One Piece Space Fruit - Chapter 11
Under the night sky, shadows of trees swayed.
Nivia, having reverted to her human form, was fleeing westward towards the coast, panting heavily but relentlessly running off the island.
She hoped that Taigu, who used “Maximum Wheel – Life Reinforcement,” could hold out a little longer, giving her enough time to escape.
The boy named Evan was mysterious and powerful. He possessed skills comparable to the Marine’s Six Powers and a formidable Devil Fruit ability—everything about him exceeded her expectations.
That this knowledge-revering Ohara Island housed such a warrior was information even the World Government lacked.
“The most crucial point is that he knows our identities and likely our mission here. I must contact the higher-ups immediately!”
Nivia thought urgently but was suddenly confronted by a figure that appeared before her, gripping her throat.
Nivia’s pupils contracted as she looked in horror at the familiar face.
How could he catch up so quickly?!
Nivia couldn’t comprehend it, and fear surged into her chest, weighing heavily.
“Too bad, if not for the spatial marker I left earlier, you might have escaped,” Evan said, shaking his head slightly as he gripped her throat.
This island, though not large, was not small either. Finding a CP9 agent intent on hiding and escaping would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
But with the spatial marker, Nivia was like a beacon within a certain range, detectable and reachable by Evan’s teleportation.
Though shorter than Nivia, Evan easily lifted her off the ground with his raised hand.
Feeling the grip tightening around her neck, Nivia’s strength gradually faded, death approaching.
She opened her mouth, trying to say something.
“You are a clever woman; I know what you want to say, but I already understand, so you are worthless.”
Evan’s cold eyes and relentless grip choked her pale neck.
Soon, Nivia’s feet kicked a few times before hanging limply, her eyes losing their bright light of life.
Evan casually tossed her body aside.
Tonight, two CP9 members perished!
But much remained to be done.
Evan’s figure vanished into the moonlight.
The Tree of Knowledge
Moonlight quietly illuminated this 5,000-year-old tree, its lush branches casting a large shadow over the island.
It was late at night, and the residents were already asleep. The lights were bright in the Tree of Knowledge’s basement library. A group of scholars gathered around a huge rectangular stone, studying its strange inscriptions, consulting books, and taking meticulous notes.
“Dr. Clover,” a middle-aged scholar called from the basement door.
“Hmm?” Dr. Clover paused his note-taking and looked up inquiringly.
“Someone is looking for you outside,” the middle-aged scholar said quickly.
“At this late hour, who could it be?” Dr. Clover asked.
“It’s the boy from the town, Evan. He says he has urgent business with you.”
“Ah, Little Evan… very well, I’ll go,” Dr. Clover nodded, recalling the afternoon’s events, and put away his books before leaving the basement.
In the library, Evan sat on a chair. When he saw Dr. Clover come up from the basement, he stood and said, “I’m sorry to disturb you so late, Dr. Clover.”
“No problem, sit down,” Dr. Clover smiled kindly, taking a seat next to Evan. “You must have some questions?”
“No, I came tonight to urge you to leave the island tomorrow,” Evan shook his head.
“Leave? Why?” Dr. Clover asked in surprise.
“You must have heard the name Nico Olvia,” Evan said.
Dr. Clover’s expression changed, and he looked at Evan with a hint of sadness. “Robin must have told you. I regret that her mother went on a voyage six years ago…”
“Doctor,” Evan interrupted, shaking his head. “I know that Robin’s mother, Olvia, was one of the 34 archaeologists who sailed to study the Poneglyphs.”
“And recently, she was captured by the Marine. I’m sure you are aware of this news.”
Dr. Clover was shocked. The boy before him, still considered a child, knew everything he had intended to keep from Robin.
“I know this can’t be told to Robin, as it would be useless. So, I’m here tonight to advise you to leave,” Evan said.
“Why should we leave? The World Government can’t find evidence that the scholars of Ohara are researching the Poneglyphs, so we are still safe,” Dr. Clover shook his head, believing their hidden research would keep them safe.
“Doctor, you don’t understand the World Government’s methods. Scholars worldwide have been searching for the Poneglyphs’ clues in recent decades, greatly angering the World Government. Although they appear fair and just, your inquiries have crossed their line.
If the World Government decides to take drastic measures and needs to set an example, Ohara, as a prominent center of archaeology, will be their primary target!” Evan said, clenching his fists, and looking Dr. Clover in the eye.
“You mean…” Dr. Clover looked at him, his face full of disbelief and horror.
“Yes, if I am correct, regardless of whether they find concrete evidence, the World Government will soon dispatch the Marine to this island to destroy or obliterate anything threatening their rule,” Evan said, speaking not from speculation but from the events depicted in the original story, set to occur in just a few days.
Dr. Clover was silent for a long time, troubled by the young boy’s words, which seemed out of place but resonated deeply with the historical texts revealing the government’s darker secrets.
“Doctor, if you don’t leave now, it will be too late when the Marine blocks the island!” Evan reminded him.
Dr. Clover had no answer, standing for a while before motioning for Evan to follow.
Evan followed him down to the basement.
Entering the basement, the scholars inside all turned their eyes towards Dr. Clover, puzzled at the sight of Evan standing behind him.
“Everyone, please listen to me,” Dr. Clover raised his voice, his expression serious. “You all know that Olvia was captured a few days ago. The World Government may use this as a pretext to arrest us.”
“Now, I hope you will choose to leave the Tree of Knowledge and the island of Ohara as soon as possible tomorrow morning!”
After he spoke, the basement fell silent.
“Doctor, you must be joking, right?” a scholar managed to squeeze out a smile.
Others remained silent.
“I am not joking,” Dr. Clover shook his head, his wise eyes flashing with bright light. “The deeper we delve into the Poneglyphs, the more I see past issues and the mysteries of the World Government.”
“Since I began researching the Poneglyphs, I knew this day would come, only the timing was uncertain. I hope you can leave to preserve a seed of hope.”
Dr. Clover lowered his head.
“And you, Doctor?” a scholar couldn’t help but ask.
“Me?” Dr. Clover looked around at the books and documents, his eyes burning with passion. “This place holds countless historical treasures of human civilization. My life is rooted here. I have nowhere to run. I will live and die with the Tree of Knowledge!”
Dr. Clover’s tone was firm as iron.
“Doctor, I am also willing to live and die with the Tree of Knowledge!” an elderly scholar declared.
“I am willing too!”
“I’m not leaving. I want to protect these remaining treasures of humanity!”
“I won’t leave either. I’ll live and die with the Tree of Knowledge and all of you!”
One by one, the scholars voiced their determination, none proposing to leave.
“You…” Dr. Clover’s eyes moistened, but he tried to appear angry, shouting, “Don’t you know? Staying means death!”
“We are willing to live and die with the Tree of Knowledge!”
The scholars’ unanimous voices echoed in the basement, unwavering.
They were scholars without physical strength, but at this moment, even Evan, standing outside, was moved by their spirit.
Willing to die for the dawn of light, even at the break of dawn.
These were the scholars of Ohara, the last in the world capable of deciphering the Poneglyphs (except for the Kozuki clan, who lost the skill in Momonosuke’s father’s generation).
“Little Evan, we have decided not to leave,” Dr. Clover said apologetically.
Evan shook his head, “Everyone has their chosen path. Doctor, I admire you. The world should be proud to have scholars like you.”
“I’m leaving now.” Evan turned to go but was stopped by Dr. Clover.
Dr. Clover retrieved a small bottle from a wooden cabinet on a basement shelf, handing it to Evan.
It was a simple glass bottle containing a thumb-sized seed, a yellow embryo, and tender green shoots ready to sprout.
“This is the seed of the Tree of Knowledge, the only one, passed down from my father to now. I hope you can take it and leave the island with Robin,” Dr. Clover said, looking longingly at the bottle in Evan’s hand.
Leaving the library, Dr. Clover’s last words echoed in Evan’s ears.
“May this seed, carrying wisdom, one day grow, bathed in sunlight, caressed by the breeze, facing the sea, and touching the sky as the new Tree of Knowledge.”
Evan sighed deeply, the cool glass bottle in his hand now feeling warm. He gripped it tightly and left without looking back.
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