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"An organization?"
The sudden remark caught both Crocodile and Bullet off guard. They exchanged puzzled looks.
Kyle didn't elaborate. His eyes flickered faintly.
The idea had only taken shape in his mind recently. The details still needed time to refine.
G-18 Fortress would be the foundation. From there, they would expand across the West Blue, and eventually dispatch members throughout the world.
"It's just a plan for now. We'll go over it in detail later," Kyle said with a smile.
Bullet didn't seem particularly concerned. Crocodile, on the other hand, fell into thought.
Ever since Ohara, their superior had clearly begun to feel a sense of urgency, whether he realized it or not. He was in a hurry to expand—to strengthen his own power.
Crocodile's eyes gleamed faintly.
That was a good thing.
After losing his memory and later regaining it, he no longer had the same burning desire to be a pirate. But that didn't mean he had no ambitions of his own.
If you truly intend to change the world, then let me, Crocodile, stand at your side and help you do it.
Even if it means becoming enemies of the entire world, so what?
To build an ideal nation… and watch you rise to the summit.
That would be something worth seeing.
A faint smile curved his lips.
Under Alvida's guidance, Kyle and the others headed toward the area where Professor Clover and the scholars were staying.
The Ohara scholars were gathered in a relatively small section of the base. So many people crowded together that it felt a bit cramped.
Yet their spirits were steady. Having survived the Buster Call was already a miracle.
When Kyle arrived and saw what lay ahead, he couldn't help but laugh.
The towering Saul was playing with eight-year-old Robin. The two of them burst into odd, exaggerated laughter from time to time.
"Dereshishishi!"
"Dereshishishishi!"
One big, one small, laughing in sync.
Professor Clover, Olvia, and the other scholars watched from the side, faint smiles on their faces.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
"Saul, don't teach Robin such a ridiculous laugh," Kyle teased as he walked over.
"Kyle, you're awake!" Saul turned around with a grin.
"Yeah." Kyle nodded, then looked toward Professor Clover. "Professor. Are you comfortable here? If you need anything, just say so."
Clover shook his head with a gentle smile. "This is already more than enough. To be alive at my age is a blessing in itself. How could I ask for more?"
As he spoke, his aged face grew solemn. He exchanged glances with the scholars behind him. They nodded almost imperceptibly.
In that instant, they reached a silent understanding.
Then, before Kyle could react, he froze.
Behind him, Crocodile and Bullet felt their hearts jolt.
The gathered scholars suddenly dropped to their knees in unison.
Led by Professor Clover, the scholars of Ohara knelt with both knees on the ground, foreheads pressed firmly to the floor.
Their voices rang out together, trembling with tears.
"Thank you for saving Ohara!!"
Even Robin knelt among them.
Kyle said nothing for a long while. Then he let out a soft chuckle.
"You people of Ohara were willing to stake your lives for the sake of civilization and the preservation of knowledge."
He looked at them calmly.
"How could someone like me, who holds a bit of power, possibly retreat?"
He gave Alvida a glance. She immediately led the soldiers forward to help the scholars to their feet.
Soon, Professor Clover and the others stood before Kyle, wiping tears from their eyes. Their gratitude was plain to see.
"For now, please bear with the inconvenience here," Kyle said gently. "I'll find you a new place to settle soon."
"We will follow your arrangements," Clover replied.
As someone who had lived more than half a lifetime, he understood very clearly what kind of burden this young man had taken on by saving Ohara.
Without exaggeration, Kyle had gambled the lives of everyone at G-18.
And the danger wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Kyle nodded with a smile and turned to leave.
After taking five steps, he stopped.
"Saul."
"Huh?"
"How long are you planning to loaf around playing with a child?"
Saul blinked. "What?"
"Report back to duty immediately."
Kyle smiled without turning around. "From now on, you're officially part of G-18 Fortress."
Saul froze, then quickly understood.
"Yes, sir!"
He looked up just in time to see Kyle's back as he waved a hand casually.
After a brief farewell to Robin and Olvia, Saul hurried after him.
"Mom, where's Saul going?" Robin asked softly.
Olvia pulled her daughter into her arms. "Don't worry about him. He's going to do what he believes is right."
From this moment on, she would make up for everything she had owed her daughter.
Half an hour later, inside the base commander's office.
"So how exactly are you planning to deal with those Ohara scholars?" Crocodile asked gravely. "They're a collection of ticking time bombs."
Bullet nodded. "He's right."
Kyle frowned slightly, then smiled.
"Ticking time bombs?"
He looked at them.
"You really don't understand their value."
He paused.
"People from different fields, at different stages of life, in different professions—each has their own value. And their own moment to step onto the stage."
"Bullet. Crocodile. Do you know why the World Government was so determined to wipe them out?"
Both shook their heads.
"They can read the Poneglyphs."
Seeing the shock bloom across their faces, he nodded.
"That's right. Those mysterious stones scattered across the world."
"And that ability is one of the keys to becoming Pirate King."
Kyle's voice softened.
"They hold the key to the civilization of the Great Kingdom from eight hundred years ago."
"And that secret is even connected to the origin of Devil Fruits."
Crocodile and Bullet felt their hearts pound.
The key to becoming Pirate King. The truth of the Great Kingdom. The root of Devil Fruits.
No wonder the World Government wanted them dead. No wonder Kyle had risked everything to save them.
"What about the books?" Kyle suddenly asked.
"Books?" Crocodile blinked.
"They should still be in Ohara's lake."
Kyle's expression changed instantly. "What?"
"Don't worry. We left men there to monitor the area," Crocodile quickly added. "I held off because of pressure from Headquarters."
"Recover them. Immediately," Kyle said in a low voice.
"I'll handle it."
"What books?" Saul's deep voice came from the doorway as his massive figure appeared.
"The ones Professor Clover and the others threw into the lake," Kyle replied. "We couldn't take them at the time."
"They're that important?"
Saul genuinely didn't understand. Many Marines didn't.
Kyle nodded seriously.
At that moment, Alvida rushed in.
"Sir, there's activity at Ohara."
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Our squad stationed there spotted a warship approaching. There are World Government officials aboard."
She placed a photograph on the desk.
Kyle glanced at it and broke into a grin.
"It's him?"
At the center of the photo stood a man with an enormous, elongated head.
Kyle rose to his feet at once.
"Saul, Bullet Crocodile."
"We're heading to Ohara. Now."
A warship soon departed from G-18 Fortress.
Kyle stood atop his golden scepter, a faint smile on his lips.
"I didn't expect our old promise to come due at a time like this."
"Vegapunk."
Yes—the man in the photograph was none other than Vegapunk, known as the greatest mind in the world.
Years ago, during a special mission, Kyle had crossed paths with him. They had made a certain agreement.
Now, it was time to honor it.
Before long, the ruins of Ohara came into view.
A warship sat quietly docked along the shore.
"Sink it."
When Kyle sensed that Vegapunk wasn't aboard, he gave the order casually.
The next second, cannon fire roared. Explosions engulfed the vessel in flames.
"It's G-18!"
"Quick! Inform Vegapunk—tell him to escape!"
The vice admiral on deck turned pale and leapt from the ship to avoid the bombardment.
But he soon realized he was surrounded.
"Crocodile… Bullet… Vice Admiral Saul…"
Despair filled his eyes.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Ohara, Marines were hauling books from the lake, which was packed to the brim with them.
At one corner of the lake stood a towering man with an enormous head, uncannily resembling Einstein. He watched the scene with a complicated expression.
"Did you find what you were looking for?"
A voice sounded beside him.
Vegapunk's expression shifted. He turned sharply.
When he saw who it was, surprise and delight flashed across his face.
"Kyle!"
"..."
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