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Sabaody Archipelago.
Kyle met Rouge in a quiet, secluded courtyard far from the bustling heart of the island.
Her long pink hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders. Her belly was already rounded, and her face carried a constant gentleness, a warmth that came from love itself.
When the three of them arrived, Rouge was turned slightly away, reclining on a bamboo chair in the yard, basking in the sun.
Even when she saw Kyle, there was no trace of resentment. Instead, just like a year ago, she greeted him with familiar ease.
"It's been a long time, Kyle."
"You look tired."
Her voice was soft.
Kyle's tense expression froze for a moment. Then he smiled faintly.
"We're planning to move you somewhere safer, so you can give birth to Ace without worries."
Rouge wasn't surprised. She simply stood up and began gathering her things in silence.
From the moment Roger died, and the Marines swarmed Baterilla Island, she had already understood what kind of future awaited her.
Watching her pack without a word, Kyle's eyes flickered slightly.
She was a smart woman. That saved him from having to explain too much.
His presence spread outward. When he sensed a few "rats" lurking nearby, he didn't alert anyone.
Some people in this world had clearly begun paying closer attention to him. Even the Marines themselves likely didn't know that yet.
Without a sound, thin arcs of lightning burst from his body, catching Crocodile's and Bullet's attention.
A moment later, the four of them pulled down their hats and slipped away without leaving a trace.
The warship departed Sabaody without lingering, sailing straight toward the Calm Belt.
Only after confirming that there was nothing unusual within several kilometers did Kyle turn to the woman before him.
"You can take off your hat now."
"From today on, you'll be living in the West Blue."
Rouge lifted the hat away. The sea breeze rushed in, sending her pink hair fluttering. She looked momentarily dazed, almost lost.
Then she turned her gaze toward the open sea ahead and murmured softly.
"The West Blue…"
The crew noticed the sudden presence of a pregnant woman and exchanged glances, but no one spoke up.
"Who's that woman?"
"She's pregnant… don't tell me…"
Buggy and Smoker looked at each other, a knowing grin spreading across both their faces.
"A lover."
"She has to be Officer Kyle's lover!"
Smoker whispered, barely able to hide his excitement.
Discovering a superior's secret made his blood run hot.
"Who would've thought? Officer Kyle looks all serious, but he's already got a woman with a big belly on the side."
Buggy grinned, teeth bared.
They chatted quietly among themselves, unaware that every word carried straight to the others nearby.
Kyle's face darkened instantly. He shot Bullet a look.
Bullet understood at once. He strode over and, without ceremony, knocked both of them on the head with his fist.
"Ow!"
"That hurts!"
The two yelped, clutching their heads.
"Looks like you're both way too idle."
"Bullet, double their training intensity."
Kyle said coldly as he walked past.
"Yes, sir."
Bullet nodded.
Once Kyle had left, Bullet cracked his knuckles and flashed them a vicious grin.
"Let me teach you two rookies something."
"That is…"
"If you want to survive here, the first rule is learning how to shut your mouths."
Special training began immediately. Buggy's and Smoker's screams echoed across the ship, drawing impressed clicks of the tongue from Ivans and the others.
The sea wind blew steadily as the warship approached the Calm Belt.
"Because of me and the child, you've had to bear a lot, haven't you?"
Rouge suddenly spoke.
"It's what I should do."
Kyle turned to face her.
Images flashed through his mind: the destruction of Baterilla Island, the words of Kong and Sengoku, everything that had happened. He had lost many things along the way.
But once you take up a blade, you see it through.
"All I hope is that Ace can grow up safely and peacefully."
Rouge said softly.
"He will."
Kyle smiled lightly.
After a pause, as if realizing he sounded too distant, he added,
"I'll do everything I can to protect you and the child."
Sheltering Roger's wife and the bloodline she carried was no small matter. If this ever got out, the entire world would erupt. His reputation, his standing within the Marines, all of it would vanish overnight.
He might not even be able to remain in the Marines.
And when that happened, every plan he had laid out would collapse. He would have to start over from nothing.
"Thank you."
Rouge said quietly.
With Mina accompanying her, she went into the cabin to rest.
After sitting down, Rouge turned her head toward the window. There was no sound of wind, yet a faint, unsettling pressure seemed to spread through the air, something that stirred fear deep in the chest.
Her expression didn't change at all.
"Ace."
"As long as you're okay, Mom will be okay."
She gently stroked her swollen belly, a tender smile appearing on her face.
She suddenly remembered something Roger once said to her, an evaluation of Kyle.
"That kid is dangerous."
"But he's someone you can trust."
Scenes flashed before her eyes again. The day the first Marines arrived, Bullet and Crocodile appearing out of nowhere, and now boarding this ship bound for the West Blue.
"Someone you can trust…"
She murmured, slipping off her shoes before lying down on the bed and closing her eyes.
She was tired.
A pregnant woman couldn't endure too much strain. Especially not after days of hearing news from all over the world about the hunt for Roger's bloodline. The tension had kept her nerves stretched thin.
Before long, soft, steady breathing filled the cabin.
At the bow of the ship, a small smile appeared on Kyle's face.
She probably hadn't slept well lately.
Still, Bullet and Crocodile were dependable enough. Smart, too.
Bringing Rouge from the South Blue to Sabaody had been a calculated move. Compared to most places, this island was far safer. In a way, it was hiding in plain sight.
—
A scepter gleaming gold in the sunlight cut through the surging waves, speeding forward.
They arrived in the West Blue on the second day.
"G-18 Base."
Kyle murmured the name of his new post, a glint flashing in his eyes.
From the documents Crocodile had given him, he already knew a fair amount about the fortress.
G-18 was a military base that was easy to defend and hard to take. Larger than G-8 Fortress, it sat at a strategically important choke point within the West Blue.
"Directly north of the base is the Flower Country."
"That's the place we need to keep a close eye on. Every commander stationed here has treated it as a top priority."
Crocodile said in a low voice.
"The Flower Country… the Happo Navy?"
Kyle repeated the name, his gaze sharpening.
He slowly lifted his head and looked ahead.
Information flowed through his mind in rapid succession.
Ohara. The Flower Country. The Ilusia Kingdom. Troia. Laschape.
"It may not be on the Grand Line,"
"but this sea is nothing to underestimate."
Kyle let out a quiet sigh.
"..."
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