When Ross returned to Rouge's house, the lights were still on.
Ace was taken back from Stella by Rouge, who was sitting by the crib, still looking very energetic as she waited.
The window that Garp broke has been repaired by Stella, but the repair method is very simple; she just nailed a wooden board to cover it up.
Squeak.
Ross pushed the door open, glanced around the room, and sat down next to Rouge.
"I'm sorry to have startled you today, but this is the best way to solve the problem once and for all."
If the goal is simply to stop Garp, the easiest way would be to bring Rouge and Ace back to the Holy Land Mary Geoise as soon as possible, but that would mean Ross would miss out on an S-rank defeat reward.
Who knows when we'll have another chance to defeat Garp?
This situation is the best possible outcome.
Ross had already prepared a contingency plan. If Garp found the real Ace, he wouldn't use the same rhetoric as before.
Garp had far more concerns than him.
He can't beat Garp in terms of strength for now, but as long as Garp remains in the lawful faction, he would never be able to act against him.
"That's enough. I'm so glad you're all here."
Rouge lowered her eyes, her voice filled with deep weariness.
She didn't understand.
Before Ace was born, everyone avoided her like the plague.
After Ace was born, everyone flocked to him.
What did they take her for, and what did they take Ace for?
Rouge actually knew that Ross had come because of Ace; otherwise, she was just an ordinary woman and wouldn't have been worth Ross's attention at all.
But at least in the process, Ross chose to show her respect.
Everyone else, including Roger and Garp, never asked her what she thought or paid any attention to her.
If it weren't for Ross, she would be dead by now.
Ross could have simply taken Ace away after she died; there was no need for him to save her.
"He's Garp, isn't he?"
"That's right, the Marine hero Garp was also a key figure in the pursuit of Roger back then, but he never caught up with him." Ross nodded.
"After chasing each other for a while, they actually became friends. Is this what pirates call freedom and romance?"
Rouge's gaze swept over the hole in the window, and she couldn't help but laugh at herself.
At least, Roger had a good eye for people.
The fact that the Marine officer he was willing to entrust his child to was willing to violate the principles of justice to take Ace away speaks volumes.
"That's how pirates are, and many Marines are pretty much the same. Normal people can't understand their thought processes; the loony bin is their final stop," Ross said nonchalantly.
"And what about you? Are you going to take Ace away too?"
Rouge stared intently at Ross, her gaze deep, and no one knew what she was thinking at that moment.
"Only I can protect him, and watch him grow up by your side. You should know that very well."
Ross did not back down at all, meeting Rouge's gaze calmly.
Ace was the main reason he came; otherwise, why would he have rushed here?
"I understand, so I only have two requests."
A hint of sadness flashed in Rouge's eyes. Those without strength cannot ultimately choose their fate; they can only wait for fate to come knocking.
The only saving grace is that bad luck lagged behind good luck by a step.
Go on.
Ross didn't mind negotiating terms, and even with Rouge's limited perspective, she couldn't think of any unreasonable demands.
He was confident that he had developed some feelings for Rouge these past few days, but people aren't machines; how could he possibly sway a woman with a firm heart in such a short time?
If Rouge hadn't been so determined, she wouldn't have been able to endure the pain of being pregnant for 22 months.
Such a woman is, in a way, a ruthless person.
"I want to stay by Ace's side until he comes of age."
"That's how it should be."
Ross nodded in agreement.
In order to become a strong person, in addition to talent, personality and mentality are also crucial.
This can be further divided into the Path of Ruthlessness and the Path of Compassion.
The ruthless path is ruthless in pursuing its goals, willing to sacrifice everything to become stronger or for other pursuits.
People with feelings become stronger in order to protect their loved ones, and they become stronger in order to better protect their feelings.
He never intended to train Ace to be a killer.
True suicide squad members are never brainwashed to erase emotions.
It has always been...
Your kindness is as heavy as a mountain; I would go through fire and water for you.
A man who feels the weight of gratitude and righteousness is willing to sacrifice his life for his country.
Cultivating a grateful person is far more valuable and easier than cultivating an emotionless one.
Rouge was the gift Ross prepared for Ace.
"Could you adopt Ace as your godson?"
Upon hearing Ross agree, Rouge stated her second condition, and then subconsciously lowered her head after speaking.
She felt it was somewhat presumptuous of her to even mention this condition.
After all, Ross is a Celestial Dragon, while Ace is the posthumous son of the Pirate King Roger. Ross would never agree to that, no matter how you look at it.
"No problem. From today onwards, Ace will be called Jaygarcia D. Ace. However, he is not my son, so he cannot be named Saint." Ross nodded slightly.
He not only adopted Ace as his godson, but also gave him his surname.
As for the surname, he himself has the right to decide.
Not everyone from Jaygarcia went to the Holy Land Mary Geoise at that time. There were still many branches in the ancestral land, but some of them changed their surnames later, and only a small number have survived to this day.
"My lord, you are always so kind. Sometimes, I really don't know how to repay you..."
When Ross readily agreed to the first condition, Rouge didn't think much of it; she just breathed a sigh of relief and thought Ross was really nice.
But when Ross agreed to the second condition, Rouge felt some pressure.
She is not the kind of person who can accept others' efforts with a clear conscience.
Ross treated them, mother and son, so well that Rouge really didn't know how to repay him.
"Wuw!"
Ace suddenly cried out, which caught the attention of the two.
Rouge immediately stood up and walked to Ace's side.
After a period of adjustment, she had long since gotten used to Ace's presence, and with the help of Stella and the others, she had not made any mistakes.
A baby crying suddenly is either hungry or needs to relieve itself.
Rouge checked Ace's lower body first and confirmed that there was nothing wrong with him, so she immediately knew that Ace was hungry.
After busying herself for a while, she seemed to have forgotten that Ross was beside her, or perhaps she mistook him for Stella or Zane. Usually, when Ace cried, at least one of those two would be there, so she was used to having someone around.
Rouge only realized what was happening when Ace started consuming it:
"Don't look!"
Rouge blushed instantly when she met Ross's open and honest gaze.
How could she be so careless...?
"Shall I wait for you outside?" Ross said with a smile.
"Good..."
Rouge was about to speak when she remembered that Ross had already seen it, so she shook her head and pursed her lips, saying:
"No need, this is fine."
When Ross helped with the delivery, he saw much more than he does now.
But the entire process was under Ross's watchful eye, making Rouge extremely uncomfortable.
Rouge gently placed Ace back on the bedside only after Ace had fallen into a deep sleep.
Faced with Ross's unbridled gaze, Rouge had a moment of hesitation and instinctively raised her head, supporting herself with her hands, to face Ross directly.
Ross was taken aback at first, then a smile appeared on his face.
Rouge has taken the initiative, how could he refuse?
Before Rouge could react, Ross stepped forward, lowered his head, and kissed Rouge on the forehead.
Then, he slowly moved to the left, until he reached Rouge's pink lips:
"Waaaaah..."
...
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