In that fleeting moment, Roger's mind surged with memories of his wife—a woman who wasn't strikingly beautiful but had always been gentle and kind to him. Yet, despite her delicate nature, she had accomplished something extraordinary to ensure their child was born safely. Even a carefree, rough-around-the-edges man like Roger understood the immense burden of carrying a child for ten months. But to carry one for twenty?
What kind of unyielding resolve did that require? What kind of unbearable pain and pressure had she endured?
His fist clenched tightly, and in a low, heavy voice, he asked, "Rayleigh, where's Rouge?"
Rayleigh let out a soft sigh. "She's gone. She managed to fool the Navy, but giving birth to your son drained her completely. She passed away shortly after he was born."
The words struck Roger like a bolt from the blue, shattering his mind.
He still didn't know the full story, but he finally understood why, when he first arrived, his son had shouted that he wasn't his father—that Whitebeard was his dad. A tidal wave of guilt and anguish crashed over him, overwhelming his heart. He collapsed to his knees, his face etched with despair and defeat.
Clearly, he had been too naive back then, thinking that entrusting his child to Garp would solve everything. How could he have foreseen this outcome?
Seeing Roger, who was always grinning ear to ear, now wearing such a broken expression, Rayleigh's heart ached. To be fair, their captain had never let anyone down—except for Ace and his mother.
Meanwhile, on the execution platform, Sengoku's judgment of Ace continued. His gaze was cold and sharp, like a blade slicing through the air, fixed on Ace. "Fire Fist Ace," he said in a low, chilling tone, "when we discovered you carried that man's blood, we were gripped by unease. We wanted nothing more than to eliminate you. But Whitebeard noticed it too. To groom you into the next Pirate King, he took in the son of his old rival and brought you aboard his ship."
At those words, Ace couldn't hold back. "No! I joined that ship to make Dad—Whitebeard—the Pirate King!"
"That's just your wishful thinking," Sengoku shot back coldly. "Why do you think we couldn't touch you all this time? Because Whitebeard was always protecting you."
Ace froze on the execution platform.
Hidden aboard a nearby warship, Roger's eyes widened. He hadn't imagined Whitebeard would go so far to care for his son.
"We knew," Sengoku continued, "that if we let you grow unchecked, you'd inevitably rise to the top of this new era of pirates. You could even become the next Roger. That's why taking your head here today carries such immense significance."
His eyes sharpened, glinting with resolve. He scanned the crowd and declared to the world, "Even if it means going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates, we will stop at nothing!"
The proclamation ignited the scene. Elite forces of the World Government roared in unison, their voices shaking the air.
Across the world, countless people watching the live broadcast felt their hearts tremble. They sensed the World Government's unyielding determination and grew certain that a terrifying war was about to erupt at Marineford.
Beneath the towering execution platform, Garp sat below the three admirals, clutching his head and exhaling heavily.
"If it's too much, go back, Garp," said Vice Admiral Tsuru, her voice soft but firm, her injuries still fresh and her body weakened.
"Hahaha!" Garp let out a boisterous laugh, his tone carefree. "Why would I be struggling, Tsuru? I'm fine!"
But as he spoke, his mind drifted back to the words Roger had said when he entrusted his child to him, and to everything that followed. His eyes grew misty, a wave of guilt rising in his chest. Was he ashamed for failing Roger? For Rouge, Ace's mother? For Ace himself? Or for all of them? He didn't know.
Unbeknownst to him, one of the people he felt guilty for was hiding aboard a warship in the very same harbor.
After hearing Sengoku's words, Roger finally pieced together the full story. He stood abruptly, his voice resolute as he turned to Lin Xuan. "Thank you for giving me this chance to make things right for my son. I'll never forget your kindness!" With that, he spun around, ready to charge out of the warship, determined to knock aside every enemy and save Ace.
But the moment he moved, Lin Xuan's voice rang out behind him. "Orochimaru, stop him."
Instantly, Roger felt his body seize up, as if an invisible force had locked him in place, halting his charge. Without a doubt, Orochimaru had taken control of him.
As Orochimaru forced him to step back, a strange thrill coursed through the man. After all, he was controlling the legendary Pirate King himself! Yet now, Roger was nothing more than a puppet in his hands.
In the world of pirates, the power of Edo Tensei was far greater than in the world of ninjas. Unless someone possessed one of the rare Devil Fruits capable of countering it, anyone revived through this technique was utterly at the mercy of the caster.
Once Roger was pulled back to his side, Lin Xuan spoke calmly. "Don't worry. I didn't bring you back just for show. You'll get your chance to act, but not now."
"When, then?" Roger asked, his voice laced with urgency.
"When the time is right, I'll let you make your move," Lin Xuan replied.
Just as he finished speaking, he sensed something and a slight smirk curved his lips. "Whitebeard and his crew are here. Sit back and enjoy the show."
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T/N:
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