Baterilla Island.
Wayne stepped out from a narrow alley. The prison uniform he once wore had vanished, replaced with a simple gray-brown coarse cloth outfit.
Only, deep within the alley, a man was now lying unconscious, wearing nothing but his white shorts.
Reaching the town, Wayne's sharp gaze swept across the docks and intersections. 'No white-uniformed Marines. No checkpoints.'
'It seemed the Marines hadn't locked down the island, at least not yet.' Confirming this, Wayne immediately began to act.
Inside a small restaurant, Wayne quickly shoveled spoonfuls of seafood risotto into his mouth while casually asking the waiter beside him,
"Excuse me, have you seen a woman? Very distinct, pink wavy hair, a red flower clip by her temple, and freckles on her cheeks. She often wears a light blue dress and gives off a calm, quiet air."
These were the key details Wayne had extracted from the image Roger had shown him, his first impression of Portgas D. Rouge.
The waiter thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think I've seen someone like that. She used to come here with her husband once in a while, but they didn't talk much, so I don't know them well."
"And have you seen her recently?" Wayne asked.
"Uh… I think so. About three days ago, maybe? I remember she bought a lot of supplies that day."
As he digested the information, Wayne pieced things together. If Roger and Rouge were hiding, their home was likely in the mountains or the outskirts, quiet, isolated places, perfect for avoiding attention.
"Thanks."
Without another word, Wayne tossed a few Berries onto the table and left. He didn't go far, though, ducking into a secluded alley, he activated his Float-Float Fruit power.
In an instant, Wayne's body blurred into a streak of motion, soaring into the sky. From above, the island stretched beneath him: thick forests, winding streams...
Then he spotted it, a sunlit hillside, with a quaint wooden cabin below.
Not far from the cliffside in front of the house stood a woman, silently gazing out over the vast sea.
Her attire was unmistakable. Wayne recognized her at once, Portgas D. Rouge, Roger's wife.
He landed quietly a few meters behind her, not making the slightest sound.
"Rouge."
Startled, Rouge flinched violently and spun around. Confusion turned to fear as she instinctively backed away, her hands protectively covering her swollen belly.
"Y-You… who are you?! What do you want?"
Wayne smiled slightly, his tone half-playful.
"Mrs. Portgas D. Rouge… don't even think about running. After all, you wouldn't want people to find out you're the Pirate King's wife, would you?"
At those words, Rouge froze. Her breathing hitched, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
"Haha, just kidding." Wayne waved his hand, changing tone with a grin. "Relax, madam. Roger sent me."
Rouge said nothing. Her eyes remained wary; clearly, she didn't trust him.
"Roger asked me to deliver a message," Wayne said softly. "Would you like to hear it?"
Rouge's eyes widened. "What… what did Roger say?"
Wayne closed his eyes and took a deep breath, pretending to recall, but in truth, improvising.
"Rouge, I'm sorry. When you needed me most, I wasn't there. I wasn't a good husband, nor a worthy father. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I beg you, live on with our child. Stay strong, and see with your own eyes the dawn of the new era."
"..." Rouge trembled, then suddenly covered her mouth. Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably, slipping through her fingers.
Finally, she collapsed onto the grass, her tear-streaked face lifted toward Wayne. "Did… did he say anything else?"
Wayne shook his head. "No other words, just that. But between me and Roger, there's something I must do. A deal. To fulfill it, I have to get you off this island before the Marines finds you, and take you somewhere safe."
Just then, on the horizon, five massive warships broke through the mist, cutting toward Baterilla Island.
"Shit!" Wayne's pupils shrank. "That fast?!"
Rouge followed his gaze. When she saw the warships, her body stiffened, but surprisingly, she didn't panic.
She wiped her tears away, turned to Wayne, and said firmly, "The Marines are coming. How do we escape? And… where are you taking me?"
"You don't need to worry about how. As for the destination, East Blue."
"East Blue?!" Rouge's eyes lit up as if a thought struck her. She suddenly grabbed Wayne's arm. "If we're going to East Blue, please! Take me to Loguetown! Let me… see him one last time before he's executed!"
Wayne wagged a finger. "No, no, no. That's far too dangerous for you, and it might ruin my deal with Roger. So…"
He smirked. "It'll cost extra."
"How much? Name your price!" Rouge said urgently.
Wayne grinned wider. "Berries mean nothing to me. I want something valuable, something you can offer. Anything with worth can be traded."
Rouge froze for a moment, then shouted, "Ace!"
"Uh… no, not the kid."
'You think I'm gonna be a stepdad? Not happening.'
"What?" Rouge shook her head. "I meant Roger's sword, Ace. He told me it's one of the twelve Supreme Grade Blades. It should be valuable enough, right?"
"Oh!" Wayne patted his chest in relief. "That Ace. For a second, I thought, never mind."
"Deal!"
[Commission Order: Final Farewell]
Mission Objective: Escort Rouge to Loguetown and let her see Roger before his execution.
Reward: One of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades – Ace, and 500 Commission Points.