Chapter 264: Robin – History Repeats, But Humanity Cannot Return to the Past

Robin stared at Claudius after hearing his response, her expression darkening.

"Did I say I just 'consider myself' a scholar? Do you think I'm exaggerating? I passed Ohara's professional certification exams, you know! I was officially recognized as a scholar at the age of eight—a top-tier talent!"

After mentally venting her frustration, Robin took a deep breath and spoke again.

"That's not what I meant. What I'm trying to say is that I was already a scholar before I left Ohara with you back then. I passed Ohara's professional examination—"

Claudius, still unfazed, casually picked up the cold tea cup from the table, took a sip, and responded in an unbothered tone.

"Oh? Really? That's pretty impressive, I guess."

Robin almost lost her temper on the spot.

"Do you have any idea how much courage it took for me to say this? Do you know how long I've kept this secret? Do you think I'm just playing games here?!"

She clenched her fists, frustrated beyond words.

"Do you even understand the significance of this?" she asked, her tone slightly aggravated.

Claudius finally set his tea cup down and said in a calm, measured voice.

"If I remember correctly, you were eight years old in the year 1506, right?"

Robin frowned slightly, puzzled by his sudden question.

"Yeah… why? You trying to praise me or something?"

Claudius leaned back slightly, his gaze turning contemplative.

"Eight years old..." he murmured, his expression unreadable.

Then, after a moment of silence, he smiled.

"Other kids at that age barely know what they want to do in life. But you? At eight, you had already passed Ohara's scholar certification exams. You became the youngest scholar in Ohara's history, studying ancient texts, deciphering records, even working with Poneglyphs..."

His voice was soft, yet there was a strange weight behind his words.

Robin's eyes widened slightly.

"You… already knew?" she asked in shock.

Claudius chuckled. "Of course I knew. Do you really think I wouldn't? You know how vast my intelligence network is, don't you?"

Robin hesitated, recalling everything Claudius had orchestrated over the years.

His planning, his influence, his power—yes, it really would have been impossible for him not to know.

"Then why did you save me back then?" she asked in a low voice. "Wasn't your mission to eradicate Ohara's scholars completely?"

"That wasn't my mission." Claudius' voice remained calm.

"My task was to assist the Marines in capturing the rogue Vice Admiral Saul.

And, to satisfy my own interests, I wanted access to the Tree of Knowledge. If not for that, I wouldn't have even gone to Ohara."

Robin's mind spun as she processed his words.

"So he knew this whole time?" she thought. "And yet, he never once brought it up...?"

After a long pause, she finally spoke again.

"You didn't… save me for your own gain, did you?"

Claudius tilted his head. "What would I gain from you?"

Robin hesitated for a second before explaining, "You're not interested in ancient history, are you? But I can read the ancient texts… I can decipher the Poneglyphs. Weren't you planning to use me to uncover those secrets?"

Claudius tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully.

He remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

"You know… when I was a kid, I was actually really curious about the Void Century.

I wanted to know about that great kingdom that existed 800 years ago.

I wanted to learn the truth about the origins of the Celestial Dragons.

And the story of the Twenty Kings who formed the World Government..."

Robin leaned forward slightly, waiting for his answer.

"And?" she pressed.

Claudius smiled faintly.

"And then… I changed."

"I gradually lost interest in those things."

"I stopped wanting to know."

Robin's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Why?" she asked. "These are secrets no one else knows!"

Claudius let out a sigh, his voice tinged with something almost like regret.

"What's the point in knowing?"

"Look at Ohara.

They were obsessed with uncovering the past, so much so that they ignored reality, ignored the future. And in the end, what happened?

They were wiped out."

His voice wasn't cold, but it carried a weight of undeniable truth.

Robin fell silent.

He was right.

Ohara had been one of the greatest intellectual centers in the world, a beacon of knowledge and history.

But in the end…

What good had it done?

It was gone.

"Of course, that's just my perspective," Claudius continued. "My ambitions don't lie in uncovering the past, I want to shape the future.

But for a scholar like you, understanding history is important."

"Necessary, even."

Robin gazed at him with a complicated expression.

Finally, she asked, "Then… back then… did you save me out of kindness?"

Claudius touched his chin.

Had he?

Back then, he had considered using her knowledge, perhaps to locate the Ancient Weapons, or unravel the mysteries of the past.

But as his own plans evolved, those things had become increasingly irrelevant.

The past couldn't change the present.

Power was the only thing that mattered.

As he pondered, he finally smiled and said, "You should already know the answer by now."

Robin froze for a moment.

Then she slowly nodded.

Yes.

After all these years, Claudius had never once tried to use her for anything.

If anything, he had given her complete freedom, provided her with every resource, allowed her to pursue her studies without restrictions.

She had worried for so long about what would happen if Claudius discovered her secret.

And yet, here he was—completely unbothered.

Robin suddenly smiled.

"Claudius… you're a good person."

Claudius grimaced immediately.

"Oi. Don't start handing out 'good person' cards. I never said I was trying to chase you, okay?"

Robin chuckled.

"I used to think that if you found out about my secret, I'd be in danger.

But over the years, I've learned so many of your secrets instead.

So I finally decided, if I've been listening to all of yours, it's only fair that I share mine."

Claudius' expression darkened slightly.

"I told you, that earlier thing was a misunderstanding!" he protested. "I'm an honest and upright man, known for my integrity! How dare you accuse me of sneaking around at night?!"

Robin just gave him a knowing look.

She made a mental note to upgrade the locks on her doors.

After a brief pause, Claudius spoke again.

"Ohara may be gone… but its knowledge survives in you.

One day, when my plans are complete, I'll help you rebuild it."

Robin's expression shifted, and for a moment, something like hope flickered in her eyes.

But then, she exhaled softly and shook her head.

"No. You once said that history repeats itself, but humans cannot return to the past.

Ohara is gone. That's the truth.

I will continue to study history. I will continue to be a scholar. But I won't live in the past.

I'll look to the future.

To see what kind of world you create."

Claudius was momentarily surprised by her resolve.

After a pause, he asked, "Really? You don't want it rebuilt?"

Robin smiled.

"No. But… if possible, I'd like to rename the Prometheus someday."

Claudius blinked. "To what?"

Robin's voice was soft, but firm.

"Ohara."