"I think your father must have wanted to be the first person you saw when you were born. But he was gravely ill. Rayleigh said he loved romance and excitement. Don't you think dying at home would have been humiliating for a man who conquered the Grand Line? He would rather walk onto the Execution Platform before the eyes of millions than die quietly in misery. Your father ushered in the age of great pirates with his death. As his son, you should be proud. And whatever he did wrong, you shouldn't hate him. He gave you the most precious thing of all."
"What?" Ace looked up at Ye Chen.
"Life!"
Ye Chen paused, then continued. "You should be grateful. Without your father, you wouldn't be here. I believe your tenacity, your pride, even your refusal to lose and your fearless courage all came from him. His blood runs through your veins."
Ace had clearly taken much of what Ye Chen said to heart. Learning that Roger had turned himself in came as an even greater shock. He had never imagined Roger had been gravely ill at the end.
Roger had wanted his death to mean something. He hadn't wanted to lie in a sickbed while his wife wept for him day and night, much less have his unborn child grow up knowing his father had died of illness.
Ace had visibly calmed down. Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Ye Chen took him to the largest casino in High City.
"Hmph..."
Ye Chen had barely stepped through the casino doors when a burly figure in black emerged from the crowd behind him. It was a young man wearing a black Suit.
The Suit was sharply tailored, showing off the young man's powerful physique to perfection. He, in