About an hour later, two figures—one large, one small—emerged from the little house.
Rouge looked back at the cottage that once held memories of her and Roger, reminiscence flickering in her eyes.
They'd truly spent some beautiful times here together.
Shouldering the massive bundle, Aus saw this but didn't rush her.
"Let's go, Aus-san."
After a moment, Rouge turned around with a gentle smile.
Maybe Ace's future gentle, shy personality would come from his mother, Aus thought, smiling and nodding back.
Truth be told, Rouge had packed a stupid amount of stuff. Anyone weaker definitely couldn't carry it all.
She'd brought practically everything related to Captain Roger.
Bowls they'd eaten from together, pants Roger had washed but never got to wear, Roger's captain hat...
Right—if Rouge wasn't a hopeless romantic, a middle-aged guy like Captain Roger never could've won her heart.
Though the cottage sat by the sea, it wasn't near the closest dock. Walking along the path, Aus spotted plenty of residents living nearby.
"The Marines will search soon. Too easy to get exposed."
If they walked openly, tons of people would notice these two figures.
Not for any other reason—Aus was so damn tall and big, carrying luggage nearly as tall as himself. Hard to miss.
Anyone with half a brain could investigate and figure out it was him.
He wasn't scared of trouble, but he was scared of someone causing trouble for Rouge.
Noticing Aus's slightly narrowed eyes, Rouge startled, alarm filling her gaze:
"Could it be... Aus-san, you're planning to..."
Kill everyone to cover their tracks?
She didn't voice the second half.
Rouge's mind jumped to this possibility and scared herself.
"...Not necessary."
Aus smiled. Was he really that brutal?
Buzz—
With a controlled burst of Conqueror's Haki, figures who'd been working or eating in the distance dropped like flies, eyes rolling back as they collapsed.
Just like that, completely unobstructed, they reached the dock.
Sailing straight, it should take about two days, Aus estimated.
Stepping onto the dock, he saw many ships moored here. Most were merchant vessels, with a few noble yachts—probably from some kingdom's nobility who came for Baterilla Island's scenery.
"Aus-san, which ship is here to pick us up?" Rouge asked, seeing Aus stop at the dock.
"Hmm... how about this one?"
"Huh?"
Rouge went blank. Seemed like Aus was asking her?
No arrangements made beforehand?
Why did it look like he was choosing one on the spot...
"Well... since you're pregnant, let's take the fanciest one."
Leading the still-confused Rouge, Aus shouldered the luggage and headed toward the biggest, most luxurious ship at the dock, casually climbing the gangplank like he owned the place.
Guards spotted them quickly.
"Hey! Who are you two? This is His Majesty the King of Solilan Kingdom's flagship. You peasants—"
Buzz—
Thud.
The guard about to spout insults got put to sleep by Aus immediately.
Boarding naturally attracted the ship guards' attention.
Led by the kingdom's guard captain, they quickly surrounded these uninvited guests.
An armored figure stepped forward, raising his spear: "Who are you people!"
Rouge felt nervous, but Aus—completely surrounded—stayed calm as ever. He wasn't scared of guns. He could take everyone out before they fired.
But then nobody would sail the ship.
He thought for a moment, smiled, and pulled out folded paper: "This is my ID."
Hm?
The guard captain, about to shoot, paused.
ID?
His first thought: maybe this guy was a World Government official wanting a ride out of here.
After all, Solilan Kingdom was a World Government member nation.
If so, bringing them along wouldn't be impossible—just had to wait for His Majesty to return...
Thinking this, the guard captain took Aus's paper and slowly opened it.
Three big characters stared back:
One Piece: Legend Begins-WANTED POSTER
???
Looking at this wanted poster matching the person before him exactly, the guard captain's brain crashed.
After seeing that astronomical ten-digit bounty, he nearly exploded.
This was that recently notorious guy from the newspapers...
Bloodshot veins spread around his pupils.
Cold sweat poured down.
"You... you... you..."
"So, can we leave right now?" Aus smiled warmly, like some casual traveler.
He slowly leaned close to the guard captain's trembling ear, whispering like a demon:
"If you dare refuse, I'll slaughter your entire country clean."
The guard captain's face went green.
He didn't doubt those words one bit.
This was the great pirate who'd destroyed the legendary Marine Headquarters and escaped scot-free!!!
"Notify all crew! Depart immediately!"
"But His Majesty hasn't returned—"
"Shut up!"
The guard captain was so scared snot ran down his face. He kicked the objector to the ground, pointing his gun at the ship captain's head and ordering immediate departure!
As for the king stranded on the island without even a ship home?
For the entire nation's sake—you'll just have to suffer.
Seeing this, Aus nodded with satisfaction.
Some people saw wanted posters as personal threats, but Aus disagreed.
They worked perfectly as ID, sometimes even as passes.
Incredibly convenient.
The luxury ship started up quickly. The thoroughly terrified guard captain even prepared the most comfortable royal quarters for Rouge, making her feel embarrassed.
After all, she now knew the ship they were traveling on had been hijacked.
As expected from a Pirate King's crew member.
Fortunately, Aus didn't plan riding this ship all the way to Sabaody Archipelago. Near Sabaody waters, he let the cruise ship leave.
He wasn't comfortable letting these people know his final destination.
Before leaving, he casually grabbed several treasure chests full of valuables.
He didn't need money—call it living expenses for Rouge.
Watching the cruise ship slowly depart, he pulled out his Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Moshi moshi, Sami?"
"I'm at Tamiyara Island. Send a ship to pick me up."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
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