Speaking of which, although Robin had been intelligent from a young age, she did not actually have many real memories of Valthior as her father.
But precisely because she was so intelligent, she would often ask Olvia where her father had gone.
Olvia would tell her that her father was in the New World, that he was an amazing and important person, but he was very busy. And because her mother also had her own things to do, they had to live apart for now.
After that, Olvia would show Robin Valthior's photos, wanted posters, and the news about him in the newspapers, telling her that this was her father.
That was why Robin could recognize Valthior.
Valthior lifted Robin into his arms, stood up, and smiled.
"Our Robin has grown so much already. You are so beautiful. One look and anyone can tell you will become a great beauty. Who knows how many people on the sea you will charm in the future?"
"Dad, I missed you so much…" Robin hugged Valthior and said with a choked voice.
Valthior considered himself rather detached when it came to emotions. In truth, that had a great deal to do with how he had grown up. His eighteen years in Mary Geoise could not possibly have left no mark on him.
But when he heard Robin's words, he still felt some guilt in his heart.
"Dad missed you too," Valthior said softly.
Just like that, holding Robin, the father and daughter whispered to each other.
Soon, Valthior arrived in front of the Tree of Knowledge and saw Admiral Sengoku, Professor Clover, and Olvia, who looked somewhat worried.
"Long time no see, Olvia," Valthior said. He held Robin with one arm and reached out with the other, gently rubbing Olvia's head.
"Valthior…" Olvia murmured.
After that, she no longer felt as anxious or tense.
Valthior did not say much to her at this moment. Instead, he looked at Sengoku.
"Admiral Sengoku, what is the current situation?"
"Saint Valthior," Sengoku immediately answered respectfully.
The moment he heard how Valthior addressed him, Sengoku understood that Valthior was questioning him in the capacity of a Celestial Dragon.
"Following Saint Saturn's orders, we Marines will take in all of Ohara's scholars. The ordinary civilians will be relocated to the residential area of Marineford. After we remove the Tree of Knowledge and all valuable items, we will destroy this island with a Buster Call. Publicly, we will announce the crimes of the Ohara scholars and the result of their elimination."
There was nothing wrong with these arrangements.
Valthior also had no intention of bringing the scholars to Frost Island. There was not much meaning in doing that, and it did not fit his later plans.
So Valthior nodded.
"Very good. Avoiding a bloodbath can at least be considered a proper ending."
Sengoku also nodded in agreement. Then, after hesitating for a moment, he asked, "May I ask why you have come here this time?"
"I originally came to the West Blue for something else. After hearing about Ohara, I changed course and came here. I intend to take Olvia and my daughter away," Valthior said softly, looking at Sengoku.
"Forgive me for speaking plainly. Lady Olvia is not an issue, but Princess Robin is someone Saint Saturn personally instructed me to escort to Mary Geoise. On this point, I cannot obey," Sengoku said in a deep voice.
Valthior's gaze first fell on Sengoku, then glanced at Chief Staff Officer Tsuru standing not far away and Borsalino kneeling on one knee.
There was no need to care too much about Borsalino, but Tsuru's strength could not be underestimated.
On top of that, the Marines had brought more than thirty warships. Many officers had not even shown themselves yet. There might be some other dangerous people among them.
Trying to take Robin away by force was clearly unsuitable.
Whether he could win or not was one matter. But using violence to take her away would, to some extent, count as falling out with the old man.
There was no need for that.
In the end, Valthior looked toward Olvia.
Olvia immediately said, "I will not be separated from Robin…"
"Tch…" Valthior clicked his tongue helplessly. Then he said, "Brother Garling, I will have to trouble you…"
Garling froze for a moment, then said, "You really want to speak with Lord Saturn face-to-face? Is that necessary?"
Although he said that, his foot had already begun lightly moving across the ground. Black marks appeared on the grass, and a strange energy started to surge.
Seeing this, Sengoku's expression froze. Then he immediately shouted, "All personnel, listen up! Anyone below Vice Admiral rank, withdraw at once!"
In front of Celestial Dragons, the Marines and CP agents could still kneel.
But in front of the Five Elders, under ordinary circumstances, the area had to be cleared. And if anyone remained, they absolutely could not look directly at the Five Elders' true appearance. Otherwise, it would be grave disrespect.
In other words, they could only kneel there, lower their heads, and stare at the ground. They could not make any unnecessary movement.
Looking at Valthior, Sengoku felt that this grandfather and grandson might end up arguing.
Was that something ordinary people could hear or see? Absolutely not.
To avoid trouble later, it was better to evacuate everyone quickly.
As soon as Sengoku gave the order, the Marines and CP agents immediately escorted the scholars and hurriedly withdrew toward the harbor.
Soon, only Chief Staff Officer Tsuru, Admiral Sengoku, Spandine, and the members of the Holy Knights remained here.
The pentagram array was quickly drawn.
Sommers and the others, who had been joking around earlier, now stood respectfully behind the pentagram array.
Sengoku and Tsuru withdrew to a distance and waited.
"You all move farther away too," Valthior said to Spencer and the others.
But he reached out and stopped Shanks.
"You stay here."
Very soon, black power began to appear within the pentagram array. Then a figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Saint Saturn, tall and holding a cane, descended upon Ohara.
"Valthior…" The first thing Saint Saturn saw was Valthior.
But immediately after, his gaze shifted to the silver-haired little girl in Valthior's arms.
Robin.
His originally cold expression softened greatly at that moment. For the first time, Valthior even saw a trace of gentleness in the old man's eyes.
To be honest, the relationship between grandfather and grandson had always been fairly good. When they met, Saint Saturn did not act high and mighty toward him and was quite approachable.
But in all these years, Valthior had never seen such a gentle look from him.
"So this is little Robin?" Saint Saturn said as he walked up to Valthior. He roughly shoved his cane into Valthior's arms, then held Robin with both hands and took her from him.
Valthior's cheek twitched twice. He lowered his voice and muttered, "Grandfather, are you serious?"
"You beast, you still have the face to call me Grandfather?" Saint Saturn held Robin and glared at Valthior. "What kind of father are you? You actually let little Robin live outside for all these years? It would be one thing if you did not keep her by your side and take care of her, but you did not even tell me? How much suffering have you made her endure, you bastard?"
Valthior froze.
Wait, do you remember saying I was your favorite descendant?
"Old man, do not be mean to my dad!" Robin grabbed Saint Saturn's beard and said unhappily.
Saint Saturn froze for a moment. Then a bright smile appeared on his face.
"All right, all right. I will not be mean to him. But child, I am your great-grandfather. We are the closest family in the world!"
"Great-grandfather?" Robin murmured in confusion.
Saint Saturn smiled and nodded. "Yes, that is right. Great-grandfather."
With that, he somewhat reluctantly handed Robin back over to Olvia—not sparing Olvia a single glance throughout the entire exchange—before turning to Valthior, "Come with me…"
As if he were returning home, Saint Saturn walked straight into the Tree of Knowledge without the slightest discomfort.
Valthior patted Olvia's shoulder, then took Shanks by the hand and walked into the Tree of Knowledge as well.
Saint Saturn noticed this from the corner of his eye and felt slightly puzzled, but he said nothing.
Soon, the three of them entered the Tree of Knowledge.
"This is?" Saint Saturn finally looked at Shanks and frowned slightly.
"His name is Shanks. He is one of Garling's twin sons. Back at God Valley, due to a twist of fate, he boarded the Roger Pirates' ship with me." Valthior smiled and patted Shanks on the shoulder. "What are you standing there for? Greet him."
"Lord Saturn!" Shanks called respectfully, not showing any stage fright.
Saturn first nodded, then looked at Valthior, his eyes still somewhat puzzled.
So?
What about a child of the Figarland family?
Is there anything about him worth my attention?
"This kid's talent is extraordinary. I believe he will definitely become a famous figure on the sea in the future, so I wanted to introduce him to you in advance, Grandfather," Valthior explained with a smile.
"Extraordinary?" Saint Saturn looked at Shanks. "How famous?"
"He inherited Captain Roger's will," Valthior said directly.
This time, Saint Saturn's gaze became more serious. A hint of approval also appeared on his face.
"Good… Very good."
He was now starting to feel that perhaps all those people in Mary Geoise should be thrown onto the sea for a few years.
Those who stayed in Mary Geoise were all useless people waiting around to die. But once they went down to the lower world, they immediately became different.
First there was Valthior.
Then there was Shanks, whom even Valthior praised highly.
And there was also that Donquixote brat who was reportedly doing quite well in the North Blue.
It seemed the issue was not that Celestial Dragons lacked talent.
The problem was that no one had properly trained them.
"This child stands on our side. He knows many truths. After all, he also went to Laugh Tale with us… Although I convinced Graling just now, I feel he may change his mind later. So I hope that when you are in Mary Geoise, Grandfather, you can lend a hand when you have time and stop him from bothering us," Valthior said.
After a slight pause, Valthior added, "The New World is too turbulent. Even I am not confident I can survive until the end. If something really happens one day… this kid can take my place. At the very least, you will not be left with no one to use."
That sentence was the real key.
It meant Shanks was truly one of their own.
Saint Saturn still trusted Valthior's judgment, so he nodded.
"I understand."
This time, when he looked at Shanks, his gaze became gentler.
"Shanks, I will remember you. Next, I have something to say to your captain. You may go first."
Hearing this, Shanks looked at Valthior.
Only after Valthior nodded did he leave.
As soon as Shanks went out, Valthior could not help asking, "Old man, what do you mean by insisting on taking Robin to Mary Geoise? Have you forgotten how dangerous that place is?"
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