"Is that so."
Ozz lifted his foot as if brushing dust from a cuff. Frost that had crept from his trouser hem to half his body thinned, then vanished. The freeze that had stopped countless pirates could not even dirty his coat.
"If you think you can pull it off, then by all means try, Kuzan. But I have never taken you for a mortal enemy. If you ever change your mind, come find me for a drink."
Kuzan had no answer. He paused, then turned and walked the other way.
Maybe one day they would sit and share a bottle. It would not change his resolve to pull reins on Ozz, the man he believed was reaching for the world's bridle.
…
As Kuzan's back receded, Ozz did not call him back. He only sighed inwardly. Strong men are stubborn. Ten oxen could not drag them from their creed. Perhaps this was Kuzan's justice. He had met Ozz and decided his justice meant hemming in a man who would treat the world as a toy.
Ozz shook his head and glanced toward the shade on the other side of the yard.
"So, how has that VIP card I gave you been treating you, Borsalino."
Under a canopy sat a lanky man in a white pinstripe suit and brimmed hat, part of his body lazily shimmering with light. Caught, Borsalino abandoned any thought of slipping away as photons.
"I have no intention of fighting, you know. You grow scarier every year, Ozz… Ozz-sei."
He put both hands up, that leery uncle's smile impossible to read as sincere or mocking.
"That is not what I asked, Marine Borsalino."
Ozz chuckled. Of the top Marine powers, Borsalino fit his temperament best. The old monkey could slack off with style. The VIP card to Ozz's Sabaody businesses had seen plenty of use.
"Spare me."
Hearing the lightness in Ozz's tone, Borsalino's guard dipped. From there, he and Doll fell in line as Ozz's guides through the officer training grounds. After Kuzan's little declaration, Doll drifted, eyes unfocused. Ozz left her to her thoughts and chatted with the man roughly his height beside him.
"Looks like the old Monster Trio of vice admirals are all teaching this class."
Borsalino flicked ash, shrugged.
"That is right. I was going to attend the welcome banquet for Ozz-sei with Admiral Sengoku, you know."
"Then Teacher Zephyr said Sengoku could handle it alone and dragged me over here instead."
Welcome Ozz-sei. More like score a free meal and loaf. Ozz snorted.
"If the trio is here, Sakazuki should be too."
Borsalino tapped his chin, nodded toward the far end.
"There he is."
A broad-shouldered figure strode onto the grounds, a rose pinned to his chest.
"Hmph."
Maybe his face was always that grim. Maybe it was Ozz's presence. Either way, Sakazuki's mask tightened to stone. He marched past without a glance.
Ozz was not surprised. The zealot hated pirates on principle. Titles could not launder a past at sea. Push him and the man might swing. If they went at it, both fought with wide-area killers. Half of Marineford would be rubble.
Of the three, Ozz could only claim something like rapport with Kizaru.
"So, Borsalino, what do you teach here."
"That is classified."
Ozz handed over a slim, ornate cigarette worth a few million belli. He lit one for himself.
"You are too kind. As for me, I am in charge of swordsmanship."
For all the talk that he leaned on his fruit, Borsalino's blade was no joke. He could fence with an older Rayleigh and hold his own. By any measure, a great swordsman.
"Swordsmanship, is it. I am quite fluent myself. Which reminds me."
Ozz's eyes brightened.
"Can I teach as an instructor."
He always stole tricks from masters. This was the first time he felt like teaching one.
"Er."
Cold sweat beaded on Borsalino's brow. Nothing in the contingency manual covered this. After the Five Elders warned that Ozz would visit with the Warlords, Marine HQ had drafted a thick playbook. If enlisted men encountered Ozz, salute. Senior officers like Kuzan and Borsalino were forbidden to engage. Most conceivable scenarios had a line item.
The Celestial Dragon pirate asking to teach at the officer academy was not one of them.
"I will have to ask Admiral Sengoku."
He sighed, stepped aside, and made the call. A minute later he returned, looking relieved and perfectly uninvolved.
"Admiral Sengoku agrees. HQ's only request is that you teach combat and nothing else."
"No problem."
Ozz beckoned to the Seagull King perched on his shoulder, then to Doll, who still wore that faraway look.
"Want to learn Haki."
"I will teach you."
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