Chapter 64: Nico Olivia

Rockwell was stunned by Asa's words, his expression blank with shock.

Although he appeared old, his youthful face betrayed his true age—he was only around twenty-two, with plenty of room for growth.

He had entered the Grand Line full of passion and dreams of becoming a pirate, only for Asa's cold and direct words to douse those dreams.

Asa, however, felt no guilt. If he could make Rockwell reconsider his approach, he might end up saving his life. If his words could instill an understanding of the importance of strength, perhaps they would meet again in the New World someday.

Rockwell's vacant gaze sharpened, as if he had undergone a transformation in an instant.

"I understand, Lord Asa. I will work hard to improve my strength, and when I enter the New World, I will find you!" he declared with determination.

"Good!" Asa patted him on the shoulder approvingly. "You mentioned capturing a group of O'Hara scholars. What happened?"

"Lord Asa, O'Hara's scholars are among the most valuable slaves, just like Fishmen. They fetch high prices," Rockwell said, his eyes gleaming with excitement at the topic.

O'Hara was a unique island in the West Blue, renowned for its strong academic atmosphere. Most of its inhabitants were highly knowledgeable, making them sought-after as educated slaves, ideal for positions as housekeepers and servants.

Normally, no one dared to capture them on the island itself, but once they left, they were at risk of being seized by slave traders.

Before Rockwell had set sail, he had been the heir to a human trafficking family operating in the underground black market. Not long after he entered the Grand Line and chose a magnetic path, he encountered a group of O'Hara scholars.

Three days ago, he led his men in secretly capturing them, hoping to transport them to the Sabaody Archipelago to sell them for profit.

Asa didn't particularly care that Rockwell was a slave trader. If a pirate wanted a steady source of income, they had to get involved in some illicit activities. Otherwise, they wouldn't even have enough to eat.

Who cared if he burned, looted, and pillaged?

Unless one possessed a treasure map and could dig up some long-lost fortune, piracy required resources.

Not all pirates were like the great ones of the New World, who had financial security through controlling territories and collecting protection fees.

This was the first half of the Grand Line, where the Marines had far more control than in the rest of the world. Any illegal activities had to be conducted discreetly.

"O'Hara?" Asa rubbed his chin. To him, these archaeologists who studied history were practically marching toward death.

There was nothing inherently wrong with studying history—what was wrong was that the World Government forbade it. Yet these scholars insisted on breaking the rules and challenging their authority. Weren't they just asking for destruction?

If one lacked the power to defy the rules but still insisted on stepping over the line, death was inevitable. Worse yet, they would bring all of O'Hara down with them.

Seeing Asa lost in thought, Rockwell became uneasy. "I heard that Lord Asa is also from the West Blue. You're not angry at me because of this, are you?"

The thought only made him more nervous. Why had he decided to capture these scholars in the first place?

"Bring the slaves up. I want to see them," Asa ordered with interest. He had some questions for these archaeologists.

Hearing that Asa wasn't upset, Rockwell sighed in relief and immediately barked at his stunned subordinates, "What are you standing around for? Go bring the O'Hara scholars here!"

"Yes, boss!"

A short while later, five captives were brought forth—four elderly men with white hair and beards, and a beautiful woman with silver-white hair, clad in a leather coat.

Although they were prisoners, their expressions remained calm and composed, without the slightest trace of fear. Even in their disheveled state, their scholarly air remained unchanged.

Asa's gaze lingered on the woman's strikingly unique eyes.

"Could this woman be Nico Olivia?" he murmured, scrutinizing the poised and resolute woman before him.

The moment he saw these five, Asa understood that they had already accepted the possibility of their deaths. They likely knew that the World Government was hiding the truth, yet they still sought it.

Under Asa's piercing gaze, Nico Olivia's heart pounded. But she forced herself to remain calm and spoke firmly, "I know you—Shibole D. Asa, the great pirate whose first bounty was set at 300 million beli by the Marines for robbing the Heavenly Tribute. What do you want from us?"

"You... don't seem afraid of death," Asa observed curiously.

Most people feared death. Unless there was something more important than life itself—like how Whitebeard had sacrificed himself to save Ace—no one would face death so calmly.

Hearing Asa's remark, an elderly scholar with a long, drooping beard suddenly became animated. "Heir to the Will of D, do you truly understand its meaning?"

Nico Olivia and the other three scholars also fixed their eyes on him, their gazes burning with anticipation.

"Hah! I don't know, and I don't care to know," Asa sneered. "What does the Poneglyphs' history have to do with me? As long as I can live freely and enjoy life, nothing else matters."

"Answer my question—aren't you afraid of death? Why are you throwing yourselves into the fire?"

"The inheritors of the Will of D... The history that the World Government desperately tries to erase will one day be revealed. We are merely the first steps on this path—others will follow," the elderly scholar declared, raising his hands as if in devotion. His eyes shone with fanatical conviction.

Asa understood—these scholars pursued historical truth with the same passion that he sought an exhilarating life. No words could dissuade them.

They had set out with thirty-three members, but now only five remained. Even after witnessing the deaths of their comrades, they refused to abandon their cause.

"Asa, you dared to steal from the Heavenly Tribute, proving you aren't afraid of the World Government. And you bear the name 'D.' Don't you want to learn about the lost history from eight hundred years ago?" Nico Olivia asked.

Then, to his surprise, she actually attempted to recruit him.

"The Poneglyphs? Are you joking? Do you think a person who doesn't know the past can't survive?" Asa scoffed.

Curiosity? Sure, he had some. For example, he was interested in the origins of Devil Fruits and the secret weapons hidden by the World Government. But wouldn't it be far more thrilling to uncover those answers on his own rather than blindly follow these scholars?

"I'm only giving you a warning—listen or ignore it, it's up to you. But what you're doing has already crossed the World Government's bottom line. If you continue, the entire O'Hara will suffer the consequences."

"No!" the five scholars declared resolutely. "Everyone in O'Hara supports our cause!"

(End of Chapter)

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