I agreed to win with Roger, but the guy I met was too young Chapter 066

Perona flew into the sky: “Mr. Rhett, Uncle Tom said this ship will take at least half a year. What should we do now?”

Rhett rubbed Perona’s head, holding Laboon’s hand as he ate ice cream. “Then let’s enjoy retirement life.” And so, Rhett truly experienced life as a university student again: no early classes, eating and sleeping, going out for a stroll when he’d had enough sleep.

The only downside was the lack of computers and phones, so no all-nighters. Moria would sometimes ask him what he wanted to eat, and he’d reply, “Anything.”

Days passed by.

Just as Rhett was living a life of idleness, he suddenly received a Den Den Mushi call from his captain, telling him to go to Barbecue Island (a fictional island created by the author, located roughly near Sabaody).

When Rhett arrived at the island, he found Uncle Rayleigh there. Uncle Rayleigh seemed very emotional.

The setting sun dyed the coast blood-red, the scent of barbecue mingling with the salty tang of the sea breeze.

As Rhett stepped onto the beach, Laboon clutched Rhett’s pants fin, looking worriedly into the distance: “Woo” (Brother Rhett, Uncle Rayleigh is crying so loudly…)

On the reefs by the coast, Rayleigh grabbed Roger’s collar, the veins on the forehead of the usually composed “Right Hand” bulging. Roger’s shirt was pulled askew, but he still laughed carefree.

“Are you out of your damn mind?!” Rayleigh’s roar startled a flock of seabirds. “Come back to Sabaody with me right now! I’ll tie you up even if I have to—”

Rayleigh lifted Roger with one hand, pressing him against the rocky mountain.

“Rayleigh.” Roger gently pressed his old friend’s wrist. “You’ve known this day would come.”

Rhett stopped.

He saw Rayleigh’s fist hover in mid-air, finally smashing hard against the reef behind Roger.

Shattered rock splattered, blood dripped between his fingers. Rhett could tell that Brother Rayleigh hadn’t used Armament Haki; it was pure catharsis.

“Rhett!” Roger suddenly turned and waved vigorously at him. “Come on! The meat’s getting cold!”

It was as if the earlier argument had never happened.

Laboon gnawed on a grilled fish by the bonfire, occasionally sneaking a glance at Roger, who was pouring wine for Rhett—the legendary Pirate King was now chattering like an older brother:

“That kid Shanks is making quite a stir in the New World… Buggy actually went to become a bounty hunter. He told me he wants to save up money to form a pirate crew, hahahaha, that’s just like him!”

The foam in the wine glass gradually settled.

Rhett suddenly spoke: “When?”

Roger’s smile faded slightly: “Next month’s full moon.” He tilted his head back and took a swig of wine. “I’ll be paying a visit to the Marines.”

Rayleigh suddenly crushed his wine bottle.

“Don’t make that face!” Roger hooked an arm around both their shoulders with a grin. “I even saved you tickets for the special seats—”

“Shut up!” Rayleigh pushed him away, his golden hair trembling violently in the moonlight. “Do you think this is a joke?!”

The sea breeze suddenly turned bone-chilling.

Roger slowly sat up straight, his eyes under his straw hat astonishingly bright: “Listen, Rayleigh.”

His voice was very soft, yet it quieted the entire beach. “We found Laugh Tale, but that answer… doesn’t belong to this era.”

He pointed to his temple: “I won’t accept fading away quietly—I want the whole world to hear my voice.”

Rhett stared at the bonfire, blood mist uncontrollably seeping out. When he came, he had thought about tying Roger up and taking him away, but now, sitting in this position, looking at this man’s resolve, Rhett’s heart wavered. This wasn’t the world’s corrective force; this was simply how this man would be.

“I can save you,” he heard himself ask without thinking.

Roger burst into laughter, vigorously ruffling his hair: “Silly boy, wouldn’t that make it meaningless?”

Roger suddenly lowered his voice, “However… there is something I need to ask of you.”

He pulled a bronze pocket watch from his懷裡, inside was a photo—taken on Laugh Tale back then, a family photo of everyone.

“This is for you, and you’re going to be an uncle…” Roger placed the compass into Rhett’s hand.

“I hope that after I’m gone, you can entrust Rouge to Garp. I’ll also ask him to help me take care of her. She’s on Baterilla Island in the South Blue. Rouge… is my wife. Garp will find a way to protect them. Here, this is Rouge’s photo.”

Rhett suddenly looked up: “Are you afraid I won’t teach your child well?! You bastard… do you know who you are?”

“Ku ha ha ha! After all, you’re the most reliable little brother in our family! But with you, he can only be a pirate. With Garp, he can choose to be a Marine, an ordinary person, or a pirate like you. This is the only thing I, an incompetent father, can do for them.”

Roger jumped up and stretched. “Alright! Everything that needed to be said has been said!”

He turned and walked towards the waves, his silhouette stretching long in the moonlight.

“Oh, right.” Roger suddenly turned back and winked at Laboon. “Laboon, remember to protect our little Rhett.”

Laboon’s grilled fish dropped to the ground: “…Huh?!”

Laboon came to Rhett’s side and saw that his fists were tightly clenched, his fingernails already piercing his palms.

Roger’s final song drifted from afar, off-key but full of spirit. (Off-key: indicates singing out of tune)

Rhett knew that shortly after Roger died, the Marines found Rouge. This great mother had managed to delay Ace’s birth using drugs. Rouge’s death, Ace’s birthday—it was truly hard to imagine the difficulties involved.

Rhett cursed with a smile: “Bastard, why didn’t you just bring them directly? You had to make me run an errand.”

Rhett knew Roger was protecting Rouge; being with Roger carried too high a risk.

Rhett contacted Moria via Den Den Mushi, telling him he was going to the South Blue. Laboon’s current strength allowed him to return to Water 7 on his own. Rhett immediately set off in his small boat to find Rouge.

He didn’t care about being captured later; Rhett was going now.

After Roger’s death, how did the Marines know Roger had a child? Someone in that town must have leaked the information. The sooner he picked them up, the better.

South Blue, Baterilla Island—based on Roger’s description, Rhett quickly located Rouge.

Rhett stood in front of Rouge’s small house, straightened his collar, and cleared his throat. Rhett didn’t want to face Rouge with a sad expression, then—

“Sister Rouge! I’m Rhett! Roger’s ‘Phantom of the Mist’ from his crew! The one from Roger’s ship! Open the door!”

Inside, there was dead silence.

Rhett scratched his head: “Uh… was my voice too quiet?”

Conqueror’s Haki covered the entire town, putting its residents into a baby-like sleep. After confirming no one was awake, he took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and shouted again: “Sister Rouge! I’m here to protect you! I’m super strong! Even the Marines have to make a detour when they see me—”

This wasn’t Rhett bragging; he had now reached Yonko-level strength, making him one of the world’s top powerhouses.

“Bang!” The window suddenly flew open, and Rouge poked her head out, a kitchen knife still in her hand, but her eyes held an unresolvable terror: “Shut up! Do you want to attract the entire Marine force?!”

Rhett immediately clapped a hand over his mouth, scratched his head, and grinned: “Sorry, sorry, hahahaha.”

Rouge narrowed her eyes: “You said you were Roger’s crewmate?”