One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 485: Only One Father!

The entire room was eerily quiet.

The pirates watching didn't make a sound for even a moment.

But through the flickering firelight, one could see tense faces. Chen Ye stood high above, without pausing, giving Roger no chance to catch his breath.

The story continues to recount Ace's painful memories over the past twenty years.

His gaze swept past the white-bearded, towering figure. Chen Ye locked onto Roger, his eyes icy cold. His voice, though not loud, was like a blade of ice, precisely cutting through Roger's last line of defense.

"Ace was born with the blood of the Pirate King's son."

"It's not because he's done anything wrong. Even if he hasn't harmed any innocent person. It's simply because he has your blood in his veins. The World Government fears you. The Navy fears you. And they vent all that fear on an innocent child."

Because in the eyes of the world government!

"Gol D. Roger's son deserves to die."

"If any demon has offspring, they must be crucified."

"That kind of filthy bloodline has no right to live in this world."

Chen Ye's voice echoed in Ace's mind. He had tried countless times to shake off the man's shadow. But that name was like a curse, clinging tightly to his bones and blood. Now, these unpleasant memories were mercilessly dredged up by Chen Ye. Ace felt extremely uncomfortable at this moment.

Luffy sensed something was wrong with Ace. He was usually oblivious, but he had a beast-like intuition for emotions. The air was thick with sadness. Ace's shoulders were trembling. Luffy instinctively took a step forward, wanting to reach out and take his hand.

A hand wearing a black leather glove reached out and firmly blocked Luffy's chest.

Sabo didn't turn around. His gaze was fixed on Roger ahead. He leaned slightly forward, his voice low and restrained.

"Luffy, don't get involved now."

Luffy stopped, biting his lip, anxiously watching Ace's retreating figure. He understood Sabo's serious expression. This wasn't a fight that could be won with fists alone.

Chen Ye continued, each word spoken with emphasis. He wanted Roger to clearly see the mess he would leave behind in the future.

"In Ace's eyes, you have never fulfilled your responsibilities as a father for a single day."

His voice was cold and hard as iron, piercing Roger's heart.

"What you left him wasn't companionship, nor protection. What you left him was a name that would subject him to endless scorn from childhood. You ushered in the Great Pirate Era with your death."

But you left your own flesh and blood in hell.

Roger's fingers, hanging by his sides, slowly curled up. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but couldn't utter a word.

What his future self will do. He can't argue about it now.

He wasn't a part of Ace's childhood. He didn't even see Rouge one last time. He couldn't shift this mess onto his other self in another timeline. Rouge died. Ace suffered. It was all true. He could only swallow these bitter pills. The Pirate King who roamed the four seas was now filled with nothing but remorse.

Chen Ye changed the subject.

"Later, Karp raised him."

The old navy man was mentioned.

"He was sent by Garp to Dadan in the East Blue to be raised, where he met two brothers."

Chen Ye looked at Sabo and Luffy. His tone softened.

"The three of them grew up in Dadan. They would get beaten up for fighting over meat. They would cause trouble everywhere. They would end up with bruises and black eyes. They drank the sworn brotherhood wine. From then on, Ace was at least no longer alone."

Luffy heard his name called. He looked up, staring intently at Ace. His expression turned serious as he vanished, his gaze becoming increasingly blank. He didn't understand the complicated blood ties of adults, nor the grudges against the World Government. He only knew that Ace had suffered greatly in the past. Ace was his brother. Anyone who made Ace suffer would be beaten up by him.

Sabo stood like a wall in front of them. He didn't speak. His posture carried more weight than words, as if bearing witness to the days they had endured together. Anyone who dared to touch Ace now would have to step over his corpse first.

Chen Ye's gaze passed over Sabo and landed on the towering man.

"Later, Ace went to sea and boarded Whitebeard's ship."

The voice became serious.

"Edward Newgate. This man didn't use the name of the Pirate King to intimidate him. He didn't even ask if the blood on his body was valuable. He tolerated Ace's hundreds of assassination attempts. He simply reached out and treated this thorn-covered boy as his own son."

The captains of the Whitebeard Pirates took a deep breath.

Marco adjusted his glasses. Jozu crossed his arms. Vista gripped his sword hilt. They stood more firmly. Chenye's words had ripped away the pride in their hearts, clearly stating their bond of life and death. Ace was family. It had nothing to do with Roger. It had nothing to do with blood ties.

Chen Ye paused, looking at the white-bearded man, before uttering the most weighty statement.

"In the original future, the Marineford War broke out at Marine Headquarters."

The voice was very low.

"To rescue Ace, who was being led to the execution platform, Newgate was prepared to risk his life. He led the entire Whitebeard Pirates to fight against the Marine Headquarters and the Seven Warlords of the Sea. He was prepared to burn his last embers."

Rescue Ace.

Zephyr suddenly looked up. Rocks' smile vanished. Shanks was also deeply moved. Even the dragon, who had been observing coldly, was touched.

To trade the life of a Yonko for the life of a young man. This wasn't taking in someone; it was unconditional protection. Whitebeard gave his life to fill the void of Ace's missing father figure.

Ace finally looked up.

He looked at Roger. His gaze was unwavering. There was no stirring of emotion. No joy. Only years of pent-up resentment, the pain of enduring countless grievances, and an unyielding stubbornness that would never yield.

Roger met that gaze. He felt as if he had been nailed to the spot.

He had traversed the seas for decades, faced countless killing intents, and withstood the most powerful Conqueror's Haki. But for the first time, he felt that this gaze was even more unbearable than Conqueror's Haki, pressing down on him and making it hard to breathe.

That was the look in the son's eyes when he looked at his father. There was absolutely no expectation in his eyes.

Despair. Utter despair. A resolute decision to erase everything. Roger felt a sharp pain in his chest. He would rather Ace draw his sword and kill him. He would rather Ace curse him loudly. But Ace didn't. Ace simply looked at him with the eyes of an enemy. A silent rejection. It made Roger momentarily lose his composure.

The next moment, Ace moved.

He grabbed the rough porcelain wine bowl from the table with lightning speed. His arm muscles tensed instantly. Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his right arm and smashed it straight down towards Roger's forehead.

The wine bowl whistled in the wind, leaving a trail of afterimages.

Normally, this thing wouldn't even touch Roger's clothes. Observation Haki would give a warning. His body would dodge. He could even unleash a bit of Conqueror's Haki. The wine bowl would turn to dust in mid-air. Roger possessed instincts honed through countless trials.

Roger stood there like a stone statue, letting the wine bowls come crashing down on him.

boom.

The wine bowl smashed solidly against Roger's forehead. The rough porcelain shattered instantly, shards flying everywhere. Sharp fragments grazed Roger's cheek, leaving small bloodstains. The remaining strong liquor splashed all over Roger's face. The largest shard of porcelain instantly cut a deep gash into his forehead.

Blood welled up, mingling with the amber liquid. It trickled down his brow bone, past the corner of his eye, down his cheek, and finally dripped into the dust.

The Pirate King of his generation. Now, he was utterly disheveled. His hair was soaked with alcohol and stuck to his forehead. Blood stained half his face. Yet, he remained standing motionless.

The onlookers were stunned by the impact.

Zeff's mouth gaped slightly, shock flashing in his eyes. Marco's pupils contracted sharply, his fists clenching instinctively. Even Rocks, who always seemed to thrive on chaos, briefly suppressed his mockery, his gaze turning deep. Shanks closed his eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.

No one expected Ace to pull this stunt. Even less did they expect him to be so decisive.

The most astonishing thing was that Roger actually stood still and took the blow, using his body to withstand his son's rage.

Roger deserves it!

Ace was extremely excited at that moment, staring intently at Roger.

Her eyes were red, but not a single tear fell.

Shout angrily!

"I only have one dad."

His voice trembled, but it held an unwavering resolve.

"That's Whitebeard."

He pointed at Roger, his eyes cold.

"Gol D. Roger. Your name has nothing to do with me."

His words were filled with resentment, like a sharp blade severing the unseen bloodline. A unilateral break, a rejection without reservation. Ace declared in the most resolute way that he didn't need the blood of the Pirate King, nor did he care for that world-shaking name. He only wanted his father, who was willing to risk his life to protect him.

Whitebeard stood in front of Ace.

He didn't turn around. His massive body was like an insurmountable mountain. Gundam's shoulders slumped slightly, as if silently accepting Ace's admission.

He leaned on the ground, his sword, the Murakumo-giri, as if using his spine to support his wounded son.

He also told everyone present that Ace was Whitebeard's son!

Roger remained standing in the same spot.

Looking at his son, whose eyes were filled with hatred.

Roger's eyes dimmed. His back hunched slightly. He was now filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt, like an old man who had done something wrong.

They lowered their once arrogant heads.