"Please, sir, I implore you to reconsider!"
"No."
Ozz sighed inwardly. Was there a bad luck calendar in the world of One Piece? Did today fall under inauspicious for travel?
He had only come downstairs for breakfast, yet he'd somehow gotten entangled with a sword fanatic.
He couldn't exactly admit he was a master swordsman himself—saying so would only invite further interrogation. But insisting the sword was merely for collection made him seem like a philistine squandering a national treasure.
What a pain.
If he'd known things would turn out like this, he'd have just warped to Impel Down instead. Disguising himself as a guard and sneaking in would've been so much easier.
"Ah la la… Gion, Gaji, there you two are. Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Tsuru are looking for you…"
Just as Ozz was on the verge of losing his patience, a familiar voice drifted over from the other end of the street.
The moment he heard it, Ozz tilted his head back and sighed deeply.
Yup. Should've stayed in bed.
In all of Marineford, of all people—he had to run into him.
"Eh? It's Rear Admiral Kuzan. Hold on a second, I was just—"
Gion, an old acquaintance of Kuzan's from their Naval Academy days, wasn't surprised to see him. She gave a quick wave in greeting, preparing to explain her current situation—
But before she could speak, an icy wind swept in, and frost began creeping outward inch by inch.
She froze—literally and figuratively.
No way…
Just because she was going to be a little late to the meeting?
"DOTOR OZZ!!!"
To her surprise, Kuzan wasn't paying her the slightest attention. His usually lazy, half-asleep expression was gone, replaced by a sharp glare filled with murderous intent as he stared at the man beside her.
Gion had never seen him look so serious.
"Huh? You talking to me?" Ozz still feigned innocence, his face painted with the purest picture of confusion.
"Hah?! You think changing clothes and wearing sunglasses would fool me?! Don't screw with me, bastard! My hatred for you hasn't dulled in the slightest! Not even a bit!!"
Of all the Marines who had spent years chasing the Roger Pirates alongside Garp, none knew Ozz better than Kuzan. And none had been duped by him more times than Kuzan.
In fact, during the latter half of their manhunts, Kuzan avoided standing on the front deck during sea battles—just to avoid getting tricked again by that guy.
When it came to someone who truly understood the deadly combo of Future Sight + Haki-coated Seastone bullets—
If Kuzan was second…
No one dared claim first.
Watching the killing intent practically congeal into ice crystals in the air, Ozz let out another sigh.
He calmly removed his sunglasses, revealing a dazzling smile as if this were all just a lovely little coincidence.
"Sussy baka, young Ice Boy."
Almost the second he removed his sunglasses, a frost-covered fist came flying toward his face—swelling in his vision by the second.
Jet black and coated in the Armament Haki inherited from Garp, the Fist of Justice flew at him with devastating speed.
Yet even with the obsidian punch about to hit him square in the face, Ozz's gentle smile never wavered.
The blow landed.
A thunderclap of force rang out. Smoke billowed and swallowed the street. But everyone here was a seasoned fighter trained in Observation Haki—no one was fooled by the visual cover.
Gion and Gaji finally processed what was happening.
The tall figure in sunglasses they'd been chatting with—
Was a pirate!?
"He vanished?!"
"That speed… Was it Soru?"
Gaji quickly switched into analysis mode.
Gion, meanwhile, felt her cheeks burn with anger and embarrassment. A pirate had played her right in the heart of Marine HQ.
She clenched her jaw, drew her blade, and prepared to engage.
"If it were just Soru, there's no way he could slip past our Observation Haki. That was some kind of Devil Fruit ability… You two better stay sharp. This guy's not to be trifled with."
Even as he spoke, frost rolled out from Kuzan's body in waves.
"That bastard used to be part of the Roger Pirates. I hate to say it, but even back then, his strength was on par with the young Gol D. Roger.
He's a master of all three types of Haki, a top-tier swordsman, has insanely advanced Observation, and an unknown Devil Fruit ability.
A pirate with a bounty of one billion—Black Gun Ozz!"
Kuzan's voice was cold but resolute. No matter how much he detested the man, he couldn't deny it—
This guy was his destined rival.
Just as Roger had been to Garp.
At this point in time, Kuzan had yet to become the jaded man shaped by the Ohara incident. Right now, he was a fervent believer in Burning Justice.
And unfortunately for Ozz, that meant the young Kuzan was fired up.
Too fired up.
Guess I'll have to play around for a bit, then slip away, Ozz thought.
And with that, his figure suddenly reappeared behind Gion.
"Pardon me, miss, but could I have my sword back?"
The moment her Observation Haki registered his presence, Gion reacted without hesitation.
Her slender waist twisted with explosive force—drawing her blade in a flash, she unleashed a ruthless strike like a streaking comet of ice.
The sword aura carved a trench ten meters long into the ground.
Gion, once a gentle and polite Marine, now bloomed into a battlefield rose, all thorns and blood.
"Already a swordswoman at your age? What a terrifying woman."
Whoosh—
Ozz's towering figure was behind her again.
Not a wrinkle on his coat. Not a strand of hair out of place. His unruffled smile still in place.
That slash hadn't even grazed his clothes.
Instead, he gently took hold of Gion's wrist—the one holding the blade.
With minimal force, he locked her arm in place.
A soft crack echoed as bones protested. Her grip loosened, the famous blade Mei Karasu slipped free.
Pain flashed across her face.
The sword returned to its "original owner."
…Well, not technically original, but close enough.
"Damn pirate! Get your hands off Gion!!"
A thunderous roar erupted nearby—like the bugle of a knight charging into battle for love.
Gaji came barreling toward Ozz, fury written all over his face. His fist was wrapped in concentrated Armament Haki.
He glared at the scene—Gion pinned by that bastard—and his eyes burned with rage.
Gion, seeing Gaji arrive, felt a flicker of hope.
This guy's strength is absurd… If Gaji can just hold him off for a second, I'll find a way to break free!
"DIE!!!"
"You've got this, Gaji!!"
"…I really don't get what you people are so worked up about…"
Ching—
In an instant, red Haki surged over Ozz's leg. With an explosive whip-kick, he lashed out.
Time seemed to freeze.
His blackened foot appeared before Gaji's chest like a miracle.
"...Na…ni!?"
Gaji's instincts screamed danger, but it was already far too late.
BOOM—!
A shockwave cracked the air.
The sheer force of Ozz's kick, reinforced with monstrous strength and flowing Haki, slammed into Gaji's barrel chest.
His consciousness blinked out immediately.
His massive frame, rather than stopping, accelerated—rocketing backward even faster than he'd charged in.
He smashed through building after building like a wrecking ball.
In Gion's disbelieving gaze, he finally came to a stop in a heap of rubble,
Eyes rolled back.
Unconscious.
----------------------------------------------------
(Next chapter: "An Intern Invading Navy Headquarters?")
If you're into Ozz's story, my P@treon's got more waiting for you!
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