Am I Terrible?
As soon as she emerged from the Windless Belt, Charlotte released the unlucky Sea King that had been towing the ship. The massive creature didn't hesitate for a second—darting away as fast as it could without looking back.
"Huh? I didn't think a Neptune-class creature could flee so quickly without even glancing back."
Charlotte absentmindedly touched the back of her head. Was she really that terrifying? That didn't seem fair.
"Am I terrible?"
She turned around and asked.
The crew, drenched in cold sweat, shook their heads in unison, but in their hearts, they all knew the truth: not just terrifying—downright cruel!
The Sea King had pulled their ship tirelessly, desperate to escape but physically "persuaded" by Charlotte to stay the course. And when she got hungry midway, she even considered making it her next meal. The mere thought sent chills down their spines.
It was enough to make anyone cry, and enough to leave anyone who heard about it utterly shocked.
"Look at that! Even the masses have sharp eyes. I'm such a democratic, kind, united, and friendly person. What else can I do?"
Charlotte shook her head, seemingly troubled.
The crew watched her reaction, their hearts trembling. They had no words. If even dogs could shake their heads in disbelief, they certainly would.
Charlotte's gaze turned to the calm sea ahead. They had entered the West Blue.
"Knew it. The weather here isn't as extreme. It's peaceful."
From the New World, the Windless Belts bordered both sides. To reach the East Blue or South Blue, one had to either pass through the Red Line and enter the Grand Line's first half or take the treacherous route through Reverse Mountain. Either way, to return to the New World, one would have to cross Fish-Man Island—a risk Charlotte had no intention of taking.
The West Blue!
This was a sea of legends. O'Hara, the Flower Country, the lost Valley of the Gods… And, of course, the birthplace of the infamous Mafia.
Unlike the Grand Line, where islands followed a set path, the four Blues were vast and largely uncharted, with only the World Government and the Marines truly knowing the extent of their geography. Their journey here would take time.
Charlotte sighed inwardly. Once they entered the West Blue, they had to maintain a low profile.
"Let's go, O'Hara!"
She gave the command, and a voice echoed behind her.
"Turn the ship! Set course for O'Hara!"
"Turn the ship! O'Hara!"
The coordinated shouts rang across the sea. The sails were raised, catching the wind as the ship sped toward its new destination.
West Blue - O'Hara
The Silberfeller arrived without incident, a reminder that keeping a low profile had its advantages. As long as they remained under the radar, no one would bother with an unknown pirate crew.
"This is O'Hara!"
Metis, one of Charlotte's crew members, spotted the towering Tree of Knowledge—over 5,000 years old. The sight alone was breathtaking.
"Unbelievable… The legendary island of scholars," he muttered, eyes gleaming with excitement. The sheer volume of books here was a treasure trove beyond measure.
"Yes, this is O'Hara."
Charlotte's voice was calm, yet tinged with an emotion that even she couldn't quite place.
This seemingly quiet, inconspicuous island was home to the world's greatest archaeologists, an unparalleled research hub, and the revered Tree of Knowledge. But it was this very wealth of knowledge that doomed it.
O'Hara's scholars secretly studied the Void Century, a pursuit the World Government deemed too dangerous to exist. And for that, they were erased.
The crew marveled at the island's rich history. Only Beta and Barrett looked indifferent. For warriors who lived by their fists, books held no value—if anything, they just put people to sleep.
Still, even the most ignorant had heard of O'Hara.
"Alright, since we're here, let's take a good look."
With that, Charlotte disembarked first, followed closely by Metis, Mitia, Lina, and Gillian. A vast library of knowledge lay before them—everything from medicine to history, dance to commerce, and literature to philosophy. No scholar could resist such a treasure.
Mitia shaded her eyes, gazing at the horizon. "Wow, it's so peaceful here. So beautiful!"
"Now's not the time for admiration," Metis whispered. "This is an opportunity. There are books here that could inspire us."
It was all thanks to Charlotte that they had this chance—to gather knowledge, to build something greater. Metis felt a sense of purpose. His Book-Book Fruit abilities were tied to knowledge itself, and here, in O'Hara, he saw infinite possibilities.
A bold idea formed in his mind. He glanced at Charlotte, who was still marveling at the scholarly atmosphere.
"This is it… An ideal land cannot exist without books and wisdom."
Charlotte had once said, Books are the key to wisdom.
Metis held onto that belief. If they could transport even a fraction of O'Hara's vast knowledge to Lati Island, it could one day rival O'Hara itself.
It was a grand plan, a dream worth chasing. One that would make Lati Island a true haven for scholars.
For Charlotte. For their ideal homeland.
Metis clenched his fists, silently determined.
Meanwhile, Charlotte—unaware of the schemes forming in her crew's minds—took in the sight before her. The peaceful, thriving O'Hara would be gone in just over a decade. A loss beyond comprehension.
So many invaluable texts, cultural records, ancient civilization archives, human history… all would be erased by the Buster Call.
On the day of its destruction, countless scholars sacrificed their lives to protect their knowledge.
And the lake at the island's center—its contents were worth more than anyone could ever estimate.
Yet, even in death, the scholars of O'Hara emerged victorious. They defied the World Government, preserving history through their actions.
Some might call it foolish. But to Charlotte, their devotion was admirable.
Idealism often came at the cost of blood. Whether it was worth it or not wasn't for him to judge.
But history… history belonged to all of humanity.
He could never be like them—pure, fearless seekers of truth. But he could respect them.
Even if, from an outsider's perspective, their sacrifice seemed utterly irrational.
With that in mind, Charlotte made his decision.
"Let's take a good look at the Tree of Knowledge—the world's greatest library."