"Rrgh… looks like we've got ourselves a professional slacker."
Ozz basked in the gentle sensation on his back. Then, as if he'd sensed something, he slowly opened his eyes.
Within the scope of his Observation Haki, a streak of golden light had just landed on the Sabaody Archipelago.
"A Marine monster Borsalino, huh?"
Hearing this, Hawk's interest was piqued. He'd heard that Borsalino used a sword though technically, it was a lightsaber conjured from his Devil Fruit powers.
"Let's wait and see if he comes."
With that, Ozz shut his eyes again.
…
"I knew it!!! The Marines are here!!!"
"Damn it!!! Which idiot was it that dared mess with a Celestial Dragon?!"
"We're screwed!"
"Run!!!"
Many onlookers who had been gathered around the auction house, watching the two disgraced Celestial Dragons get tossed around, bolted the moment they spotted the Marine cloaks.
But not everyone ran.
Like the auction house manager, for example bound by orders and too afraid to flee.
Borsalino blinked when he saw the man staying put. Hands still in his pockets, he strolled over casually.
"Excuse me~ buddy, mind telling me where the fella who assaulted the Celestial Dragons went?"
From his lofty gaze, the pressure was suffocating. For ordinary people, just standing in the presence of a monster like this was enough to make their knees buckle.
The manager swallowed hard.
"You're with the Marines, right? Lord Ozz once told me… if the Marines ever come knocking, I should direct them to the Red-Light District…"
"Eh?"
The moment that name was mentioned, Borsalino froze. The sharp edge in his presence dulled, and he scratched his head.
Strangely enough, instead of a stern expression, his face lit up with a look of amused relief.
"Ozz, huh? This could be a pain~ I was specifically told not to engage with that guy."
The Slacker King looked visibly pleased.
Originally, he'd been worried if the target had already escaped the island or gone into hiding, he'd have to put in effort hunting him down, which would've made reporting back a pain.
But now?
Perfect.
Let the higher-ups deal with this mess. He was off the hook.
After all, there's no way HQ would send just him to take on Ozz. And if they did, well… he'd just have to "accidentally" lose signal on his Den Den Mushi.
They don't pay him nearly enough for that kind of mission.
"Moshi moshi? Fleet Admiral Kong? I've hit a bit of a snag here…"
Across the line, Kong's stone-faced expression barely flinched but his voice betrayed a hint of irritation.
"Report on the Celestial Dragons immediately, Borsalino!"
"Yes, yes… the two of them are fine, no major injuries. But I don't have the authority to detain the one responsible~"
"…Don't tell me…"
Kong's pupils contracted, and his expression darkened.
"That's right~ it was Black Gun Ozz. And I'm definitely not equipped to deal with that monster~"
Almost as if afraid Kong might lose his temper and actually order an attack, Borsalino threw in a shameless buffer ahead of time.
Kong: "..."
Officially, Ozz was still referred to in his bounty as Black Gun, just like how Red-Haired and Whitebeard had their own titles.
Calling him an emperor, however, was something the World Government and Marines were unwilling to acknowledge publicly.
Not that Ozz cared. "Black Emperor" was a name Morgans had been pushing in the headlines anyway. It was just for the crowd he never bought into it himself.
"Ugh…"
"I understand. I'll notify the Five Elders. Cancel the operation for now. Your new task is to escort the Celestial Dragons back to the Holy Land."
"Understood~"
Borsalino was thrilled. Escort duty on a luxury ship? That meant he could slack off without a fight. No chasing monsters around the Grand Line. Pure win.
…
As far as Ozz was concerned, giving a couple of Celestial Dragons a beating wasn't even worth losing sleep over.
And as expected, once the Five Elders heard the full report from CP, they didn't even consider launching a Buster Call or declaring war on Ozz. Instead, they slammed harsh penalties on the two Celestial Dragons who caused the ruckus in the first place.
The two had even come close to losing their titles as Celestial Dragons, for violating direct orders from the God Knights.
After all, they were supposed to be among the elite of the elite. Saint Garling and the others knew full well now was not the time to go to war with Ozz.
If Ozz had killed those two idiots, they'd be the ones stuck in a bind.
Do nothing? Celestial Dragons dead that's a red line that couldn't be ignored.
Start a fight? Without enough top-tier combatants, they wouldn't even win.
Same deal with the Five Elders. If things escalated to the point where Lord Im had to get involved… maybe Ozz would die, maybe not but they would definitely be finished.
Time passed quickly after that.
Ozz spent his days lounging around entertainment venues, enjoying the good life while quietly watching the calendar tick toward the appointed day.
In an extravagant VIP suite…
On a massive twenty-meter-wide bed, two young maids wearing silk stockings and sleeveless gowns were already fast asleep, exhausted from the chaos of the night before.
Ozz, meanwhile, was bright-eyed and full of energy. After tucking the girls in, he stepped out of the room.
With a snap of his fingers, he was instantly dressed in a sleek formal suit.
Coming toward him was Sammy, who dipped her head slightly.
"How's it looking? The day's almost here. Have most of them arrived?"
"Nearly everyone's already on the island. A few are still en route, but they'll be here shortly."
Ozz nodded, stretching his somewhat sore back, then made his way toward the kitchen.
Over the past few days, the Sabaody Archipelago had become noticeably more lively.
"My lord, one more hour and we'll be docking at Sabaody!"
"Finally! Just in time thought I was gonna die!"
"Right? Who'd have guessed we'd run into a Sea King on the way here…"
"Keep your heads up! We're about to enter the meeting don't embarrass me, you lot!!!"
All kinds of ships merchant vessels, pirate galleons, even luxury convoys carrying nobles—were arriving at Sabaody in waves.
"Wait, is that…?"
"That's Donquixote Doflamingo! Been making waves in the North Blue lately rumor is, he's the biggest broker in the underworld now."
"People say his codename's Joker. He's the Black Emperor's number one right-hand man!"
Hiss
Everyone nearby sucked in a breath at once.
He was that man's trusted subordinate?
"Fuffuffuffu… What a crowd. So this is the fearsome pull of Lord Ozz the true king of the underworld."
"Behihihi! Goes without saying. The punishment for skipping the meeting is suicide, after all. I heard some folks were so scared of missing it, they arrived on the island two weeks early."
Doflamingo swaggered along with his exaggerated pigeon-toed walk. His towering height and fierce, domineering presence made him stand out like a crane among chickens.
Just then, his eyes locked onto a figure draped in a delicate shawl.
She had a slim waist, wore a stylish round hat, short golden curls, and carried a small handbag like a refined lady.
She was stunning. Striking features, a tall, curvaceous figure like a blooming rose.
And roses, as everyone knows, come with thorns.
"Fuffuffuffu… If it isn't the Queen of the Pleasure District herself, Miss Stussy. Didn't expect to see you here."
Stussy offered a radiant smile.
"It's Lord Ozz's command, after all. How could a humble woman like me dare ignore it?"
"Is that so? Fuffuffu… I figured you might have been sulking after Miss Sammy stole your market share."
Doflamingo grinned with an edge, licking his lips as he teased her with barely veiled malice.
After all…
He hated the World Government types the most. And anyone running the Pleasure District? They were competition taking a slice of his intel and brokerage business.
…
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