"Well, that might be a bit difficult."
Ash had been teasing Robin, but the moment the words left his mouth, something clicked in his mind.
He had once gone to Little Garden and killed the Blue Ogre Dorry and the Red Ogre Brogy.
Those two had been pirates, so Ash felt no regret for killing them. However, in Elbaf, the land of giants, they were celebrated as heroes.
The World Economic Journal had already spread news of his actions across the seas. Even though Elbaf was not part of the World Government, they still kept track of global events.
That meant Elbaf likely already saw him as an enemy.
Taking Robin there openly to meet Jaguar D. Saul was not realistic.
Ash was not about to wipe out an entire race just to solve that problem.
He gave a light cough to cover the brief pause.
"I need to redirect this properly," he thought.
"It just reminded me of Saul when Vegapunk came up," Ash said casually, as if the thought had come naturally. "So I figured I should tell you about it."
Robin, who had just felt a trace of disappointment, immediately became attentive.
"What does Saul have to do with Vegapunk?" she asked.
Ash lifted his gourd and took a sip of fruit wine before answering.
"Professor Clover and Vegapunk were old acquaintances. About twenty years ago, when Clover decided to research history, he sought Vegapunk's help. But by then, MADS had already been taken over by the World Government, so Vegapunk refused him. That was likely their last meeting."
"Then sixteen years ago, during the destruction of Ohara, Clover, your mother, and the other archaeologists did not flee. Instead, they used the remaining time to move most of the books into the lake beneath the Tree of Knowledge."
"After the Buster Call ended, Vegapunk visited the ruins to pay respects to his old friend. There, he encountered Monkey D. Dragon and Saul, who had somehow survived."
"Saul led the giants of Elbaf to recover all the books from the lake and bring them back to Elbaf."
Ash looked directly at Robin.
"Everything your mother and Professor Clover tried to protect still exists. Those books are safe in Elbaf."
By the time he finished, Robin's eyes were already filled with tears.
"If you want to see Saul and those books again, then stay with the Dawn Ship and make your way there yourself."
Robin covered her face as tears streamed through her fingers.
"I will... I'll definitely get there myself."
Saff and the others quickly gathered around to comfort her. Nojiko, always attentive, shot Ash a disapproving look.
Ash rolled his eyes internally.
She clearly did not understand what that meant to Robin.
"Captain, thank you," Robin said after steadying herself, her eyes still red.
Ash gave Nojiko a smug glance but said nothing.
Just as he was about to continue talking, his Observation Haki picked up something unusual.
A group of massive presences entered his range.
Ash straightened and looked toward the direction of Onigashima.
Soon, a massive shadow appeared in the distance.
Kirk reappeared beside him instantly, holding a cleaver in one hand and a slab of sea beast meat in the other. He stared at the approaching shapes, frowning.
"What is that? It feels familiar."
Ash smiled slightly.
"You've seen it before. On this ship."
Kirk frowned, trying to recall.
"Back then, it wasn't called the Dawn Ship. It was Thriller Bark."
"Thriller Bark?"
Kirk's eyes widened as realization struck.
"Oars... the Continent Puller?"
"Exactly," Ash replied. "They're similar to Oars, members of the Ancient Giant Race. Under Kaido, they're called Numbers."
Kirk stared at the approaching figures in disbelief.
"Ten of them? And they're alive?"
Ash leaned back slightly.
"They're failed results of Vegapunk's giantification experiments. Aside from their size and raw strength, they are far weaker than Oars. They rely purely on brute force and lack intelligence."
"Failed experiments?" Kirk repeated, stunned.
"Yes. Vegapunk has been conducting giantification research for the World Government."
Ash pointed toward the massive figures advancing across the sea.
"These were handed over to Kaido through Queen after he joined the Beast Pirates. They were considered failures, so neither Vegapunk nor the World Government valued them."
By now, the ten giants were close enough to be seen clearly.
Each one stood between thirty and seventy meters tall, their enormous forms casting long shadows over the sea.
"I think their names are Ichimi, Nika, Sanki, Yonki, Goki, Rokki, Nanaki, Hacha, Kunyun, and Juki," Ash said with a chuckle as he took another sip from his gourd.
Kirk shook his head.
"Those names are terrible. Half of them sound the same."
Ash smirked.
"What do you expect from a pirate like Kaido?"
Kirk glanced at the battlefield, then back at the approaching giants.
"Do you want me to step in? The others are already occupied."
Before Ash could respond, Sali set the wine barrel aside with a heavy thud.
"Haha! The fighters are still here. No need for the cook to get involved."
Without hesitation, he leapt into the air and charged straight toward the Numbers.
Kirk watched him go, then frowned and looked back at the others.
"Wait a second... did he even eat anything I brought?"
"Maybe he just wasn't hungry," Ash said with a laugh.