One Piece: Starting in God Valley as a Slave

Not long after Saturn and Carl's conversation, Kong received orders from the Five Elders to initiate a Buster Call on Ohara.

When the orders came in, Kong's feelings were complex. He was well aware of what Ohara represented: a community of scholars and civilians, home to the Tree of Knowledge, the largest repository of knowledge in the world. The thought of destroying it was deeply unsettling.

However, as a soldier and the Fleet Admiral of the Navy, Kong knew he had to set aside personal emotions and carry out his duty. He took out a golden Den Den Mushi, hesitated for a moment, and finally pressed it. The Buster Call was officially activated.

The Buster Call was an emergency protocol requiring the Navy to assemble overwhelming force within a short time to annihilate a target completely. Typically, the golden Den Den Mushi for a Buster Call was activated from the target site itself. In the original records, it was Spandam who activated it in Ohara. This time, however, the order came directly from the Five Elders, specifying the destruction of Ohara.

The silver Den Den Mushi paired with the golden one in Navy Headquarters signaled the activation. Immediately, all Navy personnel entered standby mode.

Quickly, Kong issued his personnel assignments. This time, Carl would lead the operation, accompanied by Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuma, and Lucia, along with 5,000 Navy soldiers. From Vice Admirals to Admiral candidates and even a current Admiral, this lineup was formidable enough to take on an Emperor's crew, let alone a single island like Ohara.

It seemed like overkill, but since the orders came directly from the Five Elders, the Navy had to take it seriously. They were determined to leave nothing of Ohara but ash.

Time was tight. Originally, Sakazuki wasn't expected to return in time. Carl instructed Kuma to fetch him, and Sakazuki arrived at Navy Headquarters just before the fleet's departure.

Onboard Carl's warship, Nico Olvia lay unconscious. When the fleet neared Ohara, Olvia stirred awake, finding herself lying on the deck. Standing over her was Carl.

Still groggy, Olvia looked around in confusion. Spotting four other warships alongside hers, a sinking realization hit her.

"You're finally awake," Carl said casually. "We're almost there."

"Where?" Olvia asked hesitantly, her mind still foggy. "Enies Lobby?"

Carl chuckled darkly.

"You don't actually think you'll live to stand trial, do you?" He pointed ahead. "Look closely. What do you see?"

Olvia followed his gaze and froze in horror. In the distance stood the towering silhouette of the Tree of Knowledge.

"The Tree of Knowledge!" she gasped. Memories of her capture and the reality of the impending Buster Call flooded back to her, and despair engulfed her. Falling to her knees, she whispered,

"Why? Why is this happening? They're innocent…"

Carl folded his arms and gazed at Ohara. Without a word, he grabbed Olvia by the collar, spread his wings, and soared toward the island.

Ohara Island

Life on Ohara continued as usual. The island's inhabitants, scholars, and civilians remained blissfully unaware of the doom approaching.

The only one with an inkling of the danger was Professor Clover, the director of the Tree of Knowledge Library. After all, it was Clover who had sent Olvia and her team on their research mission.

When the World Government issued bounties on Olvia and her colleagues, Clover had sensed trouble. A scholar of his stature understood the World Government's ruthless ways. Throughout history, anyone who posed a threat to their rule faced annihilation, and Olvia's study of ancient texts had clearly crossed a line.

Clover, despite his reputation, found his usual contacts unwilling to speak. Calls were ignored, and even those who once worked with him refused to answer. It confirmed his worst fears—the World Government was planning to act.

But what could he do? Telling the people of Ohara to flee was pointless. They were scholars and civilians, no match for the Navy's warships. And abandoning the world's greatest collection of knowledge—the thought was unbearable.

As Clover watched the scholars around him engrossed in their studies, he sighed deeply. His musings were interrupted by the arrival of a small figure darting into the room.

It was Robin, a little girl with a bright mind and an even brighter future. She ran up to Clover, who smiled warmly.

"You're here early today, Robin," Clover said, masking his worry.

Robin looked down and muttered, "It's my sister's birthday. My uncle and his family are celebrating…"

Clover's face darkened. He knew Robin's situation well. Before leaving, Olvia had entrusted Robin to her brother-in-law, who treated her poorly. They worked her like a servant and often scolded or hit her. Clover had confronted them several times, but his protests had been ignored—and worse, occasionally met with violence.

For now, all he could do was sigh. Robin, accustomed to the treatment, forced a smile and quietly pulled a book from a nearby shelf. Hugging it tightly, she found a quiet corner and began to read.

Above Ohara

Meanwhile, on Sakazuki's warship, Borsalino animatedly recounted Carl's earlier conversation with Saturn. The revelation that Carl was a Celestial Dragon left Sakazuki's expression unreadable.

"Ridiculous," Sakazuki muttered. "You're making this up."

"I wouldn't joke about this," Borsalino replied, watching Carl streak across the sky toward Ohara. "Go ask him yourself."

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+185 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg