The past is gone and cannot be recalled.
Soon, a silver-haired woman approached and bowed slightly to Charlotte and the other two.
"I am Nico Olvia, a colleague of Ouli's parents. I hope that child hasn't caused you any trouble!"
Charlotte was momentarily stunned. This should be Nico Robin's future mother!
Of course, Robin-chan hadn't been born yet, but she had now met her mother.
Shaking her head, Charlotte replied, "No, she is a strong, kind, and intelligent child."
Olvia looked relieved.
"Can you tell me more about Ouli?"
Olvia seemed a little surprised at the question, but after a brief pause, she nodded and spoke.
"Her parents were archaeologists. During one of their expeditions, they perished in an accident. To spare Ouli from grief, we decided to hide the truth from her."
"Since then, she has been selling flowers to save money, even though she has already earned the title of the youngest archaeologist in O'Hara and receives a monthly stipend. She insists on doing it anyway."
This is the world of pirates!
A place filled with passion, unforgettable joy, and irreparable sorrow. People often forget that, beneath all the adventure, this world carries the same emotions as any other—happiness, anger, grief, and laughter.
Olvia continued, her expression heavy. "Ouli's parents loved flowers more than anything when they were alive. Perhaps, being as perceptive as she is, she chooses to honor them this way."
They should have spent more time with Olvia, Charlotte thought as she observed the sorrow on the woman's face.
You're not exactly a model mother, are you? Charlotte mused bitterly. To fulfill her late husband's final wish, she abandoned her child and went to sea without hesitation. And now, that child suffers alone.
Is this some tragic tradition among O'Hara's archaeologists?
No—perhaps this was simply the nature of the pirate world.
What a cruel fate.
Still, she decided not to voice her thoughts.
Instead, she shifted the topic. "I've always been curious… The Heberfil Pirates seem more interested in books than plundering wealth?"
Olvia looked at her in surprise.
"Don't give me that look," Charlotte said with a sigh. "I just happened to read a report about the Heberfil Pirates. I have a good memory."
She wasn't particularly eager to be associated with piracy, but it was a fact she couldn't escape.
Thanks for reminding me of that harsh reality, she thought sarcastically.
Despite her reservations, she still answered, "Books are vessels of culture and civilization. Destroying them would be a great loss."
"Oh? So you think O'Hara will be destroyed in the future?"
Charlotte felt a chill run down her spine.
Don't say such things so casually!
Even if it was the truth, it wasn't something to be spoken so lightly.
"Damn it! Woman, do you have any idea what you're saying?" Charlotte thought, suppressing a grimace.
"I didn't mean that. Just… it's always good to take precautions. The world isn't exactly peaceful."
Olvia studied her intently before replying, "Then, isn't that the same as saying O'Hara will be destroyed?"
"I was making a general statement!" Charlotte insisted.
"Oh, I see. So you do mean O'Hara will be destroyed."
Charlotte nearly choked on her frustration. This woman was impossible!
Sensing her irritation, Olvia changed the subject. "Are you interested in history? Is that why you collect books?"
Charlotte quickly shook her head. "Not really. I just enjoy the stories in them."
Olvia smiled knowingly. "That's unusual. Historical texts hold incredible significance."
Charlotte chuckled. "Whether it's meaningful or not doesn't really matter to me. I just like collecting them."
"History is like smoke," she mused. "The past is gone and cannot be recalled."
Olvia, however, disagreed.
"History is essential. It shapes the course of human civilization and provides the coordinates of our progress. Without an accurate historical record, humanity would lose its direction."
Charlotte remained silent. Of course, she understood history's importance.
But studying the Void Century, the history that the World Government had worked so hard to erase, was a dangerous endeavor—one that could easily lead to death.
Only if the World Government were to fall…
Shaking off the thought, she decided to steer clear of the topic. Who knew what kind of classified information this woman might let slip in her excitement? Charlotte wasn't ready to deal with that.
Olvia, noticing Charlotte's conflicted expression, said nothing more. Instead, she simply studied Charlotte with quiet interest.
If he were an archaeologist, that would be quite fascinating, she thought.
Had Charlotte known her thoughts, he might have lost his mind on the spot.
He had no intention of jumping into that pit of fire—no, that bottomless abyss.
"Anyway, thank you," Olvia said before turning to leave.
"Thank me? For what?"
Charlotte watched her disappear into the distance, utterly perplexed.
What a stubborn and peculiar woman.
Just then, Lina and Beta, who had been silent observers, spoke up.
"Remember to avoid people like that in the future," Charlotte muttered. "Spend too much time around them, and you'll either become a fool or a lunatic."
Lina: "…???"
Beta: "…???"
Ignoring their bewildered expressions, Charlotte walked away.
Still, he had a feeling that Olvia already knew who he was.
And if she knew… then it was highly likely that Dr. Clover knew as well.
What a headache.
Even so, he still had to find Dr. Clover.
Soon.
—
"Dr. Clover, we meet again."
The elderly scholar smiled kindly. "Ah, Charlotte. What brings you here?"
Dr. Clover had a favorable impression of Charlotte. At the very least, he wasn't a bad person, and in this world, that was enough.
Charlotte got straight to the point. "Are there many orphans in O'Hara?"
Dr. Clover's expression darkened. He sighed, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"There are seven… Their parents were all archaeologists."
Charlotte felt a wave of shock.
So archaeology is a high-risk profession in this world as well…
But upon reflection, it made sense.
Archaeologists often needed to journey across treacherous seas, searching for ancient ruins and verifying historical records.
The sea itself was an unforgiving force of nature. Add to that the presence of ruthless pirates, unpredictable weather, and islands filled with deadly mysteries…
For those without power, death was always a possibility.
Most of the time, these archaeologists had no way to return home.
In the eyes of pirates, a scholar held less value than a bottle of rum.
Charlotte couldn't accept such recklessness. Throwing their lives away like this… is it really worth it?
"I want to take them in, Dr. Clover."
Dr. Clover's gaze sharpened. "Take them in?"
Charlotte nodded. "You know the library will need promising scholars in the future. If they have nowhere else to go, I can give them a place where they can learn and grow."
Dr. Clover's expression was unreadable. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"That decision must be theirs to make."
Charlotte understood, but deep down, he knew the chances were slim.