Crocodile was in an excellent mood. He felt like he was about to wipe out his two billion berry debt. If Cudius kept betting with him like this, maybe after a few rounds, he'd even have Cudius owing him money.

  "Sigh," Crocodile let out a tented sigh, lost in thought.

  Cudius g him, his expression curious. "What are you sighing about? Feeling good, huh?"

  "I was just thinking," Crocodile began with a smug grin, "if I'd beeing with you from the start, I wouldn't be i at all. You'd be the one owing me money by now."

  "Oh? Is that so?" Cudius chuckled. "Well, Crocodile, let me give you some advice, don't get too happy just yet."

  "Hahahaha, what are you talking about?" Crocodile ughed, feeling even more fident. "I'm about to win back more than two billion berries!"

  "Or maybe you're about to lose 400 million more," Cudius said, his voice ced with amusement as he gave Crocodile a mischievous smile.

  "You really think so?" Crocodile scoffed. "No way. Stussy agrees with me, right?"

  However, when Crocodile turo his "rade-in-arms" for firmatioiced something straussy wasn't ughing or smiling; instead, her eyes were fixed on a distant fruit stand, her expression frozen. fused by her silence, Crocodile followed her gaze.

  And then he saw it.

  His face paled, his heart skipped a beat, and his lips quivered as he whispered, "No way… Is that really him?"

  Stussy looked at Cudius with wide, astonished eyes, as if seeking firmation. Cudius patted her gently on the shoulder and said with a satisfied grin, "See? When have I ever been wrong? Trying to sneak one by me never ends well."

  Stussy, still shaken, asked, "Yhness, you've been with us the eime. You didn't gather any intelligence or do anything out of the ordinary. So how in the world did you kner would be on this remote isnd?"

  Cudius simply smiled, no real expnation. "Ah, who knows?"

  That mysterious smile sent a shiver down both Stussy and Crocodile's spines. Over the years, they'd spent a lot of time with Cudius, thinking they had a good grasp of his capabilities. But in this moment, they realized how little they truly uood about him.

  "For someone in charge, it's important not to show all your cards," Cudius said with a chuckle. "Keep your subordinates guessing."

  Whether it was their imagination or not, both Stussy and Crocodile found themselves feeling a new level of respect, or perhaps fear toward Cudius.

  At a humble fruit stand nearby, a scruffy-looking man sat with his legs propped up and a cheap bottle of wine in hand. He wore an old vest, his hair long and u, and his whole appearance screamed "sloppy drunk." Yet, despite his disheveled look, the woman sitting beside him was a stark trast—beautiful, graceful, and with a gentle smile.

  The se looked odd, almost surreal. The woman, with her beauty and calm demeanor, seemed entirely out of pext to such a scruffy man. It was like seeing a beauty and a beast together.

  Cudius reized her instantly, Pas D. Rouge, the woman who would one day be known as the mother of Ace. And the man sitting beside her, despite his ragged appearance, was her than the most wanted man in the world: Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King.

  Roger's once-legendary presence was now buried under yers of grime and weariness. His face was thinner, his beard much longer, and his aura onmanding was now subdued. Yet, even with his u appearance, Cudius could still make out the unmistakable features of the Pirate King.

  It seemed that no one else on the isnd had reized Roger. He was hiding in pin sight, blending into the peaceful life of the isnd. But Cudius, who had e specifically to find him, saw through the disguise immediately.

  Roger, too, noticed Cudius's group staring at him. His carefree expression tensed as he reized the Celestial Dragon. He had seen Cudius before, ba the Sabaody Archipego. And with Cudius's reputation growing i years, there was no mistaking him.

  Roger wasn't worried for himself, he had faced tless dangers before. But now, for the first time in a long while, he felt ay. Not for his own sake, but fe. His family.

  His fiightened around the neck of the cheap witle, and his pierg eyes locked onto Cudius as the distaween them closed.

  Cudius approached the fruit stand, grabbed twes from the table, and casually said, "Twes, please."

  Rouge, still smiling warmly, reached out to take payment. But just as she extended her hand, Cudius gnced up and said, "I didn't expect to find you here, Roger."

  At those words, Rouge froze mid-movement, her hand hanging in the air. Befer could say anything, she quickly tried to recover. "You must be mistaken. My husband's name isn't Roger. He's just a simple man."

  But Roger interrupted her, his voice calm. "Ne, it's no use."

  He turo Cudius, a faint smile. "Long time no see, Cudius. Or should I say, Yhness?"

  "Call me whatever you like," Cudius replied with a grin as he began peeling one of the es. He popped a slito his mouth, his eyes lighting up. "Mmm, not bad! The perfect bance of sweet and sour. I like it."

  Rhed heartily. "Ahahaha, my wife grew those herself. Impressive, isn't she?"

  Cudius nodded appreciatively. "Very impressive. I have to say, I'm a little envious. A scruffy guy like you mao find such a beautiful wife."

  Roger, now fifty-three years old, looked every bit his age, while Rouge appeared no older thay-four or twenty-five. The age gap was almost ical. Cudius couldn't help but be amazed that Roger, in his ter years, had mao win over someone so much younger.

  It was clear that Roger, the "old cow," had found himself some "tender grass," and Cudius couldn't help but feel a little envious.

  Roger rubbed his scruffy beard, grinning cheekily. "Maybe it's because I'm handsome."

  Cudius gave him a look of disdain. "Is that why they call you the Pirate King? Because of your thick skin?"

  Rhed even harder. After taking a swig from his bottle, he stretched his ned asked, "So, what's the pn, Cudius? Are you here to catch me?"

  Cudius tossed the e peel into a nearby trash , his expression casual but his i clear. He didn't try to hide anything.