"Why the long face, little hawk?"
"We hadn't settled it yet. Then you just vanished..."
Mihawk's expression darkened. He stared at Aus lounging on the Navy warship like he was on vacation—orange juice in hand, legs crossed, reading the paper.
Fire burned in his chest.
The match hadn't been decided. Their clash had hit peak intensity. Then Aus swung one slash into the distance and disappeared.
Left him feeling cut off right at the climax.
"You felt it already, right? Pure swordsmanship? I'm a step below you.
But the gap in Conqueror's coating mastery makes up for it. Surpasses it, even."
Had to admit—
Conqueror's coating was the meta. Let Aus force Mihawk into a corner, defending his throne as "World's Strongest Swordsman."
Though that wasn't what Aus wanted originally.
He'd planned to specialize in guns. Just happened his talent everywhere else was too damn good—ended up knowing everything.
Speaking of—
Vegapunk had someone deliver his gun. Precision and recoil were insane. Power? Ridiculous.
Handle the recoil, pair it with Vegapunk's special rounds, and blowing up a hilltop with one shot was easy.
This divine weapon made Aus even more terrifying.
Watching Aus enjoy life, Mihawk had no choice.
He had to admit—strength-wise, the gap between them was still considerable.
This guy's growth rate was abnormal. Impossible to catch.
Aus's vacation attitude drew plenty of Marine eyes.
Over these days, they'd gotten used to it. But stubborn Marines still dared face the Black Emperor's presence.
Crack crack crack...
Aus read his paper, about to sip orange juice—then noticed the juice freezing. Ice fusing with glass.
"..."
Childish, Kuzan.
No choice. Aus shook the glass lightly. Ice shattered from within, turning into fine shaved ice.
He poured it into his mouth. Actually tasted good.
"Tch..."
Someone pulling tricks in the shadows clicked his tongue.
Duramos Kingdom sent a large ship. Generally, Old Kik, Mihawk, Crocodile—they'd rest on that vessel.
Old Kik was ex-Rocks Pirates. Hated the Navy. Little Hawk was a Marine Hunter. Croc had a nasty streak.
Only little Flamingo smiled and followed Aus around, enjoying time on the Navy warship.
Maybe parading in front of people who used to chase him felt satisfying?
"Hey, Navy guy. Mind grabbing me some orange juice?"
Aus rested his head on one hand, looking at a guard on deck. The request clearly put him in a bind.
"Uh... this..."
He looked pleadingly at Vice Admiral Borsalino slacking off nearby.
"Go ahead~ I want some too~"
Borsalino didn't want trouble. Just wanted this mission smooth. No complications.
Fight Aus, Mihawk, and the others? Forget winning—even surviving without losing meant getting chewed out back at Headquarters.
Veteran wage slave. He saw it clear.
"Yes sir!"
The guard ran toward the kitchen, relieved.
"Borsalino. From the first second I saw you, I knew—we're the same type."
"Oh? But I'm not a pirate~"
"Not talking about that. Other things."
On deck now, Borsalino had found a chair just like Aus. Legs crossed. Enjoying the breeze.
Taking the orange juice from the sailor, Aus sipped. Mildly sweet. Perfect. His lips curved.
"Hey, Borsalino. What's the point of that Navy pittance?
Work for me. Massages anywhere in the world. Buy whatever without paying. Money? As much as you want..."
Tempting tone. Aus was poaching someone about to become the World Government's top combat power. The conditions? Extremely enticing.
Nearly endless wealth. Confidence to walk the seas with Aus backing you. Unmatched prestige...
Everything the Navy or World Government could offer, Aus could too. Double, even.
Borsalino had to admit—tempting. But he shook his head, helpless smile on his face.
"Really can't refuse that~ But I'm used to my life now."
"That so? Shame. Think it over though."
Aus's mind shifted. Borsalino froze, feeling something in his coat. He patted around, pulled out a card.
"Sabaody Archipelago all-entertainment VIP card. Interested? Slack off there sometime."
Fellow slacker. Aus didn't dislike Borsalino. Could get massages and foot baths together occasionally.
"Oh~ quite the gift~"
The world thought Aus was some great pirate stirring chaos, infamous everywhere.
But after days together, Borsalino discovered—Aus was easygoing. Someone who did whatever he wanted. Just seeking fun.
He'd mess with Kuzan, making him freeze ice for cold drinks.
Would "accidentally" wander wherever Sakazuki was. Guy would dodge him deliberately—like hide-and-seek.
Occasionally hassled soldiers, smiling at their flustered reactions.
If this guy wasn't attending the Council Meeting for conspiracy, then most likely—
Just for amusement.
Making three monsters escort him—
Wrapped the dumplings just for this vinegar.
How wicked, Dortorl Aus. Everything you've achieved. The power you possess. Your layout across the seas...
It's all just—
To toy with the entire world?
Fleet Admiral Kong and Admiral Sengoku thought Aus having no ambition was good.
But actually—that was the greatest ambition of all...
[PS: Godfather, I want five stars...]
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