Ace

"Garp's situation can be discussed separately. If he comes to Baterilla Island..."

Before Ross could finish, Zephyr added in a firm tone, "Don't worry. With me here, he won't be able to harm any of you."

His Strength was slightly inferior to Garp's, but that did not mean he had no way of dealing with him.

Both of them were masters of Physical Technique. If they truly fought to determine a winner, it would take days at the very least.

Moreover, Garp had no reason to fight him. Was he supposed to fight Zephyr over Roger's bloodline?

If word of that got out, the Navy would become a laughingstock.

If only Ross and the others were here, Garp might truly make a move.

As long as no one knew, the matter would never spread.

But even if Garp was stronger than him, he could not kill him easily. That was enough time for others to send out word.

For that reason alone, Garp would not dare act rashly.

Garp might not care about the World Government, and the World Government might overlook it because of his combat power.

But if he truly dared cross the World Government's bottom line, then no matter the cost, Garp's only ending would be death.

"Since you've put it that way, I'm relieved."

Ross smiled faintly. This was exactly the attitude he wanted from Zephyr.

"Saint Ross, may I boldly ask how you intend to handle that mother and son?"

Zephyr looked at Ross. His relationship with Ross was different from that of the others.

They were nominally superior and subordinate, but with his strength, he could switch allegiance to another Celestial Dragon at any time, and the World Government would not do anything to him.

Thus, compared to the others, he spoke more casually.

"Roger was willing to drag even his own bloodline down with him before he died. From that moment on, that mother and son had nothing to do with him. Of course, if they wish to inherit the legacy Roger left behind, then I will show no mercy," Ross answered calmly.

This was also what he had told Rouge.

Ace had great potential, but only if he could be kept under control.

No matter how divine a weapon was, it was useless if it could wound its master.

"Nothing could be better. If needed, I can teach that child and guide him onto the path of justice."

Zephyr's expression softened somewhat. It was precisely because his own family had been implicated that he did not want innocent family members to suffer.

Otherwise, what difference would there be between him and those vicious pirates?

But if one's family chose to commit evil as well, then he naturally would not tolerate it.

"When he's a little older, I'll leave his training to you."

Ross nodded with a smile, then called Zany over and headed straight for Rouge's home.

He did not have the patience to train Ace himself. At most, he would provide Ace with some ideological guidance. With Zephyr's help, it could not be better.

Two hours later.

Rouge woke from her coma.

This was the best sleep she had had in the past two years. Not only had she lived in constant fear throughout those two years because she was carrying Roger's child, but as she forcibly delayed the birth, the burden on her body had grown heavier by the day.

She had worried that something might happen to the child because of it, but that steadily strengthening heartbeat had always reassured her.

This was a well-behaved baby. Even after enduring so much hardship, he had still persevered.

If even the baby was persevering, what reason did she have to give up?

Now, it was finally over.

Rouge slowly opened her eyes. Feeling the weakness in her body and the emptiness in her abdomen, she abruptly snapped awake from her dazed state.

"Where's the child...?"

"The child is here."

A familiar voice came from behind her, calming Rouge down.

She did not know why, but despite having only met Ross today, she felt that he was far more dependable than Roger.

Perhaps it was because Roger had chosen to leave when she needed him most.

And Ross had chosen to stay by her side when she was at her most desperate, giving her hope.

"My lord."

Rouge struggled to sit up.

Ross did not 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 the time being. I'll have someone come and look after him properly."

"Thank you..."

Rouge pursed her lips, feeling warmth fill her heart for the first time in a long while.

So this was what kindness felt like?

She had never experienced it before.

"It's a boy. Does he have a name?"

Ross sat beside Rouge's bed, cradling the newborn in his arms. They looked just like a warm family of three.

"He once said his name should be Ace, but I don't want to use that name."

At the mention of Roger, a trace of hatred appeared in Rouge's eyes.

Nearly all of her suffering had come from Roger.

If Roger had not revealed it, how could she have endured such hardship over the past two years? And how could those innocent children and women of the South Blue have suffered such a terrible fate?

"Let's use that name. Ace was the name of Roger's sword. Using that name to cut down the era he created—that's a fine ending, isn't it?"

Ross smiled, with no intention of changing Ace's name.

The moment the name Ace was mentioned, some people would always connect it to Roger.

Twenty years from now, he hoped Ace would bring the Age of Pirates to a complete end.

The effect of that would be far better than doing it himself.

And after twenty years of accumulation, he should have enough Strength to contend with Im.

By then, the offensive and defensive positions would be reversed.

"Then his name will be Ace."

After hearing Ross's words, Rouge still agreed to the name.

If Ace could truly achieve what Ross had described, then it would be the one ending the dead Roger could never accept.

"Lord Ross, why are you treating my son and me so well?"

With the pain gone from her body, Rouge's thoughts began to wander.

She did not understand why Ross had saved her. Her condition had been at its absolute worst then. The moment she gave birth to Ace, she had already felt death beckoning to her.

It was only thanks to Stella's desperate rescue that she had barely survived.

Snatching a life back from Shinigami had to come at an enormous cost, no matter how she thought about it.

Was she really worth it?

"You carried a child for twenty-two months just so he could be born. You are remarkable."

Ross spoke gently, a smile lingering on his lips.

"You should not have been implicated because of Roger. He was the villain who unleashed evil upon the world, while you were only a mother who wanted her child to live."

"Thank you for seeing me that way."

Rouge did not know what to say.

The torment of the past two years seemed to vanish completely because of Ross's words.

Perhaps meeting Ross was the reward for her bitter persistence over those two years.

"Alright. Your body is still weak. Once you have recovered, I'll slowly tell you some things. For now, I'll feed you. Your body is far too depleted and needs nourishment."

Ross slowly helped Rouge sit up, placed Ace in her arms, then took the rice porridge from Zany.

Rouge held Ace a little tighter, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over Zany.

Stella had already been an exceptionally beautiful woman, yet Zany, who had now appeared, was even more beautiful than Stella.

Neither of them was someone Rouge could compare herself to.

For some reason, a sudden pang of jealousy rose in Rouge's heart.

"Come on, open your mouth."

Hearing the gentle voice beside her, Rouge's face instantly flushed red. She obediently opened her mouth without thinking.

Soon, she felt the warm rice porridge enter her mouth, and only then did she fully come back to her senses. She curled her tongue around the porridge and swallowed it.

At that moment, she would not even look at Ross.

He must have noticed that strange reaction just now. It was too embarrassing.