Half a month later, South Blue, Baterilla Island.
This was Ace's birthplace, and also the hiding place Roger had found for Rouge. It was a remote island that wasn't a member of the World Government.
To be honest, after being transported for so long, Makoto had long forgotten details like where Ace was born.
But it didn't matter. He didn't know, but Garp did.
So after deciding to take a trip to the South Blue, Makoto immediately called Marine Headquarters and told them to send Garp to him. Then he had Nayuta use her dominance ability to make Garp spill all the secrets.
Then he sent Garp away, and they came here.
The Otherworlder-Go slowly approached Baterilla Island.
Recalling the previous events, Eri couldn't help but complain, "Is that Garp out of his mind?"
When they had extracted the secrets from Garp earlier, Eri and the others were dumbfounded.
A Marine officer actually adopting a pirate's child? That was completely insane.
And Eri was very curious. Hadn't Garp really thought about the fact that the World Government would kill innocent people because they couldn't find Roger's child?
Putting herself in his shoes, a normal Marine officer facing this situation would either hand over Rouge and the child to ensure the innocent weren't harmed…
Or find a way to deceive the Five Elders, saying it was a false rumor and Roger had no child…
Or even find a substitute to hand over. At least that would show an effort.
But instead, he just took the child and hid him, turning a blind eye to the World Government's massacre?
Eri and the others couldn't help but wonder what kind of logic Garp had to do such a thing.
Makoto smiled and said that the worlds of Naruto and One Piece were truly a matched pair of fools, full of people with abnormal logic.
The Otherworlder-Go slowly docked.
Soon, the small town on the island received a group of visitors, attracting considerable attention.
When they recognized who Makoto and his group were, everyone was scared to death.
They quickly learned from the local residents the location of Rouge's residence… a single, secluded house on the outskirts of the village.
Coincidentally, on their way there, they encountered a Marine squad knocking on the door of an inconspicuous civilian house.
Soon, the wooden door opened from the inside, and a plainly dressed couple walked out. The woman was heavily pregnant, clearly nearing her due date.
Seeing this, Mrs. Yuigahama, Sayuri, and the others turned pale, instantly understanding the situation. They had seen this scene many times along the way.
The leading officer signaled to his men. Several soldiers stepped forward and said to the pregnant woman, "Please come with us."
The officer said to the worried man, "Don't worry. Once we confirm it's your child, we'll bring her back immediately."
At these words, Makoto couldn't help but laugh out loud.
It should be noted that in this era, the technology for paternity testing hadn't been developed yet. How the hell were they supposed to confirm whose child was in the womb?
Wouldn't they just take her away and kill her?
Hearing Makoto's laughter, the couple and the Marine squad turned to look.
When they saw the smiling Makoto, the Marine soldiers were so scared they fell to the ground.
Makoto ignored this and continued towards Rouge's residence.
Megumi, as she passed by the Marine soldiers, looked down at them and said, "This couple is innocent."
Watching Makoto's group leave, these Marine soldiers were shaken, gasping for breath. "That was close. I thought we were going to die."
Then, remembering Megumi's words, a soldier asked his officer, "Should we still take them?"
The officer was also conflicted. He decided to report to his superiors first.
To be honest, he was inclined to continue with the arrest.
After all, if this woman was carrying Roger's child and the World Government found out later, the blame would definitely fall on them. They wouldn't have enough heads to lose.
However, the words of Makoto's woman couldn't be ignored. So the only option was to pass the problem up the chain.
Finally, they arrived at a single, secluded house near the coast.
They knocked on the door. No answer.
Makoto signaled to Yu, who kicked the door panel off its hinges.
Then they saw inside, a slender woman with orange long hair slumped in a chair, her eyes tightly closed, her hands hanging limply.
On the table in front of her was a newspaper and a bottle of pesticide.
This sight even startled Makoto. He immediately called out, "Moeha!"
Moeha quickly stepped forward, pried open Portgas D. Rouge's mouth, and spat into it.
Finally, Rouge regained consciousness.
Her eyes slowly opened. Her pupils were dilated for a while before refocusing.
She looked at the unfamiliar ceiling above her, at the unfamiliar faces around her, her lips moving as she murmured, "I'm still alive...?"
Makoto walked over to her level and asked, "I really didn't expect you to attempt suicide. What's going on?"
This was completely beyond the expectations of him as a Transmigrator.
It should be known that in the original work, this woman forcibly extended her pregnancy with Ace to twenty months and finally died giving birth to him with her last breath.
She might not have been very smart, but her perseverance was undeniable.
That such a woman would drink pesticide was truly unexpected.
At the same time, Makoto secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he had decided on a whim to come to the South Blue. If Ace died, how would he complete the mission and return to the real world?
Seeing Makoto, Rouge's pupils also contracted sharply.
She recognized this face… the man in newspapers and rumors who had trampled the World Government underfoot, the one called the [King of the World].
She lowered her head and remained silent.
Her orange long hair fell, covering her face.
Megumi stepped forward and picked up the newspaper on the table.
The headline featured a photo of Roger talking dirty to Ripley, with a shocking title.
Megumi instantly understood why Rouge had poisoned herself.
"She had probably seen that Roger, whom she thought was her soulmate, was actually such an animal, and couldn't bear the shock, so she chose to end her life."
Hearing Megumi's words, Rouge's shoulders trembled slightly.
She didn't deny it.
Scenes of living day and night with Roger over the past half year flashed through her mind.
Then, the reports in the newspaper...
Rouge's tears fell silently.
She didn't know what she was crying about. Was it for that man's betrayal? Or for her own stupidity?
Perhaps both.
Perhaps she had just suddenly realized that she had paid far too much for someone unworthy.
She thought of the pregnant women and infants being taken away by the Marine.
All of this was caused by her and that man.
And that man, the instigator, was already dead.
Yet he had dragged her and the entire world into a deeper abyss.
So, under this overwhelming sense of guilt, Rouge couldn't bear it anymore and chose to end her own life.
After listening to Megumi's explanation, Makoto couldn't help but laugh. "So you're just now realizing he's a scumbag?"
Rouge didn't argue.
Because she really had nothing to say.
She realized how stupid she was.
Stupid enough to believe that a fifty-something-year-old Pirate King would be sincere with her.
Stupid enough to carry his child, to hide with him on this remote island, to endure loneliness and fear for him.
And then, to discover she was just a 'randomly chosen unlucky woman'.
"What are you here for?"
Rouge finally asked.
"I came to see the excitement, but now I need to change my plans."
Makoto said calmly.
He had really only wanted to take a look and leave, but now it seemed he couldn't.
He at least had to ensure Ace was born safely, otherwise he couldn't complete the mission or go back.
In the end, under Makoto's decision, Rouge was brought onto the Otherworlder-Go to return to the New Amazon Lily with them.
Mainly, Makoto was still a bit worried. If he left, what if this woman couldn't bear it and poisoned herself again? He at least had to ensure Ace was born.
Supported by Megumi, Mrs. Yuigahama, and the others, Rouge stumbled out of that small house.
She looked back at the house where she had lived with Roger for several months.
Then turned around and never looked back.
…
On the Otherworlder-Go.
Rouge stood by the ship's railing, looking at the distant horizon, lost in thought.
Mrs. Yuigahama, holding Hiyori, walked to her side and handed her a cup of pregnancy tea.
"At least the child is innocent."
Mrs. Yuigahama's voice was very gentle.
Rouge took the teacup, her fingertips trembling slightly.
She didn't speak, just looked down at her swollen belly.
Finally, she nodded.