Professor Clover
Professor Clover is the head librarian and leading archaeologist of Ohara's Tree of Omniscience. He oversees the world's largest collection of historical documents gathered from every sea and guides scholars in uncovering mysteries of the past. His allegiance lies with the pursuit of knowledge as an asset for all mankind while he strictly prohibits research into Poneglyphs. Professor Clover is known for certifying young Nico Robin as a scholar, for formulating the Void Century hypothesis, and for confronting the World Government before his execution alongside the other Ohara scholars.
Appearance
Professor Clover is depicted with wild hair and an open mouth in reaction panels during intense discussions about history. He appears in the burning library with an open book and shouting pose while directing efforts to protect the Tree of Omniscience. A ship named CLOVER sails on waves with detailed rigging and ornate carvings featuring multiple crew members in action poses.1
Clover has clover markings visible on associated objects including a robot with four-leaf clover markings on its body and round head design. A spinning four-leaf clover shield appears in final inset panels and a small four-leaf clover plant is visible on a branch near falling figures.234
Personality
Scholarly resolve
Professor Clover displayed intense determination when explaining that knowledge is the past and that the Tree of Omniscience held irreplaceable assets for mankind. He spread his arms wide inside the library hall while radiating lines emphasized his shouting about solving every historical mystery under the tree. Even when facing execution he maintained an upright posture and narrowed eyes while describing how the Poneglyphs preserved messages from a fallen kingdom.56
Strict guardianship of knowledge
Clover enforced rules with dramatic gestures such as pointing with his cane while shouting prohibitions and reacted with shock and wide eyes upon discovering Robin's knowledge of the basement. He remained silent with an ellipsis bubble during Spandine's accusations yet continued speaking the truth even when warned that listening would make Robin a criminal. His pride in the scholars' work never wavered despite the threat of death.78
Abilities and powers
Professor Clover became the world's number one archaeologist despite Navy captures and imprisonment ten times while gathering every book around the world. He formulated the hypothesis regarding the Void Century through Ohara research and explained that the scholars seek the contents and reason of the poneglyphs engraved on unbreakable stones to preserve messages from a defeated ancient kingdom.91011
Clover questioned why the past used stone instead of paper or books and suggested the enemies of the fallen people became the current World Government with the Void Century hiding inconvenient history. He claimed the ancient kingdom's existence threatens the World Government and mentioned the ancient weapon as a potential threat while insisting on reporting the hypothesis before dying.11
History
Life at the Library
Professor Clover established the Ohara Library and Archeological Research Center beneath the Tree of Omniscience as a sanctuary where archaeologists gathered books from around the world. He presented a scholar certificate bearing a rose seal to young Nico Robin after she aced the archaeologist exam and urged her to contribute to the world through research on various cultures. At the same time he declared that deciphering Poneglyphs remained absolutely prohibited and accused her of using her ability to peek into the basement where forbidden materials were stored.1213
The Government's Arrival
When Nico Olvia returned with news that the government had discovered the Ohara expedition's activities, Professor Clover accepted that the World Government had finally set its eyes on the island. He maintained that those who left for the sea and those who stayed formed one team and listened with a stern expression as Olvia described the obliteration of the other scholars. Later he explained the government's long-standing view of Ohara as dangerous while the scholars faced the arrival of government ships.1415
Final Stand
Clover declared that the world's greatest archaeologists would all be executed together and asked whether they were going to be killed. He insisted on reporting the Void Century hypothesis to the Gorosei before dying and explained that the Poneglyphs preserved the ideas of a defeated ancient kingdom whose existence threatened the current World Government. Spandine ordered his death after Clover remained silent during accusations and linked the Void Century to the government's origins.1617
Relationships
With Nico Robin
Professor Clover served as mentor to young Nico Robin by welcoming her into the library celebrations after she returned books and by patting her on the head with a gentle gesture after presenting her certificate. He noted that Robin possessed hereditary genius comparable to her mother Olvia as a child and later pleaded with Robin not to stay on the island during the Buster Call while watching her reunite with Olvia. In later years his voice greeted an older Robin warmly with open arms after a long separation.18719
With fellow scholars and contacts
Clover treated Nico Olvia as a fellow team member upon her return and stopped her from blaming herself for bringing danger to Ohara. He recognized that Olvia had endured hardship during the expedition and continued the shared research into the Void Century even after her capture. His acquaintance extended to figures such as the helmeted individual marked 01 and Dragon who later recalled Clover's repeated imprisonments by the Navy.1420