About an hour later,
One large and one small figure emerged from the little house.
Rouge looked back at the little house that had once held her memories with Roger, a trace of nostalgia flashing through her eyes.
They had truly spent a wonderful time here.
Austin hefted the enormous bundle onto his shoulder. Seeing this, he did not urge her on.
"Let's go, Austin-san."
A moment later, Rouge turned back and smiled gently.
Perhaps Ace's gentle and shy nature in the future had been inherited from his mother.
Austin thought so too, smiling and nodding.
No kidding, Rouge had brought a lot of things. If it had been someone with less strength, they might not even have been able to carry them.
She had practically taken everything related to Captain Roger with her.
The bowls they had used while eating together, the trousers Captain Roger had washed but never gotten the chance to wear, Roger's Captain's Hat...
That was right.
If Rouge had not been lovestruck, there was no way a middle-aged uncle like Captain Roger could have won her heart.
Although the little house was built by the sea, it was not near the closest dock. Along the way, Austin saw many residents living there.
"The Marines will come to search soon. It's too easy to get exposed."
If they swaggered through the place, plenty of people would notice the two of them.
Not for any other reason—it was simply because Austin was so tall and broad, carrying luggage nearly as big as himself. He was impossible to miss.
If someone investigated, they could easily figure out it was him.
He was not afraid of trouble. He was only afraid that someone would cause trouble for Rouge.
Perhaps noticing Austin's slightly narrowed eyes, Rouge was startled, her gaze full of alarm and suspicion.
"Could it be... Mr. Austin, you're planning to..."
To erase all traces, kill everyone?
She did not say the rest aloud.
The possibility involuntarily surfaced in Rouge's mind, frightening even herself.
"...It's not that extreme."
Austin smiled. Was he really that brutal?
Bzzz—
As the controlling Conqueror's Haki swept out, figures far in the distance—whether working or eating—lost consciousness one after another, rolling their eyes back and collapsing to the ground.
The two of them made their way to the dock without obstruction.
If they traveled in a straight line, they should arrive in two days.
Austin made a rough estimate.
As they stepped onto the dock, many ships were moored there, most of them merchant vessels.
There were also a few noble yachts, likely belonging to nobles from some kingdom who had come for Baterilla Island's scenery.
"Mr. Austin, which ship is here to take us?" Rouge asked when she saw Austin stop at the dock.
"Hmm... how about this one?"
"Huh?"
Rouge was completely dumbfounded. Austin seemed to be asking her?
Had he not arranged anything before coming to pick her up?
Why did it seem like he was choosing one on the spot now...
"Well... since you're pregnant, let's take the most luxurious one."
Still dazed, Rouge followed Austin as he carried the luggage toward the largest and most luxurious ship at the dock, casually stepping onto its gangway.
However, guards quickly spotted them.
"Hey! Who are you two? This is the flagship of His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Solen. Lowly trash like you..."
Bzzz—
Thud.
The guard who had been about to spew insults was immediately put to sleep by Austin.
Once aboard, Austin naturally caught the attention of the ship's guards.
Led by the Kingdom's Guard Captain, they swiftly surrounded the two uninvited guests who had boarded the ship.
An armored figure stepped forward first, raising a spear as he demanded, "Who are you?"
Rouge was somewhat nervous, but Austin, surrounded on all sides, remained as calm as ever. He was not afraid of guns. He was confident that he could take everyone out before anyone fired.
The only problem was that there would be no one left to sail the ship.
After thinking it over, he smiled and took out a folded piece of paper, handing it over. "This is my identification."
Huh?
The Guard Captain, who had been about to order his men to fire, froze first when he heard that.
Identification?
Upon hearing that word, his first thought was that this man might be a high-ranking official of the World Government trying to hitch a ride out of here.
After all, the Kingdom of Solen was one of the World Government's affiliated nations.
If that was the case, it was not impossible to bring him along. They would simply have to wait for His Majesty the King to return from sightseeing...
Thinking that, the Guard Captain took the paper Austin handed him and slowly unfolded it.
It read:
The three words, "Wanted Poster."
??? Staring at the Wanted Poster that looked exactly like the man before him, the Guard Captain's mind briefly short-circuited.
When he saw the astronomical ten-digit bounty, it felt like his head was about to explode.
Wasn't this the one who had recently risen to fame in the newspapers...
Bloodshot veins rapidly spread around his pupils.
Cold sweat poured down his face uncontrollably.
"Y-you... you... you..."
"So, can we set sail now?" Austin asked with a gentle smile, like a traveler who had merely stopped by for a visit.
He slowly lowered his head and leaned close to the Guard Captain's ear, whose pupils were trembling with fear. His voice was like a demon's whisper.
"If you dare refuse, I'll slaughter your entire kingdom."
The Guard Captain's face turned green when he heard that.
He did not doubt the truth of those words in the slightest.
After all, this was the Great Pirate who had destroyed the legendary Marine Headquarters and still remained at large!!!
"Notify all crew members! Set sail immediately!"
"But His Majesty the King hasn't returned yet."
"Shut up!"
The Guard Captain was so frightened that snot ran from his nose. He kicked the man who had objected to the ground.
He then held a gun to the captain's head and ordered him to depart at once!
As for the King, who had been left on the island without even a ship to return home on?
For the sake of the entire kingdom,
he could only suffer a little.
Austin nodded in satisfaction at the sight.
Some people saw Wanted Posters as threats to their lives, but Austin did not see them that way.
They could clearly be used as identification, and sometimes even as a pass.
Damn convenient.
The luxurious giant ship quickly set sail. The Guard Captain, having wisely given in, even prepared the most comfortable royal room for Rouge, leaving her a little embarrassed.
After all, she now knew that
the ship they were taking had been stolen.
As expected of a crew member of the King of Pirates.
Fortunately, Austin had not intended to take this ship all the way to the Sabaody Archipelago. In the waters near the Sabaody Archipelago, he let the cruise ship leave.
After all, he did not want the people aboard the ship to know where he ultimately disembarked.
Before leaving, he also took several treasure chests filled with valuables.
He did not lack money, so he treated it as living expenses for Rouge.
Only after watching the cruise ship slowly sail away did he take out a Den Den Mushi and make a call.
"Moshi moshi, is that Sammy?"
"I'm on Tamyara Island right now. Send a ship to pick me up."
Before you continue