While Black was thinking about Robin, Robin was also secretly observing him from not far away.
"So this is one of the rumored Celestial Dragons? He doesn't seem as terrifying as the books describe…"
"But Dr. Clover looks extremely nervous."
Black's Observation Haki had long since expanded to envelop the entire island, so he naturally detected Robin's cautious scrutiny. He turned his head slightly and met a pair of dark eyes faintly tinted with violet.
She wore a light cotton short-sleeved shirt layered over a pale blue button-down, the cuffs rolled up to reveal faint ink smudges and pencil stains marks of long hours spent among manuscripts. Charcoal pencils and a small cowhide notebook were tucked into the pockets of her dark brown overalls, and on her feet were the simple straw sandals commonly worn by Ohara's scholars.
Her long, dark hair flowed down her back like a waterfall, the naturally curled ends tied into a neat bow with a red ribbon. Several ginkgo-leaf bookmarks from the Tree of Knowledge were clipped into her hair absentmindedly.
This appearance was worlds apart from the composed, hunted archaeologist who would one day carry a seventy-nine-million-berry bounty.
The moment their eyes met, Robin stiffened. She clearly hadn't expected to be discovered. A trace of panic flickered across her face.
Having grown up beneath the Tree of Knowledge, she understood better than most what the Celestial Dragons represented.
Dr. Clover, who had been enthusiastically explaining the structure of the library, noticed Black's shifting gaze. Following it, he saw Robin standing there and his heart immediately sank.
To look directly at a Celestial Dragon could be considered a crime.
To say it was minor would be because the punishment depended entirely on the Celestial Dragon's temperament.
To say it was severe would be because most Celestial Dragons were cruel, capricious, and capable of ordering executions on a whim.
In the Taya Kingdom, all those mediocre nobles save for Aramaki had been executed by the guards accompanying Black, simply for displeasing him.
Without hesitation, Dr. Clover stepped in front of Robin.
"Your Excellency, Saint Black, it was our oversight for failing to clear the library beforehand. The fault lies entirely with this old man. Please forgive the child's rudeness."
He dropped to his knees immediately.
Black let out a soft sneer.
So Clover was still capable of bending when necessary far more pragmatic than he appeared in the original timeline.
But Black had come to Ohara specifically for Robin. What use was punishing an old scholar?
Ignoring Clover kneeling on the polished floor, Black walked slowly toward Robin and gently placed a hand atop her head.
He felt her body tremble beneath his palm.
Yet she did not step back.
"What is your name?" he asked calmly.
"N-Nico Robin."
Her voice quivered, the syllables catching in her throat.
Black's expression remained mild, as though he hadn't noticed her fear.
"The scholars knew of my visit today. Why are you here?"
"I… I…"
This Robin was still only eight years old—not yet the composed, unreadable woman shaped by years of betrayal and survival. Though Black's tone was gentle, the invisible pressure he exuded left her mind blank.
In truth, she had only wanted to practice what she had learned.
She had read countless accounts of the Celestial Dragons in historical texts. The Ancient Script that the scholars secretly researched despite forbiddance from the World Government was also deeply tied to the so-called "gods" of Mary Geoise. Her curiosity had grown stronger by the day.
Robin had believed that by using the power of the Hana Hana no Mi to sprout eyes and ears discreetly, she could observe without being noticed.
But she did not yet know of a force called Kenbunshoku Haki.
"Your Excellency Saint Black…"
Dr. Clover's voice rang out again, filled with restrained urgency.
Black finally shifted his gaze back to him.
"I am not a cruel man," Black said lightly. "I will not kill someone simply because they looked at me."
Clover's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"But rules are rules," Black continued, his voice sharpening almost imperceptibly. "Anyone who stares directly at a descendant of the gods must pay a price."
"Aramaki. Tell him about your experience."
Aramaki stepped forward, towering and imposing. He recounted the events in the Taya Kingdom of how a single perceived offense had led to bloodshed.
"This…"
Clover hesitated.
Robin was only a child.
Even if she were to become a vassal, if anything happened to her, how could he ever face Olvia?
Olvia and her husband had already risked everything for the study of the Void Century. If their only daughter were to suffer because of this…
Clover felt his throat tighten.
Just as he was struggling to decide, Robin steadied herself and spoke first.
"Your Excellency… I am willing to become your vassal. I ask that you forgive my offense."
Black smiled inwardly.
This was the crushing power of knowledge.
Psychology functioned the same in the world of pirates as it did anywhere else. The "broken window effect" held true even here.
If he had proposed taking Robin as his vassal from the beginning, both she and Clover would have resisted with all their strength.
But by first establishing the weight of her "crime," then presenting vassalage as a path to survival, their resistance naturally weakened.
Black nodded with deliberate gravity.
"Very well. From this day forward, you are my vassal."
"Yes, Your Excellency Saint Black."
Beside him, Perona muttered under her breath.
"Hmph. Acting all grand…"
Though soft, her voice carried clearly.
Black shot her a sharp glance and reached out to ruffle her pink hair, leaving it in complete disarray.
"Hey! That's hateful!"
Perona hurriedly fixed her hair, grumbling but not daring to escalate further.
Robin watched the exchange, surprise flickering across her eyes.
Perhaps… this Celestial Dragon was not as monstrous as the books suggested.
But thinking of her mother whose face had grown increasingly blurry in her memories...Robin felt a hollow ache in her chest.
Since his objective in Ohara had been achieved, Black was in no hurry to depart. Instead, he brought Stella, Perona, Robin, Aramaki, and two CP agents to tour the island.
The Sea Calendar now read 1499.
Less than a year remained before the Buster Call would descend upon Ohara.
The World Government would soon uncover the abnormal communications from Olvia's expedition. After that, this island and the Tree of Knowledge would vanish in flames.
It was worth seeing while it still stood.
"This is my treehouse," Robin said quietly, pointing toward a concealed hollow within one of the great trees. "Whenever something makes me unhappy, I come here."
Looking closely, one could see that behind a narrow opening lay a surprisingly spacious interior—tight at first, barely passable, then suddenly opening into a small hidden chamber.
Books and tools were neatly arranged inside. The space was spotless.
It was clearly used often.
Perhaps too often.
From there, Robin led them across Ohara like a diligent little guide.
Compared to Dr. Clover's academic solemnity, Robin's soft explanations were far more approachable. Black found her precocious seriousness faintly amusing.
She showed them the shoreline where she collected seashells.
The grove where she had once found a strange fruit—the Hana Hana no Mi.
The quiet corners where she read alone.
It was less an introduction for Black and more a farewell for herself.
As dusk fell, Robin requested to visit her uncle's home one last time.
Though her treatment there had been far from kind, it was still the only family she had known. Black did not object.
Half an hour later, she returned, her expression subdued.
Black did not inquire.
He could guess the farewell had not been warm.
"Since you're back," he said calmly, "board the ship. We depart for our next destination."
Just as they stepped onto the deck, a guard hurried over, clutching a Den Den Mushi in his hands.