
"You claim to eradicate all evil pirates, yet behind closed doors, you turn your blades against defenseless civilians."
"Calling us pirates?"
"Heh heh heh, in reality, isn't the World Government, and the navy you serve, more like pirates?"
Benedict had been rubbing salt into the wounds since Zephyr awoke, and he had not stopped.
He repeated such words over and over.
For no other reason than to make Zephyr understand which naval organization more closely resembled pirates.
Spandine, observing the approaching warships, was bewildered.
Where did these warships come from, and why were they blocking their path?
"Those are the warships Benedict seized," Borsalino stated, standing up from his lounge chair and immediately realizing the situation as he looked at the warships in the distance.
Upon hearing Borsalino's words, Sakazuki and Kuzan's expressions grew solemn.
News of Zephyr's defeat and capture by Benedict had been strictly suppressed.
Therefore, only those in high command were aware of Zephyr's capture.
"Benedict," Sakazuki said, his gaze fixed on Benedict, who stood on the deck, his expression chilling.
"As expected, he's here for Ohara," Borsalino observed the scene. "Is he trying to threaten us with Admiral Zephyr to stop the Buster Call?"
"That is quite evident," Sakazuki stated, glaring fiercely at Benedict. "We must not let his treacherous scheme succeed."
"I suggest we immediately initiate the Buster Call and eliminate Benedict."
Sakazuki's voice was loud. Kizaru, Kuzan, and the others turned their attention to Sakazuki, their gazes carrying a hint of animosity.
Sakazuki, in his pursuit of killing Benedict, was willing to risk Zephyr's life and forcefully launch the Buster Call.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, please mind your words," Kuzan said, his tone icy, with a chill emanating from him.
Facing Kuzan's warning, Sakazuki responded, radiating heat, and stated, "A Marine Fleet Admiral of the Xuanwu faction, capable of defeating Admiral Zephyr, possesses strength comparable to the Four Emperors. With Benedict's death, it would be equivalent to crushing the Xuanwu navy's spirit and dealing a severe blow to them. The remaining forces would be negligible."
"An excellent idea," Spandine interjected, appearing suddenly. He excitedly produced a golden Den Den Mushi and declared triumphantly, "Benedict must die, the Xuanwu navy must be destroyed, and Ohara must cease to exist."
"No matter who you are, no one can survive the bombardment of the Buster Call."
"Exchanging Admiral Zephyr for Benedict is entirely worthwhile."
"He died a worthy death!"
"Hahahaha!"
Spandine's unreserved words, coupled with his immersion in the thrill of impending command, caused him to completely miss the killing intent in Borsalino and Kuzan's gazes.
Regardless of the circumstances, Zephyr was their mentor and a Marine Admiral.
"Bururururu!"
At that moment, a sound rang out, quieting everyone.
The sound emanated from Kizaru's embrace, and all eyes turned towards it.
It was Kizaru's distinctive Den Den Mushi.