"Roger!!!" Garp bellowed as soon as he snapped out of his shock, preparing to charge at him.

  At that moment, Cudius quickly intervened, "Garp, why don't you join us for a drink instead?"

  Hearing Cudius's calm words, Garp hesitated. Then Roger chimed in, "It's been a long time, Garp. Won't you sit and have a drink with me?"

  Although Garp was still reeling from the sight of a Celestial Dragon sharing drinks with the Pirate King, he ultimately held back his instinct to fight. He took a deep breath, grabbed a bottle of wine from the wall, and, with a frown, plopped down beside Cudius.

  "What are you even doing here in this remote backwater?" Cudius asked curiously.

  Garp scratched his head, then spped a worn, bck wallet onto the table. "Isn't this what you asked for? It's your fault. That Marsh Fruit of yours? It was in here. Take it, and don't lose it again."

  Cudius's eyes lit up. He grabbed the wallet, gave it a brief look, and pocketed it without further iion.

  Still grumbling, Garp added, "Ba Marineford, I told you, if you got any news aber, let me know immediately. But no, you CP-X guys tracked him down without a word. And now, here you are, drinking with him? Do you even know who he is?"

  Cudius chuckled awkwardly. Being caught like this was more than a little embarrassing. "I came here to arrest him," he said with a smile. "Figured it wouldn't be necessary to trouble you."

  "Arrest him? Look at him. He's sitting here drinking with you. What kind of pn is that? You didn't spike the wine, did you?" Garp eyed the gsses suspiciously.

  "I've decided to surreo Cudius, Garp," Roger said suddenly.

  Garp froze, staring at Roger in disbelief before turning to Cudius. "What did you put in his drink? He must be drunk, talking about surrendering like that."

  Cudius sighed, irritated by Garp's bluntness. "Roger's terminally ill. He doesn't have much time left."

  Garp's expression shifted. He looked at Roger, his disbelief giving way to sadness. "So, you're really dying?"

  Roger waved off Garp's sympathy. "If I get captured, I'll die either way. Why the sudden ? You're making me sick with all this se."

  Garp shrugged, shaking off his momentary sadness. "Yeah, you're right. You're a despicable bastard. The world'll be better off without you. Why should I feel sorry?"

  The versatioweewo old rivals took a lighter turn as they tio talk. Once Garp uood that Roger truly inteo surrender, he seemed to rex. Just as Roger had trusted Garp, Garp trusted Roger enough to believe him. There was o rush the arrest.

  Cudius, leaning ba his chair, puffed on a cigar as he watched these two lifelong enemies drink and chat like old friends. He couldn't help but marvel at the surrealness of it all. If he hadn't been here, he might never have believed that such a se could eve.

  The three of them sat there from dawn until dusk. Finally, they stepped out of the shabby tavern together. Roger waved to Garp and Cudius before heading home.

  Cudius, meanwhile, reparing to take Garp back to his ship for the night. After all, the man had go of his way to deliver something for him; it was only polite to show some gratitude.

  As they walked side by side along the quiet try road, Garp suddenly chuckled to himself. "Who'd have thought that sdrel Roger would settle down on some fotten isnd, fall in love, and even have a kid?"

  Cudius smirked. "Don't yret ing here now?" he asked.

  Garp didn't answer right away. He'd already been roped inter's pns, agreeing to look after Rouge until the baby was born. Ohe child was barp would hand the child over to Cudius for safekeeping. The Wover's iigations would be thh, and perhaps one day, after things had settled, the mother and child might be allowed to reunite. But deep down, Cudius k was unlikely. The world was harsh, and Rouge would likely meet a tragid trying to protect her unborn child, just as the stories had foretold.

  After a long silence, Garp finally spoke. "That guy Roger... He's something else, isn't he?"

  Cudius raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "Yeah, he's a pirate, but I 't help but like him. He's the kind of person you'd want as a friend. Imagihat."

  "Yeah, I've spent half my life fighting him," Garp muttered. "Back during the God Valley I, I ended up owing him a favor. He's about to die now, so I guess if I don't repay it soon, I never will. That's why I promised to help him."

  Cudius g Garp, then shook his head with a wry smile. "You're a fool."

  But somehow, this kind of fool was exactly the kind of person you could trust. Cudius didn't mind it.

  For the month or so, Cudius and Garp stayed on the isnd, wandering around, fishing, and occasionally dealing with small-time pirates. They never saw Rain, and both sides kept a respectful distance. Roger and Rouge spent their days quietly, cherishing their time together, while Cudius and Garp enjoyed a peaceful, if unusual, break from their duties.

  One m, as Rouge prepared breakfast, Roger sat at the table, coughing violently into a handkerchief. When he pulled it away, the white cloth was stained with blood.

  "Rouge, I regret it," Roger said softly, his voice weary. "What if... what if I hadn't bee a pirate? I could've married you sooner, and we could've had our child by now."

  I, Rouge froze. She uood what his words meant. A tear slipped down her cheek, and with a trembling voice, she replied, "But I fell in love with the big, heroic pirate you were, didn't I?"

  Roger smiled faintly. "Yeah. If I hadn't been a pirate, a beautiful girl like you probably wouldn't have even looked my way. After all, Cudius said I'm just a scruffy old man."

  Rouge chuckled, though it was bittersweet. "Well, he wasirely wrong."

  They ate their breakfast quietly, the atmosphere warm but tinged with sadness. When Rouge noticed Roger had ed his pte, she forced a smile. "You ate so much today. You're not leaving anything behind?"

  Rave a weak smile iurn, but his eyes were filled with unspokeions love, regret, and a heavy sense of finality.

  Rouge didn't say anything for a while, but then she softly asked, "Are you leaving?"

  Roger nodded slowly. "It's time, Rouge. I have to go."