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Sabaody Archipelago.
Kojin found Rouge in a secluded, quiet courtyard far from the island’s center.
Her long, pink hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders, her belly already swollen with pregnancy, and her face carried an ever-present hint of tenderness and affection.
When the three of them arrived, Rouge was turned sideways, reclining in a bamboo chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
Even upon seeing Kojin, the woman showed no trace of resentment. Instead, she greeted him with the same familiar warmth she had displayed a year ago.
“Long time no see, Kojin,” she murmured. “You seem quite tired.”
At her words, Kojin’s tense expression faltered momentarily before softening into a faint smile.
“We plan to move you to a safer location so you can give birth to Ace in peace.”
Rouge showed no surprise. She simply rose silently.
From the moment Roger died and a massive Marine force descended upon Baterilla Island, she had understood what her future held.
As she wordlessly gathered her belongings, Kojin’s gaze flickered slightly.
She was a clever woman, saving him the trouble of explaining many things.
Kojin’s domain radiated outward. When he sensed several rats nearby, he remained silent.
Certain individuals in the world had undoubtedly begun to pay closer attention to him—a fact likely unknown even to the Marine.
Without a sound, several Thunderlight bolts erupted from his body, drawing the attention of Crocodile and Bullet beside him.
Moments later, the four lowered their hoods and quietly slipped away.
The Battleship departed Sabaody Archipelago without lingering, heading straight for the Calm Belt.
After confirming that there were no further anomalies within a ten-kilometer radius, Kojin turned to the woman before him.
“You can lower your hood now.”
“From today onward, you will live in West Blue.”
Rouge lowered her hood, the sea breeze catching her long pink hair and sending it dancing. Her expression was dazed, as if in a trance.
Then, turning to gaze at the sea ahead, she murmured, “West Blue…?”
The ship’s crew exchanged glances upon seeing the pregnant woman, but none spoke up.
“Who’s that woman?”
“Pregnant? No way.”
Buggy and Smoker exchanged glances, a knowing grin flickering in their eyes.
“A lover!”
“She must be Vice Admiral Kojin’s lover!” Smoker whispered, his face flushed with excitement. The thrill of uncovering their superior’s secret sent a surge of adrenaline through him.
“I never would’ve guessed it. Vice Admiral Kojin looks so proper on the surface, but behind the scenes, he’s got a woman with a big belly!” Buggy sneered, baring his teeth.
Unbeknownst to them, their hushed conversation was being overheard by others nearby.
Kojin’s face darkened instantly as he shot a meaningful look at Bullet. The latter understood instantly, striding over to the pair and cracking his knuckles against their heads without hesitation.
“Ah!”
“Ouch!”
The duo yelped in unison, gasping in pain.
“Looks like you two have too much time on your hands!” Kojin snapped, approaching them. “Bullet! Double their training intensity!”
“Yes, sir!” Bullet nodded crisply.
Once Kojin had left, Bullet grinned viciously at the two.
“Let me teach you two rookies a valuable lesson!”
“And that is—!”
“The first rule of survival here is to learn to keep your mouth shut!”
As the special training began, Buggy and Smoker’s screams echoed incessantly throughout the ship, drawing impressed murmurs from Evans and the others.
The sea breeze whipped across the deck as the battleship approached the Calm Belt.
“Our situation has caused you a great deal of trouble, hasn’t it?” Rouge murmured suddenly.
“It’s my duty,” Kojin replied, turning to face the woman.
Images flashed through his mind: the destruction of Baterilla Island, the empty spaces, the words of Kong, Sengoku, and the others. The series of events had indeed cost him dearly.
But since he had taken up this blade, he had to fulfill his duty properly.
“I only hope Ace can grow up safely and smoothly,” Rouge said.
“He will,” Kojin replied with a faint smile.
Pausing, as if realizing his tone might sound too detached, he added, “I’ll do everything I can to ensure the safety of you both.”
If word got out that he had secretly sheltered Roger’s wife and the child in her womb, the entire world would erupt in chaos, and all his reputation and standing within the Marines would vanish like smoke.
He might even lose his position within the Marines altogether.
At that point, all his carefully laid plans would likely crumble, forcing him to start anew.
“Thank you,” Rouge murmured softly.
With Mina’s assistance, she retreated to her cabin to rest.
As she settled into her seat, Rouge turned to gaze out the window. Though there was no wind to be heard, a faint, unsettling aura of dread seemed to permeate the air.
Yet her expression remained unwavering.
“Ace,” she whispered, “as long as you’re safe, your mother will be alright.”
Gently stroking her swollen belly, a tender smile bloomed on her face.
Suddenly, she recalled Roger’s words about Kojin, spoken long ago during an evaluation:
“That kid’s a dangerous one.”
“But he’s worth trusting.”
Rouge’s mind flashed back to the day the first Marine forces arrived, then to the sudden appearance of Bullet and Crocodile, and finally to her boarding the ship today, bound for the West Blue.
‘Can I really trust them?’ She murmured, slipping off her shoes and socks, and slowly lay down on the bed, closing her eyes.
She was exhausted.
A pregnant woman couldn’t endure much strain, especially after the past few days, during which she’d been bombarded with news from all over the world about the search for Roger’s bloodline, keeping her on edge.
Before long, the woman was snoring softly.
At the ship’s bow, Kojin smiled faintly.
‘She probably hasn’t been sleeping well lately.’
‘But Bullet and Crocodile are reliable and clever enough.’
Bringing Rouge from the South Blue to the Sabaody Archipelago had been the best move. Compared to other places, this island was far safer. In a way, it was like hiding in plain sight.
Under the sunlight, the golden scepter cleaved through the surging waves, propelling them swiftly forward.
They arrived in West Blue the following day.
“G-18 Base!” Kojin murmured softly, his eyes flickering slightly as he approached his new post.
He had already studied the fortress’s information from the documents Crocodile had given him.
G-18 was a heavily fortified military base, larger than the G-8 Fortress, strategically positioned at a crucial gateway within the West Blue Range.
“Directly north of the base lies Kano Country!” Crocodile stated gravely. “This is a region we must pay close attention to—a power that every commanding officer has treated with utmost seriousness.”
“Kano Country… the Eight Treasures Navy?” Kojin repeated, his gaze hardening slightly.
He slowly raised his head and looked ahead, a torrent of information flooding his mind: Ohara, Kano Country, the Ilusia Kingdom, Troy, the Rasputin family, and more.
“Though not on the Grand Line,” Kojin sighed, “this sea is not to be underestimated in the slightest.”
(End Of This Chapter)
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