While the two bosses clashed—
The Beasts Pirates weren't just gonna stand there watching. King quickly organized forces to surround the mother and two kids.
Yamato kept struggling. Trying to break free. Get to Aus.
Queen appeared too.
Cigar clenched in his teeth, watching Aus fight their boss so damn well. Fat face twisted with resentment.
That bastard Black Emperor blew a hole through Lord Queen's ass!
But then again—
Tell him to grab a blade and fight Aus right now? Hell no. Not that stupid. Which left only...
"Hey! Kozuki remnants! Don't think the Black Emperor backing you means you escape alive!
Hahahaha! Lord Queen won't allow it!"
King held Yamato under one arm, flaming blade in the other, closing in on what remained of the Kozuki family.
Both All-Stars blocking them. Kozuki Toki fell into despair.
"If that's how it is... I'll send you to the future..."
Her face twisted in anguish.
Mysterious power appeared in her hands. This conceptual force gave Aus a faint sense—if he didn't resist, he might actually experience time's great power.
Countless arrows aimed at them. Flaming arrowheads scorched the air. For ordinary people, massively threatening.
Ready to fire. Probably couldn't hit before the time-jump finished though.
This legendary technique was supposed to be fast.
Aus's blade swept the ground. Massive slash split the earth, heading toward Queen and King.
Wide range. Not much power though. Yamato was still in King's arms. Aus didn't want to slice her into pieces.
King's expression went grave. Put everything into blocking that slash.
Queen's face went white. Cigar dropped. Fat jiggled.
Only after King blocked it did he exhale. Wiped cold sweat.
Seeing this, Kozuki Toki's movements slowed slightly.
But that sudden slash forced everyone back. Beasts Pirates grunts fell into brief chaos.
In the mess—
One grunt, bowstring already taut, "accidentally" flinched. Arrow shot skyward.
Because of Toki's delay, Momonosuke hadn't completely crossed yet. Suddenly felt something strange below.
Warm sensation. Then searing pain.
But no one could hear anymore. Momonosuke had already run.
Run twenty years into the future. To the Worst Generation.
"Phew... close call..."
Aus sighed. Who knows about what.
But Toki, still there, heard those words. Assumed Aus was relieved he'd held back those Beasts Pirates villains in time.
Completely unaware she now had two daughters.
"I cannot thank you enough, Lord Aus."
From "Taro" to honorific. Toki held Hiyori and bowed deeply.
"Just lending a hand."
Aus smiled.
Hiyori looked at him with bright, sparkling eyes. Aus felt... nothing much.
Sure, cute. But Kozuki Hiyori didn't appeal to him.
Fundamentally just another selfish, reckless brat.
Secretly ran from Kawamatsu protecting her. Nearly drove him to seppuku. Guy spent over a decade in prison with rotten fish and filthy water.
Her excuse? Afraid he'd starve.
Not that she'd eat less. Not that she'd work to find food.
Without even knowing Denjiro was there, ran off alone to a brothel.
Even with comfortable conditions, still enjoyed using looks to scam horny men.
Twenty years lurking near Orochi. Accomplished nothing. Robin contributed more in one day. She'd completely embraced the geisha identity.
One encounter with Zoro, then sleeping next to him.
Bottom line? Woman born to be a courtesan.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. But when carrying your family and nation's revenge? Aus couldn't respect it.
What happened next was cliché.
Samurai who hadn't been sent away escorted mother and daughter to safety. Aus didn't stop them. Just stood there, arms crossed, watching.
Beasts Pirates stared warily at that proud, unmoving figure.
That massive slash mark still scarred the ground. No one dared move first.
Even King just held Yamato tighter. Too cautious to attack.
After seeing them off, ignoring Kaido wanting to keep fighting—
Aus had no reason to stay. His foot shifted.
BANG—
Instant before Kaido's club smashed down—
He vanished.
Flames and smoke everywhere.
Only Kaido and Beasts Pirates remained.
Scene went quiet.
Kaido's face twisted with rage. Crowd stayed silent. Yamato kept shouting for Aus.
"Once again, I cannot thank you enough, Lord Aus."
Temporary hideout. Rundown wooden shack.
Wearing patched kimonos, two green-haired females—adult and child—looked at Aus sitting across from them drinking tea. Bowed again.
Remaining retainers like Denjiro and Kawamatsu also knelt before him.
This man wasn't their lord, but his life-saving grace was heavy as the heavens!
Whoosh~
Aus sipped hot tea. Looking at everyone kneeling with lowered heads, face showed nothing.
He did whatever he wanted.
Unlike that selfishness he despised—the kind ignoring people you should care about—
Aus's selfishness came purely from a clear conscience.
"No need for this, everyone. Kaido and I have had our conflicts overseas."
Aus said this, but didn't move an inch. Calmly accepted their kneeling thanks. Life-saving grace, after all.
Yep.
Even though he'd cost them their young lord.
Honestly, Aus originally had designs on Wano. Produced Seastone. Pretty large nation.
Adding it to the underworld empire would've been nice.
But actually coming here, he realized—deep down, he really didn't like this country.
Taking everything from the Kozuki family... when you thought about it, how was that different from Kaido?
Just meant having a bigger fist. Plus a pile of future headaches.
Maybe Aus's strength gave these desperate samurai hope. Someone tentatively spoke.
"Lord Aus, please lend us your aid..."
"Please stop."
Before Aus could speak, Kozuki Toki cut in. Interrupted that samurai.
She'd figured it out. Aus had no intention of sticking his neck out.
From his time on Roger's ship, Aus's relationship with the Kozuki family had always been lukewarm. Then how he didn't fight Kaido to the death. His good relationship with Kaido's daughter. All of it.
All showed Aus's position.
Aus—
Was not Wano Country's savior!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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