As soon as Roger rushed home, he saw Rouge cooking.
"Why did you come back so early today? Are you feeling unwell again?" Rouge turned around in surprise.
Roger placed the bundle at the door and looked at Rouge without speaking.
Rouge seemed to notice something. She fell silent for a moment. Tears began flowing from her eyes.
Only then did Roger smile. "Let's eat first."
"Okay." Rouge nodded.
Soon, plates of steaming dishes were arranged on the table. Roger and Rouge sat across from each other. Neither spoke, eating quietly.
"Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, two years have passed," Roger suddenly said with emotion.
Rouge forced a smile. "Yes, very fast."
"I'm leaving," Roger said abruptly.
The smile on Rouge's face froze momentarily. With trembling fingers, she picked up food with her chopsticks and placed it in Roger's bowl. "Yeah. I understand."
Seeing Rouge pretending to be strong, a surge of self-blame welled up in Roger's heart. He couldn't help saying, "If I hadn't left back then, we..."
But before he could finish, Rouge shook her head. "Roger, the you I fell in love with is the you who gallops across the seas, never surrendering, forging ahead courageously. If you weren't the you you are now, I definitely wouldn't love you."
After a brief pause, Rouge smiled again. "You're the indomitable Pirate King. Wouldn't this ocean be too boring without you? How could I bear to keep a man like you all to myself?"
"Hahahaha!" Roger's booming laugh, though full of life, had a brittle edge to it. He swallowed his food, the usual joy on his face now tinged with something deeper, a profound sorrow. "You're right. Two years ago, I told that bastard Whitebeard I had no regrets in my life. But now..." His voice softened, cracking just a little. "Now, I suddenly realized I was wrong. If life had no regrets, wouldn't it be too lonely? I regret it now. I regret not coming back earlier to spend this simple, precious, happy life with you..."
A single tear tracked down Rouge's cheek, though her voice remained steady, a balm against his pain. "I'm glad you came back," she whispered, her hand instinctively going to her swollen belly.
Roger didn't respond immediately. He took two more mouthfuls of rice, his gaze lingering on Rouge, his eyes suddenly heavy with unshed tears. "I was thinking," he began quietly, his voice raspy, "that if I could just hold on a little longer... I could wait for our child to be born. See him, even just once. That would satisfy me." A deep sigh escaped him, laden with the weight of fate. "But now... I don't think I can wait that long."
Rouge's breath hitched. Her earlier worry solidified into a cold dread. "Is it serious again?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"Yeah, it's serious. Can't delay any longer. Besides, people from Marine Headquarters are here." Roger nodded, his eyes momentarily losing their sparkle. "I don't know if they're looking for me, but I have a bad feeling."
He had no intention of explaining further to Rouge, the words too heavy, too final. After a brief, heavy pause, he forced a smile, a brave attempt to lighten the unbearable truth. "What should we name the child?"
Rouge's eyes, glistening with tears she refused to let fall, met his. Her hand tenderly stroked her belly. "You're the father," she said softly, a gentle smile appearing on her face, brimming with both love and sorrow. "So of course I'll follow your opinion."
"If it's a boy, let's call him Ace. Gol D. Ace. ACE... Ace!" Roger's smile widened, but his voice was thick with emotion, a desperate hope clinging to the future. "If it's a girl, let's call her Ann. I hope she can be as happy as a princess." The words hung in the air, a fragile dream against the shadow of their inevitable parting.
It was clear he'd been contemplating these names for a long time. They weren't spoken casually but carefully considered.
"Ace and Ann?" Rouge murmured softly, then smiled. "Okay, I'll follow your wishes."
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Someone outside called, "Is anyone home? Is Roger home? Hello?"
Roger's expression changed dramatically, becoming extremely ugly.
He'd originally thought there was only one warship at the port, most likely not coming for him. Even if it was, it would take time, right?
He'd been thinking of having one final meal with Rouge, exchanging a few last words before willingly departing.
He hadn't expected his final reluctance would endanger Rouge.
If the Marines discovered that he, the Pirate King, had a wife, and that she was pregnant... Roger would never believe the World Government would let his bloodline survive.
Rouge looked at Roger and sighed. What was coming would eventually arrive.
As a pirate, certain debts must be repaid.
She stood, walked to the door, and opened it gently.
Sure enough, a Marine stood there. But strangely, he was alone.
The Marine had a tough, handsome face, appearing to be in his twenties. He wore the Justice coat and Vice Admiral epaulettes.
When Finn saw someone opening the door, he recognized the woman before him immediately. Roger's wife, Rouge.
Honestly, he had no particular feelings toward Roger. Neither ill will nor goodwill.
For someone like Roger, he could be called a hero among heroes. But there was no need for evaluation. After all, he was a pirate. His hands were stained with blood.
However, Finn held tremendous admiration for Rouge.
First, admiration. She'd been able to conquer a man like Roger, something ninety-nine percent of women in the world couldn't accomplish.
Second, respect. She was a strong mother who'd carry Ace in her belly for twenty months, evading attacks from both Marines and World Government.
It was impossible not to admire such a woman.
"Hello, pleased to meet you. My name is Finn, Vice Admiral at Marine Headquarters. I'm here looking for Roger," Finn said with a gentle smile.
Rouge looked at Finn with some surprise. She'd imagined the scene of Marines arriving many times, envisioning all kinds of situations. But never this one.
This Marine spoke as though he was simply visiting...
There was no avoiding it. Rouge nodded. "Hello, my name is Rouge. I'm Roger's wife. Please come in."
"Thank you," Finn nodded.
He walked into the room, looking around curiously. Nothing special. Just ordinary, but emanating warmth.
Pirate King Roger spent the last two years of his life here?
After walking a few steps through the corridor, he saw Roger eating at the dining table. The man didn't even turn his head, as though eating was the most important thing.
"Hahahaha, Roger, you really are here," Finn laughed.
As though he and Roger had known each other for ages and were good friends.
Hearing Finn's voice, Roger slowly turned and looked at this somewhat unfamiliar Marine. He was certain they'd never met before.
"Who are you?" Roger asked.
"Vice Admiral of Marine Headquarters. Rodriguez Finn. You can just call me Finn," Finn responded with a smile.
As he spoke, he walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat directly. Rubbing his stomach, he said, "Come to think of it, I've been running across the seas for half a day and haven't eaten yet."
At that moment, Rouge also entered and said, "Why don't we eat together?"
"Haha, thank you very much," Finn said without hesitation.
Roger snorted in dissatisfaction, but for some reason, soon began laughing as well.
Instead of fighting immediately, he asks for food first? This Marine is quite interesting.
"Was Raftel fun?" Finn asked, pouring himself a glass of water.
Roger glanced at him. "Very interesting."
"Really?" Finn clicked his tongue, then said, "That's incredible! No one's been able to conquer the Grand Line for hundreds of years, but you actually did it."
As he said this, Rouge also served him a bowl of rice. Finn thanked her and picked up chopsticks, beginning to eat.
"I'm a man who does what he wants," Roger smiled.
"Indeed you are," Finn praised.
Regardless of whether Roger was good or evil, judging by his conquest of the Grand Line, he was genuinely impressive and worthy of praise.
After taking several bites, Finn looked at Rouge. "It seems you've had a very happy time these past two years..."
"Yeah," Roger replied without elaboration.
After a brief pause, Roger spoke up. "Rod..."
"Finn," Finn corrected.
"Right, Finn. Since you knew I was here, why did you dare come alone? Are you that confident in your strenght? I've never heard of you before," Roger asked.
He was genuinely confused. Maybe there was something wrong with this Marine? Even stranger than Garp!
"Maybe it's because I'm not famous enough yet, so you haven't heard of me. But it doesn't matter. After I capture you, I'll definitely become famous worldwide... Hahahaha," Finn laughed.
"You're really confident," Roger said softly.
"Well, you're about to die anyway," Finn said suddenly.
As soon as he finished speaking, both Roger and Rouge looked stunned.
"You didn't think you could hide it from our Marines, did you? I forgot to mention that until recently, I was Deputy Director of Intelligence at Marine Headquarters. For nearly three years, I've been handling Roger Pirates affairs. The reason the Marines reacted so quickly to your situation is because I'd made judgments long before you reached the top. I also predicted you'd disband the Roger Pirates..." Finn said very calmly.
Roger raised his eyebrows. "That's really impressive."
Finn didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Rouge. "What I didn't expect was that you actually had a wife... and your wife is pregnant. Roger, you bastard, you really are so wicked. Don't you have any sense of responsibility at all?"
Roger was scolded by Finn. He wanted to say something, but didn't know how to respond.
Because Finn was right to scold him. He was an irresponsible bastard.
At least regarding Rouge.
"Oh, this is really troublesome. I thought I could simply take you away by coming here, but I didn't expect to find two additional complications..." Finn scratched his head and said helplessly.
Roger tightened his grip on his chopsticks. A faint murderous aura enveloped Finn.
But Finn pretended not to notice and continued, "I hope you won't make this difficult for me."
Roger paused, then said, "I'm guilty, no doubt. As a pirate, it's a crime no matter what. Though I consider myself relatively upright, I've indeed killed many innocent people. Even if I have to die, it's what I deserve. But Rouge and the unborn child are innocent, right? As a Marine, you should at least be worthy of the justice you wear, right?"
"Harboring you, the Pirate King, for two years makes her complicit in the same crime," Finn said softly.
Roger was momentarily speechless.
"But you're right. The child is innocent. In this world, people should never be judged based on their bloodline. That truly is an unjust act," Finn said seriously.
He might not be particularly just, but that didn't mean Finn had no bottom line.
He might feel neither pity nor sympathy for Roger. However, regarding Rouge and the unborn child in her belly, Finn genuinely didn't believe they deserved to die.
He hated bloodline theory. Whether it was the so-called "born noble" Celestial Dragons or the so-called "born guilty" bloodline sins, as someone with principles, Finn was extremely disgusted by such statements.
That's why he'd come here alone to meet Roger privately.