Birth

"Roger..."

Rouge clenched her fists tightly, so furious that her breathing grew ragged.

Because of everything she had gone through, whatever feelings she had once held for Roger had long since been nearly erased.

Now that she had learned that all the suffering she and her child had endured was because of Roger, hatred for him welled up inside her.

She did not care if they tortured her.

But the child in her womb was innocent.

Whoever wanted her child dead, she would never let them off!

Originally, all those negative emotions had been directed at the Marines and the World Government.

Only now did she realize that the Marines and the World Government had merely acted passively. If Roger had not taken the initiative to leak the information, none of this would have happened.

"Roger, that was your child too..."

Tears streamed uncontrollably down Rouge's face. The thought that she had entrusted herself to the wrong man filled her with wave after wave of despair.

"Madam, please do not get too agitated. It would be bad if it disturbed the fetus."

Ross sat down beside the bed, taking Rouge's hand firmly in his left while wrapping his right arm around her shoulders, letting her lean against his chest.

What ill intentions could he possibly have? He merely wanted to convey the truth.

Having just received such terrible news, Rouge only needed someone to lean on.

So, he was a good person!

"I'm sorry... I lost control..."

Rouge pressed herself against Ross's chest, tears flowing without end. Yet as pain surged from her abdomen, she did her best to suppress her emotions.

She knew she most likely would not survive. She only hoped her child could live.

Lord Ross was a good person. He should agree to her request...

In Rouge's mind, Roger was Roger, she was she, and the child was the child.

Roger's crimes had nothing to do with the child.

Even if it carried his blood, from the moment Roger leaked the information, that relationship no longer existed.

The child in her womb was only her bloodline, nothing more.

"Stella."

Ross felt Rouge trembling in his arms and seemed to realize something. He immediately gave Stella a look.

Stella hurried forward and stood on the other side of the bed, placing both hands on Rouge's stomach.

"You are?"

Rouge was in such unbearable pain that she had no strength to resist, but she still watched Stella nervously.

"She is the wielder of the Heal-Heal Fruit. You are about to reach your limit, but she can keep both mother and child safe," Ross said softly.

"My child... can really..."

Rouge caught the implication in Ross's words. She raised her head and looked at the man inches away with a face full of hope.

If only she had met him first...

"Do not worry. Hatred should not be passed down through bloodlines. Unless Madam and Madam's child acknowledge Roger and are willing to inherit everything of his, they have nothing to do with him."

Ross spoke gently, doing his best to help Rouge relax.

Things had come this far. Of course he wanted both mother and child.

If Rouge could survive, Ace would be more likely to develop in the direction he wanted.

"Thank you."

Rouge's entire body relaxed. The string she had been forcing herself to hold taut finally snapped at that moment.

But this time, it broke because she had chosen to let go.

Even if she would most likely still die, as long as her child lived, that was enough.

A Heal-Heal Fruit user should be able to save this child, who had remained in her womb longer than a normal pregnancy... right?

"Master, please help tear open her clothes. I need to prepare for the delivery."

Seeing this, Stella hurriedly asked Ross for help.

Recently, she had been studying under the doctors of the Holy Land and had learned a great deal of medical knowledge.

If you cannot find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may have simply been renamed!

"Alright!"

Ross reached out and pressed his hand against the lower hem of Rouge's skirt. It split apart inch by inch.

With his current strength, destroying her clothes without harming Rouge was an incredibly simple task.

Ross had anticipated this situation beforehand, so he had Stella learn these skills. With him assisting at her side, there would basically be no problem.

They worked nonstop until nightfall.

There was now a tiny infant in Ross's arms, while Rouge had fallen into a deep sleep. Yet her complexion showed little sign of exhaustion.

The Healing Fruit was indeed immensely powerful. Rouge, who had been barely clinging to life, recovered more than halfway in an instant. Her body was still somewhat depleted, but once she was properly nourished, she would make a full recovery.

"Stella, you worked hard."

Ross gently laid the baby beside Rouge on the bed, then picked up Stella, who had collapsed exhausted in a chair nearby, and carried her toward the door.

Stella had truly been worn out just now. Using her life force to heal had taken an enormous toll on her.

"It's nothing. Being able to save Sister Rouge makes me very happy too."

Though exhaustion weighed heavily on her, Stella still wore a brilliant smile.

She had always been a kind woman. Even without Ross ordering her to do so, merely hearing Rouge's story would have made her choose to help.

"I'll make up for the life force you lost later. Don't worry."

Ross stroked Stella's golden hair as though petting an obedient little kitten.

They had long since temporarily occupied the empty houses around them. After leaving Rouge's house, Ross quickly entered the one across the street.

"Your Highness!"

Zany opened the door for Ross and respectfully followed at his side.

Ever since Ross had allowed her to take charge last time, the way she addressed him had changed as well.

"Has it been handled?"

After carrying Stella back to the bedroom and placing her on the bed, Ross looked at Zany and asked.

"It's handled. He didn't have time to report to Saint Saturn. Only the dead can keep secrets," Zany said softly.

Since Ross was willing to trust her, she would handle the matter properly.

"What about the aftermath?"

Ross was very satisfied with Zany's actions. She was far more capable than Guernica.

"Near Baterilla Island, he encountered a retired Marine Vice Admiral. The two came into conflict and ultimately died together," Zany said without changing expression.

"Whose man was that Vice Admiral?" Ross raised an eyebrow.

A retired Vice Admiral was no small piece to move.

"Back when Kong was still a Rear Admiral, that man was already a Vice Admiral. He once trained Vice Admiral Garp in the Marines, and the two had a relationship both as teacher and friend," Zany reported respectfully.

That Vice Admiral was already in his twilight years and could barely display a Vice Admiral's strength, but he had once been a Strong fighter. A sudden ambush could plausibly lead to mutual destruction with CP0.

"Garp..."

Ross nodded in understanding, then turned his gaze toward Zephyr, who was sitting in the living room.

Without an Admiral-level protector at his side, Ross would not have dared come to Baterilla Island.

After a day of rest, Zephyr had recovered almost completely.

"Saint Ross, there's no need to look at me."

Zephyr suddenly opened his eyes. Zany and Ross had made no effort to avoid him during their conversation.

Or rather, after setting foot on this island, he had roughly guessed Ross's purpose.

He had never expected Pirate King Roger to truly have surviving bloodline.

What was even more unexpected was that someone within the Marines had been involved in this matter and had knowingly concealed it.

Roger had been nothing but a villain who ushered in the Great Pirate Era. Did people within the Marines truly want to protect the bloodline descendants of such a man?

"Garp chased Roger for decades. I suspect the two of them had a bond of mutual admiration," Zephyr said bluntly.

He and Garp were old acquaintances as well, though he had always found Garp's attitude difficult to stomach.

That reckless, unconstrained manner ran completely contrary to the justice Zephyr pursued.

Friendship was friendship, and positions were positions. Zephyr understood that clearly.