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[RNZO] Ch 306: Ace is Roger's Son
🕑 Added 2025-06-24 16:28:20 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
"I'd say the one who lost out the most… is that red-haired brat," Rayleigh laughed heartily. "He gambled everything on the so-called new era. Even sacrificed an arm for it, betting on Garp's grandson—Dragon's son! Hah!"
He could practically picture how frustrated Shanks must've been after hearing that Renzo had single-handedly flattened the World Government and the Celestial Dragons—and then tossed out his own brand-new plan.
"Oh?" Renzo raised an eyebrow, looking at Rayleigh with an amused smirk. "So Shanks had his eyes on that big goof Luffy from the very start, huh?"
"Huh?" Kuina blinked in surprise. "Wait, you mean that wasn't just a coincidence?"
"Hahaha!"
Rayleigh laughed and adjusted his glasses. "Well, since that whole plan's fallen apart now, I guess there's no harm in telling you."
"It definitely wasn't a coincidence."
"Roger said the one destined to change the world would come from that village."
"Of course, it's not like Shanks was dead set on handing everything to Luffy from the beginning. He tested him—watched him closely. Only after confirming Luffy's potential, personality, and ideals, only after realizing how much the kid reminded him of Roger, did he make his decision."
"If Luffy had failed that 'evaluation,' so to speak, Shanks wouldn't have placed his hopes on him."
His bloodline might have been important, but character, conviction, and values mattered even more.
From Shanks' decision, it was clear that Luffy had passed with flying colors—he had everything they were looking for. He was someone who could carry the torch.
Renzo shrugged with a knowing smile. "I knew it. There's no way that was just random luck."
"From the start, you guys must've had your eyes on him."
"If things went according to that plan, the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, even Whitebeard and Shanks would've ended up backing him."
"That would've been the single most powerful alliance the seas had ever seen."
"And if Luffy had gotten strong enough—hell, he might've actually pulled it off."
Rayleigh nodded slowly. "True. Luffy's background really is that special. He was always meant to be a key part of the puzzle."
"But now I'm curious," Renzo said, turning the topic, "do you two actually know who Luffy's big brother—Ace—really is?"
"Ace? What about him? Isn't he Garp's grandson too?" Rayleigh asked, visibly confused.
"Probably just adopted. Maybe a war orphan?" Aunt Shakky offered.
"Ho ho?" Renzo raised an eyebrow, grinning mischievously. "So you really didn't know? Especially you, Aunt Shakky—with that intel network of yours, I thought you'd have figured it out by now. Bit disappointing, to be honest."
Both Rayleigh and Aunt Shakky exchanged looks of surprise. "Wait, are you saying there's more to Ace's identity than just being Garp's adopted grandson?"
"Yep," Kuina cut in before Renzo could answer. "Ace is Roger's biological son!"
This was something Renzo had already told her in the past.
"…What?" Rayleigh and Aunt Shakky froze. "No way. That can't be right—the age doesn't add up."
Back in the day, rumors about Roger having a child had caused a massive uproar. The Marines had gone on a brutal hunt, slaughtering countless pregnant women just to prevent any potential heir from surviving.
Roger's own crewmates—Rayleigh included—had secretly looked into it.
But Roger had kept things too well hidden. None of them had found anything.
And yeah, they'd also noticed that Garp had adopted a kid, which raised some eyebrows. But once they checked the dates and did the math, they ruled it out.
So how could Ace be Roger's son?
"It's true," Renzo confirmed with a nod. "Ace's mother—Portgas D. Rouge—was entrusted to Garp by Roger himself. He hid her away."
"And then she did something insane—she held Ace in her womb for twenty months before giving birth, just to avoid the Marine purges."
"Of course… that also cost her life. She exhausted her strength to keep Ace hidden and passed away right after he was born. That's why his age seems off."
"If Ace had been born earlier, the Marines would've found him for sure and killed him."
"Honestly, did you two never look at Ace? He actually resembles Roger quite a bit."
Though, to be fair, he looked more like his mom overall. Those little freckles? Totally from Rouge.
"…She carried him for twenty months?!" Rayleigh looked like he'd been hit with a brick. "I can't even imagine what kind of pain that must've been…"
Shakky exhaled a puff of smoke, her eyes somber. "That takes more than just willpower. That's… that's a miracle."
She'd never heard of anything like that. The idea of someone delaying childbirth for that long—it sounded impossible.
But if Renzo was saying it, and with Kuina backing it up, she knew it wasn't a lie.
Still, it was a shocking truth. And for two people like Rayleigh and Shakky—who'd been so close to Roger—it hit like a thunderbolt.
"I need to go to the East Blue," Rayleigh suddenly stood up, his expression serious.
"No need for that," Renzo chuckled. "Ace has already set sail. If I remember his route right, he should reach Sabaody Archipelago in about half a month."
"But hey, if you're in a hurry to see him, I can send you straight there."
With his mastery of space, distance barely mattered anymore. He could open portals anywhere without needing coordinates—it was as easy as breathing now.
"Oh? He's already out at sea?" Rayleigh looked surprised. "Knowing Garp, I figured he'd be trying to train Ace into a proper Marine. Letting him follow Roger's path… seems unlike him."
"He didn't really have much of a choice," Renzo shrugged. "I think even Garp had his concerns—maybe he feared that putting Ace in the Marines would risk exposing his identity. Especially with how strict their background checks are. And CP agents? Don't even get me started."
"Besides, Garp was hardly ever around. He barely had time to train Ace. And let's be honest—he sucks at teaching. If he was any good, Dragon wouldn't have turned rebel and started the Revolutionary Army in the first place."
"And let's not forget, his actual grandson Luffy went off to be a pirate thanks to Shanks—and he never changed his mind about it either."
"That's not just Shanks' fault. I think a lot of that is on Garp himself…"
"His whole 'smack-you-until-you-learn' method just made Luffy hate the idea of becoming a Marine from the get-go. It pushed him in the opposite direction."
Ace wasn't much different, honestly.
If he'd raised them instead, Renzo figured he could've brainwashed them both into becoming model Marines in no time.
"Haha! You're not wrong!" Rayleigh laughed. "That old man's only real skill is his fists. Teaching people? Yeah, that's definitely not his strong suit."
They'd fought Garp enough times back in the day to know—he was pure muscle and willpower.
"So, where is Ace now? Can you really take me to him?"
Rayleigh looked over at Renzo, still intrigued.
"Let me check." Renzo closed his eyes and reached out with a mix of spiritual sense and spatial awareness. After a few seconds, he smiled. "Found him. He's near Jaya Island. What a coincidence."
"We might as well head over now—I haven't seen that rascal in years."
He turned to Kuina and Shakky. "You two coming with?"
"Sure, let's go see him," Kuina nodded and casually wrapped herself around Renzo's arm.
"I'll come too," Shakky agreed, thinking it over. "I mean… he's Roger's son. I've gotta see this with my own eyes."
She stubbed out her cigarette, stepped out from behind the bar, and locked the shop door behind her. Business was dead anyway—everyone had been glued to the news from Mary Geoise earlier.
Honestly, if there had been customers, they wouldn't have dared talk about stuff this sensitive out loud.
"Alright—let's go." Renzo lifted his hand and opened a glowing portal in midair. With a small wave, he stepped in first with Kuina clinging to him.
Rayleigh and Aunt Shakky stared for a second at the swirling blue vortex, then exchanged a glance and stepped in too.
The moment they passed through, the world spun for a second—then suddenly, they were standing aboard a pirate ship.
"Huh?! Who are you!?"
"Intruders!!"
"Captain! We're under attack!"
In an instant, the crew of the Spade Pirates jumped into action, drawing their weapons and glaring warily at the sudden arrivals.
One of them shouted toward the captain's quarters.
"What?! An ambush? Let me see who's dumb enough to attack me!"
With a loud BANG, the door to the captain's room flew open, and Ace stormed out.
Then he saw Renzo and the others.
"…Yo, Ace! Long time no see!" Renzo waved at him with a big grin.
"…You're… Renzo? And Kuina?" Ace's eyes widened. He was genuinely stunned. It had been years—Renzo and Kuina had grown up and changed a lot since he last saw them.
He only recognized them thanks to the familiar swords at their waists.
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.
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