northernbook Chapter 487: The Pirate King Bows Down!
Chapter 487: The Pirate King Bows Down!
Roger stopped in his tracks.
His stiff gaze lowered, landing on his right hand. That hand habitually rested on the hilt of his sword. That was the confidence that allowed him to traverse the seas, an instinctive action when facing a powerful foe.
At this moment, the five fingers gradually loosened.
He removed his hand from the hilt of the knife. He turned around, his steps heavy, and walked back to the wooden table where he had been.
He used his actions to tell everyone present that he would not force his way in.
Taking a hard line here is pointless.
Turn around.
Close your eyes.
The oppressive aura of One Piece, like a raging storm, was receding at a visible speed. Even without being deliberately released, the pressure of a superior was enough to instill fear. But the violent momentum that no one on this sea dared to challenge was now being forcefully suppressed.
The Conqueror's Haki was completely and utterly subdued.
The extreme repression drained his mind. Roger's shoulders slumped slightly.
Remove all armor. Peel away the hard outer shell.
Only one ordinary man remained.
The change was too obvious. Marco stood behind the white-bearded man, the blue flames flickering almost imperceptibly.
Based on the Whitebeard Pirates' understanding of their arch-rival, Roger was always arrogant and domineering. Even when facing the combined attack of Garp and Sengoku, he only laughed maniacally. To be able to adopt such a posture…
This is no longer just a simple bowing of the head.
This is almost a humble compromise.
Joz frowned, and the diamond-like form on his upper body faded. Vista's grip on his sword loosened slightly.
The air grew increasingly heavy. They stared at this once arrogant man.
This is a father bowing his head to his son.
This kind of shock is far more intense than any actual battle.
Rocks, standing nearby, still wore a malicious sneer. He was waiting to see Luo Jie make a fool of himself, waiting to see him fly into a rage and start a fight with the white-bearded man.
But when Roger actually withdrew his imposing manner, the smile on Rocks' face froze.
His narrow eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp and piercing. He knew his old rival's nature all too well. They were both members of the D clan!
They usually seem carefree and indifferent. But when they get serious, they often do things more thoroughly than anyone else.
He's the kind of guy who won't give up until he gets what he wants.
Rocks scoffed, picked up his glass, and took a swig. He then fell silent, offering no further provocation.
He wanted to see just how far Roger could go.
Sitting high above, Chen Ye coldly observed Roger's every move.
Not a word.
Only Roger could personally untie this knot in Ace's heart.
Only then might it be possible for them to reconcile!
Before that!
This is the cruelest punishment for Roger. He must be made aware of everything about the future that Roger was unaware of.
Roger looked up.
Ignoring the white-bearded man and Rocks, his gaze pierced through the wall of people and fixed firmly on Ace's face.
He then spoke with a guilty tone:
Ace...
I know I don't deserve it, please forgive me.
There was no cover-up, no excuse.
"Your mother's death was caused by me."
The hardships you've endured over the years are also something I owe you.
His eyes were unfathomable, fixed on Ace's face, which was filled with resistance.
"Even if I did these things in the future, I will never blame anyone else for it."
Roger knew that arguing was pointless!
The words weren't elegant. There were no grand pronouncements, no flowery language. They even seemed clumsy, like a brute who had done something wrong but didn't know how to make amends.
I don't know how to comfort a child filled with hatred.
But it was precisely this clumsiness that revealed his admission of responsibility. There was not a trace of pretense, nor any attempt to evade or shirk responsibility.
Ace did not reply.
His chest heaved more rapidly, his breathing grew heavier. The more sincere Roger was, the more pain Ace felt.
Gradually, we uncover the old scars that Ace didn't want to recall.
The death of his mother. The wounds he licked alone in the dark of night. The undeserved misfortune he suffered because of his identity as the "son of the Pirate King".
Everything was reopened.
His eyes were red. He was tearing his soul apart in extreme turmoil. He resisted this belated fatherly love, and hated even more the uncontrollable stirrings within his heart.
I don't want to forgive. I don't dare to forgive.
Seeing Ace's pained expression.
Roger was even more heartbroken!
His gaze shifted to the white-bearded man blocking the way. His voice was pleading.
Newgate, please.
Let me pass!
Look into your nemesis's eyes.
Roger's posture at this moment was humbled to the point of being subservient. He had abandoned all his pride.
"I have to tell him what needs to be said in person."
He's no longer the Pirate King. He's just a pitiful father who wants to get closer to his son.
Whitebeard gripped the Murakumogiri tightly. Instead of backing down because of this humble posture, he took an even heavier step forward.
Like an insurmountable steel fortress, it completely blocked all paths.
"Say what you want to say here, but don't even think about touching my son."
The sound was like a thunderclap, and they wouldn't give an inch.
"Ace is not something you can use to soothe your conscience."
A heavy blow struck Roger's heart.
He ruthlessly exposed Roger's possible ulterior motives. Whitebeard saw through this guilt and would never allow him to alleviate his remorse by causing Ace's suffering.
The words landed. The members of the White Group remained motionless.
Jozu and Vista lowered their shoulders. Their muscles were taut to the limit. Their bodies once again assumed fighting stances, turning Whitebeard's words into a real wall.
Marco's eyes were sharp as he gripped the gun handle tightly with his hidden fingers.
No one can take Ace away. Not even the Pirate King.
This is family.
Sabo stood beside Ace, gripping the water pipe tightly.
Upon hearing that announcement, the tense breathing eased slightly. At least for this moment, someone had caught Ace firmly.
The white beard shielded Ace from all the storms, preventing him from being consumed by this sudden blood feud.
Sabo looked at the tall figure with respect in his eyes, but his vigilance remained.
Be prepared for Roger to suddenly turn on you.
Shanks silently watched from a wooden crate not far away.
His eyes were incredibly complex. He had followed this man and witnessed his glory. He knew just how proud Roger truly was.
He never bowed his head in the face of thousands of troops, and he laughed off death.
That's why he understood how heavy this act of bowing his head was. It was more painful than cutting off an arm.
He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
The strong liquor went down my throat, leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I was powerless to change it; I could only watch.
Luffy stood next to Sabo, frowning as he looked him up and down.
Look at Roger, his face covered in blood, and then look at Ace, who is trembling with pain.
He didn't understand what "father" meant, nor did he understand why the word caused Ace so much pain. But he had a beast-like intuition.
Ace is in great pain right now. His sadness is almost overflowing.
So Luffy stopped making a fuss and stood quietly in place.
Now is not the time to fool around.
Roger stood still.
He stared at the white-bearded figure standing in the middle, and at the circle of people firmly protecting Ace. He remained silent for a long time.
A deathly silence fell over the entire area once again. Only the howling of the night wind swept through the ruins.
Blood trickled down his cheek from his forehead. Drops of blood fell onto the dusty ground, creating dark red puffs.
He was like a lone, abandoned sinner, shut out by a wall called "family," a wall he couldn't cross.
After a while...
Roger seemed to have made up his mind, and he calmed down.
It wasn't dejection, but a resolute determination to burn one's bridges.
His straight back relaxed slightly, and the struggle and pain on his face faded away. He had let go of even the last bit of pride.
No longer caring about the dignity of being the Pirate King. No longer caring about the opinions of the world.
He was prepared to repay this debt in the most thorough way possible. He was determined to cross that wall, even if it meant being shattered to pieces.
Close your eyes.