"Let's leave Garp aside for now. If he comes to Baterila Island..."
Before Ross could finish speaking, Zephyr interrupted him firmly:
"Don't worry, with me here, he can't hurt you."
His strength was slightly inferior to Garp's, but that didn't mean he had no way to deal with Garp.
Both were masters of physical combat; to truly determine a winner, it would take at least a few days.
Moreover, Garp had no reason to fight him, why would he fight him for Roger's bloodline?
If this got out, it would make the Marines laugh.
If it were just Ross and the others, Garp might actually have made a move.
As long as no one knows, this matter will not spread.
Even if Garp was stronger than him, he couldn't kill him easily, giving others enough time to relay the message.
Based on this alone, Garp dared not act rashly.
Garp doesn't care about the World Government, and the World Government will ignore him because of his fighting power.
But if Garp dared to cross the World Government's bottom line, even if it came at a considerable cost, death would be his only fate.
"Since you've said that, I'm relieved."
Ross smiled; this was exactly the attitude he wanted from Zephyr.
"Saint Ross, may I ask what your plans are for dealing with that mother and child?"
Zephyr looked at Ross; his relationship with Ross was no different from that with anyone else.
Although they were said to be superior and subordinate, given his combat strength, he could switch allegiance to another Celestial Dragon at any time, and the World Government wouldn't do anything to him.
Therefore, he spoke more casually than others.
"Roger even abandoned his own bloodline before he died, so from that moment on, this mother and son had nothing to do with him. Of course, if this mother and son want to inherit Roger's legacy, then I won't show any mercy," Ross replied calmly.
This was what he said to Rouge.
Ace was a promising prospect, but only if he could control him.
Even the most powerful weapons must not harm their master.
"That would be perfect. If needed, I can teach that child and guide him onto the path of justice."
Zephyr's expression softened slightly, because he didn't want his family to be implicated.
If that's the case, then what's the difference between him and those vicious pirates?
But if family members also commit evil, then he would never tolerate it.
"Once he's a little older, you'll be in charge of training him."
Ross nodded with a smile and gestured for Zane to walk straight to Rouge's house.
He lacked the patience to train Ace; at most, he could offer Ace some guidance. If Zephyr could help, that would be even better.
...
Two hours later.
Rouge woke up from her coma.
This was the best sleep she had had in the past two years. During these two years, she constantly worried because she was pregnant with Roger's child, and the fact that she was trying to avoid giving birth strained her body every day.
She had worried that something might happen to her child, but the increasingly strong heartbeat always reassured her.
This was a well-behaved baby who persevered despite all the hardships she had endured.
The baby was already persevering, so what reason did she have to give up?
Now, it is finally all over.
Rouge slowly opened her eyes, feeling the weakness in her body and the emptiness in her abdomen, and suddenly woke up from her dazed state.
"Where are the children...?"
"The child is here."
The familiar voice coming from behind calmed Rouge down.
She didn't know why, but even though she had only met Ross today, she felt that he was much more reliable than Roger.
Perhaps it was because Roger chose to leave when she needed him most.
Ross chose to stay by her side during her most desperate time, giving her hope.
"My lord."
Rouge struggled to get up.
Ross didn't give her the chance, reaching out and pinning her to the bed.
"What you need to do now is rest. I will take care of the child for the time being. I will hire someone to take care of him."
"Thanks..."
Rouge pursed her lips, feeling a long-lost warmth filling her heart.
So this was what gentleness felt like?
She had never experienced this before.
"It's a boy, does he have a name?"
Ross sat down on Rouge's bedside, holding the baby in his arms, creating a heartwarming scene of a family of three.
"He said his name was Ace, but I don't want that name."
When Roger was mentioned, Rouge's eyes flashed with a hint of hatred.
Almost all of her suffering stemmed from Roger.
If Roger hadn't leaked the information, she wouldn't have had such a difficult two years, and those innocent children and women in the South Blue wouldn't have suffered such a terrible fate.
"Let's keep this name. Ace is the name of Roger's sword. Using this name to sever the era he created—a good ending, isn't it?"
Ross smiled and made no intention of changing Ace's name.
Whenever the name Ace was mentioned, some people would inevitably associate it with Roger.
Twenty years from now, he hoped that Ace would completely end the pirate era.
The effect of this was much better than if he did it himself.
Moreover, after 20 years of accumulation, he should have the strength to rival Im.
By then, the balance of power would have shifted.
"Then let's call him Ace."
After listening to Ross's words, Rouge agreed to the name.
If Ace could truly achieve the result Ross described, then that ending would be the most unacceptable for the deceased Roger.
"My lord Ross, why are you being so kind to my son and me?"
With the pain gone, Rouge's thoughts began to wander.
She didn't understand why Ross saved her. At that time, her condition was already at its worst. The moment she gave birth to Ace, she felt death was beckoning her.
It was only thanks to Stella's rescue efforts that they were able to save one.
To snatch a life from the Grim Reaper, one must pay a tremendous price.
Did she really deserve it?
"You are amazing to be able to carry a child for 22 months just to bring the baby into the world."
Ross spoke softly, a smile playing on his lips:
"You shouldn't be implicated because of Roger. He's a villain who started the evil in the world, and you're just a mother who wants her child to live."
"Thank you for seeing me this way."
Rouge didn't know what to say at that moment.
The torment of the past two years seemed to vanish completely because of Ross's words.
Meeting Ross was perhaps the reward for her hard work over the past two years.
"Alright, you're not feeling well. Once you've recovered, I'll slowly tell you some things. Now, let me feed you. Your body is too depleted and needs nourishment."
Ross slowly helped Rouge sit up, placed Ace in her arms, and then took the rice porridge from Zane's hands.
Rouge tightened her embrace around Ace, her gaze unconsciously sweeping over Zane.
Stella was already an exceptionally beautiful woman, but now Zane had appeared, and she was even more beautiful than Stella.
No one, no matter who they are, can compare to her.
For some reason, Rouge suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.
"Come on, open your mouth."
Hearing the gentle voice beside her, Rouge blushed instantly and obediently opened her mouth.
Soon she felt the gentle rice porridge enter her mouth, and she fully realized what was happening. She rolled the porridge with her tongue and swallowed it.
At that moment, she didn't even look at Ross.
The strange thing must have been noticed. How embarrassing!