"Roger...", Rouge tightly clenched her fists, so angry that even her breathing became a bit rapid.
Originally, due to her past experiences, her feelings for Roger had long been almost completely wiped out.
Now upon hearing that all her and her child's suffering was because of Roger, it only made her develop hatred towards him.
Tormenting her, she could endure.
But the child in her belly was innocent.
Whoever wanted her child's life, she would never let them go.
Originally, all these negative emotions of hers had been directed at the Navy and the World Government.
Only now did she realize that the Navy and the World Government were just acting passively. If Roger hadn't taken the initiative to leak the secret, none of this would have ever happened.
"Roger, that's your child too...", Rouge's tears kept falling uncontrollably. Just thinking about having trusted the wrong person filled her with waves of despair.
"Madam, don't be too agitated, it wouldn't be good if it affects the baby," Rosse naturally sat by the bed, his left hand tightly holding Rouge's hand, while his right arm gently wrapped around her shoulders, letting Rouge lean into his chest.
What bad intentions could he possibly have? He simply wanted to pass on the truth.
Rouge had just heard the bad news, what she needed was only a shoulder to lean on.
'So, I am a good person.'
"I'm sorry... I lost control...", Rouge leaned against Rosse's chest, tears flowing endlessly, but upon feeling the pain coming from her abdomen, she tried to suppress her emotions as much as possible.
She knew she probably wouldn't survive, just hoping the child could live on would be enough.
'Saint Rosse is a good person, he might agree to my request...'
In Rouge's view, Roger was Roger, she was herself, and the child was the child.
Roger's sins had nothing to do with the child.
Even if it was his bloodline, from the moment Roger leaked the secret, that relationship no longer existed.
The child in her belly was just her own bloodline, nothing more.
"Stella," Rosse felt Rouge trembling in his arms, seemingly realizing something, and immediately gave Stella a look.
Stella quickly walked forward, standing on the other side of the bed, placing both hands on Rouge's belly.
"You are?", At this moment Rouge was in unbearable pain, having no strength to resist, but she still nervously watched Stella.
"She's the holder of the Heal-Heal Fruit. You're about to reach your limit, she can ensure you and your child's safety," Rosse said softly.
"My child... really can...", Rouge heard the deeper meaning behind Rosse's words, raised her head, and looked at the man right in front of her, full of hope.
'If only the one I met first had been him, how wonderful that would have been...'
"Rest assured, hatred should not be passed on through bloodline. Madam and her child, unless they choose to acknowledge Roger and inherit all of him, otherwise they have nothing to do with him," Rosse spoke in a gentle voice, trying his best to ease Rouge's emotions.
Things had already come to this point. Of course, he wanted both mother and child.
If Rouge could survive, then Ace was more likely to grow in the direction he hoped.
"Thank you," Rouge's whole body relaxed, the string she had been forcefully holding taut finally snapped at this moment.
Only this time, the snapping was due to her own release.
Even if she was still likely to die, it was enough that the child could live.
'A Heal-Heal Fruit user should be able to save this child who is overdue for normal birth...'
"Master, please help tear open her clothing, I need to prepare for the delivery," Seeing this, Stella quickly spoke up asking Rosse for help.
Lately she had been learning from doctors in the Holy Land, and now understood quite a bit about medical knowledge.
"Alright," Rosse extended his hand, pressing on Rouge's lower skirt—rip, it tore inch by inch.
With his current strength, wanting to tear the clothes without hurting Rouge at all was an extremely simple matter.
Rosse had also anticipated this situation earlier, so he had Stella learn these kinds of skills. With him assisting on the side, there should basically be no big problem.
They were busy continuously until nightfall.
.
.
.
A baby was now in Rosse's arms, and Rouge had also fallen into a deep sleep, though her complexion didn't look too tired.
The Heal-Heal Fruit was indeed extremely powerful. Rouge, who had been on the verge of death, had recovered by more than half in an instant. Her body was still a bit weak, but once replenished, she could fully recover.
"Stella, you've worked hard," Rosse gently placed the baby on Rouge's bed, then picked up the exhausted Stella who had collapsed onto a chair nearby, and headed out the door.
Just now, Stella had truly worn herself out. Consuming life force for healing took a major toll on her.
"It's okay. Being able to save Sister Rouge makes me very happy," Though clearly fatigued, Stella still wore a bright smile on her face.
She was a kind woman. Even without Rosse's orders, just hearing Rouge's story would have made her choose to help.
"All the life force you lost will be replenished later, don't worry," Rosse rubbed Stella's golden hair, like petting a well-behaved little kitten.
The nearby empty houses had already been temporarily occupied by them. After leaving Rouge's house, Rosse quickly went to the house across the hall.
"Your Highness!", Zannie opened the door for Rosse, showing respect as she followed beside him.
Ever since Rosse had her act last time, her form of address toward him had also changed.
"Is it handled?", After placing Stella in the bedroom bed, Rosse looked toward Zannie and asked.
"It's handled. He didn't have time to report to Saint Saturn. Dead don't snitch," Zannie said softly.
Since Rosse was willing to trust her, she would take care of this matter properly.
"What about the follow-up?"
Rosse was very satisfied with Zannie's actions, she was far better than Guernica.
"Around Baterilla Island, he encountered a retired Navy vice admiral. The two had a conflict and perished together," Zannie said without changing expression.
"That vice admiral. Whose man was he?", Rosse raised an eyebrow.
A retired vice admiral, that was no small move.
"When Kong was still a rear admiral, he was already a vice admiral. He once led Vice Admiral Garp in the Navy. The two were mentor and friend," Zannie respectfully reported.
That vice admiral was already very old and could hardly exert vice admiral-level strength anymore. But he was once a powerful man, sudden ambushes could indeed result in mutual destruction with CP0.
"Garp, huh...", Rosse nodded to show understanding, and his gaze turned to Zephyr, who was sitting in the living room.
Without admiral-level protection by his side, he wouldn't dare come to Baterilla Island.
After a day's rest, Zephyr had mostly recovered.
"Saint Rosse, no need to look at me," Zephyr suddenly opened his eyes. Just now, neither Zannie nor Rosse had avoided him while talking.
Or rather, after stepping onto this island, he had already roughly guessed Rosse's intentions.
He didn't expect that the Pirate King Roger actually had bloodline.
Even more unexpected, someone within the Navy was involved in this matter, and kept it a secret.
Roger was purely a villain who ushered in the Great Pirate Era. Was such a person's bloodline heir really worth protecting within the Navy?
"Garp chased Roger for decades. I suspect he and Roger had mutual admiration," Zephyr spoke bluntly.
He and Garp had long-standing ties, but he didn't quite approve of Garp's attitude.
That carefree and unruly appearance completely clashed with the justice he pursued.
Friendship was friendship, stance was stance. Zephyr understood that well.
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