Squard's angry words caused the surrounding crew members to fall silent. It was only then that they remembered the inextricable hatred between Squard and Roger. All the crew members Squard had once considered family had been killed by the Roger Pirates. Thinking of this, Marco and the others exchanged glances, unsure how to console him.
Whitebeard looked calmly at Squard and said in a deep voice, "No one can choose their birth. Those things shouldn't be blamed on Ace. If he could choose, Ace wouldn't want to be the Pirate King's son either. Now, I just want to ask you, son, were you happy when you spent time with Ace before?"
"I..." Squard didn't know how to answer. After all, he had treated Ace like family before; of course, he was happy. But his hatred for the Pirate King Roger was also real...
Seeing Squard's hesitation, Whitebeard continued, "No matter who Ace is, no matter whose son he is. Right now, he is my son, just like you. I hope you can forgive Ace. Don't blame him for faults that aren't his."
Whitebeard's words struck Squard like thunder. He couldn't help but recall the times he had spent with Ace; he had been truly happy then. Should he really blame Roger's sins on Ace? Squard felt lost. Just then, Ace suddenly spoke on the sky screen.
[Fire Fist Ace: This is all my fault. I caused the deaths of those innocent people. I shouldn't exist in this world. Pops, Luffy, everyone... please don't come to save me. Let someone as evil as me die here.]
Ace's words moved many people.
[Whitebeard Edward Newgate: Ace, don't talk nonsense! Pops will definitely come to save you!]
[Straw Hat Luffy: Ace, you're such a disobedient older brother! Then I won't be obedient either! Just you wait!]
[Pirate King Gol D. Roger: Ace, I know it's because of me that you and your mother encountered these things. I know you hate me. But as your father, I want you to live.]
[Fire Fist Ace: You are not my father! My father is Whitebeard! He is the only father I acknowledge!]
[Pirate King Gol D. Roger: Ace, I just want to make it up to you.]
[Fire Fist Ace: I don't need it!]
[Golden Lion Shiki: Zehahahaha! Roger, you're having a rough time!]
[Big Mom Charlotte Linlin: Mamamama! I never thought I'd see the day Roger got shut down!]
[Fire Fist Ace: As the Pirate King, you should have known the Marines wouldn't let you, or anyone related to you, go. So why did you still get involved with my mother? You made her suffer so much and caused the deaths of so many innocent people! All of this is because of you!]
[Pirate King Gol D. Roger: Ace, I know that no matter what I say now, you won't believe me. But I still want to tell you... Rouge was willing.]
[Fire Fist Ace: I know! I saw! She didn't regret it! But that doesn't stop me from hating you! You never cared about her!]
[Pirate King Gol D. Roger: That's not true, I...] [Fire Fist Ace: Shut up! I don't want to hear anymore from you!]
[Kaido of the Beasts: What a great show, Urororororo!]
[Wang Zhi: Uhahahaha! Poor bastard Roger!]
[Rocks D. Xebec: Oh, quite lively in here. My former crewmates... and the brats who became famous after me.]
[Golden Lion Shiki: Captain?!]
[Rocks D. Xebec: Shiki, long time no see. I've been watching for a while and couldn't resist joining the fun. Linlin, Kaido, Newgate... my former crewmates. Have you been well? I've missed you all dearly.]
[Big Mom Charlotte Linlin: Mamamama! Captain, you're here too?]
[Kaido of the Beasts: How nostalgic, Urororororo.]
[Whitebeard Edward Newgate: Gurararara! Captain Rocks, long time no see.]
[Civilian 1: Wh-What's going on? Who is this Rocks? Why is he calling the Emperors his subordinates?]
[Civilian 2: I... I don't know!]
[Pirate 1: Wait... I remember! Rocks D. Xebec! He was the captain of the Rocks Pirates. He became famous even before Gol D. Roger. It's said his crew included not only legendary pirates like Golden Lion Shiki but also three of the current Four Emperors: Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom!]
[Pirate 2: That powerful? Then why haven't we heard of him?]
[Pirate 1: Hmph! You'll have to ask the World Government about that. They erased this man's existence.]
[Pirate 3: If that's the case, how do you know about it?]
[Pirate 1: I've just lived a long time and happened to learn about it.]
The appearance of this one man caused an uproar on the sky screen, and the world below was similarly shaken.
Holy Land, Mariejois
The Five Elders stood up abruptly upon seeing Rocks's message. "He...even this man has appeared?!"
"Damn it! We spent so much effort erasing his existence, and he can still appear!"
"It's just an appearance. His existence has been expunged from history. Only a handful of people know about him. It shouldn't cause problems."
"But what if this sky screen broadcasts this man's story?Then everything we did will be for nothing!"
"Then...what should we do?"
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford Kuzan looked at the messages on the sky screen and turned to Sengoku.
"Mr. Sengoku, that Rocks Pirates... wouldn't that be the battle that made Mr. Garp's reputation?"
"Yes," Sengoku nodded.
"It was that battle that made Garp the 'Marine Hero'."
Hearing this, Borsalino couldn't help but add, "Oh my~ A legendary great pirate has appeared. How terrifying~"
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly. "No matter who it is, if they are a pirate, they must be eliminated from this world."
...
Whole Cake Island Charlotte Perospero looked at Big Mom."Mama, do you know that pirate?"
"Ah...if it's really that man, then a huge commotion is about to happen, Mamamama!"
"What's going on? Katakuri, big brother, do you know?"
...
Sabaody Archipelago Shakky widened her eyes in disbelief.
"Rayleigh... he... he is..."
"Yes," Rayleigh responded gravely. "It's him."
(End of Chapter 9)
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