He entrusted everything, and said to him, "I'm sorry." (3)

Five days later, on the first level above sea in Impel Down, inside a room, Xuan Ye was drenched in sweat, his body bearing a ten-ton weight, panting heavily as he ceaselessly performed push-ups.

“Honestly, is this really necessary? It’s been five days—since you got here, all you’ve done is train. Don’t you have any pleasures besides this?” came a lazy voice. Aokiji lounged on a chair, legs crossed, cradling a cup of hot tea. He took a sip with half-closed eyes.

“Eek eek... Exactly, exactly.” A golden monkey, tail swaying, happily munched on a banana.

Unmoved, Xuan Ye ignored these two fools and gritted his teeth as he continued his training.

Here, Xuan Ye inexplicably felt a sense of tension. He needed to grow stronger, and fast.

He didn’t want to sink to a state worse than dogs and pigs. He wanted to be the one in power—whether for himself or for Xiaoxi, he had to spill ten times, a hundred times more blood and sweat than others.

“So dull,” Aokiji said with a curl of his lip.

“Phew...” Rising to his feet, wiping away sweat, Xuan Ye calmly cast a glance at Aokiji and said, “Why don’t you spar with me?”

“No, thanks. Find someone else.” Aokiji wore a look of disdain, his face pulled into a scowl.

“Then get out of here. Both of you are distracting me from my training.”

“Eek eek...”

“You’re hopeless,” Aokiji said, picking at his ear.

“Eek eek... He’s right.”

“Sigh... Wouldn’t it be better to go out for a stroll...”

The endless chatter of man and monkey buzzed around Xuan Ye’s ears like mosquitoes. For no reason, Xuan Ye’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

“Get lost!” he roared, gnashing his teeth.

“Hmph! Some people just don’t appreciate kindness.” Aokiji shot him a contemptuous look, then turned to the monkey. “Let’s go see if we can find a female monkey for you.”

“Eek eek... All right, sounds great.” The monkey’s tail shot up, swaying happily as its golden eyes sparkled.

“Let’s go!”

As the pair departed, Xuan Ye scowled and continued to sweat and train as if rain were pouring from him.

――――――――――――

Impel Down, sixth level under the sea, Eternal Hell.

Dark, eerie—the only light came from a few candles that could go out at any moment.

Utter darkness, desolation, and chill pervaded, truly like hell itself—enough to break the spirit.

In the faint candlelight, one could barely make out rows of prison cells built from seastone, scattered bones and skulls, the whole scene enough to send chills down the spine.

“Ha ha... ha ha... This meat is good, and the wine is even better.”

Suddenly, hearty laughter rang out from the depths of the darkness.

“Karp, thank you.” The wide smile was serene and open.

“Roger...” Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Karp sighed. “Why did you do it?”

“Ha ha... You mean turning myself in?” Roger took a swig of wine, burped, and asked offhandedly.

“Why!” Fixing his gaze on that haggard yet spirited face, Karp felt a surge of anger he couldn’t explain.

“I just felt like surrendering.” Roger tore a chunk of chicken leg, his mouth greasy, licking his fingers like a child when he was done.

“Jingle... jingle jingle...”

Seething, Karp grabbed Roger by the collar, his voice hoarse. “Look at me. Why do this? Why surrender?”

“Karp, all these years, from our first battles to now, where we meet almost as old friends—what does it all mean?”

With a gentle smile, Roger looked quietly at Karp.

“I just want to know why you surrendered.” Karp released Roger, his voice heavy with loneliness.

“Karp, you have your principles, I have my convictions. But believe me, I had no choice. My name is Gol D. Roger, and you, Monkey D. Karp, can’t escape it either.”

Roger’s expression was solemn as he stared at the pensive Karp, almost self-mocking.

“You must have seen it, right?” After a moment of silence, Karp’s face was full of sorrow.

“Yes, I know. Want to hear it?” Roger chuckled.

“No need. The Will of D—I can’t bear it alone.” Karp forced a smile, unwilling and powerless.

“So, let it be me. After all, my time is nearly up.”

“Hm?” Karp sounded puzzled.

“I’m ill. Incurably so. I have half a month left.” Roger took another drink, utterly calm.

“With your strength, how could you be sick—how could anything threaten your life?” Karp was astonished.

“Is that why you surrendered?” At last, realization dawned in Karp’s eyes as he looked at Roger.

“Ha ha... Maybe I deserve to die.” Roger grinned.

“If you won’t say, I won’t ask. What do you want to eat tomorrow?” Karp patted his rear, stood up, and tried to act indifferent as he prepared to leave.

“Heh, you know what I like.”

“I really can’t do anything about you.” Leaving the cell, Karp sighed, ready to depart.

“Karp...” After two steps, Karp paused, puzzled, glancing at the cell to see Roger’s silly smile.

“I have a child now.”

Hopeful, anxious, doting—Roger beamed at Karp, looking every bit the fool.

“W-what?” Karp’s eyes widened as he strode to the cell, breathing hard.

“Rouge is carrying my child. The birth is near. I’m going to be a father.”

“No way, that’s impossible.” Karp was utterly at a loss, his mind reeling.

“Karp, my child’s name is Gol D. Ace. But it seems he cannot bear my surname, so he’ll take his mother’s—Portgas. His full name is Portgas D. Ace.”

“Why tell me all this? Don’t you know I’m a marine...”

“I’m entrusting him to you.”

Before Karp could finish, Roger cut him off, saying again as if it were only natural, “I’m entrusting him to you.”

Karp’s pupils dilated as he gripped the bars, deeply agitated.

“I will never agree to this.”

“You will, because you are Karp—Monkey D. Karp, who chased me across half the world.” Roger looked at Karp with complete trust, speaking each word with unwavering resolve.

“I’ll never agree!” Karp roared.

“He’s in the East Blue...”

Bang— The cell shook as Karp’s bloody right fist slammed into the bars, his eyes red.

Glaring at Roger, Karp demanded furiously, “Why entrust him to me?”

“Because I trust you. Because we are friends. Because you can protect him. Because you can give him the best life. Because... you can give him a father’s love in my place...” Roger’s eyes grew moist as he spoke.

“You bastard!” Karp cursed as he stormed out of the cell.

“Karp, when he grows up, tell him one thing: I’m sorry!”

Tears streamed down Roger’s face as he smiled, pouring all his love into those words.

But his only reply was boundless darkness.

“Damn it, damn it.” Back in his quarters, Karp was overwhelmed by rage, smashing everything in sight.

He could not explain himself—he was furious, and inexplicably grief-stricken.

He had never realized, until now, just how deep his friendship with this man had grown.

“Portgas D. Ace, huh?” When his anger was spent, Karp sat on the floor and sighed.

........................................