"Garp... let's put his attitude aside for now, if he comes to Baterilla Island…", Rosse hadn't finished speaking, but Zephyr firmly interrupted.
"Don't worry, with this old man here, he won't be able to harm you all."
His strength was slightly inferior to Garp's, but that didn't mean he had no way of dealing with Garp.
Both were physical combat powerhouses. If they were to truly fight to determine a winner, it would take at least days.
Moreover, Garp had no real reason to fight him. To fight over Roger's bloodline?
If that got out, it would be a joke to the Marine.
If only Rosse and the others were present, Garp might actually make a move.
As long as no one knew, the matter wouldn't spread.
But even if Garp was stronger than him, he couldn't kill him easily. Which would buy enough time to pass on the information to others.
Just based on that, Garp wouldn't dare act recklessly.
Garp might ignore the World Government, and the World Government might tolerate him because of his strength.
But if he truly dared to touch the World Government's bottom line, even if it came at a great cost, death would be his only outcome.
"Since you say that, I can rest easy," Rosse had a smile on his lips. This was the attitude he wanted from Zephyr.
"Lord Rosse, may I boldly ask, what do you intend to do with that mother and child?", Zephyr looked toward Rosse. His relationship with Rosse was different from the others.
Although he was considered subordinate, with his strength, he could join any Celestial Dragon at any time, and the World Government wouldn't do anything about it.
So compared to others, he could speak more freely.
"Roger was still scheming for his bloodline even before his death. From that moment, that mother and child had nothing to do with him. Of course, if they intend to inherit Roger's legacy, then I won't show mercy," Rosse replied calmly.
This was also what he had told Rouge.
Ace was a promising seed, but only if he could be kept under control.
Even the best weapon had to be safe for its master.
"That couldn't be more reasonable. If needed, I can teach the child and guide him onto the path of justice," Zephyr's expression softened slightly. Precisely because his own family had suffered, he didn't want others' families to be implicated.
If that were the case, what would make him different from those wicked pirates?
But if his family chose to do evil, then he naturally would not show mercy.
"When he grows up a bit, I'll send him to you for training."
Rosse nodded with a smile and, along with Zannie, walked straight toward Rouge's house.
He had no patience to train Ace, at most he'd offer some ideological guidance. With Zephyr's help, it would be perfect.
———
[Two Hours Later]
Rouge slowly awoke from unconsciousness.
This was the best sleep she had in the past two years. These two years, because of carrying Roger's child, she had lived every day in fear, not to mention the increasing physical toll from suppressing labor.
She had been worried the child might not survive, but the increasingly strong heartbeat always reassured her.
This was an obedient baby, even after so many hardships, still holding on.
Since the baby was persevering, what reason did she have to give up?
Now, everything was finally over.
Rouge slowly opened her eyes, feeling her body's weakness and the emptiness in her abdomen, and suddenly awoke from her groggy state.
"The child…"
"The child is right here," A familiar voice came from behind, calming Rouge down.
She didn't know why, but although she had only just met Rosse that day, she felt he was far more reliable than Roger.
Perhaps it was because Roger chose to leave when she needed him the most.
While Rosse, at her most desperate moment, chose to stay by her side, giving her hope.
"My lord," Rouge struggled to get up.
Rosse didn't give her the chance. He reached out and pressed her back onto the bed, "What you need to do now is rest. I'll take care of the child for now. I'll have someone come specifically to care for him."
"Thank you…", Rouge pursed her lips, feeling a warmth fill her heart after a long absence.
'So this… is what gentleness feels like?'
She had never experienced it before.
"It's a boy. Does he have a name?", Rosse sat on the edge of Rouge's bed, holding the baby in his arms, presenting a picture-perfect family scene.
"He said before to name him Ace, but I don't want to use that name," Mentioning Roger brought a trace of hatred to Rouge's eyes.
All her suffering came from Roger.
If Roger hadn't spilled the secret, how would the past two years have been so hard? And how would those innocent children and women of the South Sea have fallen victim?
"Let's just go with that name. Ace was the name of Roger's sword. Using that name to cut down the era he created, isn't that a fitting ending?", Rosse smiled, not intending to change Ace's name.
Once the name Ace was heard, some people would inevitably associate him with Roger.
In 20 years, he hoped Ace would be the one to truly end the pirate era.
The impact of that would be far greater than if he did it himself.
And after 20 years of accumulation, he should have the power to contend with Imu.
By then, it would be time for the tide to turn.
"Then Ace it is," After hearing Rosse's explanation, Rouge still agreed to the name.
If Ace could really accomplish what Rosse said, then that would be the ending Roger, even in death, would find hardest to accept.
"Lord Rosse, why are you being so good to us mother and child?", With her pain gone, Rouge's thoughts started to wander.
She didn't understand why Rosse saved her. At that time, her condition had already deteriorated to the extreme. The moment she gave birth to Ace, she had felt death approaching.
It was only thanks to Stella's rescue that her life was snatched back.
To steal life from death, surely there was a steep price to pay?
Was she really worth it?
"To carry a child for 22 months just to ensure he's born, that's remarkable," Rosse said softly, with a gentle smile, "You shouldn't suffer because of Roger's actions. He was the villain who brought sin into this world. You are just a mother who wanted her child to survive."
"Thank you for seeing me that way?", Rouge didn't know what else to say.
Two years of suffering seemed to vanish with Rosse's words.
Meeting Rosse, maybe this was the reward for her perseverance these two years.
"Alright. Your body's in bad shape. Once you recover, I'll slowly tell you more. For now, let me feed you. You've lost too much strength and need to recover," Rosse gently helped Rouge sit up, placed Ace in her arms, and took the rice porridge from Zannie's hands. [T/N: My Eyes! Argh]
Rouge held Ace more tightly, her gaze instinctively sweeping across Zannie.
Back then, Stella was already an outstanding woman. Now, Zannie's beauty surpassed even Stella's.
None of them were someone she could compare to.
For some reason, a trace of jealousy suddenly rose in Rouge's heart.
"Come on, open up," Hearing the gentle voice beside her, Rouge blushed instantly and obediently opened her mouth.
Soon, she felt the warm rice porridge enter her mouth. Then she fully realized it, her tongue curling around the porridge as she swallowed it down.
At that moment, she didn't even dare look at Rosse.
'My last reaction must have been noticed, it is so embarrassing.'
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