Sunlight bathed the three gleaming new ships, but it could not dispel the cloud hanging over Ace, Sabo, and Ann.
Their dream of setting sail remained overshadowed by Mother Rouge's gentle yet absolutely terrifying "Bitter Melon Punishment."
Unwilling to give up so easily, Ace's eyes darted around before settling on the perfect target.
Their somewhat unreliable father, Roger.
After all, he was their dad.
If this worked, great.
If it failed... then Roger would be dragged down with them.
Ace could already picture it. While the three of them were forced to drink bitter melon juice, that rotten old man would definitely be sitting nearby laughing his head off.
The three quietly shuffled over to Roger like guilty puppies.
"Dad!"
Ace threw an arm around Roger's neck and lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"Come on, we're all grown up now... We can't just keep staring at our ships forever, can we?"
Sabo adjusted his goggles and immediately followed up with reason.
"Dad, fledglings have to leave the nest if they ever want to soar. Weren't you already sailing the seas at our age?"
Ann hugged her greatsword and silently walked to Roger's other side.
She looked up at him with watery eyes, launching the kind of silent attack that could melt even the hardest warrior's heart.
Surrounded by his children and hearing them praise his glorious youth, Roger couldn't help floating on cloud nine.
A long-forgotten sense of heroic pride welled up inside him.
He saw his younger self reflected in them.
Children with dreams.
As their father, shouldn't he support them?
Roger got carried away.
More accurately, his death wish started acting up again.
In simple terms...
He forgot who actually ruled the household.
Clearing his throat, he puffed out his chest and strode toward Rouge, who was peacefully arranging flowers on the veranda.
He slapped his own chest confidently while chanting to himself.
I'm their father.
I should support my children's dreams.
I'm the head of this family.
I'm the pillar of this house.
"Rouge, the kids have grown up. Their hearts are already out on the sea! If they want to sail, then let them! Back when we were their age..."
"Roger."
"...Sorry, Rouge!"
Roger immediately dropped into a flawless kneeling apology so practiced it was obvious this wasn't his first time.
Normally Rouge called him "dear."
The moment she used his actual name...
Roger knew he was moments away from death.
Before he could finish speaking, Rouge slowly raised her head.
The smile blooming across her face was even warmer than the sunshine outside.
It was so gentle it looked capable of melting ice.
She calmly set down her silver pruning shears and walked gracefully over before softly patting Roger on the shoulder.
"My dear..."
"You make a very good point."
Roger's eyes lit up.
"Could it be...?!"
A radiant grin instantly spread across his face.
He nearly turned around to flash Ace and the others a victorious thumbs-up.
See?
Dad's still reliable!
The three youngsters screamed inwardly.
Dad, don't look at us!
If Mom's eyes hadn't just shifted toward us, you wouldn't even be able to turn your head anymore!
Then Rouge continued in the gentlest voice imaginable.
"It seems you've been missing the taste of bitter melon."
"You're such a supportive and understanding father."
Her smile became even brighter, like a blooming lily.
To Roger and the three children secretly listening nearby, however, it sounded like the voice of judgment itself.
"So..."
"Starting today..."
"You'll be joining the children for an extra week of meals."
"I'll personally prepare everything."
"Special bitter melon juice."
"Stir-fried bitter melon."
"Bitter melon stuffed with meat."
"Bitter melon salad."
"I'll make sure it's a balanced and varied menu."
Roger: "!!!"
Ace/Sabo/Ann: "!!!"
At that moment, the expressions of the father and his three children looked as though they had all been struck head-on by the Conqueror's Haki of two Emperors at once.
Every trace of color drained from their faces.
Whitebeard: Busy. Please don't involve me.
Their minds had already conjured the horrifying image of an entire week filled with endless green bitter melon dishes.
Not far away, Tesoro and his wife Stella had just arrived for a visit and happened to witness the tragic scene.
Thanks to the Pure Gold, time had left very few marks on either of them.
Stella, who had been Rouge's closest friend for years, covered her mouth as she laughed at Roger and the children's utterly defeated expressions.
Tesoro, meanwhile, twitched at the corner of his mouth and instinctively rubbed his stomach.
He had never actually tasted Rouge's cooking.
But if a meal could terrify both his captain and the Pirate King...
That alone was enough to frighten him.
He was powerful.
He wasn't stupid.
Time had flown.
Little Lati, once the baby protected by her personal Titan, BT, had now grown into a lively seven- or eight-year-old girl.
She sat atop BT's broad metallic shoulder, where the giant Titan stood quietly in standby mode, happily swinging her legs as she watched the adults.
Seeing how dejected Sister Ann looked, Lati hopped lightly off BT's shoulder and ran over.
Looking up with sparkling eyes, she pleaded,
"Big Sis Ann, let me come to sea with you!"
"BT can protect us!"
"It'll be super fun!"
Ann lowered her head and looked into Lati's hopeful eyes.
Her own expression remained as calm and serious as ever.
She simply stared quietly at the little girl without saying a word.
Lati suddenly grew self-conscious under that unwavering gaze.
She unconsciously smoothed out her little dress.
Did Sister Ann actually get persuaded?
Could it be...
Do I really have a chance?
Taking a deep breath, she prepared to strengthen her argument by bringing up BT's incredible combat power.
Before she could speak, Ann slowly opened her mouth.
"Lati."
Her clear eyes remained fixed on the little girl.
"Are you ready to face the adventures of the sea?"
Lati's chest immediately puffed out proudly.
Her emerald-gold eyes sparkled with determination as she nodded vigorously.
"I'm ready, Sister Ann!"
"BT is ready too!"
"We're not afraid of storms!"
"And we're not afraid of bad guys!"
She assumed Ann was testing her resolve.
But Ann gently shook her head.
Lati blinked.
Thinking she hadn't sounded sincere enough, she repeated herself even more seriously.
"Sister Ann, I really am ready!"
"I can do it!"
Ann shook her head again.
Her expression never changed.
In the same calm, matter-of-fact tone, she delivered the sentence that instantly turned Lati to stone.
"I haven't."
"Mom won't let me leave yet, Lati."
Lati: "..."
BT's mechanical eye blinked softly.
"Protocol 3: Protect the Pilot."
"Current emotional state detected: Disappointed."
"Recommendation: Play cheerful music or provide candy."
Lati looked up at BT helplessly.
"BT..."
"Don't treat me like a little kid."
BT replied immediately.
"Would you like a strawberry-flavored lollipop?"
Lati answered without hesitation.
"...Yes."
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