Although they often went to the tavern to play, Makino had never once given them alcohol. At most, she'd occasionally give them a glass of milk.
"Nami, we're counting on you this time."
Little Nami folded her arms across her chest.
"Big Brother, Aunt Rouge is going to be angry if we do this."
"Big Sis, Big Sis..."
Little Luffy tugged at her dress.
"Just one taste. Just one! Really!"
Seeing the adorable little guy, the only one who always called her "Big Sis," Nami suddenly felt that getting scolded by Bell-mère a little wasn't completely unacceptable.
"Ahem."
"You each owe me two hundred berries! Since we're all doing this together, I'll let it slide for now, but I'm putting it on your tab."
Neither of them hesitated for even a second before nodding in agreement.
Ever since they were little, neither of them had any idea how much money they already owed Nami.
It wasn't like they had any money to repay her anyway. Whenever Rouge or Roger gave Ace some pocket money, it would barely pass through his hands before ending up with Nami.
Their debts just kept growing, and somehow, Nami kept every single berry meticulously accounted for.
Thump.
A bag of food and a bottle of alcohol were placed on the counter. Little Nami blinked innocently and said as naturally as could be,
"Boss, we'd like to pay."
Seeing that it was the adorable little Nami, the shopkeeper enthusiastically began calculating the total. He rang up the bottle of alcohol without a second thought, clearly not the first time she'd bought some.
"Bell-mère wants another drink? Whenever she gets drunk, you and Nojiko have to take care of her. And she always has you girls come buy the alcohol for her too."
By the time he finished speaking, he'd already totaled everything up. After taking the berries, he handed Nami some change.
"How about becoming my daughter-in-law when you grow up? Let me tell you, my boy..."
"That little fatty of yours?"
Ace immediately interrupted from behind Nami, glaring at the shopkeeper.
"That little fatty does nothing but eat all day! Boss, are you still asleep and dreaming or something?"
Ace was just about to throw in a few more insults when he noticed the adults from the tavern approaching outside the shop.
"Retreat!"
Grabbing his younger brother and sister while Nami carried the bag, the three of them shot out of the store in a flash.
All that remained was the shopkeeper, glaring after Ace in fury.
Meanwhile, Makino, the tavern's proprietress, had arrived at Ace's home and explained what had happened earlier.
Rouge quickly gave Makino some money and asked her to cover the drunk's medical expenses, though she had no intention of going to see him personally.
Makino was a good person, and she hadn't exaggerated anything when recounting what happened.
Because of that, Rouge didn't believe Ace had done anything wrong.
Afterward, she locked the door and went to find Bell-mère. Together, they began searching the village for the children, with Nojiko joining them as well.
But time passed little by little, and even by nightfall, there was still no sign of the three little troublemakers.
"Where in the world did they go?"
Rouge's calves were already aching, but she continued looking around.
Before long, Bell-mère, who had been searching the other side of the village, came running over.
"They're not anywhere in the village. I checked the mountain behind the village too, but I didn't see them."
Nojiko was exhausted as well, but more than anything, she was angry.
Not one of her three younger siblings knew how to stay out of trouble.
They'd even run away from home without taking her with them!
Rouge sighed and waved her hand.
"Let's go back first. I'll have him come back. He should be able to find them tonight."
Both Bell-mère and Nojiko had met Roger before. Although they'd been warned never to tell anyone about him, he was Ace's father.
Of course, Garp knew about him too.
There were simply a few misunderstandings involved.
After returning home, Rouge took out a Den Den Mushi she'd kept hidden away.
Meanwhile, night had fallen over Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue.
Rowan had just finished sparring with the two little ones and was now casually chatting with the masked Roger. Nearby, Zoro and Kuina were still practicing against each other.
"So you went to Fish-Man Island this time and ended up fighting that guy Whitebeard?"
Rowan glanced at Roger. "If you hadn't told him so many secrets, I wouldn't have needed to fight him in the first place."
Roger choked on that.
Still, the way he looked at Rowan carried a trace of disbelief. After all, that was Whitebeard Newgate, the man known as the Strongest Man in the World.
Roger himself didn't put much stock in that title, but Whitebeard Newgate was undoubtedly one of the strongest men of their era.
Combined with his monstrous physique, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit could unleash earthquakes and tsunamis so devastating they were practically natural disasters.
"You really are growing fast..."
Roger smiled as he looked toward the two kids sparring in the distance. "The Healing Fruit's ability really is miraculous. Once the Whitebeard Pirates learned something like that existed, Newgate's sons must've begged you for it, right?"
Rowan replied, "Quite the spectacle. A whole crowd of them dropped to their knees at once, you know? They wanted me to tell them where the healing dandelions came from, but I refused. Those brats trust people way too easily, even if the Whitebeard Pirates do have their principles."
"You did the right thing."
Roger nodded slightly. "Actually, if you hadn't said you'd help them in the future to balance out what you're asking of them now, I'd say what you were doing was a little lacking in principle."
Rowan understood what he meant, but deliberately put on an offended expression. "You used to call me Boss, you know. We haven't seen each other in ages because you've been staying in the East Blue helping Ginny. Have you forgotten who's in charge?"
Roger burst out laughing. "I only called you that before because it rolled off the tongue. Now that we haven't seen each other for a while, it feels more comfortable being casual."
Roger paused before continuing, "More importantly... you haven't forced me to do anything, have you, sir? And according to the Revolutionary Army's ideals, there are respected leaders who guide others, but there aren't any absolute superiors..."
"Heh."
Rowan scoffed. "Looks like you've got a solid grasp of the theory. You've even learned how to apply it."
After chatting for a little while, Rowan's expression turned serious.
"When I went to Fish-Man Island this time, that little mermaid girl Shyarly gave me a prophecy. Since you've been to Laugh Tale, you definitely know what it means, but I also know asking you would be pointless."
"Still... the prophecy that the world will sink beneath the sea really did overturn a lot of my previous plans."
Rowan glanced at Roger, who had gone completely silent, and immediately elbowed him in annoyance.
After taking the hit, Roger couldn't keep pretending to be mute. He thought for a moment before saying, "Haven't you already made your own preparations, sir? Changing this world is the Revolutionary Army's path, and it's also the path you've chosen. I'm just someone who's already dead."
Hearing this, Rowan sighed, but he couldn't deny that Roger was right.
As the Revolutionary Army continued to grow and involve more and more people, the pressure on Rowan's shoulders grew heavier with it.
After leaving Fish-Man Island, he'd helped Whitebeard train his sons. He had originally promised to return today, but was now planning to delay it by another two days.
This was part of the reason.
Unite every force that could possibly be united.
That way, no matter what hidden cards Mary Geoise possessed in the future, he would have enough strength to deal with them.
Puru puru puru...
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi Roger carried began ringing, and his expression immediately changed.
Rouge didn't normally carry the Den Den Mushi connected to his. She would usually only return home and contact him when something important happened.
"Rouge, what's wrong?"
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Rouge's worried expression.
"Ace ran away from home with Luffy and Nami. Bell-mère and I searched all afternoon, but we couldn't find them. It's already nighttime, and I'm worried something might happen to them."
Hearing that his son had only been missing for half a day, Roger wasn't particularly worried.
"All right. Sir happens to be here too, so I can ask him to take me back immediately."
The Den Den Mushi froze for a moment.
"Sir is there too? Then I'll have to trouble you, sir."
Rowan sighed at Roger volunteering his services without even asking him first. He could only reply to the Den Den Mushi, "We'll be there soon. You don't need to worry too much. Those two boys are tough as nails. It's little Nami I'm more concerned about. Her natural talent might not be enough to keep up with them."
Afterward, Rowan stood and walked over to Zoro and Kuina, who were still sparring. After telling them to head back to the dojo later, he took Roger with him to Foosha Village.
Since it had been a long time since Rowan had last visited, he wasn't in any hurry to leave.
After Roger spent some time reassuring Rouge, the two of them headed straight for the mountains behind Foosha Village despite the late hour.
Roger had watched his son grow up, so he obviously knew exactly where Ace would be. And with his exceptional Observation Haki, there was no way those three little brats could hide from him.
However...
They weren't the only ones searching the mountain for the children.
After Makino learned that the three kids had run away from home, she'd rallied the villagers to help search for them.
Everyone had spread out despite the late hour. After Rouge managed to contact Roger, she'd gone to the tavern to check as well, but still found no sign of them. By now, everyone was searching the mountain.
Old Mayor Woop Slap swung his cane and smacked the drunkard whose head had been split open earlier that afternoon.
"I'll teach you to run your mouth! Don't you know he's just a child? You even said you wanted to be Ace's father? When Mr. Garp comes back, why don't you say that again in front of him!"
The drunkard's head was wrapped in bandages, and by now he'd sobered up completely.
Although he was afraid of Uncle Garp, whom he'd feared since childhood, right now he was more worried about the three children who hadn't come home.
Makino, standing nearby, also looked worried. "Bell-mère and Rouge have been searching everywhere since noon. They're definitely not in the village. I can't imagine how worried they must be by now."
The middle-aged drunkard didn't complain after being hit. He merely muttered aggrievedly, "I didn't really do anything wrong... Kids without fathers are pitiful to begin with. Sure, I drink, but at least I've got some strength and can work."
Smack.
The cane struck him again.
Old Mayor Woop Slap glared at him. "Still talking? Keep it up and I'll beat you myself tonight! You idiot, saying something like that to a child is an insult to his mother, understand?"
At this point, even the villagers who had thought Ace had gone too far earlier that afternoon began piling on.
"You spend all day drinking and dreaming. You really think Rouge would ever be interested in you?"
"She's Mr. Garp's daughter-in-law!"
"Exactly. You barely earn enough to pay for your drinking, yet you've got some pretty big dreams."
"If something happens to those three kids, just wait until the mayor skins you alive."
"And when Mr. Garp comes back on leave, he'll probably beat the guy to death himself."
Not far away, Rowan glanced at Roger, visibly struggling to hold back his laughter.
Roger, who would have flown into a rage over this in the past, merely sighed helplessly.
"If you want to laugh, just laugh. Holding it in is only going to hurt. I've gotten used to hearing this stuff over the past few years anyway. What else can I do? Jump out and argue with them?"
Roger pointed at the mask on his face.
"If I wear this thing, Garp will mistake me for you in a heartbeat. If I take it off, then things will really get interesting. The legendary Roger, who was supposedly executed, suddenly turns up alive? Every bastard up in Mary Geoise would immediately start looking this way."
Rowan suppressed his laughter and patted Roger on the shoulder. "You've certainly had it rough. But it's not like there aren't benefits, right? At least you get to watch Ace grow up, and you get to see how this world changes."
Roger clenched his fist. "When the day comes that you succeed, sir, I'm definitely going to have a proper fight with that old bastard. Why the hell does he get to be my father? We're from the same damn generation! That old bastard's just taking advantage of me!"
The relationship between the two was certainly strange, but Garp really was taking advantage of the situation.
Ace had become his grandson, which naturally meant Roger, who couldn't exactly jump out and deny it, had become Garp's adopted son.
Since the villagers were all out searching the mountain for the three brats in the middle of the night, Rowan and Roger picked up their pace.
They needed to get everyone home to rest.
Before they left, however, Rowan noticed Roger casting an unfriendly glance toward a certain man in the crowd.
Clearly, the Pirate King held grudges.
Half an hour later, inside the secret base, four children who had already sworn brotherhood with one another were drinking merrily.
Even little Nami, who hadn't wanted to drink at first, had gotten curious enough to try a cup. The result was that she'd gotten tipsy and somehow ended up becoming Sabo's little sister as well.
"Come on! To our dreams!"
"To our dreams!"
The four little cups were drained once again.
Little Nami's face was bright red as she swayed unsteadily from side to side.
Ace quickly helped her sit down, while Sabo took out a canteen and had Nami rinse her mouth.
"Ace."
"Hm?"
"I heard some news about the Revolutionary Army in the East Blue."
"What?"
Ace, who had been a little tipsy himself, instantly sobered up. He hurriedly asked, "How did you find out? I keep asking Dad, but he never tells me anything. He just says he doesn't know either."
Sabo replied, "I heard my family talking about it. They said the Revolutionary Army has appeared in the East Blue too. They don't know where exactly, but as long as they're somewhere in the East Blue, we'll definitely be able to find them once we're old enough to set sail."
Luffy tilted his head. "So Ace, Sabo, is your dream to join the Revolutionary Army?"
Ace nodded solemnly. "When I turn seventeen, I'll set sail and look for them. Because everything Dad has taught me is exactly what they've always stood for."
Sabo smiled as well. "Me too. If I can change this world, if I can change the Goa Kingdom, then that's my dream too! I'll join the Revolutionary Army!"
Then he looked at Luffy. "What about your dream? Is it the same as ours?"
Luffy frowned. He still didn't seem to fully understand what a dream really meant. "I don't know. But right now, I think being together with you guys makes me really happy."
Ace hopped over and ruffled his hair. "You'll figure it out in a few years. Once I set sail, you can follow when you turn seventeen too."
At that moment, little Nami raised her hand and pouted. "I want lots and lots and lots of Berries! Then Bell-mère won't have to work so hard anymore! That's my dream!"
Ace shook his head. "Nami... having lots and lots of Berries can be a wish, but it can't really be your dream. What you want to do in the future, that's your dream."
What did she want to do?
The alcohol left little Nami's head feeling light and floaty, but she still had no idea what she wanted to do.
In fact, a year ago, Nojiko had already told her that Bell-mère wasn't their biological mother.
But precisely because of that, Nami hated seeing Bell-mère work so hard every day, tending the tangerine grove and working in the fields.
But when it came to her dream, she still didn't know.
"Then, to Luffy and Nami finding their dreams someday, cheers!"
At Ace's shout, the two youngest brats scrambled back to their feet, raised their cups, and drank again.
Sabo drained his cup as well, happily looking at the younger brothers and sister before him. Compared to the so-called family living in that royal palace, this was the only place where he truly felt happy and relaxed.
A royal family that treated its citizens like possessions genuinely disgusted him.
"A few years ago, my dream was to set sail and become a pirate. Back then, I thought pirates were the freest people on the sea."
Sabo looked at Ace. "Later, you told me that pirates who plunder others in the name of freedom only bring suffering and death to ordinary people. And I... don't want to live like that."
"I want to find them. I want to find companions who share the same ideals as me. Everything you've told me, all those ideals of the Revolutionary Army, they're exactly what I've always wanted."
Ace reached out and firmly clasped Sabo's hand.
"Then we're not just brothers. We're comrades who share the same ideals."
Ace then pursed his lips. "Dad definitely has some connection to the Revolutionary Army. He's always acting all mysterious, and he even specifically told Nami and the others not to tell anyone else that he exists."
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