Chapter 72: The Unexpected Arrival of Vice Admiral Garp!

As Claudius finished speaking, Roger's expression turned somewhat resigned. He took two more sips from his glass, sighed deeply, and said, "By your reasoning, of course, she's guilty. In fact, it's a serious crime, a capital offense."

Claudius nodded, not denying anything. Just the fact that Rouge had hidden Roger here was already enough to warrant a death sentence, let alone marrying him.

"You're right. Rouge is pregnant. I've been holding on, hoping to meet my child, but I'm starting to think I won't make it in time. My body just doesn't have much left to give," Roger said softly, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Claudius nodded again, saying nothing.

Roger took another drink, then smiled at Claudius. "But at least... the child is innocent, right?"

"If you weren't the Pirate King, then maybe. But now? He carries the blood of Gol D. Roger. It doesn't matter if he's innocent. Do you really think the World Government would let him live?" Claudius sighed, shaking his head.

Roger's hand tightened around his glass, and in a moment of suppressed anger, he crushed it in his grip. Shards of glass cut into his palm, and blood mixed with the wine on the table. His fury was clear, but he didn't lash out. As a pirate, he might have done so, but now he was more than just a pirate. He was a husband, and soon to be a father.

"Is there really no way around this?" Roger asked, his voice low, his eyes locked on Claudius.

Claudius picked up another glass from the table, filled it with wine, and set it down in front of Roger. Then, rubbing his temples, he replied, "What exactly do you want me to do?"

"If it hadn't been for you finding us, I was planning to leave my family in Garp's hands. Even though we're on opposite sides, I've always believed Garp's someone I can trust. He would've protected my child," Roger said quietly.

"Are you sure you'll get the chance to meet Garp?" Claudius asked with a slight smile.

"Of course. As soon as I'm arrested, Garp will come. I'm certain of that," Roger said confidently.

"It seems like you've got Garp wrapped around your finger," Claudius chuckled, shaking his head. He couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Garp, knowing Roger would drag him into this mess.

Neither of them could have known that Garp was already in the South Blue, supposedly taking a vacation. And at this very moment, his small boat had docked at Baterilla Island. In typical Garp fashion, he was traveling alone, piloting nothing but a small boat through the vast seas.

Roger didn't respond to Claudius' remark, instead continuing, "But now that CP-X has discovered us, my previous plan is full of holes. If you're involved, even Garp won't be able to protect my family."

"That's true," Claudius admitted. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"Are you really willing to help me? We're not exactly friends," Roger said, though there was a glimmer of hope in his voice.

"I did eat two of your oranges," Claudius replied with a casual wave. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "And you're right, at least the child is innocent."

Roger's face lit up. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you, hahahaha!" He laughed heartily, taking a long drink from his glass. "You're one of the Celestial Dragons, right? No one would question you. That makes things much safer. I was hoping you could help protect my wife and unborn child—"

"Hold on," Claudius interrupted him without hesitation. "I only said the child is innocent. As for Rouge, I can promise I won't report her, but I'm not offering her any protection. If you want someone to protect her, go find Garp."

Claudius knew he was treading carefully here. While he was willing to take care of the child maybe even raise him as his own and steer him away from the path of piracy, Rouge was a different matter. She was a liability. She knew too much about Roger and his secrets, and harboring her could easily backfire.

Even if no one knew her identity now, there was always the chance that something from her past could surface. If the World Government caught wind of her, Claudius would be dragged into the mess, and that was a risk he wasn't willing to take.

And besides, Claudius didn't need Rouge. She was just a civilian, a weak woman. What benefit could she possibly bring him? None. In fact, keeping her around would only cause problems. He wasn't a fool, and he wasn't about to complicate things unnecessarily.

Roger, hearing Claudius' blunt refusal, fell silent. He knew this was likely Claudius' bottom line. After all, they weren't friends; they were enemies. The fact that Claudius was willing to look after his child was already an unexpected kindness. Asking for more was likely too much.

"Not reporting Rouge... maybe that's enough. If she's lucky, she could live a peaceful life," Roger said quietly.

"If that's the case, I'll make sure your child gets to see her regularly," Claudius replied.

"Thank you. I never imagined that in the end, the one I could rely on would be a Celestial Dragon," Roger said with a rueful laugh. "Life's full of surprises, isn't it?"

Claudius was about to respond when the door to the pub suddenly swung open. A large, muscular man walked in, dressed in a loud, colorful beach shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. His entrance was as boisterous as his outfit, and he greeted the half-asleep tavern owner with a booming laugh.

"Hey, old man! I just got to this island and I'm looking for someone. Have you seen a tall, blond guy? He's probably with two lovely ladies. I've got something to deliver to him."

The tavern owner lazily pointed to the bottles on the wall and mumbled, "Help yourself. As for your friend, look around."

Roger and Claudius both froze in place. Neither of them had expected to run into Vice Admiral Garp here, of all places!

The man standing at the door was none other than Garp himself. He had heard Claudius was on this island but hadn't managed to find him. He thought he'd stop by the pub to gather information and grab a drink. But instead, he stumbled upon a scene he never could have imagined: Claudius, a Celestial Dragon, sitting at a table with Roger, the Pirate King, sharing drinks like old friends.

For a moment, even Garp was speechless. What in the world was happening here?