Warning: Contains spoilers for chapter #1120 of One Piece.

One Piece has revealed yet another unexpected member of the mysterious D clan, and it has changed the way fans see the character forever. Over the course of the series, the mysterious D initial has seemingly shaped many destinies in One Piece, and though fans are nowhere close to deciphering its meaning and significance just yet, it can still tell fans a lot about a particular character and their actions, including its newest holder revealed in the latest chapter.

Chapter #1120 of One Piece reveals Professor Clover is also a member of the D clan. In a flashback to 26 years ago, Professor Clover is seen visiting Vegapunk while he was still at Punk Hazard, where he pleads to Vegapunk to aid him in his research on the Void Century.

Professor Clover then reveals that his full name is Clou D. Clover and that his brother was killed before his eyes because he was found out to be a member of the D clan. Though Professor Clover managed to save himself by lying, he reveals that his brother’s unjust death is what drove him to unearth the past, finally revealing his motive for researching the Void Century.

One Piece Reveals Professor Clover’s True Motive For Investigating the Void Century

Created by Eiichiro Oda, Chapter #1120, “Atlas”

In retrospect, Professor Clover’s insistence on uncovering the truth about the Void Century did seem to go beyond a typical historian’s curiosity. As seen from the flashback to Ohara, Professor Clover was willing to die to confirm his suspicions about the Void Century and his actions never seemed to possess a concrete motive until now. As such, it makes perfect sense that Professor Clover was a member of the D clan, as it explains his personal convictions for wanting to uncover the truth about the Void Century and the D clan, even at the cost of his life.

It is even possible that Clover’s desire to learn about the past not only stemmed from the injustice of his brother’s death, but even the guilt over having to lie about his relationship with his brother to save himself, which may have haunted him for the rest of his life and fueled his determination. This in turn adds a nice touch of moral complexity to Professor Clover’s character, even though he is a fairly minor character.

Professor Clover’s First Name May Have a Deeper Significance

Claíomh References the Irish Sword of Light

Though Professor Clover’s clover-like appearance may not have given it away at first, his character may be inspired by a key piece of Irish folklore and his first name is all the confirmation fans need. Clover’s first name, though revealed to be “Clou” in the official English translation by Viz, can also be translated as “Claíomh.”

Claíomh could be a reference to the Claíomh Solais, or the Sword of Light, a weapon that typically appears in many Irish folktales and has been connected to several god-slaying weapons in Irish mythology. The weapon most notably appears in a story about a hero seeking “the One Story”, which oddly mirrors Luffy’s journey seeking the One Piece.

Interestingly, the Claíomh Solais also appears on an Irish six-pence stamp issued in 1922 and appears to be identical to the sword carried by Nika’s silhouette, further hinting at its significance. Moreover, in folklore, the sword is often protected by a giant who must be defeated, which could be a metaphor for how Professor Clover’s research is being guarded by the Giants at Elbaf.

On the other hand, this could also suggest that Elbaf is protecting a powerful weapon resembling the Sword of Light, maybe even the exact sword used by Nika. This would make sense considering the Giants worship the Sun God and are even hinted to be the source of the legend of Nika. It is possible that this weapon may even be the key to defeating the seemingly invincible Five Elders as implied by the sword’s connection to slaying gods in folklore.

Overall, though unexpected, Professor Clover’s actions and death perfectly align with the notorious reputation of those who possess the D initial. Even though Ohara was destroyed, Ohara’s legacy and Professor Cover’s research continue to live on and are brewing up a storm even twenty-two years later. That said, Professor Clover’s importance will likely only grow in the upcoming arc of One Piece, as Elbaf may just reveal all that was left out in Vegapunk’s message, including the truth about the D clan.

One Piece is available from Manga Plus and Viz Media.