Chapter 62 - 62: You Are Free Now

Words : 1445 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

With a flash of icy mist, Kuzan used his Devil Fruit powers to shatter the cage, freeing the woman trapped inside. As his gaze briefly swept over her, something about this so-called slave made him pause, her bearing, her presence… they were far from ordinary. It was obvious. A woman capable of cultivating such poise must have come from a well-off, possibly even prestigious, background. There was no way she had been sold off by her own family. And as for being born into slavery? That didn't fit either. Not even close. Realizing this woman's origins might be the key to uncovering more, Kuzan's tone took on a rare urgency. "My name is Nico Olvia," the woman said, her voice calm and composed. "I was part of a crew on an exploration vessel." "Our ship was attacked by pirates. My crewmates were lucky enough to escape, but…" She trailed off, eyes steady. "I was captured and brought here." She stepped slowly out from the "ice cage," her steps steady and unshaken. Even as she faced Kuzan, who had just wielded a Devil Fruit ability that could freeze the world around them—her tone remained measured, her demeanor unfazed. Clearly, she was no stranger to Devil Fruit powers. "Pirates… I knew it." Kuzan's eyes narrowed, gleaming with clarity. As expected, the Loro Trading Company had ties to pirates. He was about to press her further when Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Kyros, who had already dealt with the guards, walked over. Yoriichi's gaze landed on Olvia. His voice was calm but carried a note of intensity. "You said your name is Nico Olvia?" "Where are you from?" The moment he heard her surname, something clicked in Yoriichi's mind. That lingering sense of familiarity when he first laid eyes on her—it all made sense now. As he stared at her face, a memory buried deep in his mind stirred and surfaced. Nico Olvia… her features overlapped almost perfectly with those of someone else, someone etched into his memories. Nico Robin. Aside from a different hair color and style, the woman standing before him now looked like she had been carved from the same mold. "My home? Ohara, in the West Blue," Olvia replied truthfully, choosing not to deceive the three Navy men who had just saved her life. Beyond gratitude, she felt something else—an unspoken trust beginning to take root. At the name Ohara, both Kuzan and Kyros widened their eyes ever so slightly. No surprise there. Ohara was legendary. Even Kyros, born in the New World and fighting in coliseums before he was even out of his teens, had heard of Ohara. The Island of Scholars. A fabled haven of archaeology. A sanctuary of intellect. It was said that Ohara housed the most esteemed scholars of ancient history from across the world. "Ohara! That's right… that guy earlier said you were a scholar." Kuzan gestured to the auctioneer, who was now frozen solid at his feet. The man had mentioned a few details when introducing Olvia. But then a new doubt crept into Kuzan's mind. As far as he knew, Ohara housed the largest and most comprehensive archive of archaeological texts in the world. And although they were labeled as "archaeology," the subject encompassed far more than just ancient ruins—fields like early medicine, proto-science, and lost technologies were all part of it. Even the brightest mind could spend a lifetime studying Ohara's library and never reach the bottom. So why would a scholar like her end up on an exploration vessel? "I grew tired of the monotony of pure academic research," Olvia replied, her expression neutral. "I wanted to experience life beyond parchment and scrolls." This time, she chose not to speak the truth. She and her companions had set sail in search of the Rio Poneglyph, in pursuit of the hidden truths buried within the Void Century. But Olvia wasn't a fool. She understood the weight of that secret. No matter how much she trusted or respected her rescuers, she couldn't afford to tell them the whole truth. "I see…" Kuzan didn't doubt her explanation. It made perfect sense to him. If he had to spend his days buried in dusty tomes and endless records, he'd probably lose his mind too. Like most young men, Kuzan had never been fond of books. Yoriichi stood nearby, listening quietly. When he heard Nico Olvia say she went to sea because of boredom, he smiled faintly, saying nothing, he knew she wasn't being honest, but chose not to expose her. He didn't linger. Yoriichi was not like Kuzan. He hadn't forgotten why he came here. Sensing the location of the imprisoned slaves with his Observation Haki, Tsugikuni Yoriichi drew his blade and slashed the ground open. In one swift motion, he leapt down along the crevice he had created. Directly beneath the auction hall lay a vast underground chamber. Within this enormous space stood cages of all shapes and sizes—countless iron prisons holding those waiting to be sold as slaves. As Yoriichi landed and took in the sight before him, he counted dozens of cages. Inside them were the young, the old, women, and even children. Upon hearing the noise, the slaves looked up slowly. Their eyes showed no curiosity, no surprise, only deep, unrelenting despair. The moment Yoriichi saw their eyes, his expression darkened. He gripped the hilt of his katana tightly at his waist, inhaled deeply, and spoke to those trapped inside: "I am Tsugikuni Yoriichi, a lieutenant commander of the Navy Headquarters." "You… are free now." As he spoke, Yoriichi unsheathed his blade. In the blink of an eye, a hundred slashes tore through the air. Blades of energy flooded the underground hall. In that instant, every iron cage shattered completely. Steel bars crashed to the ground with a metallic clatter, ting-ting, clang-clang. For a long, long moment, there was only silence. Then slowly, the eyes of the slaves began to focus. The numbness, the hopelessness began to shift. First came surprise. Then disbelief. Then ecstatic joy. "F-Free? We're free?!" "The Navy… The Navy actually came to save us?!" "Hahahaha! We're free! We're really free!!" "Impossible… this is impossible… We-we were sold here by the Navy! Why would the Navy save us?!" One by one, the slaves poured out of their cages. Some laughed until they cried, some collapsed to their knees and howled toward the heavens, others stood in stunned disbelief, muttering as if they had just heard a tale too fantastical to accept. But amidst the celebration, Yoriichi's ears picked up something… different. His expression sharpened. In a flash, he vanished from where he stood. "No… impossible… this can't be real…" "The Navy? Saving slaves? But… they were the ones—those bastards, they were the ones who…" A shirtless teenage boy knelt on the ground, hands braced on the floor, muttering as if in a trance. His back was covered in whip scars—some fresh, some long since scabbed over. His name was Monk. Fifteen years old. Once a lowly errand boy in the Navy's 133rd Branch. The Navy… rescuing slaves? To Monk, it was as if the world had turned upside down. His fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms. His eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted with rage. "Were you… sold here by the Navy?" A quiet, unfamiliar voice reached Monk's ears. He looked up to see a red-haired boy standing before him, brow furrowed. In the dim underground light, his flame-like hair and the burning birthmark on his forehead stood out vividly, brilliant, undeniable. "Yes!" "I was sold here by the Navy! Those Navy bast-" Monk roared, the fury in his chest finally finding release. But then, he froze. The insult stuck in his throat, left unspoken. Yoriichi stepped forward, placed a hand gently on Monk's shoulder, and said in a low voice: "Who were they?" "I'll take you to kill them." All of Monk's rage and hatred dissolved in that moment. He clung to Yoriichi's pant leg, buried his face against him and cried. ********* Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch! For advance chapters, please do visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon, it really helps me out and I'd love to have you along for the journey! p(a)treon.com/Lnee *remove () to open it

Chapter 62 - 62: You Are Free Now

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