By the time Ross returned to Rouge's home, the house was still brightly lit.
Ace had been brought back from Stella by Rouge. She was sitting beside the crib, still alertly waiting.
The window Garp had smashed open had already been repaired by Stella. The repair was simple, though—just a wooden board nailed over it.
Creak.
Ross pushed open the door, glanced around the room, then walked over and sat beside Rouge.
"You had a scare today. To settle this once and for all, this was the best way."
If he had merely wanted to stop Garp, the simplest solution would have been to take Rouge and Ace back to the Holy Land early on. But then Ross would have lost out on an S-class reward for defeating him.
Who knew when he would get another chance to defeat Garp?
The current situation was the best possible outcome.
Ross had long prepared a contingency plan. If Garp had found the real Ace, he would not have used that line of argument.
Garp had far more concerns than he did.
For now, he could not overpower Garp through strength, but as long as Garp remained on the side of order, he would never be able to beat Ross.
"That is enough. I am very glad that you are here."
Rouge lowered her eyes, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
She did not understand.
Before she gave birth to Ace, everyone had avoided her like the plague.
After she gave birth to Ace, everyone came flocking to her.
What did they take her for? What did they take Ace for?
Rouge actually knew that Ross had come because of Ace as well. Otherwise, as an ordinary woman, she was not worth Ross's attention at all.
But at least throughout all this, Ross had