"All of us together,?"
Roger repeated those words in astonishment, tears still glistening in his eyes as he stared at Liu Feng. Though the proposal sounded tempting, he sensed something was off. Perhaps it was Liu Feng's slight, fox-like smirk and narrowed eyes that gave him away.
"You brat—what are you hiding?" Roger ground his teeth and grabbed Liu Feng's collar, wearing a fierce expression. From the execution platform and the ambush that stopped the Navy's pursuit, Roger knew just how ruthless this kid was. Though he seemed fearless and carefree, every move was calculated—clearly the result of careful planning. He'd resurrected Roger, then without hesitation cleared the area, whisking the weakened Pirate King away from Loguetown's Navy-infested waters. When the Marines gave chase, he sank their ship decisively to cover their tracks. Roger understood the enormous risk Liu Feng had taken to bring him back at this moment.
He had no idea what the Grand Line had become in the last twenty-two years, but as Pirate King, his return would inevitably spark countless conflicts. The Marine Headquarters and the World Government—his sworn enemies—would pursue him and Liu Feng relentlessly. Otherwise, the world-shaking public execution twenty-two years ago would have been meaningless. The Pirate King must die at the Marines' hands—ultimate evil ended by absolute justice—that was the "perfect" ending. His return was a resounding slap in the face to the World Government and Marine "justice" that had ruled for eight hundred years. And Liu Feng—who had brought him back—faced every peril alongside him. Yet Liu Feng showed no fear, only eager anticipation. Were it not for his meticulous planning, decisive action, and carefree attitude, Roger never would have foolishly set out with him—they would have parted ways long ago.
"Don't rush," Liu Feng said casually, shrugging and swatting Roger's hand from his collar. "So much has happened in these twenty-two years. Let me explain it all to you. But first, calm down with a smoke—otherwise I fear you might punch me." He smiled and handed Roger another cigarette. Cigarettes filled the ship's hold—second only to food, drink, and gunpowder in supply. It seemed smoking was a universal stress-reliever.
Roger glanced at the cigarette, shook his head, and hurried below deck. Moments later he reemerged with a jug of liquor. He plopped onto the deck, twisted open the jug, and guzzled without pause, clearly drowning his sorrows. Liu Feng smirked. Pirate King Roger was truly as goofy as the rumors said—a lovable big lug. But honestly, between his resurrection and his son's death, the barrage of bombshells was too much—even Roger's thick-skinned self couldn't take it all at once.
With warm liquor warming his gut, Roger's face flushed ruddy as he snapped, "Spit it out—what's the worst you've got for me now?" and downed another gulp.
Liu Feng exhaled smoke and drawled, "How do you feel about your son calling someone else 'Dad'?"
Pffft! Roger's reaction sent liquor spraying across Liu Feng's face. He wiped it off expressionlessly—and blinked to find Roger looming before him, bloodshot eyes boring into him as if to devour him alive.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Roger's hoarse voice burst from between clenched teeth, and Liu Feng could swear he seemed to see a dense green aura—Conqueror's Haki—flaring atop the Pirate King's head.
"You heard right," Liu Feng said with a grin. "Your son Ace is calling someone else 'Dad,' and it's not you."
Roger froze. Then he slammed the jug onto the deck with a crash and roared to the sky, "Damn Garp! He'd betray me like this? I'll kill him for this! I trusted him with my wife and son back then! He's really taken good care of them, has he?" He ground his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Wait!" The enraged old man suddenly realized something and spun around. "What did you just say? All of us together? My wife… is dead too?"
Liu Feng slapped his forehead, exasperated. That reaction time was absurdly slow—like a 460-ms network lag. How did this dunce even become Pirate King? All those ambitious schemers failed—and this blockhead pulled it off?
He sighed deeply. "Yes. But rest easy: the one Ace calls 'Dad' isn't Garp—it's Whitebeard."
Roger froze again—then erupted in fury once more. "Damn Whitebeard! He'd betray me like this? I'll kill him for this!"