After my conversation with Professor Clover, young Robin had cornered me. "Tell me about my mama!" she demanded, her eyes burning with a desperate intensity.
I initially thought it best to stay silent, but she wouldn't budge. This was likely the first real lead she'd had in years.
Yielding to her persistence, I took her to a quiet spot and explained Olvia's current situation—that she was being tracked by the World Government for her illegal research.
Robin, predictably, was frantic. She begged for a way to save her. I tried to calm her down, explaining that since no official bounty had been issued yet, the only way was to find Olvia before the Government did and convince her to stop.
I shouldn't have said that.
On the walk back to the village, it started.
"Take me with you!"
"Absolutely not. You're too young, and everyone here would worry."
"If the others say it's okay, will you take me?"
"No, Robin. We're Marines. We can't just have civilians living on a warship."
"I have to stop my mama! Please! Take me with you!"
The "Take me with you" chorus echoed across the hills. I had thought she was a quiet, intellectual child, but her love for her mother made her as stubborn and spirited as any six-year-old.
Fine. I'll use the "Adult's Trap."
"...Alright. If Professor Clover gives you his explicit permission, I'll take you."
That should have been the end of it. Clover didn't trust me, and the scholars cared for Robin. There was no way they'd let a child sail off with a giant Marine Captain they barely knew.
"If the Professor says yes, you'll take me! Got it!"
"We leave tomorrow morning. If you haven't convinced him by then, give up."
I watched her small figure sprint back toward the Tree of Knowledge. Forgive me, little Robin. Adults can be cunning.
You need to stay here, grow up to be a scholar, and eventually meet a certain rubber lad.
If I could save Ohara, I'd have to find another way to guide her toward the Straw Hats later... but for now, she needed to be safe.
As I walked back to the ship, I pondered the "Olvia problem." She wouldn't be in the East or South Blue. It was unlikely she'd crossed the Red Line into the North Blue either. That left the West Blue or the Grand Line.
Wait... in the original story, Saul washed up here. He was a Vice Admiral from HQ. If he encountered her, it was likely in the Grand Line. But the ocean is vast. Finding her would be a miracle.
The Morning Surprise
"Captain Krieg! Sir! Both squads are back. We'll finish resupplying and depart by noon!"
"Good. No changes to the plan. Get me out of this suit; the tie is killing me. And send the Lieutenant to my cabin."
I stripped off the formal wear, briefed Rapanui on the situation (omitting the secret future stuff), and collapsed into bed. The mental fatigue of trying to outmaneuver Professor Clover sent me into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning: BAM! BAM! BAM!
"Captain! Sir! You have guests! Are you awake?! Captain!"
Guests? Did Clover come to give me a piece of his mind? I stifled a yawn, climbed onto the deck, and looked over the railing.
There on the beach stood Professor Clover and a few other scholars. And standing right in front of them, with a giant backpack and a suitcase in each hand, was a girl with eyes sparkling like diamonds.
...What?
I jumped down to the sand and hissed at the Professor. "Professor Clover... what is the meaning of this?"
"The meaning? Why, Captain, you told the girl you would help her find her mother."
"I did, but... aren't you against this? She's a child! What about her relatives?"
"It is cruel to keep her here," Clover said softly. "The family she lives with... they were more than happy to see her go. They saw her as a 'burden' to be rid of."
My heart sank. Right, her aunt treated her like a servant.
"But you hate the Navy! Why let her go with us?"
"I may not like you, Krieg. But we scholars cannot take her to sea. We cannot find Olvia... and we certainly cannot protect her from what is coming."
"You... you realize Olvia is—"
"I realized something else last night," Clover interrupted. "You aren't here on orders, are you?"
I flinched. "How did you...?"
"Your reaction confirms it. You truly are a 'Dull Bear,' aren't you? You lack a poker face."
"D-damn... scholars and their brains..."
"It's simple logic. If you had orders, you would have arrested us the moment you confirmed the basement research. Instead, you gave us a warning. You're acting on your own to save this island."
He was right. I was a rogue agent trying to avert a massacre.
"Fine," I sighed. "But I still don't like this. It's dangerous. What if I turn out to be a villain? How could you take that risk with her life?"
"She is young, but she is wise. She knows you aren't a bad man. And besides..." He looked me dead in the eye. "I believe you will protect her."
I looked at Robin, then back at the stubborn old man. There was no winning this.
"Haaaah... fine. We will take responsibility for her. We'll try to find her mother, though I make no promises."
"That is enough. And give this letter to Olvia when you find her. It should explain everything."
"Understood."
Clover gave me a wide, knowing grin. "I'm counting on you, Captain."
And just like that, the Beatrice gained a new, very small, and very brilliant crew member.
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