Hearing Robin say the same thing, Ace quickly understood that the villagers meant no harm.
They were simply people driven to desperation by long years of hunger and oppression. Survival had pushed them to the edge, forcing them to act without restraint.
That was why, even after having his food stolen during his last visit to Wano, Ace still chose to share whatever he had with them.
"Who are you people? We just want a little food."
"That's right, if there is no food, my child might not survive for more than a few days."
Franky wiped his tears frantically, his voice filled with anger. "That Kaido really deserves to die."
On the way here, Ace had already explained everything about Kasa Village to the group. The poverty, the suffering, and how the villagers had been reduced to barely surviving.
There were fish in the sea nearby, and even the river that flowed through the village was once full of life. But everything had changed. The water had been polluted by Kaido's factories. It could not be drunk, and even the fish had become poisonous.
The villagers had no choice but to weave straw hats to sell for food. Yet the system in Wano was so broken that no matter how hard they worked, they could not earn enough for a proper meal.
"Do not worry," Ace said firmly, "we came here to solve your food and clothing problems."
But his words only stirred more unrest.
"Impossible. Stop feeding us empty promises. We want real food."
"People like you, living comfortably, cannot understand what it means to starve."
"We need something we can touch."
"Yes, food. Just give us food."
Rolan watched quietly, his expression indifferent. There was no point trying to reason with starving people. Words meant nothing to them.
He raised a hand casually.
In the next moment, a massive pile of food appeared in front of him, stacked like a small hill.
The villagers froze for a second, then chaos erupted.
"Food! Food!"
"So much food… is this real?"
People rushed out from their homes, eyes wide with desperation as they threw themselves at the pile.
Robin glanced at Rolan, her expression turning strange. "Since when could you do that?"
Ace also looked at him, confused.
Rolan gave a faint smirk. "I hate starving. So I always carry enough food to survive."
His tone was casual, almost dismissive.
He looked at the villagers scrambling over the food, then added quietly, "This should keep them alive for a while."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.
Hancock, Robin, and Franky followed without hesitation.
Ace stood still for a moment, watching Rolan's back. A small smile formed on his lips before he caught up with them.
The group moved quickly and soon arrived before a massive hollow tree.
Lying at the entrance was a large golden creature that resembled both a lion and a dog.
Komachiyo.
The moment it sensed their presence, it stood up and roared.
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
Hancock's eyes turned cold as she prepared to act, but Ace stepped forward and raised a hand to stop her.
"This one is O-Tama's companion. Leave it to me."
He approached slowly, spreading his arms.
"Hey, Komachiyo. It is me, Ace."
Komachiyo stared at him for a long moment, tilting its head slightly as if trying to remember.
There was familiarity, but it could not place it.
At that moment, a small girl with purple hair stepped out of the tree hollow, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"What is it, Komachiyo?"
She looked up, and the moment her eyes landed on Ace, they widened in disbelief.
"B-Brother Ace!"
Ace's expression softened immediately.
"O-Tama. You are still here."
She ran forward and leaped straight into his arms.
"Brother, I missed you so much. I thought you would never come back."
Ace gently patted her head. "I promised I would return."
"Wuwu… Brother…"
"Alright, come down. There are others here."
He placed her back on the ground, and only then did O-Tama notice the group behind him. Her face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
"W-Who are they?"
Ace smiled. "These are my friends. Rolan, Hancock, Robin, and that crying one is Franky."
"H-Hello… I am O-Tama."
Robin's expression softened instantly, clearly charmed by the girl.
Hancock, on the other hand, was lost in her own thoughts. If she had a child with Rolan, that child would surely be this adorable. She had put in effort, yet nothing had happened. Perhaps she needed to try harder.
"Big brothers and sisters, you must be hungry. I will prepare something for you."
O-Tama hurried inside.
The group followed her into the hollow.
The moment they stepped inside, they realized how small and bare the space was. There was almost no furniture, and a faint smell of dampness lingered in the air.
"O-Tama, you live here?" Robin asked gently.
"Yes. Master and I live here."
"Master?"
"He is a swordsmith. He is usually out working."
Robin looked around again. The place was cramped, barely enough for one person, yet two people lived here.
"What about your parents?" she asked.
O-Tama continued working without turning around.
"They died in Kaido's factory when I was very young."
Silence filled the room.
Everyone looked at the small figure standing by the stove.
She was only about six years old, yet she handled everything alone. Her tone was calm, as if she had already accepted it.
It was clear her master was rarely around.
She survived on her own, in a place with almost no food.
The thought alone was enough to make anyone uneasy.
Ace clenched his fist slightly as he watched her.
"O-Tama, before we leave, we will make sure you and everyone in this village can eat properly."
His voice carried a quiet determination.
Rolan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the scene without much expression.
To him, this world had always been like this.
Cruel, broken, and full of people barely holding on.
Still, for now, he would play his part.