Perona floated up into the air, her voice drifting down to Rhett. "Lord Rhett, Uncle Tom says this ship will take at least six months to complete. What should we do now?"
Rhett reached up and patted Perona's head, his other hand still holding Laboon, who was happily licking an ice cream cone. "Well then, let's enjoy retirement life for a while," he said with a smile. Rhett slipped back into the carefree days of his college life—no early morning classes, sleeping after meals, and wandering around whenever he felt like it.
The only downside was the lack of computers and phones, which meant no all-nighters. Occasionally, Moria would ask him what he wanted to eat, and Rhett would always reply, "Anything's fine."
Days blurred together.
When Rhett finally set foot on the island, he found Rayleigh already there, looking unusually agitated. The setting sun painted the coastline a deep crimson, and the aroma of grilled meat mingled with the salty tang of the sea breeze.
As Rhett stepped onto the sandy beach, Laboon tugged at his pants with his fin, his voice tinged with worry. "Rhett, big bro... Rayleigh's crying really hard over there..."
On the rocky shore, Rayleigh had Roger by the collar, his normally composed demeanor shattered as veins bulged on his forehead. Roger's shirt was crumpled, yet he still wore that carefree grin.
"Have you lost your damn mind?!" Rayleigh's roar startled a flock of seabirds into flight. "You're coming back to Sabaody with me right now! Even if I have to drag you—"
Rayleigh lifted Roger with one hand and slammed him against the rocky cliff.
"Rayleigh," Roger said softly, gently pressing his friend's wrist. "You knew this day would come."
Rhett froze.
He watched as Rayleigh's fist hung in the air for a moment before crashing into the rock behind Roger. Shattered stone flew everywhere, and blood dripped from Rayleigh's knuckles. Rayleigh hadn't used Armament Haki. This was pure, raw emotion.
"Rhett!" Roger suddenly turned, waving energetically. "Come on over! The meat's getting cold!"
It was as if the earlier confrontation had never happened.
Laboon sat by the bonfire, nibbling on grilled fish while occasionally glancing at Roger, who was pouring Rhett a drink. The legendary Pirate King was chatting away like an older brother.
"Shanks is causing quite a stir in the New World... And Buggy? He went and became a bounty hunter! Said he's saving up to start his own pirate crew. Ha! That's so like him!"
The foam in the wine glass slowly settled.
Rhett suddenly spoke up. "When?"
Roger's smile faded slightly. "Next month, on the full moon." He took a swig of his drink. "I'll be paying the Navy a little visit."
Rayleigh crushed his wine bottle in his hand.
"Don't look so grim!" Roger laughed, slinging an arm around both men's shoulders. "I've even saved you front-row tickets—"
"Shut up!" Rayleigh shoved him away, his golden hair trembling under the moonlight. "Do you think this is a joke?!"
The sea breeze grew bitingly cold.
Roger slowly straightened, his eyes beneath his straw hat gleaming with intensity. "Listen, Rayleigh."
His voice was soft, yet it silenced the entire beach. "We found Laugh Tale, but the answer... It doesn't belong to this era."
He pointed to his temple. "I won't accept a quiet end—I'll make sure the whole world hears my voice."
Rhett stared into the bonfire, blood mist seeping uncontrollably from his body. He'd thought about kidnapping Roger when he arrived, but now, sitting here and witnessing the man's resolve, Rhett felt his conviction waver. This wasn't the world's correctional force—this was simply who Roger was.
"I could save you," Rhett blurted out without thinking.
Roger laughed heartily, ruffling Rhett's hair. "Silly kid, that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?"
Then, Roger's voice dropped to a whisper. "But there is something I need you to do."
He pulled out a bronze pocket watch and opened it to reveal a photo—a family portrait taken at Laugh Tale.
"This is for you. And... you're going to be an uncle." Roger pressed the compass into Rhett's hand. "After I'm gone, I want you to take Rouge to Garp. I'll ask him to look after her. She's on Baterilla Island in the South Blue. Rouge... she's my wife. Garp will find a way to protect them. Here's Rouge's photo."
Rhett looked up sharply. "What, you think I can't raise your kid properly? You bastard... Do you even realize what you're saying?"
"Kuhahaha! You're the most reliable little brother we've got! But with you, he'd only ever be a pirate. With Garp, he could choose to be a Marine, an ordinary person, or even a pirate like you. That's the only thing I can do for them as a father."
Roger stretched and stood up. "Well, that's everything taken care of!"
He turned and walked toward the waves, his silhouette stretching long under the moonlight.
"Oh, and one more thing." Roger glanced back at Laboon and winked. "Laboon, take care of our little Rhett, alright?"
Laboon's grilled fish fell to the ground. "...Huh?!"
Laboon moved closer to Rhett and noticed his fists clenched so tightly that his nails had pierced his palms.
In the distance, Roger's final song echoed—off-key but brimming with unyielding spirit.
Rhett knew that shortly after Roger's death, the Navy had found Rouge. The great mother had used drugs to delay Portgas D. Ace's birth, enduring unimaginable hardship until her death and Ace's eventual arrival.
Rhett cursed with a bitter laugh. "Damn bastard, you could've just brought her over yourself instead of making me run around."
He understood—Roger was protecting Rouge. Being with him was too dangerous.
Rhett contacted Moria via Den Den Mushi, informing him he was heading to the South Blue. Laboon was strong enough to return to Water 7 on his own, so Rhett set off in his small boat to find Rouge.
Screw the consequences—he was going now.
After Roger's death, the Navy must have learned about his child from someone in the town. The sooner he got Rouge out, the better.
South Blue, Baterilla Island—Rhett quickly located Rouge's cottage based on Roger's description.
Standing in front of her small house, Rhett straightened his collar and cleared his throat. He didn't want to face Rouge with a sorrowful expression, so—
"Rouge, sister-in-law! It's Rhett! The 'Scarlet Mist' from Roger's crew! The blade of Roger's ship! Open up!"
The house remained silent.
Rhett scratched his head. "Uh... Was I too quiet?"
Conqueror's Haki enveloped the entire town, lulling its inhabitants into a deep, infant-like sleep. Once certain no one was awake, Rhett took a deep breath, gathered his energy, and shouted again.
"Rouge, sister-in-law! I'm here to protect you! I'm super strong! The Navy runs when they see me—"
This wasn't an exaggeration—Rhett had reached the level of a Yonko, standing among the world's strongest.
BANG! The window flew open, and Rouge leaned out, clutching a kitchen knife, her eyes filled with fear. "Shut up! Are you trying to bring the entire Navy down on us?!"
Rhett immediately covered his mouth and scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry! Hahaha..."
Rouge narrowed her eyes. "You say you're Roger's crewmate?"