Chapter 4 : Rocks: Roger, You Also Want To Be Garp's Son?
Portgas D. Ace!!!
When these words were spoken, Gol D. Roger's heart skipped a beat!
If it had just been the name Ace, it could've been a coincidence.
But Portgas D.—that was the surname of his wife, Rouge!
There was no doubt. This Ace was his son, Ace!
My...
My son???
Just now, he had been joking about this kid being mischievous, mocking Garp on purpose...
But it turned out, he was mocking himself...???
Sengoku: "Originally, I planned to reveal Ace's true identity once the war started, but now that Roger has shown up, I'll just say it! The second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Fire Fist Ace, whose full name is Portgas D. Ace..."
Portgas D. Ace: "Shut up!"
Sengoku: "Portgas D. Ace, say the name of your biological father!"
When these words were spoken, Roger became excited!
Finally, his son would call him father, right?
However...
Portgas D. Ace: "My old man's name is Whitebeard!"
Gol D. Roger: "What?"
Edward New gate: "Gurararara... Sorry, Roger. You know, my crew is my family. So... Ace is my son, naturally, right?"
Rocks D. Xebec: "Wahaha!!! Yeah, it's only natural. Ace is Garp's grandson, so by that logic, Whitebeard, you're Garp's son now too, right? Makes perfect sense!"
Shiki: "Pfft! Shihahaha!!!"
Charlotte Linlin: "Mamamamama!"
Edward New gate: "Hmph! Rocks! You still rely on that sharp tongue of yours!"
Gol D. Roger: "No!!!"
Rocks D. Xebec: "What's the matter? One Ace's father, one Ace's grandfather—what's wrong with what I said?"
Finally getting attention, Rocks felt quite satisfied.
Gol D. Roger: "I am Ace's father!"
Huh...?
When those words were spoken, everyone was dumbstruck...
They stood there in silence for a few moments...
Rocks D. Xebec: "What do you mean...? Roger, are you saying you want to be Garp's son too?"
Ochoku: "Haha! Garp must be thinking, 'I thought of you as my brother, but now you want to be my son?'"
Charlotte Linlin*: "Mamamama! I just realized today that all of you are geniuses at talking nonsense!"
Monkey D. Garp: "Enough!!! Since it's come to this, I'll say it! Ace is indeed Roger's son, and I was the one who took him in and raised him."
When Garp's words rang out, the entire world was shaken!!!
The young man about to be executed on that platform was none other than the son of the Pirate King, Roger!!!
No wonder...
No wonder the Marines went to such lengths to hold a public execution!
No wonder Whitebeard was willing to wage an all-out war with the Marines to rescue him!
In that moment, everyone finally understood the true reason behind this war!!!
Tsuru: "Garp..."
Sengoku: "..."
Zephyr: "Ah..."
Kuzan: "Mr. Garp?"
Borsalino: "What? This too?"
Sakazuki: "You b*****d!!! As a Marine Vice Admiral, how could you do such a thing?!"
Sengoku: "Sakazuki!! Watch your tongue!"
Portgas D. Ace: "Nonsense!!! My old man is only one person, and that's Whitebeard!!!"
Portgas D. Rouge: "Ace..."
Portgas D. Ace: "Mother...!!"
Although Ace resented his bloodline because of being Roger's son, he knew very well that his mother carried him for twenty months and deeply understood the greatness of a mother's love!!
Portgas D. Rouge: "Ace... believe me, Roger was a great hero. As your parents, we are sorry we couldn't be with you even for a single day. But no matter what rumors you've heard, please trust me—your father was not a bad person!"
Gol D. Roger: "Ace..."
Portgas D. Ace: "...Forget it, I don't want to talk about this anymore. Besides, my life is about to end."
Gol D. Roger: "What do you mean? Ace, even if you don't want to acknowledge me as your father, there's no reason to be so downhearted!! You can still be Whitebeard's son!"
Monkey D. Garp: "Roger, it's not like you think... Ace is being held at Marineford, on the execution platform, about to be executed..."
Gol D. Roger: "What!!? Garp!!! I trusted you! I entrusted Ace to you, and you let him end up on the execution platform?!"
Rocks D. Xebec: "Wahahaha!! Roger, mind your tone! How can you speak to your 'father' 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, Ace chose the life of a pirate..."
Rocks D. Xebec: "Of course! The children of pirates should become pirates! Unlike you, Roger—you're a disgrace, recognizing the Marines as family!"
Charlotte Linlin: "Captain Rocks, please continue"
At that moment, Roger ignored their chatter completely.
Gol D. Roger: "Whitebeard, you just said you're at Marineford, is this because of Ace?"
Edward New gate: "That's right! Roger, don't worry—Ace may be your son, but he's also my son! I'll save him!!"
Rocks D. Xebec: "Oh~ Garp's two good sons showing brotherly love!!"
Gol D. Roger: "Whitebeard, what are we waiting for? Use your Quake-Quake Fruit to tear Marineford apart!"
Edward New gate: "...That was the plan! If it weren't for that system showing up, the tsunami I caused earlier should have already crushed Marineford"
Kuzan: "??? Are you a bit too confident?"
Sengoku: "Whitebeard!!! Don't think too highly of yourself! Once this system clears, your time in history is over!"
As everyone continued their verbal sparring, they suddenly noticed the large screen in the sky had changed!!!
The white-bordered screen dimmed, while the red-bordered screen grew brighter!!!