LRAB Page 17
Page 17
He didn't know the specific method.
The navy is now searching everywhere like mad dogs, and the timing is perfect.
He put down his half-finished beer, stood up, and left the noisy tavern.
Back on the small boat, he adjusted the sails.
We need to confirm this.
It wasn't out of any sympathy or sense of justice.
He just felt that since he had remembered this matter, and he happened to be in this area of the sea.
Then go and have a look.
Let's see what happens to the child who can make the navy mobilize so much and make a woman willing to pay the price with her life.
Let's also see the last trace of blood left behind by the captain who has already died.
The small boat turned around and headed towards Batleyra Island, the island where Rouge might have lived in seclusion, according to her memory.
There was no rush to set sail.
He continued to drift along with the tide, but with a clear direction.
Along the way, he could sense that the navy had indeed increased its search efforts. Port checks were strict, and occasionally warships could be seen patrolling the nearby waters.
But this had little impact on his inconspicuous little boat.
He avoided major shipping routes and ports, choosing instead remote routes, slowly and steadily approaching his destination.
The sea breeze carries the unique, relatively mild scent of the East China Sea.
Liu Jiu sat at the bow of the boat, looking at the horizon ahead.
He didn't know exactly where Rouge lived, nor did he know her current situation.
All he knew was that on that island, there was a woman who was using her life and will to wage a silent and brutal battle against the entire navy and even the world government.
To protect a child who was not wanted.
One, the posthumous child of the Pirate King.
He wanted to go and witness the outcome of this confrontation firsthand.
no matter what the result is.
From the outside, Batleyra Island looks no different from any other ordinary island in the East China Sea.
Tranquil, peaceful, with a touch of languid seclusion.
But as Liu Jiu's small boat silently approached and stopped in a secluded bay, he could feel an unusual tension in the air.
The checks at the dock were noticeably stricter, with naval soldiers scrutinizing everyone who landed on the island with sharp eyes. The footsteps of patrol teams were also more frequent than usual on the town's streets.
Liu Jiu did not enter the town.
He hid the small boat behind the rocks, and like a shadow, he moved along the coastline and the edge of the forest, towards the deeper parts of the island, towards the more remote settlements.
His movements were light, his breath restrained, like a wild beast hunting for food in the forest, perfectly blending into the environment.
He stopped near a relatively isolated house at the foot of the mountain and hid behind a large, leafy tree.
The house was very simple, with a small courtyard where some ordinary clothes were drying.
A woman with long blonde hair sat on a low stool in the courtyard, doing some simple sewing work. Her profile was soft, but a lingering weariness and deep worry shrouded her brows.
Portgas D. Rouge.
Her belly was already quite swollen, clearly indicating that she had been pregnant for some time.
But her movements were steady, her fingers moving deftly through the fabric without the slightest sign of panic. Only occasionally would she pause her work, look up, and gaze warily toward the path leading to the town.
Whenever the sound of a naval patrol passing by reached her ears, her body would tense instantly, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes until the footsteps faded into the distance, at which point she would slowly relax and continue her work, though her breathing would become slightly more rapid.
Liu Jiu watched quietly.
He saw Rouge occasionally lower her head and whisper to her swollen belly in an extremely soft voice that only she could hear.
His lips moved, but the specific content was unclear.
But Liu Jiu could read her will from her lip movements and her gentle yet incredibly firm eyes.
It was a kind of obsessive protection.
She was telling the baby in her belly.
Hold on a little longer.
It's not the right time yet.
The navy is still searching; the danger is not over.
Her palm gently rested on her stomach, as if conveying strength and comfort.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling her and casting a soft halo around her. The scene should have been warm and full of hope.
But Liu Jiu could clearly sense the immense pressure and the life force that was being gradually depleted beneath that calm exterior.
Forcibly delaying childbirth will not be without its costs.
He looked at the woman, at her, all alone, fighting against the malice of the world for a child destined to bear a heavy fate.
The sea breeze rustled through the trees.
In the distance, the sounds of naval soldiers questioning and scolding the villagers could be heard again.
Rouge's body tensed up again. She raised her head and looked in the direction from which the sound came, her eyes filled with unfathomable worry and a hint of determination.
Liu Jiu stood in the shadows of the trees, like a silent bystander.
He neither showed up nor disturbed the peace.
It was just to confirm the situation.
It was pretty much as he had expected.
He took one last look at the woman who stood alone in the sunlight, guarding her secret and hope.
Then, he turned around.
He retreated silently into the depths of the woods, leaving no trace as he had come.
Liu Jiu did not leave Batleyra Island.
On the other side of the island, in a more secluded, almost deserted bay, he relocated his small boat. The rocky, densely wooded area provided a natural refuge.
Then, he began to move around in the mountains and forests, close to Rouge's residence but at a safe distance.
He needs to find a suitable location.
A few days later, he stopped at a place nestled against a rocky mountain, where the vegetation was exceptionally dense. The terrain was slightly elevated, and he could vaguely see the roof of Luigi's cottage in the distance, but it was extremely difficult to spot due to the layers of trees and undulating terrain.
It is here.
He drew the knife that had been with him for a long time and began to dig.
He used no tools, only this knife and his two hands.
Soil and rocks were easily cut and moved by him, like tofu. His movements were efficient and quiet, and the excavated soil was carefully dispersed deep into the surrounding woodland without leaving a trace.
In just a few days, a simple space, large enough to accommodate several people and hidden deep underground, began to take shape. He reinforced the four walls, used flattened wooden planks for support, and even left ventilation openings, cleverly concealing them in the crevices of rocks and under tree roots.
He then spent some time collecting clean hay, relatively soft cloth, water containers, and some durable food from the island, and quietly transported them into the underground shelter.
everything's ready.
That evening, the setting sun dyed the sky a deep orange-red.
Liu Jiu walked out of the woods and onto the path leading to Lu Jiu's residence.
His footsteps were light, but he didn't try to hide them.
Lu Jiu spotted him almost immediately in the courtyard. She stood up abruptly, the needle and thread in her hand falling to the ground. Her face drained of all color, leaving only utter vigilance and a hint of despair. She instinctively covered her protruding belly, her body trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on this suddenly appearing, unfamiliar man whose aura was terrifyingly calm.
The Navy? Or... the World Government?
Her mind raced, considering every possible response, even the worst possible outcome.
Liu Jiu stopped a few steps away from the courtyard gate.
He didn't try to get closer. His gaze calmly fell on Rouge's fists, which were clenched white with tension, and then slowly moved upwards to meet her eyes, which were filled with wariness and fear.
“I am not in the Navy,” he said, his voice low and flat, as if stating a simple fact.
Rouge did not relax; the suspicion in her eyes remained undiminished.
Liu Jiu paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, before continuing:
“I come from the Oro Jackson.”
These words struck Rouge like a thunderclap.
Her pupils contracted sharply, her body swayed, and she almost lost her balance. She stared at Liu Jiu in disbelief, her lips trembling, but no sound came out.
Oro Jackson...
That man's boat...
"On the ship, I'm in charge of wiping the deck," Liu Jiu added, his tone still calm, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
This overly ordinary, even somewhat comical, identity forms an eerie contrast with the oppressive feeling he exudes at this moment, yet inexplicably adds a touch of credibility to his statement.
Rouge stared intently at him, trying to find any trace of lying on his face.
His eyes were so calm, as calm as a deep pool of water, bottomless and devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
That calmness actually eased her tense nerves a little. If it were someone from the Navy or CP, they wouldn't start the conversation this way.
"You..." Her voice was dry and hoarse, "How did you find this place?"
"Just a guess," Liu Jiu replied succinctly. "The Navy is looking for women who are pregnant this year. The timing isn't right."
Rouge's heart sank. He knew! He even knew the timing was wrong!
"Captain... mentioned you before he left," Liu Jiu said, his words half-truth and half-lie. Roger hadn't explicitly mentioned it, but his act of disbanding the pirate crew and leaving alone spoke volumes.
These words became the final straw that broke Luju's psychological defenses. The strength and facade she had maintained so diligently cracked at that moment. Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up uncontrollably, but she bit her lip tightly, refusing to cry out.