"Please seriously consider it!"
"Not selling."
Aus secretly wondered if the One Piece world had unlucky days too. Was today cursed or something?
How the hell did just going downstairs for breakfast get him tangled up with some famous blade fanatic?
He couldn't say he was also a great swordsman—that'd just invite more questions. But stubbornly claiming it was just for collection would make her think he was wasting a masterpiece.
Annoying as hell.
Should've known better than to come to Marineford. Would've been way more direct to just teleport to Impel Down and disguise himself as a guard.
"Ara ara, Gion, Kake, finally found you two. That Garp-san and Staff Officer Tsuru are..."
Just as Aus was getting thoroughly fed up, a familiar voice drifted from the other side of the street.
The moment he heard it, Aus looked up at the sky and sighed.
Yep. Definitely a cursed day.
In this massive Marineford, he'd actually bumped into an enemy.
"Oh? It's Rear Admiral Kuzan. Please wait a moment, I'm currently..."
Gion and Kuzan were old Marine Academy buddies, so his appearance wasn't surprising. She greeted him.
Just as she was about to explain what she was busy with, sudden cold air and creeping ice left her confused.
Come on, it wasn't that serious.
Just being late for a meeting?
"Doctor Aus!!!"
But Kuzan apparently didn't give a damn about her right now. Instead, he stared murderously at her side, his face terrifying.
This was the first time Gion had seen the usually lazy, casual Kuzan look so serious.
"What? You talking about me?" Aus kept trying to bluff, putting on an innocent face.
"Hah? You think changing clothes and slapping on sunglasses means I won't recognize you? What a fucking joke, bastard! My hatred for you has never faded!!!"
Having chased the Roger Pirates with Garp for years, Kuzan was probably the Marine who knew Aus best—and definitely the one who'd been ambushed by him the most.
Later on, during pursuits, unless it was boarding combat, Kuzan refused to show his face on deck, just to avoid this bastard.
If you asked who best understood the terror of Future Sight + Armament Haki seastone bullets,
Kuzan would claim second place,
And nobody would dare say first.
Seeing killing intent becoming tangible, Aus sighed.
He simply removed his sunglasses, revealing a calm, perfect smile.
"Sashimi daina, young sea ice."
Almost the instant he took off his shades, a frost-covered fist kept growing in his vision. That pitch-black justice punch learned from Garp shot straight for Aus's face.
But even that black fist couldn't wipe the faint smile from Aus's face.
The punch landed.
Smoke instantly engulfed the scene, but everyone present had solid Observation Haki and could see what happened.
Only now did Gion and Kake finally catch on.
That tall guy in sunglasses was actually a pirate!
"Vanished instantly?"
"That speed... Shave?"
Kake analyzed coolly.
Gion's face burned with shame and rage. Getting played by a pirate at Marine Headquarters pissed her off royally, and she drew her famous blade, ready for battle.
"If it were just Shave, he couldn't escape Observation Haki tracking. Must be a Devil Fruit ability... Hey, you two better watch it. This guy's no pushover."
While warning his companions, ice from Kuzan's body rapidly spread everywhere.
"That bastard was a Roger Pirates crew member. Much as I hate admitting it, his strength rivals young Roger himself.
All three Haki types, great swordsman, insanely advanced Observation Haki, unknown Devil Fruit user.
Ten billion berry bounty pirate—'Black Gun' Aus!"
Kuzan's expression was dead serious. Even though he despised Aus's methods, he had to acknowledge the truth.
This guy qualified as his nemesis.
Just like Roger was to Vice Admiral Garp—someone he was determined to arrest.
Current Kuzan hadn't yet become the post-Ohara slacker. Right now he practiced "Burning Justice."
Running into such a fired-up young Kuzan here left Aus genuinely helpless. Looked like the jig was up.
Play around a bit, then bail fast.
With that thought, Aus's figure somehow appeared behind Gion.
"Sorry, Miss Marine, mind returning my sword?"
Lightning fast.
The moment Observation Haki detected someone behind her, she didn't hesitate.
Gion's slender waist exploded with power, delivering a lightning-quick draw cut like a frozen meteor.
Razor-sharp sword energy sliced past, carving a dozens-meter crack in the ground.
After confirming Aus was a pirate, this previously friendly, gentle female Marine had transformed into a battlefield blood rose—one wrong move and you'd bleed out.
"Already a swordsman so young? Scary woman."
Whoosh—
Somehow, Aus's tall figure had reappeared behind her.
His spotless windbreaker and calm, composed expression showed that vicious slash hadn't even grazed his clothes.
Instead, Aus simply grabbed her sword-holding wrist and applied light pressure, easily restraining Gion's weapon arm.
His monstrous strength barely flexed. Faint bone-cracking sounds arose as the delicate hand holding Nether Crow trembled and released it, unstoppable pain flashing across Gion's face.
The famous blade returned to its owner.
Well... though he wasn't exactly the original owner.
"Damn pirate, don't touch Gion!!!"
Seeing Aus behind Gion, a furious roar erupted nearby—like a battle cry charging for love.
Kake's bulk came crashing over, fist wrapped in thick Armament Haki.
He glared at Gion being restrained by Aus, eyes ready to breathe fire.
Seeing Kake charge forward, hope flashed in restrained Gion's eyes.
This guy's freakish strength was too much. If Kake could hold him off even one second, she was confident she could escape immediately.
"Die!!!"
"Nice one, Kake!!!"
"Sigh... don't get what you're all fired up about..."
Clang—
Almost instantly, flowing red Haki wrapped Aus's leg in an explosive sweeping kick.
Like time froze, that black leg miraculously materialized at Kake's chest.
"...Wha...what!?"
Kake's instincts screamed danger, but he couldn't react.
Then,
With a sonic boom,
Terrifying strength and flowing Haki combined, hammering that fat-covered body.
Consciousness vanished instantly.
Kake's bulky frame rocketed away at impossible speed—faster than his charge—smashing through building after building.
Under Gion's despairing gaze,
He finally rolled his eyes back and collapsed in the rubble,
Completely unconscious.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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