[Bonus Chapter For Powerstones]
"Nice to meet you, Professor Clover. I am Captain Krieg of Marine Headquarters."
I extended my right hand, making a conscious effort to project an aura of "I'm not here to arrest anyone."
"A pleasure, Captain Krieg. I am Clover, a simple archaeologist."
The Professor shook my hand, his grip firm despite his age.
"The pleasure is mine. I've heard much of your reputation. It's an honor to finally meet you."
"Ho ho, I'm just an old man with a hobby. But tell me, why would a Captain from Headquarters come all this way just to see me?"
"I'm here to discuss a few things. For instance... do you happen to know a woman named Nico Olvia?"
"That's my mama's name...?"
Robin, who had been listening quietly beside us, spoke up. Clover's face instantly tightened with a "shouldn't have said that" expression.
"Your mother... so you're Nico Olvia's daughter, Robin?" I knelt down to her level. I already knew, of course, but I had to play the part.
"Yes. She went to sea for work when I was very little, and she hasn't come back..."
"I see. You're a very brave girl, Robin." I reached out and gently patted her head.
"Captain Krieg," Clover interrupted, his tone shifting. "Shall we change locations? It's only right to offer a guest some tea."
"I would appreciate that."
I stood up to follow him. Robin moved to join us, but Clover held up a hand.
"Robin, you stay here."
"But... I want to know about my mama too..."
"This is a serious discussion for adults, Robin. Please, wait here like a good girl."
He spoke with a firm finality that left her no room to argue. He led me to a private study surrounded by towering bookshelves.
"Was that necessary?" I asked as the door closed.
"What do you mean? More importantly, let us speak plainly. Why are you here?"
"I'll ask again: Do you know Nico Olvia?"
"...She was a member of this research institute. She went to sea four years ago to explore history, and we haven't heard from her since. What of it?"
"So, she went to sea merely to 'explore history,' and not to seek out the Poneglyphs?"
"The Government forbids the deciphering of Poneglyphs," Clover said flatly. "Is that all you wished to ask?"
"Not quite. You see, there are suspicions that the 'Tree of Knowledge' is currently being used to decode that forbidden script."
"Nonsense. If you have suspicions, feel free to search the premises."
"Are you sure about that, Professor? Suppose I did search. Suppose I found evidence of Poneglyph research. What do you think would happen to this place?"
"The scholars involved would be imprisoned, or more likely executed. The research would be suppressed."
"And you think it would end there? With just the scholars?"
"What are you implying? Even if—and this is purely hypothetical—such research were happening, we are the only ones responsible."
Professor, I'm the only one who can tell you this, but it didn't end there...
"Let's play 'hypotheticals,' then. Suppose there is a basement under this tree. Suppose there is a Poneglyph there, and scholars are working night after night to decode it."
Clover flinched. "I told you, no such thing—"
"I said 'suppose,' Professor. Listen to me. Suppose the research succeeds and the 'Void Century' is revealed, and then the World Government finds out. Do you really believe the scholars would be the only victims?"
"What are you getting at...?"
"If Ohara reaches that point, the World Government will request a Buster Call from the Navy. That's my assessment."
"What?! Preposterous! In the past, when researchers were caught, there were arrests and executions, but never a Buster Call! You're just imagining things!"
I'm not imagining it. It happened. I'm just the only one here who's seen the future.
"It's because it's Ohara, Professor. Nico Olvia and her team were searching for the Poneglyphs under the guise of exploration. Every time the Government catches someone like her, they look for a link back to this island. Do you know why?"
"To make an example of us? Because we are the 'Holy Land' of archaeology?"
"It's more than just the scholars, Professor. To ensure the 'truth' never leaks, the Government will silence everyone.
Those who know, those who might know, and even those who know nothing. They will make Ohara a smoking crater to show the world the price of curiosity.
A Buster Call doesn't just kill people; it erases islands from the map. The people, the tree, the wisdom of the world collected here—it will all be burned to ash."
"That is madness! Would the Government go that far?! And would the Navy truly stand by and slaughter civilians and destroy the accumulated knowledge of humanity without a second thought?!"
Clover was shaking with rage. But the Navy is a machine, and machines follow orders.
"If the order is given, we have little choice. The Government sits above the Navy. If they claim the 'Ancient Weapons' are at risk of being revived, the Navy will move."
"We would never! Even if we were researching, no one here wants to revive a weapon!"
"It doesn't matter what you want, Professor. If the script is decoded, someone will try to use it for war. Even if you only want to uncover history, there will always be someone ready to turn that knowledge into a weapon. That is the way of the world."
Barbed wire, dynamite, airplanes... everything made for peace or progress eventually gets drafted into the military. It's a universal law.
"So, Professor Clover, consider this a warning. I will assume 'no research is happening' for now. But if it were happening... remember that you are gambling not just with your own lives, but with the existence of this entire island.
If the worst happens, I won't be able to protect you. I won't even be involved."
I stood up to leave.
"Good day, Professor. I truly pray it never comes to that."
Please, Clover... take the hint. Don't let the tragedy repeat itself.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 60 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.