"He rebelled that quickly?" Valthior asked in surprise.
Roger was very calm. "The first time I saw that kid, I knew he was not someone who would sit still. After the Ohara incident appeared in the news, he insisted on going to the West Blue to take a look. After coming back, he immediately started a rebellion. He has already overthrown a member nation in the South Blue."
"You knew he was restless, and you still invested in him?" Valthior first complained, then asked, "How come I have not seen any of this in the newspaper?"
"The World Economy News Paper has not paid attention to it at all. Only some regional papers in the South Blue mentioned the situation. From a worldwide perspective, it is only a small matter," Roger explained.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"As for why I invested in him—hahaha, don't you think it is interesting, Valthior? Garp has served the World Government his whole life, yet his son became the leader of an armed organization fighting against the World Government. What an amusing scene. As Garp's dear friend, how could I not help things along?"
"You truly possess a twisted sense of humor." Valthior said with a smile. Then he asked, "What is your current identity again? Portgas…"
"Portgas Gold," Roger immediately said.
"Got it. I will have Mary Geoise issue you a passage permit. Hurry to the New World and lie low for a while," Valthior agreed.
Pirate King Roger funding the son of Marine Hero Garp to oppose the World Government.
Just hearing it sounded ridiculous.
"Then I will leave it to you," Roger said first. Then he grinned wickedly. "There is also good news I have not told you yet. I have a son now, Valthior. I named him Ace—Gol D. Ace. In the future, he will definitely become a great man. So? Want to meet your future son-in-law?"
"Son-in-law, my ass. I will never let your son marry my daughter," Valthior cursed.
After a slight pause, however, he added, "But if your son wants to become a pirate in the future, he can come train on my ship. He would be very welcome. Hahahahaha."
"We will talk about that when the time comes," Roger said, not taking it too seriously.
With nothing else to discuss, the two ended the call, and the Den Den Mushi fell silent.
...
In the South Blue, on the waters near Red Port, aboard a merchant ship—
Roger put away the Den Den Mushi and looked proudly at Rouge beside him.
"How was that? I told you I have people above me. Mary Geoise? Just one Den Den Mushi call. We will be able to head to the New World soon…"
Rouge was holding Ace at this moment. Hearing that, she smiled and said, "Amazing, Lord Roger."
"Shh. Do not call me Roger these next few days. Call me Gold," Roger said cautiously.
Soon, the merchant ship arrived at South Blue Red Port.
Next, they only needed to board the Red Line from here and reach Mary Geoise. After that, they could descend from Mary Geoise to the New World Red Port, which would mean they had left the South Blue.
With Valthior's arrangements, as soon as Roger disembarked with his wife and child, he immediately met the Mary Geoise reception staff waiting for them.
"Mr. Gold, please follow me. We have arranged a special passage used by internal members of the World Government. You do not need to wait in line here and can proceed to Mary Geoise immediately," a receptionist said respectfully to Roger.
Roger now also had some bearing of a lord. He nodded in a dignified act, then led Rouge and Ace to follow the person toward the special passage to Mary Geoise.
It was worth mentioning that only the Red Ports on the New World side and the first half of the Grand Line used bubble elevators.
The Red Ports in the four seas used winch-style "elevators." Giants, fish-men, and various strong slaves pushed the winches from above in Mary Geoise to operate the so-called lifting elevators.
And this elevator was not a traditional elevator.
It was actually more like a train car or cabin.
The entire elevator had twelve horizontal compartments. The last two were VIP rooms.
Since Valthior had arranged things, Roger's family of three was naturally placed in a VIP room.
Although this compartment could hold ten people, once Roger, Rouge, and Ace entered, it was declared full, and no one else was allowed in.
However, when Roger entered the compartment, he happened to notice the person who had led him earlier angrily arguing with the elevator manager.
As for the details, he did not pay much attention.
Inside the compartment were various facilities, along with many free meals and drinks—and they clearly looked high-end.
As soon as Roger entered, he called Rouge to sit by the window. Then he excitedly walked to the wine cabinet, examined the bottles inside, and muttered, "Not bad. But only not bad. Compared with Valthior's wine, it is far behind…"
Just then, the person who had received Roger knocked on the compartment door.
"Lord Gold, forgive the disturbance."
Roger looked a little confused, but still said, "Come in."
"I am very sorry to disturb you. According to that lord's instructions, no one else should enter this VIP room for this trip. But there is an extremely special figure who also wants to return to Mary Geoise as soon as possible, so…" The reception staff looked very helpless.
However, he had already prepared himself mentally.
As long as Lord Gold refused, he would immediately go block that so-called important person's journey.
"How long does it take to go up from here?" Rouge asked first, curious.
"Fifteen minutes to reach Mary Geoise," the receptionist immediately replied.
"It is only fifteen minutes. Ro—cough, my lord, let that person come with us. We should not cause trouble for your friend," Rouge said to Roger with a smile.
Roger thought to himself, With Valthior's status, who in the World Government could possibly trouble him?
But since Rouge had said so, and Roger was not some arrogant bully, he nodded.
"Let him come with us."
"Yes. Thank you very much!" The receptionist froze for a moment, then immediately responded.
Thinking that a stranger would be joining them, Roger lost the mood to take advantage of the free wine. He sat down across from Rouge and turned his gaze out the window.
Before long, heavy footsteps came from outside the door.
Roger frowned slightly.
"A strong one…"
Then the compartment door was pulled open.
A sturdy figure walked in, wearing a gray-white suit, a Marine coat of justice over his shoulders, and Vice Admiral epaulets.
Roger wore sunglasses and had dyed blond hair. He was sitting with his back to the compartment door, facing Rouge, so the Marine who came in did not see his face directly.
Roger, on the other hand, saw the Marine Vice Admiral clearly through the reflection in the window.
His expression changed at once, and he immediately adjusted his sitting posture to make himself look less noticeable.
Not only him—Rouge across from him also showed a flash of surprise. She lightly covered her mouth and quickly withdrew her gaze.
Without a doubt, this special person was Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Garp.
"Ah, sorry. I am disturbing you," Garp said openly as he looked toward Rouge. Then he continued, "I am Garp, a Marine Vice Admiral. I received orders to return to Headquarters immediately, and I am in a hurry, so I had no choice…"
"Ah, it is fine…" Naturally, Rouge could not let Roger speak. After taking a deep breath, she showed a faint smile. "I have long heard of you, Vice Admiral Garp."
Garp nodded and did not think too much about it. He only assumed they were nobles from Mary Geoise.
He had never liked those nobles much, so after nodding, he did not move closer and simply sat down near the door.
Anyway, once the elevator started, it would only take fifteen minutes to reach Mary Geoise. They probably would not have any interaction afterward, so there was no need to talk.
As for the blond man sitting with his back to him and ignoring him, that was probably noble arrogance.
Thinking this, Garp casually picked up the tea on the table and poured himself a cup.
Since he was bored, his gaze shifted toward the snack cabinet. As someone who often came in and out of this place, Garp was very familiar with it. If he remembered correctly, there was a type of rice cracker here that tasted very good.
His gaze landed on the snack cabinet, and its reflection happened to show Roger.
For the first time, Garp saw the blond noble's face.
He wore sunglasses. The shape of his face…
Hm?
Garp, who had originally only glanced over while focusing on the snacks, suddenly froze.
Then he frowned, narrowing his eyes as he looked carefully at the reflection.
After a moment, his expression turned furious.
"Roger, you bastard! What are you pretending for!?"
"Damn it!"
Roger, sitting by the window, slammed the table and cursed, "How the hell did I run into you here!?"
"I came to the South Blue specifically to look for you! I thought I would return empty-handed this time. I did not expect to run into you here!" Garp stood, cracked his fists, and walked toward Roger while gritting his teeth.
"What did you come to the South Blue to find me for!?" Roger was not afraid of Garp at all. He stood up directly and cursed back at him.
"Because of you, bastard! If you retired, then retire properly. Why did you write about me in the newspaper!?" Garp said viciously.
"What does that have to do with me? I cannot even write a proper sailing log, and you think I would write that filthy crap? Do you not know how to think? Anyone can tell I was framed!" Roger cursed.
"But Valthior said…" Garp quickly began explaining.
Roger was stunned as he listened.
After staring blankly for a while, he said, "Damn it. Then this was definitely Valthior's doing! He framed me!"
"I do not care about all that. This time, I am sending you to Impel Down…" Garp pulled off his Marine coat and took a fighting stance.
Roger's expression darkened.
But then he glanced at Rouge, who was being protected behind him, and finally said, "Bastard, you want to fight me in front of my wife and child? Then don't expect me to hold back."
As he spoke, Roger also placed a hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Garp froze when he heard this. Only then did he seem to realize and look at Rouge, who was holding the child.
After a long while, he slammed his fist onto the table and cursed, "I will let you off this time! Where are you going?"
"Ahem…"
Of course Roger could not say, I funded your son's rebellion, so I am running away.
So he cleared his throat and said matter-of-factly, "These two years in the South Blue have been a little boring. I am planning to go wander around the New World…"
Garp did not think too much about it.
He truly had no idea that Roger had funded Dragon.
Otherwise, regardless of whether Roger's wife and child were present, he would have pulverized the Pirate King on the spot!
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