Michael looked at the young Robin, his anger toward this backward village growing fiercer.
A place with the world's largest library and the most advanced archaeological team.
Yet it still labeled a child with unconventional hair color as a "monster."
Michael fury wasn't directed at the villagers, but at the World Government, which enforced a policy of keeping the masses ignorant while doing nothing to change it.
Ignorance was never their fault.
All people are born ignorant—it takes nurture and environment to shape them.
Compared to little Robin, who was called a "monster," weren't these ignorant villagers just as pitiable?
"Marine business. Everyone, disperse." Michael spoke slowly.
Though his tone wasn't cold, to Robin, it was worlds apart from the gentle voice she had heard earlier.
With a single glance, the previously furious villagers instantly quieted down.
No matter how ignorant they were, they still understood self-preservation.
So they shut their mouths and went about their business.
The kids who wanted to mouth off were dragged away by the adults.
Garp was quite surprised.
He had thought that with Michael explosive temper, he would at least scold these villagers harshly.
Yet, without even a hint of anger, his tone merely grew a bit calmer.
His tolerance for civilians... was truly remarkable.
"Y-you there, Mr. Marine," little Robin finally found the chance to speak, bowing nervously to Michael.
"Thank you for helping me out."
"Robin. I'm Nico Robin!"
"Do they often... bully you?" The gentleness in Michael eyes surged back, taking dominance.
"It's alright, tell me. I'll help you."
Hearing this, little Robin hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
Then she added "They say I'm a wild child without parents, a black-haired monster... A few days ago, a boy threw stones at me." As she spoke, she brushed the dust off her old dress.
"But they didn't hit me."
Listening to the childish yet dejected voice, Michael sighed softly.
Then he simply picked up little Robin with one arm.
...She was too light, as if she were just a tiny skeleton.
"Wah!" Robin yelped in surprise at the sudden movement, nearly dropping the book in her hands.
"Robin, look at my wings."
As Michael spoke, the angelic Wings on his back gave a slight flutter, spreading open.
Tiny specks of Holy light drifted to the ground, vanishing without a trace.
"If having black hair makes you a monster, then what does that make me, with wings and platinum-blonde hair? An even bigger monster?"
Before Robin could answer, Garp beside them grinned widely, deliberately letting out an exaggerated, booming laugh.
"HAHAHA! I can even fire cannonballs with my hands! Guess that makes me the most monster of all!"
Michael shot Garp a somewhat disdainful look.
Damn it! With your way of thinking... really does make you seem like a monster!
But as it turned out, this kind of illogical talk was surprisingly effective in comforting children.
Robin was a genius, but even geniuses could be naive when young.
"No, you're a Marine. Marines aren't monsters." Little Robin shook her head, hesitated, then looked up slightly.
"And your wings... they're so beautiful."
As she lifted her head, several equally small hands sprouted from her body out of nowhere.
"This... is what a monster looks like."
However, the disgust and fear she expected never came.
Instead, the Marine big brother holding her and the Marine grandpa beside her began discussing the hands she had manifested.
"Michael, this is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, right?"
"Mm, I've seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. If I remember correctly, this should be the Flower-Flower Fruit."
"Flower-Flower Fruit? Doesn't seem like a purely combat-oriented fruit."
"The Flower-Flower Fruit allows any part of the user's body to bloom like flowers, growing out from any solid surface within sight." Michael gently pinched one of the hands Robin had created.
"The offensive power might not be overwhelming, but its functionality is incredibly high. Honestly, it's a perfect ability for a commander."
The attitude of Michael and Garp was something she had never encountered before.
She was at a complete loss.
"You heard it too. This isn't some demonic power, but an extremely useful ability. So... would you like to join the Marines little Robin... Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. How rude of me."
Michael smiled slightly and said:
"I'm Michael. This old man who looks like he might eat children is called Garp."
"As new friends, I'll tell you a little secret, but you mustn't tell anyone else..." Michael pretended to look around cautiously, making little Robin so nervous she gulped audibly.
"If you join the Marines, you might get to see the legendary Poneglyphs!"
Hearing this, Garp couldn't believe his ears and dug at them in disbelief.
Wasn't this the exact kind of trick child predators used to lure little girls?!
If he didn't know Michael's character, just based on this scene alone, he'd have the urge to cuff the guy and throw him in prison!
"R-really? Is that possible?"
"Of course it's true!" Michael nodded with a smile.
"Both joining the Marines and seeing the Poneglyphs are real possibilities."
The two men and the little girl continued chatting as they arrived at the main gate of the Tree of Knowledge.
Little Robin jumped down from Michael's arms and knocked on the door.
After this rhythmic knocking, the massive door slowly opened.
Following Robin inside, Michael and Garp had no time to marvel at the world's largest library housed within a tree over five thousand years old.
Instead, they walked straight toward the old man standing at the library's center.
The old man turned around.
His once-green hair and beard had faded to grayish-green with age.
His eccentric hairstyle and beard formed an upside-down clover shape.
"I am Clou D. Clover," the old man said, showing momentary tension upon seeing Marines enter behind Robin, but relaxed upon recognizing them.
"Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp, what brings you to Ohara?"
"Are you a scholar of Ohara? Can you speak for this village?"
Garp immediately stepped forward.
His nearly three-meter frame towered over Dr. Clover, exuding overwhelming presence.
"Of course I can," Dr. Clover nodded. "Has something happened?"
"Evacuate the villagers immediately! Board my warship for relocation now!" Garp got straight to the point.
"The World Government has issued a Buster Call on Ohara. The execution fleet is already halfway here!"
This exclamation didn't come from Dr. Clover, who didn't even know what a Buster Call was.
It came from behind them.
From Saul and Olvia, who had been hiding in the forest.