Chapter 4: Rocks: Roger, Do You Want to Be Garp's Son Too?

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"Portgas D. Ace!!!"

The moment those words left Luffy's mouth, Gol D. Roger's heart skipped a beat.

If it had just been "Ace," he might have dismissed it as a coincidence. But Portgas D.—that was the surname of his late wife, Rouge!

There was no doubt about it now. This Portgas D. Ace was his son—the child he entrusted to Garp before his execution.

My...

My son???

Just moments ago, he had joked about how mischievous this kid seemed, intending to tease Garp. But now, that joke had come back to bite him in the most unexpected way.

Sengoku: "I originally planned to announce Ace's identity after the war began, but since Roger has appeared now, I’ll say it outright! The second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace—his full name is Portgas D. Ace..."

Portgas D. Ace: "Shut up!!"

Sengoku: "Portgas D. Ace, reveal the name of your biological father!!"

At these words, Roger's anticipation soared. Was he finally going to hear his own son call him "Dad"?

But...

Portgas D. Ace: "My father’s name is Whitebeard!"

Gol D. Roger: "What???"

Edward Newgate: "Gurararara... Sorry, Roger. You know how it is—all my crew members are my family. So naturally, Ace being my son makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?"

Rocks D. Xebec: "Hahahaha!!! Exactly! If Ace is Garp’s grandson, then by extension, you, Whitebeard, must be Garp’s son too! Makes total sense, right?"

Shiki: "Pfft! Jahahahaha!!"

Charlotte Linlin: "Mwahaha!!"

Edward Newgate: "Hmph!! Rocks! All you’re good for is running your mouth!"

Gol D. Roger: "No!! That’s not right!!"

Rocks D. Xebec: "What do you mean? One dad for Ace, one grandpa for Ace—what part of that logic did I get wrong?"

Finally getting everyone’s attention, Rocks felt rather pleased with himself.

Gol D. Roger: "I am Ace’s father!!"

Huh...?

The room fell into stunned silence. For several seconds, no one said a word.

Rocks D. Xebec: "What’s this now...? Roger, are you trying to say you want to be Garp’s son too?"

Wang Zhi: "Haha!! Garp thinks of you as a brother, but you’re aiming to be his son instead?"

Charlotte Linlin: "Mwahaha!! Damn, only now do I realize how hilarious all you bastards are when you open your mouths!"

Monkey D. Garp: "Enough!! Since things have gone this far, I’ll make it clear. Yes, Ace is indeed Roger’s biological child. I took him in and raised him."

The moment those words left Garp’s lips, shockwaves rippled through everyone present.

The young man tied to the execution platform awaiting his public execution at Marineford—he was none other than the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!

No wonder...

No wonder the Marines were going to such lengths to execute him publicly at their headquarters.

No wonder Whitebeard was willing to wage an all-out war against the Marines to rescue him.

So that was it...

In an instant, everyone understood why this war had erupted.

Tsuru: "Garp..."

Sengoku: "..."

Zephyr: "Sigh..."

Kuzan: "Mr. Garp?"

Borsalino: "What?! There’s something like this going on???"

Sakazuki: "Damn it!! As a Marine Vice Admiral, how could you allow such a thing to happen?!"

Sengoku: "Sakazuki!! Watch your tongue!"

Portgas D. Ace: "Nonsense!! My father is one and only—Whitebeard!"

Portgas D. Rouge: "Ace..."

Portgas D. Ace: "Mother!!"

Though Ace despised his lineage as the son of the Pirate King, he knew full well the story of his mother carrying him for twenty months and giving birth under immense suffering. He understood the depth of her love.

Portgas D. Rouge: "Ace... Believe me, Roger was a hero who stood tall above all others. Neither your father nor I were able to spend a single day with you, and for that, we’re deeply sorry. But no matter what lies or slander you’ve heard, please believe me—your father was not a bad man."

Gol D. Roger: "Ace..."

Portgas D. Ace: "... Fine. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Either way, my life is already over."

Gol D. Roger: "What do you mean, Ace?! Even if you refuse to acknowledge me as your father, don’t give up hope! At the very least, you can still consider yourself Whitebeard’s son!"

Monkey D. Garp: "Roger, it’s not what you think... Ace is currently tied to the execution platform at Marineford. He’s about to be executed..."

Gol D. Roger: "What?! Garp!! You bastard—I trusted you with Ace’s life, and you handed him over to be executed?!"

Rocks D. Xebec: "Hahaha!! Roger, watch your tone. How dare you speak to your daddy like that?"

Gol D. Roger: "Rocks, shut the hell up!!"

Monkey D. Garp: "Roger, I wanted to raise him as a Marine. But in the end, he chose the path of piracy..."

Rocks D. Xebec: "Well, duh! A pirate’s offspring should become a pirate! Unlike you, Roger—you let the Marines adopt you as their own. What a disgrace to us pirates!"

Charlotte Linlin: "Captain Rocks, keep talking! I’m loving every bit of this!"

But Roger wasn’t in any state to entertain their taunts.

Gol D. Roger: "Whitebeard, so you’re currently at Marineford because of this, aren’t you?"

Edward Newgate: "That’s right! Roger, rest assured. Though Ace is your son, he’s also my son! I will save him, no matter what!"

Rocks D. Xebec: "Ohhh~ Look at Garp’s two fine sons bonding over brotherly love!"

Gol D. Roger: "Whitebeard, what are you waiting for? Use your Gura Gura no Mi powers to flip Marineford upside down!"

Edward Newgate: "... That’s exactly what I intended to do! If this damn viewing system hadn’t interrupted, the tsunami I unleashed earlier would’ve already leveled Marineford."

Kuzan: "??? Are you really that confident in yourself?"

Sengoku: "Whitebeard!! Don’t get too cocky! Once this viewing system ends, it’ll be time for you to step out of history’s spotlight!"

As the verbal sparring continued, everyone suddenly noticed a change in the massive screen spanning the heavens.

The white-framed side dimmed, while the red-framed side grew brighter, drawing all eyes toward it once more.

Chapter end