The bet was dropped.
Garp did not speak of his son’s affairs, nor his willingness to join the Xuanwu Navy. Garp had his own thoughts on the matter and therefore gave no answer to Benedict.
Alternatively, Garp still believed the current Navy upheld justice and was not beyond saving.
Although Benedict did not receive the answers he wanted to these questions, he did not refuse Garp’s request because of them.
The so-called dying request of a friend was related to Portgas D. Rouge.
Ace was about to be born.
Portgas D. Rouge could no longer hold on.
Her complexion was also very poor; even if Ace had not been born, her life would have reached its end.
Garp found Benedict because Sakata Gintoki had been beaten by Quinn, his bones shattered. The person who should have died, however, was as lively as ever that same day, completely unharmed.
And according to the intelligence he had personally collected, this was related to Benedict.
Garp hoped Benedict could save Portgas D. Rouge, ensuring the newborn child would still have a mother.
In doing so, he would have lived up to Roger.
South Blue, Bartholemew Island.
Portgas D. Rouge was hiding here to evade the World Government’s pursuit.
Now, Rouge could not hold on any longer.
In a simple wooden hut.
Rouge lay on the bed, her face pale and her strength nearly gone.
Her belly was bulging, and she was in great pain.
Just then, a bell rang from outside the door.
The bell chimed, but the door did not open.
Rouge’s pale face became cautious at this moment.
She struggled to stand up, wanting to hide.
About a minute later, the wind chime sounded again.
*Ding, ding, ding!*
After three knocks, the door was opened.
Seeing this, Rouge breathed a sigh of relief.
“Little Rouge!” Garp called out.
Rouge heard him and responded, “Old man.”
Garp walked ahead, with Benedict following behind.
Benedict was also filled with curiosity about the character of Rouge.
This woman’s willpower and love for her child were admirable.
Moreover, it was even more astonishing that Ace could stay in the womb for twenty years and still be alive.
“I brought someone who can protect you and the child’s safety.”
“The child needs you, so you must stay alive.”
“This way, I will have fulfilled my promise to Roger.”
Garp introduced Benedict to Rouge, smiling.
A slight smile appeared on Rouge’s face. Leaning on the headboard, she looked at Benedict and said, “Are you the child who spoke to him about ‘the future’?”
“He told me about you.”
“The leaflets that floated down from the sky were also a pleasant surprise.”
Benedict was a bit surprised and then smiled, “Is that so? Then can you trust me?”
Rouge gently stroked her belly, her brow furrowed slightly, then she smiled, “He said your dream is to overthrow this world.”
“However, you are not the one he was waiting for.”
“But he said you are a peculiar person.”
“He felt you might be able to do it.”
Hearing Rouge’s words, a smile appeared on Benedict’s face, “So that’s how it was.”
“He was really not straightforward, was he?”
Speaking of this, Benedict’s expression became a little more serious, “Auntie Rouge, since you trust my words, then give birth to the child.”
“I can guarantee that your child and you can live well.”
Rouge glanced at Benedict, then at Garp, and smiled slightly, “Benedict, old man, I’m sorry to trouble you.”
“Please excuse us for a moment.”
Benedict and Garp nodded, then left the room.
Outside the room.
Garp looked at Benedict and said seriously, “Kid, is everything really alright?”
“If you don’t trust me, why did you invite me?” Benedict retorted with a glare.
“As long as she has a breath of life, I can save her.”
The miraculous effect of the Senzu Bean, and it only cost 5,000 Justice Points, not expensive at all.
In Benedict’s understanding, such a miraculous Senzu Bean was not expensive at all, even if it cost fifty thousand Justice Points.
Time passed slowly.
Benedict and Garp waited, but there was no movement from inside, and they began to feel something was wrong.
Benedict’s Observation Haki swept over instantly, and his expression changed drastically.
*Bang!*
Forcing the door open violently, they saw Rouge lying on the bed, her face pale, with only her last breath remaining.
An infant lay beside her, curled up, quiet and not crying.
“Kid!”
Garp also reacted and called out anxiously.
Without Garp’s urging, Benedict had already stuffed the Senzu Bean into Rouge’s mouth.
Rouge’s breath was at its last gasp.
After they entered, this breath was about to be extinguished.
Therefore, Benedict was also somewhat nervous.
“It should be useful, right?” Benedict murmured to himself.
Garp’s expression was somewhat grim. He hadn’t expected Rouge to lose the will to live.
Otherwise, after giving birth, they only needed to call out, and anyone would be able to enter at any time.
“Cough, cough, cough!”
As the two remained silent, a cough sounded, and Rouge’s complexion gradually turned rosy.
In a short while, Rouge awoke and instinctively looked at the child.
“Ace!”
The child was held in Rouge’s arms, her face streaked with tears, unable to help but cry.
Seeing this scene, Benedict and Garp both smiled.
Rouge’s reaction let them know that she was no longer in danger.
About ten minutes later, Rouge calmed down, and the child also began to cry.
“Auntie Rouge, is the child named Ace?”
“That’s a wonderful name.”
“However, shouldn’t the child be cleaned now?”
Benedict reminded them from the side.
History had not changed; this child was still named Ace.
However, this time Rouge would survive, and Ace would have a mother.
Next, they would have to take the mother and son back to the East Blue. The place of learning was also just right for them to live.
It was only then that Rouge reacted. She felt no pain anywhere, and her body was extremely healthy.
It was as if she had not given birth, as if she had not experienced twenty months of pregnancy.
“What is happening?” After washing Ace, Rouge quickly tidied herself up and returned to the main hall, looking at Benedict and Garp, unable to refrain from asking.
“It’s the Senzu Bean!”
“An incredibly miraculous fruit.”
Garp glanced at Benedict and explained.
Rouge looked at Benedict, her eyes filled with gratitude, “I’m so sorry, I was a little selfish.”
“Thank you, I know what I need to do now.”
Benedict nodded and smiled, “I have already arranged your place of residence.”