Chapter 341: Olvia
"How interesting… trying to use us as a shield against CP, huh?"
Standing at the bow of the ship, Charlotte looked through his telescope at the pregnant woman steering the rundown ship directly toward them. He immediately recognized her.
That snowy white hair, slightly tanned skin—perhaps from the sun and sea—and that protruding belly, all near Ohara…
Who else could she be but the mother of the so-called Demon Child, Nico Robin?
The name escaped him—too much time had passed—but he was sure of her identity.
"Move in. Save that pregnant woman."
He didn't know exactly why CP was targeting Nico Robin's mother, but perhaps his presence had created a butterfly effect that altered the timeline and brought this pursuit forward.
That man collapsed on the deck—probably her husband—looked dead already.
Charlotte rubbed his chin in thought. He still remembered a few things about this woman, though her name had faded. If not for her distinctive appearance and this proximity to Ohara, he might not have recognized her at all.
As Charlotte gave the order, Poseidon—the Sea God—sped up. No one questioned their captain's motives. Maybe he had taken a liking to the woman. Regardless, they carried out orders without question.
Charlotte frowned as he looked behind. The government ship was gaining.
"Target the pursuing ship and fire!"
The command relayed instantly to the ship's control room.
Operators locked onto the CP vessel behind them.
A railgun mounted at the bow began to charge.
In less than ten seconds—Boom!
An electric surge blasted past Olvia's ship and struck the sea just ahead of the CP ship.
"Missed?"
Robert, standing behind Charlotte, muttered.
But that single shot was enough to frighten the chasing vessel.
"STOP!"
The CP commander shouted, cold sweat pouring down his forehead as he saw the sea evaporate in a flash.
"That was no ordinary cannon… That's the Poseidon!"
"Retreat! Mission failed! The Rockefeller Pirates have intervened! We're pulling out—now!"
His crew turned the ship as fast as possible.
"They're running?"
Deidara frowned in disappointment, watching the government vessel retreat. There went the fun.
Charlotte cast one last glance at the fleeing ship before turning his attention to the old, creaky vessel approaching them.
He couldn't figure it out—how had that rundown ship outrun a CP warship?
But there was no time to ponder. The ship had reached them.
Olvia looked up at the imposing vessel.
She had seen the flash of that railgun strike. She knew the reason CP had backed off was because of this ship—and its master.
A legendary pirate who reigned over the New World, the captain of the Rockefeller Pirates, the world's greatest swordsman—Rockefeller Charlotte.
She'd heard he was in West Blue, but never expected to encounter him like this.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Why couldn't you have shown up sooner…?
But she didn't blame him. He didn't owe her anything. In fact, it was thanks to him that she had survived.
She took a step forward to thank him—but her legs gave out. She collapsed in front of the helm.
"Dad! She fainted!"
Robert turned, alarmed.
Charlotte rolled his eyes.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go bring her up here!"
He suddenly realized his third son might be a bit slow.
Hearing that, Robert turned into a puff of smoke and floated down.
He found the pregnant woman and the man's corpse on the deck.
"I'll be generous and bring you both aboard,"
he muttered.
His smoke-formed body extended two arms, lifting both the unconscious woman and the dead man, then soared back.
Back on the deck, Robert dropped the body casually to the side, carrying the woman to Charlotte.
"Take her to Naichen. Heal her. I can use her."
Charlotte gave the order.
Robert nodded and ran off with her toward the infirmary.
As for the body, Charlotte took a glance—no recognition.
"Build a coffin. Don't let that corpse sit on my deck."
He didn't want a corpse ruining the atmosphere.
The crew quickly sprang into action. They didn't know why the captain cared so much about this woman, but their guess? He liked her.
No one questioned it.
And the broken ship?
Charlotte kindly had it tethered to the back of Poseidon, letting it drift along behind them.
Meanwhile, at CP headquarters…
"We failed. Rockefeller's crew intervened and rescued the target."
The CP0 agent made the report.
The moment headquarters heard it, they were stunned.
"You encountered Charlotte Rockefeller?!"
"Yes."
The CP0 agent tried his best to shift the blame onto Charlotte. After all, no one would dare question his claim.
"I see. Keep monitoring the archaeologists. Report any signs of trouble immediately."
Surprisingly, HQ didn't reprimand him for failing. Instead, they rushed to inform the Five Elders.
In fact, the fact that he survived an encounter with Charlotte was almost praiseworthy.
At Pangaea Castle, the Room of Flowers—
The Five Elders frowned over the report.
"This is troublesome. Charlotte's appearance has disrupted our plan."
Saturn narrowed his eyes at the intelligence in hand.
They had anticipated the Rockefeller Pirates might pass near Ohara, but didn't expect such perfect timing—rescuing a wanted target right from their grasp.
"What now? Should we warn him not to interfere?"
Nasujuro, the bald Elder with a blade, asked coldly.
"No. Our forces in West Blue are limited. If we anger him, we won't be able to stop him."
Mars, the tall Elder, shook his head.
"This isn't the time to confront the Rockefeller Pirates."
After all, they still hoped Charlotte would return to the New World and clash with the other great pirates.
They had no intention of provoking him—yet.
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