章節 202: Chapter 202
Foosha Village, East Blue
"Agatha-san, can you make two more apple pies?" A childish voice echoed from the counter. The little girl, about nine years old, carried an infant while helping take orders from the patrons in the bar. A young mother was busy working in the kitchen.
This bustling place was Party's Bar, the most popular spot in Foosha Village. Currently, the bar was filled to the brim, thanks to the new cook, a young mother named Agatha. The bar's owner had hired Agatha as a favor for Garp, who had asked him for help.
He also took pity on the woman, but never in his wildest dreams had he expected Agatha to be such a great cook. Within a month of her start, the average number of patrons had tripled. He even had to have his granddaughter, Makino, help him at the bar.
In one corner sat two men, their eyes full of grievance and tears. They were being heavily reprimanded by their boss, Dadan, a wanted criminal in the Goa Kingdom but warmly regarded by the people of Foosha Village. Though she was a bandit boss, she and her men had helped the village countless times against pirates.
Dadan boinked her subordinates on the head once again, making them cry out. "You dare target Agatha-chan? Have you guys gone senile?" She took a bite of a freshly made apple pie, her face flushed with bliss.
She looked at her subordinates, who had planned to rob Agatha, and the more she tasted the pie, the more she wanted to beat them up. The scene was comical: Dadan was beating them and feeding them delicacies. The subordinates had no idea that Agatha-san was related to the monster Garp. Before leaving the island, he had especially asked Dadan to help Agatha out if she needed it.
"Dadan-san, it's alright. It was a genuine mistake. I'm sure they didn't really mean to harm Ace," a soft voice echoed. Rouge, who had taken the identity of Agatha, walked out with two apple pies.
She squinted at the two men who had planned to kidnap Ace and get money, but then they were beaten to a pulp by her. After learning what they had done, Dadan dragged them all the way from the mountain, beat them again, and had them apologize to Agatha. Now, they were being treated to a meal.
The two bandits immediately shook their heads, promising they would never mess with Ace again.
Makino, the little girl who had asked for the pies, smiled brightly at Rouge. "Thank you, Agatha-san! Everyone loves your cooking!"
Rouge smiled warmly at the child. "Thank you, Makino-chan. You've been such a big help today."
Makino blushed at the praise, then ran off to deliver the pies to the waiting patrons. Rouge watched her go, a fond smile on her face, before turning back to Dadan.
"Dadan-san, thank you for your help. I don't know what I would have done without you."
Dadan waved her hand dismissively, though her expression softened. "There is no need to thank me, Agatha-chan. Garp asked me to look out for you, and besides, anyone who can cook like this deserves some protection."
Rouge chuckled softly. "Well, I appreciate it nonetheless."
As the bustling atmosphere of Party's Bar continued, Rouge felt a sense of peace. Despite the challenges and the constant threat of danger, she had found a place where she and her son, Ace, could be safe. And for now, that was enough.
"Say, Agatha, are you really related to that bastard Garp? No matter how I look at it, I can't seem to relate such a polite person to that rude bastard, I had thought his whole family must be as crazy as him." Dadan scoffed. Garp had introduced Agatha as his niece, who had recently lost her husband due to some misfortune.
Agatha was a kind and polite soul, and almost everyone in the village had quickly become attached to her. Dadan couldn't bring herself to believe that Agatha could be from Garp's family, who she thought must all be rowdy and rough.
Agatha couldn't help but chuckle. Dadan, however, failed to notice the pale faces of her two subordinates, and her back was turned to the pub's entrance.
"Why don't you ask him yourself, Dadan-san? He's standing right behind you," Agatha said, returning to the kitchen as more orders poured in.
Dadan sat frozen as a massive shadow loomed over her. She couldn't help but gulp, realizing she had just badmouthed Garp. Though they were friends, she knew Garp was unpredictable and enjoyed beating people up just for fun.
Garp's booming laugh filled the bar, causing the patrons to momentarily pause in their conversations. "Bwahahaha!! Dadan! Always talking behind my back, huh?" he said, clapping a heavy hand on her shoulder.
Dadan winced under the weight of Garp's hand. "G-Garp! I was just, um, praising you, you know?" She stammered, trying to wriggle out from under his grip.
Garp's grin widened, and he leaned in close. "Oh, I heard everything, Dadan. But don't worry, I won't hold it against you... this time." He finally released her, and Dadan let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Agatha, it's good to see you," Garp called out, turning his attention to the kitchen. "How's everything going?"
Agatha appeared from the kitchen with a few more orders, passing them to Makino, wiping her hands on her apron. "Everything's going well, Uncle Garp. The bar's been busier than ever."
Garp nodded with a smile on his face. "Good, good. I knew you'd do well here."
The bar's patrons, initially wary of Garp's overwhelming presence, relaxed as the atmosphere returned to its usual lively state. Makino, sensing the tension had lifted, approached Garp with a beaming smile.
"Grandpa Garp! Did you bring me any of those toys you promised?" She asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Garp laughed sheepishly, scratching his head. "Of course, Makino-chan! I've got plenty of them. But first, let me have a good look at my grandson."
Garp carefully took Ace from Makino's hands, who happily went back to work, leaving little Ace in Garp's care. After playing with Ace for a few minutes, Dadan, who understood that Garp needed to talk, chased away her subordinates. They happily packed up more food and ran away towards their hideout.
"Did you not say that you might not return for quite some time?" Dadan couldn't help but question. Normally, whenever he visited, he would at least let her know beforehand. This visit was too abrupt, and he had only recently returned to duty after many years of break.
"Ah! I just took another break. I missed Ace," Garp bellowed in laughter as little Ace giggled and started pinching Garp's face. Dadan understood there was more to it but didn't ask any further.
"So, has there been any trouble in the village since I left?" Garp asked. Not many would dare target Dawn Island; only the ignorant and downright stupid would do so, and the world lacked neither of those types. But the truly informed would never touch the village because they knew it was the home of the Marine Hero. Even the Goa Kingdom royalty left Foosha Village alone, not wanting to mess with it.
"Well, we had a few run-ins with some pirates. There was nothing we couldn't handle. The East Blue seems to have become much quieter in recent days. I feel like someone powerful is prowling the East Blue Sea."
Garp immediately understood, and his thoughts drifted to his student, who must still be in East Blue. "Maybe I should visit that brat and give him a good beating. I don't know what he's doing here in East Blue; maybe he wants to influence Ace to follow in his footsteps. I must really chase him away!" he murmured, turning to little Ace in his arms. "Oh, don't you worry. Grandpa here will make you the strongest Marine that ever was," he added, to which little Ace responded with a soft punch, making Garp smile widely.
Dadan watched the interaction with a soft smile. Despite her gruff exterior, she had a soft spot for Ace and respected Garp for his dedication to the boy. "You really believe Ace will become a Marine, don't you?" she asked.
Garp looked at her, his expression serious, for a moment. "I do. He's got the spirit for it. And with the right guidance, he'll be a great Marine, even better than me."
Dadan snorted. "Better than you? That's a tall order."
Garp chuckled, bouncing Ace gently. "That's right. This little guy is destined for greatness. Just wait and see."
**********
Within a hidden base of the Revolutionaries, a heavily pregnant woman stirred, and the doctor in charge of the medbay moved to assess her condition.
"Reiju... Reiju..." Sora opened her eyes, her head still throbbing, but her mind instinctively searched for her daughter. The last thing she remembered was a gunshot and Reiju falling to the floor. Tears welled up in Sora's eyes.
"Miss, please, you need to calm yourself down," the doctor said kindly, trying to soothe the distressed woman. She already knew the identity of the woman the revolutionaries had rescued: the Queen of the Germa Kingdom, Vinsmoke Sora. Well, she was no longer a queen because the kingdom was no longer there; the entire floating kingdom of Germa 66 had been sunk beneath the sea.
The poor woman must have gone through quite the ordeal. From the initial tests, they had deduced that the fetus within her womb had been modified by experiments. Despite their best efforts, they hadn't been able to reverse the effects, as the damage had already been done. They couldn't understand why someone would be cruel enough to experiment on unborn children, but they had no idea that it was her own husband who had subjected her to such inhumane experiments.
"Reiju... where's Reiju? Is she alright?" Sora asked with a hint of hope, thinking that if she had been rescued, there was a chance her daughter might be alive and well. Her eyes darted around the small room, searching for her little girl.
The doctor lowered her head, unable to meet Sora's eyes. "I am sorry," she replied softly. She had learned from the revolutionaries who had saved Sora that the woman's daughter had been gunned down by underworld members and did not make it. They couldn't even retrieve the child's body as the island was sinking.
Sora's world shattered. The hope that had briefly flickered in her eyes was extinguished. She clutched her belly protectively, tears streaming down her face. "No... not my Reiju..."
The doctor placed a comforting hand on Sora's shoulder. "I'm truly sorry for your loss. But right now, we need to focus on you and the children you're carrying. You must stay strong."
Sora nodded weakly, though her heart was breaking. She had lost so much, but she knew she had to survive for the sake of the children growing inside her.
The doctor continued to monitor Sora's condition, making sure she was stable. "You are safe here. We will do everything in our power to protect you and your children."
"Where is this place?" Sora asked weakly. "Who are you?" Though she was thankful, she had no idea who her benefactors were because she had fainted at the time of her rescue.
"We are part of a resistance group called the Revolutionaries," the doctor replied while checking Sora's vitals. "You don't have to worry; we will not harm you. You are in safe hands."
"Is the Germa Kingdom gone?" Sora asked softly, but there was a hint of expectation in her eyes. She wanted that kingdom burned to the ground—the kingdom that took away her lovely daughter. Her hatred for Judge had reached a tipping point. If not for her husband's greed, all this would not have come to pass, and her little Reiju would still be alive.
"I'm sorry, but the Germa Kingdom is no more," the doctor said. "Donquixote Doflamingo made sure of it. It is said that the Donquixote Pirates chased down the islands that had split up during the chaos and sank them."
Contrary to the doctor's expectations, Sora showed a faint sign of relief, as if the kingdom had been a curse.
Sora sat up with difficulty. "Thank you for helping me. I'm sorry, but I currently do not have anything to pay you for the treatment." She did not want to impose on their kindness any longer and decided it was better to leave.
"Where do you think you will go in your current condition?" the doctor asked sternly. "It is downright foolish to think about leaving. What are you planning to do out there?"
Sora looked down, her hands resting protectively over her swollen belly. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I can't impose on your kindness forever. I need to find a way to survive and ensure my child's safety."
The doctor shook her head, her expression softening. "You are not imposing. We helped you because it was the right thing to do, and you still need care. Going out in your condition would be dangerous for both you and your child. Stay here until you are stronger. The Revolutionaries look after their own, and we will help you find a way forward."
Sora's eyes were filled with gratitude and uncertainty. "Thank you," she whispered. "I just... I don't know how to repay you."
"Your recovery is enough for now," the doctor assured her. "When you are ready, we will talk about the future. For now, focus on getting better and keeping your unborn children safe."
Sora nodded, leaning back into the pillows with a mixture of relief and sorrow. Her heart still ached for Reiju, but she knew she had to stay strong for the children she carried. The Revolutionaries had given her a second chance, and she was determined not to waste it.
A new life within the so called Revolutionaries did not seem bad; at least the people here seemed to have a bit of humanity, much more than one could expect in this cruel world.
As the doctor left the room, Sora closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting to her old life, her lost daughter, and the hope for a better future. She would survive, not just for herself but for the children growing inside her. She vowed to protect this new life with everything she had, determined to make sure her children would never suffer as Reiju had. Maybe her children would come to embrace their new life as part of the revolutionaries.
*********
A/N:
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