Has it begun?

"Doffy, do we really have to follow what that guy Nicholas said, and return the Fishmen and Merfolk to Fishman Island?"

Clad in a bright red cloak, Diamante, who was currently playing with a sword in his hand, spoke up.

Shortly after Nicholas's call, the Donquixote Family held a brief family meeting.

"Yeah, Doffy, if we do that, our losses will be significant, and it will also have quite an impact on the reputation of the Donquixote Family," said Mehwah, representing Trebol, clearly concerned about the economic losses and the impact on the underworld's perception of their family.

"Boss, what if we just ignore that guy Nicholas? It's too arrogant for him to order us around with just a phone call," a sharp and thin voice came from a masked individual, but none of the people sitting there found the funny accent amusing, because sitting there was Pica, the highest-ranking officer of the Donquixote Family's Spade Division.

"Hahaha!"

Facing the discussions of his top officers, Doflamingo didn't speak but burst into laughter, leaning back in his chair with his hand covering his forehead. Even his subordinates showed puzzled expressions due to his overly confident laughter, not understanding what was going on with Doflamingo.

After all, they didn't understand what was going on with Doflamingo.

"A mere few fishmen and merfolk, giving Nicholas some face is no big deal. After all, I don't want to deal with that angry guy. Also, tell our men to be calm recently. Something interesting is going to happen in Sabaody soon. I really want to see how much trouble that guy Nicholas can cause! As for Fishman Island, it's probably his big move after staying quiet for so long. I really want to see the arrogant guys' faces when facing Nicholas."

Doflamingo suddenly stopped laughing and spoke defiantly to his subordinates.

A day later, the news of Fishman Island accepting Nicholas's protection began to spread rapidly across the seas, and at the same time, the prices of merfolk in the black markets around the world began to soar.

Everyone knew that after accepting Nicholas's protection, the risk of capturing merfolk from Fishman Island would skyrocket. If capturing merfolk only posed a threat from Fishman Island before, it wasn't much. After all, Fishman Island's strength was there, and any capable pirate or force could go there and cause trouble.

But Nicholas's Pirate Crew was different. They were terrifying monsters roaming the New World, and no one wanted to easily provoke such a powerful figure.

South Sea, Baterilla Island.

Located in a remote area of the South Sea, almost isolated from the world, a two-story cottage sits on a high platform near the sea on this small island.

The sea breeze blows, the sky is dotted with white clouds, changing into various strange shapes and slowly drifting away into the distance.

The sunlight shines on the sea, shimmering.

Under a big tree, a broad figure with his back to the cottage, wearing a straw hat and a towel around his neck, a hoe leaning against the tree beside him, all indicating that the man had just finished a day's work.

The man is sitting on a bamboo chair, laughing heartily while looking down at the latest newspaper.

"It's unexpected. I didn't think your first move would be Fishman Island. It seems you really intend to control the Sea King Poseidon ahead of time."

With two rings on his hand, holding the newspaper, his eyes shining brightly, the laughter reveals a domineering aura. But for some reason, such a person is willing to live in seclusion on this island in the South Sea.

No mistake, this guy is Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King that the Marines have been trying to catch.

It's been a long time since he became the Pirate King, and the famous Roger Pirates have disappeared.

And this Pirate King, who has attracted countless pirates to sea, is now living on this island like an ordinary middle-aged man.

Roger looked at the newspaper and suddenly couldn't stop coughing.

"It's windy outside, be careful not to catch a cold."

A gentle voice sounded, a woman wearing a white dress, with golden wavy hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a red camellia hairpin, a beautiful face with a few freckles, exuding intelligence and gentleness, stood behind Roger with a hint of blame in her tone.

"Rouge."

Turning around, Roger smiled, his eyes full of love.

Looking at the newspaper in Roger's hand and the news about Nicholas on it, Rouge's face showed a hint of worry.

As Roger's lover, the two have naturally discussed many figures. Whitebeard, Garp, and Nicholas, these famous figures on the sea Rouge has naturally heard from Roger's mouth. Unlike other people, Roger's attitude towards these three has always been very complicated.

Whitebeard is a friend, and Garp is also a friend and foe, but Nicholas, in Rouge's view, is the only person Roger sees as a kindred spirit.

Holding Rouge's delicate hand, Roger embraced her in his arms, now he is not the arrogant and domineering Pirate King of the sea, but just an ordinary man immersed in love.

"I'm pregnant."

Sitting in Roger's arms, Rouge looked back at Roger's stubbled face, like a blooming rose, showing the most beautiful smile in the world.

Roger was stunned at first, then his hand gently covered Rouge's belly, and when he felt the weak little life, he began to feel at a loss.

"I...I'm going to be a dad?"

Excited, happy, and joyful, Roger, the king of the sea who conquered the Grand Line, now laughed like a child.

"Yes, you're going to be a dad, and I'm going to be a mom."

Lowering her head, Rouge placed her hand on top of Roger's hand touching her belly, her eyes full of happiness.

The two nestled together, Roger holding Rouge, looking at the blue sea, wishing this moment could last forever.

"Let's name the child!"

Sitting in Roger's arms, Rouge spoke up.

"If it's a girl, let's name her Ann. If it's a boy, let's name him Ace."

" Ann, Ace."

"Yes, Ann and Ace."

Roger's mood at this moment was more nervous and excited than ever before.

In the New World, on the stormy island.

At the highest point of the island, a figure shrouded in a deep green cloak was suddenly lifted by a gust of wind, revealing a man with red square markings on the left side of his face, who had dropped the newspaper from his hand and was gazing at the sky under a fleeting lightning.

"Has it begun?"