The day after Rosinante made his call.
Early in the morning, while Rosinante was practicing Aikido, Robin approached him looking utterly dejected.
"Huh? Robin, what's the matter today?" Rosinante asked in confusion, noticing her glum expression.
"I passed the scholar's doctoral exam today," Robin said quietly.
"Oh? That's something to celebrate! Little Robin, you're amazing! You must be the youngest scholar in history to pass such an exam. We should definitely have a party. But… why do you look so unhappy?" Rosinante asked.
"Brother Rosinante, do you know? In the world's history, there's a 100-year period completely blank and unknown," Robin said softly.
"You mean the Void Century?" Rosinante replied.
"Yeah… I heard my mom has been traveling around the world searching for the truth behind it. Since I was a child, I've always wondered what it really is. But… Dr. Clover and the others won't let me study it with them," Robin said, frustration in her voice.
"Heh, Dr. Clover is just concerned about your safety. You should know, right? The World Government has explicitly forbidden anyone from researching the Void Century. Studying the Poneglyphs is considered a serious crime," Rosinante said.
"So… Brother Rosinante doesn't support me either? But why is studying the Poneglyphs considered so dangerous? Isn't that part of our own history?" Robin asked with confusion.
"Some people don't want the secrets buried beneath the surface to ever be revealed—because it threatens their interests. And when those people happen to be the most powerful in the world… anything that threatens their power becomes dangerous," Rosinante explained.
"Danger is relative. If you have the ability to protect yourself, then there's no need to fear pursuing the truth. But if you can't defend yourself yet… then I hope you stay away from it, because the danger is very real—not just to you, but to the people around you," Rosinante said, looking at her seriously.
Robin fell silent, her expression contemplative.
She was mature beyond her years, and as someone who had passed the scholar's doctoral exam at such a young age, she could understand the logic behind Rosinante's words. But even so, giving up on her lifelong dream was not easy. Researching the Poneglyphs had always been the fire that fueled her passion for learning.
"No matter what, today is a day to be happy! You passed the doctoral exam—it's worth celebrating! Cheer up! I'll make something delicious for you later, we're having a pre-celebration dinner!" Rosinante chuckled as he patted her on the head.
After the little celebration, Robin felt a bit better.
The next day, she was walking along the beach, still thinking about Rosinante's words. That was when she spotted a massive figure lying on the shore.
Curious, Robin approached.
Suddenly, the giant stirred, kicking up a whirlwind of dust. Startled, Robin quickly backed away.
Once the dust cleared, their eyes met—one giant, one little girl, both staring at each other.
"Water!" the giant finally spoke.
"Water?" Robin repeated, puzzled.
Eventually, she brought the giant to a river, where he drank greedily, gulping down water until he was finally satisfied and sprawled out on the bank.
"Whew… barely made it. I wonder what happened to that guy…" the giant muttered.
He turned to look at Robin.
"Anyway, thanks for saving me! Is there a town on this island?" the giant asked.
Robin nodded silently.
"Ah… That's too bad. I was hoping I'd washed up on an uninhabited island instead," the giant sighed.
Robin stared at the giant. Something about him struck her as very odd.
"You can keep staring, but nothing exciting's gonna happen. My leg's injured, so I can't move. Once I'm better, I'll build a raft and leave," the giant said.
"First time seeing a giant?" he added when he noticed Robin still watching him intently.
"Just so you know, I'm not like those warmongering guys like Dorry or Brogy! I'm from the pacifist faction of the giants!" the giant said proudly.
"Hm…" Robin's voice was full of suspicion.
"I know this is asking a lot, but please… don't tell anyone you saw me here, okay?" the giant pleaded.
"I won't tell anyone," Robin replied casually.
"You said that way too easily. You're definitely going to blab!" the giant groaned.
"I really won't," Robin said calmly.
The giant looked at her suspiciously.
"Don't try to fool me. Little kids can't keep secrets!" he said with a hopeless look.
"I'm not interested in you at all," Robin replied coolly.
The giant froze, staring at her in surprise. Then, to her shock, he suddenly began laughing, tears welling up at the corners of his eyes.
"De-re-ra-ha-ha… de-re… hu-hu…"
"What does that even mean?" Robin asked curiously. "Are you… crying?"
"What? No! That's just how I laugh! De-re-ra-ha-ha!" the giant chuckled.
"You're laughing?" Robin asked doubtfully. That was laughing?
"You're a funny little girl! De-re-ra-ha-ha!" the giant grinned.
"Hehe… what a weird laugh," Robin finally giggled, the gloom and frustration in her heart melting away.
And just like that, Robin met the giant named Jaguar D. Saul, and the two quickly became close friends.
While Robin was meeting Saul, Rosinante stopped practicing Aikido outside his little hut and looked up at the sky.
"It's begun," he murmured.
From the moment Robin passed the doctoral exam, Rosinante had known the storm was coming. That's why he'd been silently watching over Robin with Observation Haki. And when she encountered Saul… he knew: the countdown to the Buster Call had started.
At the same time, a ship bearing the World Government's insignia was sailing straight toward Ohara.
On the third night, on the opposite side of the island, a Marine warship silently docked.
A figure disembarked and began walking toward Ohara under the cover of night, eyes filled with steely determination.
By morning, as villagers buzzed with rumors of the mysterious warship docked by the coast, a woman arrived at the Tree of Knowledge.
Her features faintly resembled Robin's.
She was Nico Olivia —Robin's mother and a fellow Ohara scholar—just escaped from Marine captivity and finally returned home.