"So… you really walked into the trap on your own."
Flames roared off King's back. With a long blade in hand, he stared coldly at the woman who had come to surrender herself.
"Yes. I'm here!"
Shinobu, now a little plump, wore a pink kunoichi outfit. She faced the towering Wildfire King with a stern expression.
"Since you agreed to it, release Kawamatsu. Right now!"
"Idiot! You've already delivered yourself to us. Why would we let one of Kozuki Oden's underlings walk away?"
Queen, round as a barrel and wearing his glasses, grinned wickedly, eyes full of malice as he looked Shinobu up and down.
"What?!"
…
"Oho…!"
"You moved fast. As expected of the most reliable one, King."
By the time King arrived before Ozz, Ozz was sitting with one leg crossed over the other, calmly tasting a bowl of soup.
And perched right on his lap was the young master of the Beasts Pirates, Yamato, dressed in black from head to toe.
"…"
King did not even know what to say.
This was the man who had beaten Kaido half to death and used him as leverage.
Yet Yamato was sitting close to him, intimate and natural, like…
Like Ozz was the real father.
"Black Gun. I've brought the person you wanted."
King did not bother with their family mess. With a flick of his arm, he tossed the bound Shinobu straight in front of Ozz.
Shinobu hit the ground with a pained cry.
She lifted her head and looked at the man before her.
Long black hair. Tall. Handsome. Young.
He did not have Lord Oden's massive build or wild presence, yet he had beaten a monster like Kaido with ease.
So young… and so good looking?
She could not accept it.
King pressed his boot down on her as Shinobu struggled against the tight ropes. She clenched her teeth and glared at Ozz.
"Ozz-san. Why?!"
"I heard it. You saved Lady Toki from Kaido once. So why won't you save Wano from drowning in fire and blood?!"
"Shut up!"
The moment Shinobu said that, King stomped down hard, cutting her words off mid sentence.
His eyes were bloodshot.
At a time like this, if this ninja managed to talk Ozz into changing his mind with some righteous speech, the Beasts Pirates would be finished today.
But Ozz simply raised a hand.
King froze in place, locked like a statue.
Ozz lowered his gaze, studying her with a hint of amusement.
She had seen every ugly side and every foolish face in the Kozuki camp, yet she still swore loyalty with her whole chest.
"So?"
Shinobu endured the pain and stared at Ozz.
"Before Lord Oden died, he said Wano is waiting for a savior. Someone will come, and when they do, Wano will open its borders!"
"So why can't that person… be you?!"
Ozz had the power to bulldoze everything.
He had the name of Oden's former companion.
So why could he not be the savior?
"Me?"
Ozz found it genuinely funny.
When had he ever been mistaken for a savior?
"Hahahaha… I'm not Wano's redeemer."
And hearing this, King suddenly remembered something Kaido had once discussed with him.
"If Joy Boy really exists in this world…"
"Then it should be the one who defeats me."
Black Gun…
Could Ozz be Joy Boy?
King could not stop the thought from forming.
But before it could settle, a booming laugh cut through the room, familiar and thunderous.
"Wororororo… are you saying Ozz is Joy Boy?!"
Bang.
Ozz was not surprised in the slightest.
From a room behind him, a figure wrapped head to toe in bandages stepped out.
He limped a little, clearly not fully recovered.
"Kaido!"
"Kaido-sama!"
"Oy. Cute-cream."
Ozz had never bothered to restrain Kaido.
There was no need.
He could not run, and he could not win. Ozz could shut him down anytime.
If King's reaction was shock mixed with relief, Shinobu's was pure terror and despair.
The murderer who killed Lord Oden…
was standing together with Ozz?!
Shinobu's face went pale, and Ozz looked at her with a tired sort of helplessness.
"What's with that look? I didn't get along with Oden, but I don't get along with this guy either. I literally just beat the life out of him."
Ozz waved his hand casually.
Kaido's expression was ugly.
"You really are vile… you bastard."
Kaido lifted a gourd and took a long swig, then sat down beside Ozz like it was the most natural thing in the world.
He completely ignored Yamato sitting on Ozz's lap, whether because he truly did not care or because he already raged about it and it did nothing.
Kaido had no intention of killing Shinobu either. He just belched and continued the topic.
"You can tell me anyone else is Joy Boy and I might believe it."
"But Ozz? Impossible!"
Kaido drank again, gulps echoing.
He had heard the name Joy Boy before.
A man who brings laughter to the world. A man who frees the world.
But Ozz?
If you said Ozz chased freedom and happiness, sure, that sounded right.
Except for one detail.
Ozz only ever cared about his own freedom.
His own happiness.
"Maybe he can beat me, but I know him. He would never do something like liberating Wano!"
Shinobu's eyes widened. The impact of Kaido's words hit her like a club.
She looked at Ozz, desperate for an answer.
Ozz only took a sip of ice cold juice and listened, not denying a single word.
Which was as good as admitting it.
Ozz truly disliked this country.
And he lived purely by preference.
Just like Alabasta, Dressrosa…
So many places across the world were drowning in suffering and disaster, and Ozz knew it.
He simply only intervened where he felt like it, places like Sabaody Archipelago and Duramos.
Joy Boy?
That kind of man who laughs with pure heart, carrying lofty ideals and selfless love?
It did not fit Ozz at all.
The conversation ended there.
Ozz stood up while holding Yamato, then slid an arm under her legs and set her gently down.
With a casual reach, the tightly bound Shinobu appeared in his hand.
"Alright then. I'm taking this one."
"And I'm returning this guy to you."
He ruffled Yamato's hair. Under the little girl's reluctant gaze, Ozz turned and walked out.
Kaido looked displeased, but he still did not make a move.
Yet his instincts would not stop nagging him as he watched the ninja being taken away.
Something about it felt wrong.
Ozz never did anything without layers, not when he was a creature this capricious and dangerous.
"Hey! Ozz!"
Kaido roared after him, purple cloak flaring.
"What the hell are you plotting?!"
Ozz did not even turn his head.
He only lifted a hand and waved, smiling as he spoke.
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't we talk about it already?"
"Dragging the whole world down into it…"
"A great war."
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