No Way Back
After nearly half a month, the crew had finally finished transcribing all of O'Hara's books.
This monumental task was accomplished with the help of the surviving scholars and a few sympathetic locals. The sheer volume of books was staggering—so much so that the entire ship couldn't possibly store them all.
But that wasn't a problem.
Thanks to Charlotte's guidance, Mitis had successfully awakened her Shu Shu no Mi (Book-Book Fruit) powers, refining its abilities to an advanced level.
"Mr. Charlotte! All the books have been secured," Mitis called out, running over with a blank book in her hands.
Charlotte, hearing her voice, slowly turned around. She took a moment to glance at Mitis, then smiled.
"Is the storage complete?" Charlotte asked.
Mitis nodded and raised the blank book, presenting it with excitement.
"This is a book storage space created with my Devil Fruit ability. I've tested it, and it can hold up to five thousand books of the same size!"
Charlotte's eyes gleamed with interest. She took the book and noted that it was as light as any normal book.
Curious, she opened it.
What unfolded before her was a surreal sight—within the pages was a vast, card-like dimension lined with countless books.
This ability was remarkable.
It reminded her of the capabilities of Mont-d'Or, one of Big Mom's officers, who could trap people inside books. But Mitis' development of the Shu Shu no Mi had taken it in an entirely new direction, turning books into storage devices rather than mere prisons.
Charlotte closed the book and asked, "How do you retrieve what's inside?"
Mitis grinned. "I just need to place my hand on it and think of what I want to take out. I can also create a larger blank book—about the size of a person—so that the space inside expands significantly. In that case, I could even store living beings."
Charlotte studied Mitis thoughtfully. The Shu Shu no Mi had far more potential than she had initially expected.
"Well done, Mitis," she praised.
Mitis' face turned slightly red. Being commended in front of everyone left her feeling a little embarrassed.
"Mr. Charlotte, it's all thanks to you! You guided me in developing my fruit's abilities, and I was able to advance so quickly."
Charlotte merely smiled. For her, it had been nothing more than a passing idea—a bit of casual inspiration. But that was often how Devil Fruits evolved: their power was shaped by imagination.
She recalled something else about the Shu Shu no Mi—it had the potential to create illusions, trapping people in stories crafted within books. While this only affected the mind and not the body, it was still a terrifying ability in the right hands.
An intriguing thought crossed Charlotte's mind.
What if the creatures and objects within books could be materialized into reality?
Or perhaps…
What if one could recreate the myths and legends written within sacred texts—like summoning divine punishments from an ancient scripture?
Her imagination was running wild. But such developments would require time and effort from the fruit's user. All she could do was offer guidance and suggestions.
Perhaps, with enough creativity, Mitis would discover something extraordinary.
Departure
"Charlotte, are we leaving O'Hara and setting sail again?" Lina asked.
The crew turned to Charlotte expectantly. Among them, the two battle-hungry warriors, Beta and Barrett, were growing restless.
O'Hara was a place of knowledge and history—but for warriors, it was a place with little excitement. They had seen everything there was to see. It was time to move on.
Charlotte nodded. It was indeed time to go.
The fact that the Marines hadn't come knocking yet was surprising. The World Government had an iron grip on the seas, and their stance on piracy was absolute.
Of course, Charlotte had a theory—his low profile had kept him from drawing unwanted attention.
Unlike the idiotic pirates who courted the spotlight, he preferred to operate from the shadows. This was the reason why he could roam the West Blue so freely.
Charlotte smirked slightly. His strategy had been the correct one. If he had been reckless, he'd have been hunted down by now.
But he also knew that just because things were safe now didn't mean they always would be.
"The longer we stay, the more likely we'll be discovered," she mused. "It's time to leave before that happens."
Raising her voice, Charlotte commanded, "Prepare to set sail!"
The crew erupted in cheers and got to work.
Charlotte, watching their enthusiasm, sighed inwardly.
It's just another voyage. What's there to be so excited about?
These people… they had become too eager for adventure.
She shook her head. This reckless attitude can't continue unchecked.
A Farewell Gift
Before leaving, Dr. Clover approached Charlotte.
To her surprise, the elderly scholar presented her with a seed from the Tree of Knowledge, along with several rare copies of historical texts.
Charlotte hadn't expected this.
Perhaps, in some way, her presence and words had left an impact on Dr. Clover. Not enough to deter him from his research—but enough for him to entrust her with a small piece of O'Hara's legacy.
She respected that resolve.
The scholars of O'Hara would never abandon their pursuit of knowledge.
This was their will—a conviction so strong that even the threat of death couldn't sway them.
And in some ways, Charlotte understood them.
She, too, had a will of her own. But unlike them, hers was centered around self-preservation and power. To survive in this world, one needed both strength and wealth.
As the crew prepared to board, only one orphan from O'Hara, Ou Li, had chosen to leave with them. The other children had refused, determined to remain with the scholars.
Charlotte sighed.
Fate and choice…
Those who stayed behind would soon be swallowed by history.
As they sailed away from O'Hara, Mitis noticed Charlotte's distant expression and hesitated before asking, "Mr. Charlotte, what do you mean by 'fate and choice'?"
Charlotte was silent for a moment.
Then, with a nostalgic look, she spoke softly:
"In my homeland, there is an old saying: 'Some things, good or bad, cannot be changed. They are merely the will of fate.'"
Mitis' eyes widened. Such wisdom!
He suddenly became deeply curious. What kind of place was Charlotte's homeland?
"Mr. Charlotte, can I see your homeland someday?"
Charlotte's body stiffened.
A shadow passed over her face, and she responded with a quiet sadness:
"I can't go back. I can never go back."
Mitis fell silent, his heart heavy. He had no idea what Charlotte's past was like, but for the first time, he truly understood—his captain carried deep, unspoken burdens.
But no matter what, he had already made his decision.
Mitis would follow Charlotte to the ends of the earth—to build the ideal world she envisioned.
As O'Hara disappeared into the horizon, Charlotte whispered to herself:
"The gods of fate are cruel. The long night never ends. We are nothing but fleeting wanderers in their design."
Mitis, watching her somber profile, felt an ache in his heart.
And though he didn't understand it fully—he knew that from this moment forward, he would walk this path with Charlotte, no matter where it led.