Novel Chapter
Aus had barely left Sabaody—less than half a day ago—and now black question marks practically floated above his head.
Wait...
Why the hell did that old bastard Garp run over to Sami's place?
Wasn't Rayleigh supposed to handle this?
Was he really just freeloading and slacking off?!
Perhaps sensing Aus's shock, a blonde, bearded face appeared on the Den Den Mushi, wearing a helpless expression.
"My bounty got canceled because of Roger, but that also means I can't cause trouble anymore... Besides, Garp didn't actually attack this time."
After all, he and Roger were friends and rivals. Without Garp making the first move, Rayleigh couldn't break the hard-won understanding between the Roger Pirates and the Marines.
Aus's head throbbed. Why did it have to be this reckless old bastard?
"So... it's been this long. Why show up now, Garp?"
"This was Roger's dying wish! Hand Ace over to me, and I'll make him an outstanding Marine like myself...
A kid who inherited Roger's talent will definitely become a Marine Admiral alongside my grandson. Then you'll get thrown into Impel Down, you evil brat—just like how Roger and I took down Rocks back in the day..."
Mid-sentence, Garp seemed to realize something was off.
"Oops... said too much..."
Seeing everyone around him freeze, plus Aus going silent on the other end, Garp picked his nose.
"Ah... never mind..."
"I didn't say anything just now. Take-back."
"..."
Watching this old bastard's carefree attitude, even Aus's mouth twitched.
"Captain Roger did say that, but he ended up entrusting Ace to me."
"What's the difference? Whatever you can give him, I can give him too."
"Really? Can you casually hand them a few hundred billion Belly as pocket money?" Aus sneered, instantly silencing Garp.
He wanted to argue back, but remembering how half his salary just got docked, he couldn't say a word.
Aus switched to talking with Rouge.
"So, what do you want, ma'am?"
"Me? As long as Ace grows up healthy, I'm satisfied. I'm just a bit worried about raising a child in the red-light district..."
Bottom line—Rouge was willing to follow Aus's arrangements. After all, he'd settled them down and helped them through the hardest times.
If Aus insisted they stay, Rouge would listen.
But Ace being raised like some young master in Sabaody Archipelago probably wasn't what Captain Roger wanted to see.
Roger once hoped that at the right time, his son would find the One Piece.
But growing up in the red-light district, raised by underworld bosses, with Rayleigh not exactly father material...
What if Ace turned into some villain mini-boss? Or worse, got spoiled into a playboy who spent his childhood in red-light districts and casinos? Honestly, Aus would feel pretty bad about that.
Garp was unreliable, sure. But the original story proved that under this guy's care, Ace grew up pretty well. Plus, with his mother by his side...
Aus finally gave in. He couldn't raise kids. His environment wasn't suitable for raising kids either.
Isolated from the world, peaceful, and free from pirate attacks—Windmill Village might be a decent place.
"Bwahahaha! Didn't think you'd be so reasonable!"
In the end, after arranging for a bodyguard who knew both types of Haki to watch from the shadows, Aus let mother and son leave with Garp.
At least in the East Blue, Aus could guarantee their safety.
Protecting them until Ace came of age and set sail—that's what Aus promised Roger.
At minimum, no third-rate pirates or mountain bandits would threaten their lives.
Hanging up, Aus pressed his temples.
In the end, the three brothers would still come together.
"Next time we pass Windmill Village, I'll check on those three kids."
Canon was canon. At least he'd saved Rouge. With that thought, Aus stopped worrying about it.
The voyage continued.
No major news on the seas lately. Following the Vivre Card's guidance, Aus arrived at an unknown area of the New World.
"Must be hiding here..."
His Observation Haki could reach hundreds of thousands of meters underwater. The lanternfish hadn't dived too deep. Something as massive as an island was easy to find.
"Oh my, found a little loli."
Aus leaned on the ship's rail, watching with interest.
On the sea surface, beyond the endless waves, there was also a...
Running lizard?
"Warp: Slaughterhouse."
Aus extended his index finger and hooked it upward. A lizard and a little girl instantly appeared on deck.
"Nice to meet you, Olga."
"Who the hell are you?!"
The evil-faced "little girl" Olga stared at the three strangers on the ship and immediately pulled out her dagger.
Her eyes darted around, analyzing the situation.
A swordsman carrying a long blade with a chilling gaze. A hooked-hand guy with an oppressive aura like some "mob boss." And a gentle-faced young man with long hair.
Perfect!
She instantly lunged at Aus, pressing her dagger to his throat.
Aus was pretty excited right now. The lanternfish was completely within his Observation Haki range. Eternal life was right in front of him!
So he didn't care about this blonde girl's offense. He ignored her and her dagger, gazing at the underwater lanternfish.
"So this is Pure Gold?" Aus rubbed his chin, his Observation Haki sweeping across the lanternfish's entire body.
"Hey! What are you doing?! I'm holding you hostage right now!"
"Can you warp it over?" Little Sand also ignored the flailing Olga, taking a drag of his cigar.
"Bastards! Don't ignore me!"
"Or drag it to the surface and split it in half with one slash. Your Pure Gold would just fall out, right?"
Little Hawk's hands were itching. He wanted to slice an island.
"Damn it!"
Aus got annoyed by the noise. He grabbed Olga off his neck and warped her into his hand, holding her up with one arm.
"Quiet. I won't steal the piece you've got. Relax."
One sentence was all it took to silence the furious Olga. Her expression turned horrifying.
This guy... how does he know...
"Hey, lanternfish. Thinking of running?"
Perhaps by instinct, the moment Aus probed it, the lanternfish instinctively tried to flee this area.
"Can't have that~"
CRACKLE CRACKLE—
Crimson light burst from Aus's eyes. His Conqueror's Haki instantly triggered tsunamis and storm clouds. The overwhelming pressure nearly cracked the sky itself.
Olga's face went pale watching that terrifying, super-sized Sea King lanternfish burst from the water, eyes bloodshot, looking both terrified and enraged.
Black-red lightning tore through the sea surface, shooting straight toward the lanternfish's head!
"DON'T MOVE!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!