Marineford.
Rouge, her face expressionless and hidden beneath a black cloak, walked step by step between the towering stone buildings.
The smooth concrete ground felt so hard and cold beneath her feet.
Surrounding her were a dozen female naval officers, each draped in wide, pristine justice coats.
Some of them were easily two to three meters tall.
The overwhelming aura they exuded caused the nearby sailors to stand tall and salute.
Just moments ago, Rouge had disembarked from a warship, where she was handed over to the female rear admiral leading the group, Sengoku.
Meanwhile, Roger was detained on another warship.
As the grand Justice Gate swung open, the naval hero Garp led the way in a different direction.
Rouge knew they were headed to the infamous underwater prison, Impel Down.
At that moment, her gaze lingered for a long time. Rouge slightly lifted her eyes to look at the woman known as Tsuru.
She appeared to be in her forties or fifties, with noticeable wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
Yet her deep blue hair showed no signs of gray, and her two-meter tall stature seemed quite normal.
The key was that she did not exude an overpowering presence, giving off a very gentle vibe.
Rouge had heard Roger mention her before; she seemed to be a righteous navy officer named Tsuru.
This eased some of Rouge's anxiety.
However, her heart was more concerned about how the navy, or rather the World Government, would treat the child she carried.
After all, this was the bloodline of the Pirate King.
As for her own life, to be honest, she didn't care much.
The group of women finally arrived at the entrance of a barracks in the west, under the watchful eyes of many male sailors.
The large doors were guarded by female soldiers on either side.
Looking further inside, one could clearly see many small buildings and a spacious playground.
Following Tsuru, Rouge entered the barracks and discovered it was filled entirely with female soldiers and officers.
At that moment, she understood she had been brought to the exclusive area for female soldiers.
"You all can go back and rest. I'll take it from here," Tsuru said, stopping in her tracks and addressing the escorting female officers.
"Yes, Rear Admiral!" they replied without hesitation, quickly dispersing in small groups.
Tsuru then turned her gaze to Rouge and smiled, "Come on, I'll show you to your room."
Rouge chose to remain silent.
Tsuru didn't mind, turning back to continue walking, while Rouge quietly followed.
Before long, the two arrived at a modest little courtyard.
Rouge was led to a small room within the courtyard.
"This is my home. From now on, you'll live here with me. Generally, no one will enter without permission, and there are female doctors available at all times in the barracks, so you can rest easy," Tsuru explained.
Hearing Tsuru's words, Rouge began to assess her surroundings.
Golden sunlight streamed through the glass windows, illuminating the room. There wasn't much furniture, but it had a bed, a table, and a cabinet, even a separate bathroom.
It looked very clean, and a faint floral scent lingered in the air.
"However, there are some things you need to be aware of. It's best not to leave this courtyard without permission."
"In a few days, you can walk around the barracks with someone accompanying you."
"But that's the limit; you absolutely cannot leave the female soldiers' camp."
Rouge nodded, then lifted the black hood from her head and softly asked, "What does the World Government plan to do with my child?"
Noticing the worry and unease in Rouge's eyes, Tsuru offered a kind smile.
"The order from Admiral Kong is to place you under house arrest in the female soldiers' camp, and your child will also stay here until the age of six."
"However, after six, he will attend the naval elementary school with other children on the island, returning home once every seven days, with two long breaks each year, each lasting thirty days."
"When he turns twelve, he will advance to the Marine Headquarters Academy, and after four years, based on his grades, he will be assigned a military rank, officially becoming a qualified navy officer."
Tsuru described the future situation for Rouge's unborn child in one breath.
At the same time, it was also to reassure her: relax, everything will be fine; your child will grow up healthy.
"Become a navy officer?" Rouge looked at Tsuru in disbelief. "Roger's child can also become a navy officer?!"
"Ha ha, that's the news I received, but there's one thing you got wrong."
Tsuru sighed deeply.
When she heard from Admiral Kong about the World Government's arrangements for Rouge and her child, her astonishment was beyond words.
Moreover, from the tone and voice of the Den Den Mushi on the other end, it was clear that Admiral Kong himself was also shocked.
"What?"
Rouge suddenly became tense, and Tsuru continued, "Your child is not allowed to carry either your or Roger's surname, nor are you allowed to tell him that Roger is his father. You must remember this!"
"According to the orders from the World Government, if it is discovered that your child knows his identity before the restrictions are lifted and shows hostility toward the World Government and the navy, he will be captured, or even executed!"
Rouge fell silent upon hearing this.
Tsuru was not in a hurry; she simply watched her quietly, waiting for her response.
"I understand. From now on, this child will be without a surname," Rouge said softly, stroking her still flat belly.
She knew this was the best outcome.
The World Government treating her this well had far exceeded her expectations.
"Mm, as long as you understand. By the way, I have a younger sister named Gion. She occasionally comes to see me; I'll introduce you to her when she does."
"Okay."
Days later, the latest issue of the World Economic Journal was hot off the press, airlifted by hundreds of news birds to various seas, kingdoms, islands, and even ships.
When people around the world saw the headline on the front page of the newspaper, they were collectively stunned, followed by waves of screams.
"Pirate King Gol D. Roger Captured by the Navy!!!"
The article briefly introduced how Marine Admiral Sengoku and naval hero Garp, along with Marine Admirals Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, successfully captured Roger on the island of Bartolomeo in the South Sea.
It also stated that he would be publicly executed at Marine Headquarters Marineford's Justice Square at eleven o'clock on New Year's Day next year.
It even mentioned that Roger's birthday was December 31st.
The article praised the World Government for allowing Roger to celebrate his birthday, calling it very merciful.
Instantly, the entire Grand Line erupted into chaos over this thin newspaper.
Especially in the "New World" sea, where many pirates gathered.
On the Moby Dick, Edward Newgate, the 'Whitebeard,' held a massive bottle of liquor, staring silently in the direction of Marineford.
Beneath his feet lay the already read newspaper.
The surrounding crew members exchanged glances.
For a moment, the only sound on the deck was the relentless crashing of the waves.