Oden fixed his hair in front of a mirror, applying medicine. He suddenly turned and asked, "Rhett, does Lady Rouge... know about the captain?"
The sea breeze suddenly grew quiet.
The blood mist at Rhett's fingertips trembled slightly. "Yeah, she knows. Roger is the Pirate King." He looked out at the horizon. "She's known from the very beginning. And keeping your country closed off has made you stupid."
Oden was silent for a moment. Then he suddenly slapped Rhett on the shoulder. "Kuhahaha! Then we definitely need to have a good drink! I brought twenty jugs of strong sake!"
"Are you going to visit or have a drinking contest, you bastard?!"
A splash suddenly came from the back of the ship. They turned around. Hizumi was hanging half her body over the railing, trying to fish her small wooden sword out of the water.
Of course that was impossible. The Bruma Jackson was a large ship. There was no way two little kids like them could reach it.
So Hizumi had a rope tied around her waist. Hiyori was holding the other end tightly. If they hadn't trained since they were little, there was no way Hiyori could hold on. Her little face was bright red from the effort.
"You're too heavy, big sister! Hurry!"
"Almost there, almost there. My sword —!"
Rhett's blood mist instantly formed a long arm and scooped the wooden sword back. He scooped Hizumi back at the same time.
The blood mist turned into two little hands and kept attacking the two little ones' heads.
Blood mist hands: Pokey, pokey, pokey. I am a merciless pokey hand.
The two little ones crouched down, holding their heads.
"We're sorry, we're sorry, Uncle!" x2
"What exactly are you sorry for?!"
"We shouldn't have tried to get the sword ourselves." Their big eyes looked at Rhett, hoping to charm their way out of trouble.
"Half right." Rhett answered with a grin. But the blood mist hands didn't stop.
"What you did wrong was not properly assessing what you can and cannot do. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Too quiet!"
"Yes, Uncle!"
Rhett handed the sword back to Hizumi. "Little one, if you want something, just ask your uncle."
Hizumi took the sword. Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Then Uncle Rhett! I want to learn that move!"
"No." Rhett flicked her forehead. "When you can beat Perona, we'll talk."
Hiyori covered her mouth and laughed. "Big sister lost to Sister Perona's Negative Hollow yesterday~"
"Hiyori!"
In the sound of the waves, Oden watched the children playing. He suddenly said softly, "Rhett, thank you."
"Hm?"
......
In Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue.
Roger couldn't wait for Rhett and the others to arrive on their slow ship. He was eager to see Rouge and the children.
He grinned and waved at Rhett. "Kid, I'm going ahead!" Then he kicked off the ground and shot into the sky like a cannonball, disappearing into the clouds in an instant.
Rhett watched Roger's retreating figure and shook his head helplessly. "This old bastard. Still so impatient."
Oden scratched his head. "What do we do now?"
Rhett sighed. "What else can we do? Speed up. We'll just go slowly."
......
Rouge was hanging laundry in the yard. The sea breeze was gentle. The sun was warm. She hummed happily.
Ace and the others had grown beyond being "the four little ones." There were even smaller ones now.
Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door.
"Coming. Please wait." She dried her hands and walked to the door.
The moment the door opened, Rouge froze.
Standing outside was an unfamiliar old sailor. He wore a straw hat. His face showed some signs of age. But his eyes — those eyes she could never forget — were looking at her gently.
"You..." Rouge's voice trembled slightly.
Roger took off his straw hat and grinned his signature bright smile. "Rouge. I'm home."
Rouge's pupils contracted sharply.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment. Even with Rhett's blood mist as cover, how could a wife not recognize her own husband?
Roger looked at her. The corner of his mouth curled up. His eyes were full of tenderness and apology. "I'm sorry. I'm home."
Rouge's tears instantly broke free.
She didn't scream. She didn't question. She didn't even hesitate.
She threw herself into Roger's arms.
Roger held her tightly. His chin rested on top of her head. His voice was hoarse. "I'm sorry for making you wait so long..."
Rouge's fists pounded his back. But the force was as light as feathers. "You bastard... you bastard..."
......
It should have been a peaceful, moving reunion.
But there was a "however."
"Pervert! Die!"
Ace and Sabo's longswords and Ann's heavy sword came crashing down on Roger's head.
We need to rewind a few minutes.
The doorbell rang. Rouge went to open the door. Ace, Sabo, and Ann were practicing swordsmanship. Kuina had gone shopping with Koushirou. But Rouge didn't come back.
"Where's Mom?" Ace wiped his sweat and frowned.
Sabo put away his wooden sword. "Let's go check."
Ann silently followed.
The three little ones walked through the corridor to the front yard. In the distance, they saw Rouge standing at the door. A strange man was holding her hand against his face. Tears were streaming down Rouge's face.
The three little ones' minds exploded. No one was allowed to bully their mother.
"You bastard—!!!"
Ace flew into a rage. He grabbed his wooden sword and charged. Sabo and Ann followed close behind. The three little ones shot toward Roger like cannonballs.
"Let go of our mother!"
Roger was stunned. Before he could react, Ace's wooden sword was already swinging at his head.
"THWACK—!"
Roger reflexively raised his arm to block. The wooden sword broke in half on impact.
"Hey, hey, kids—" Roger didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He tried to explain, but Sabo's fist was already slamming into his stomach.
"THUD!"
Roger grunted. He didn't dare use Armament Haki. He just took the hit. Before he could steady himself, Ann's heavy sword was already swinging at him.
"W-Wait! I'm—"
"Die!!!" Ace roared. His fist, wrapped in a faint layer of Armament Haki, flew straight at Roger's face.
Roger's pupils contracted. "Armament Haki?!"
He had to get serious. He dodged to the side and struck Ace's wrist with a precise chop, redirecting his force. At the same time, he raised his leg to block Sabo's kick. He used his other hand to stop Ann's heavy sword.
"Will you just listen to me—"
"Listen to what?!" Ace didn't give him a chance to speak. His fists and feet came down like a storm.
Sabo's attacks were precise and sharp, targeting Roger's joints and weak points. Ann's heavy sword was suppressed, but her face was tight. Her eyes were fierce, like a little animal protecting its young.
Rouge watched, stunned. Finally, she snapped out of it and shouted, "Ace! Sabo! Ann! Stop! He's—"
"We don't care who he is! If he bullies Mom, he gets hit!!!" The three little ones shouted together.
Roger blocked their attacks and laughed. "Kuhahaha! Not bad! Rhett taught you well!"
"Shut up!" Ace gritted his teeth. "I won't stop until I beat you to the ground! My name is Portgas D. Ace!"