The day before Roger's execution, Garp personally came to escort him. Garp arrived at Level 6 to take Roger away.
Garp had one hand in his pocket. In his other hand, he casually dragged a bag of rice crackers. Hooked between his fingers were two bottles of rum. The bottles clinked softly against each other as he walked, making a dull sound.
"Hey, Roger." Garp stopped in front of the cell door. His voice was gruff. He picked his nose casually. "It's your last day. Here's something to drink."
Roger looked up. His chains clanked. He grinned.
"Kuhahaha! The Navy Hero himself comes to see me off. What an honor!"
Garp grunted and signaled for the guard to open the cell door. The guard hesitated and looked at Magellan. Magellan frowned, then finally waved his hand.
"Vice Admiral Garp, you can only stay for five minutes. Otherwise, Fleet Admiral Kong will be urging."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Go on, go on!"
The moment the cell door opened, Garp walked inside. He dropped the rum bottles and rice crackers on the ground and sat cross-legged. Roger didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed a bottle, bit off the cork, and took a long drink.
"I want meat!" Roger smacked his lips. "I'm about to die. Can't you even give me some meat?"
"Shut up! I want meat too!" Garp glared in the direction Magellan had gone. "He's following the rules. He wouldn't let me bring any. You have no idea how hard I had to fight to bring these rice crackers."
Garp took a drink too. They were silent for a moment. Then Garp suddenly spoke.
"That kid Rhett... went to the South Blue."
Roger's fingers paused for a moment. Then he burst out laughing.
"Kuhahaha! That little brat finally listened to reason?"
"Hey, Roger." Garp's voice was unusually heavy in the enclosed prison. "That kid went to the South Blue."
The chains stopped moving for a moment. Roger threw his head back and laughed. The chains around his neck clanked.
"Kuhahaha! I knew that little brat couldn't sit still!"
He turned his head to look at Garp.
"So? Did he make Sengoku so angry he was jumping up and down?"
"He's not going there to play." Garp lowered his voice. "Sengoku has already sent people to watch him. If he does anything reckless..."
"He won't." Roger cut him off. His voice was full of certainty. "That kid knows better than anyone what he should and shouldn't do."
Garp glanced at him. "You trust him that much?"
"Of course," Roger grinned. "He's the kid from my ship."
Silence stretched for over ten seconds.
"Hey, Garp." Roger looked at his old rival with a grin. "With that face, are you actually sad?"
Garp's fist slammed down on Roger's head.
"Don't flatter yourself! I'm just disappointed I never got to defeat you myself and throw you into Impel Down! Hmph~"
Roger blinked.
"Hmph, he's no pushover." Garp took a drink. His voice was full of resignation. "But... you did tell me Rhett promised not to interfere with the execution, right?"
Roger nodded. His gaze drifted into the endless darkness outside the cell. "Yeah. He always keeps his promises."
The air between them suddenly froze. Only the sound of sake sliding down throats broke the silence.
Garp's fingers unconsciously traced the bottle. Finally, he spoke in a low voice.
"Roger... do you really have no regrets?"
Roger burst out laughing. His laughter echoed through the cell.
"Regrets? Kuhahaha! Garp, since when did you get so sentimental?" He raised his bottle and clinked it hard against Garp's. "I've lived my life to the fullest!"
Garp stared at Roger's smile, his face full of contempt. "Damn you! Can't you at least pretend to be scared like a normal person?! Even if you're faking it!"
Roger put away his smile and sighed, something he rarely did.
"Garp, we're a Marine and a pirate. Our positions were decided the day we met. But..." He raised his bottle. A hint of softness flickered in his eyes. "Having a last drink with someone like you isn't so bad."
Garp turned his face away. His throat bobbed.
"Don't flatter yourself! I'm just... just making sure you don't try to run away at the last minute. There's no chance you're escaping, is there?"
Roger blinked. He suddenly leaned close to Garp and lowered his voice.
"Hey, Garp, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."
"What?"
"Rhett tells me all the time that our relationship... is there really that much gossip going around the Navy? What's all this about a ten-year tragic love story? Is it true?"
Garp spat out his drink. His face turned red as he roared, "You bastard! You're about to die and this is what you care about?!"
Roger slapped his thigh and laughed so hard he doubled over. "Kuhahaha! Look at your face! This is priceless!"
Garp was so angry his mustache stood on end. But eventually, he started laughing too. Their laughter echoed through the cell. Their shadows overlapped on the walls, as if they were back in their younger days, chasing each other across the sea.
After a long time, Garp stood up and brushed the dust off his pants.
"Time's up. I have to go."
A window in the cell let in pale moonlight. It drew a blurred line between them. On one side stood the straight-backed justice coat of a Vice Admiral. On the other side was the ragged shirt of the Pirate King.
"Garp." Roger's voice suddenly grew heavy. "Ace and Ann..."
"I'll take care of my own grandchildren! And how did you know they were twins? Tch." Garp cut him off roughly. But when Roger looked at him with a smile, he turned his face away. "...They will both become outstanding Marines."
"Kuhahaha. Who knows what the future holds." Roger let out a long breath. The chains clinked as he moved.
"Thanks, old friend."
Roger nodded and set the empty bottle aside. "Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Garp's back stopped at the door for a moment. He didn't turn around.
"...See you tomorrow, Roger."
Garp suddenly realized what he had said. He turned and roared at Roger with shark teeth.
"What do you mean 'see you tomorrow'? I'm here to take you away! Come with me, you bastard Roger!"
Garp grabbed Roger's chains and dragged him through the dark corridors of Impel Down. Roger stumbled a few times but still laughed carelessly.
"Hey, hey, Garp, easy there. I'm a sick man!"
"Shut up!" Garp shouted without looking back. "Say another word and I'll throw you in the sea to feed the fish!"
Roger shrugged. His gaze swept over the prisoners in the cells on either side. The vicious criminals, who had been watching, were now all silently staring at them.
"Kuhahaha. Looks like I'm pretty popular. I'll be going first, boys. Kuhahaha." Roger grinned.
Garp snorted. "Don't flatter yourself. They're just waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."
"Is that so?" Roger tilted his head and looked toward the back of a certain cell. A pair of crimson eyes were staring at him. "I think he's pretty interesting."
"Him? Have you lost your mind?"
Garp didn't pay any attention. He just dragged Roger along and quickened his pace.