"You're welcome. To celebrate having four new companions today, cheers!"
That night, Joseph paid for a grand meal for everyone in the local area, and the departing ship was scheduled for tomorrow morning.
In the afternoon, they had already booked rooms at a hotel, and Takatsuki told them about the types of Stand users they would encounter and their Stand abilities.
Polnareff jumped up immediately upon hearing that Hanged Man was the enemy he had been searching for, and he was even more unconvinced when he heard that he would almost always be on the losing end, either barely winning or needing others' help to win.
Kiana and Mei listened with amazement. They couldn't see Stands yet, and the strange Stand abilities Takatsuki described truly opened their eyes.
Kiana was even eager to try, wishing she could awaken a Stand quickly to experience it.
"Then I won't hold back."
Kiana had been hungry for a long time. In their original world, the Honkai Eruption broke out in the morning, causing the three to miss lunch, and in the afternoon, they arrived in a new world, explaining and rushing all the way. In fact, not only Kiana, but Mei and Takatsuki were also hungry.
"Hahaha, don't be shy."
Seeing Kiana's genuine demeanor, Joseph also smiled. Kiana had such a power, always able to infect others.
Mei, beside her, awkwardly poked Kiana, who was eating like a starving ghost, then politely thanked Mr. Joseph.
Regardless of anything else, Joseph was the oldest person present. Although he sometimes acted like a young man, and Jotaro often impolitely called him "old man," it was clear that everyone respected him.
"But this way, our team will be even younger."
Joseph looked at the people around him and said. Although he was still strong and vigorous, he also realized that he was getting old.
"Mr. Joseph should be less than fifty years old, right?"
Although she looked young, Raiden Mei remembered Joseph was Jotaro's grandfather.
"Mei, you've guessed wrong there. The old man is already sixty-seven this year."
Takatsuki, picking up a fish ball and putting it in his mouth, said, "It's just that because he trained in Hamon, his lifespan was extended, and he doesn't look old."
"Oh, right, Mr. Joseph, can you teach me Hamon?"
Joseph looked at Takatsuki. "It's not that I can't teach you Hamon, but what did you just call me?"
"What? Mr. Joseph."
"Not that! You just called me 'old man'!"
"Ah haha, my apologies, my apologies, I'm just used to it."
Takatsuki said with some feigned apology.
"What kind of situation could make you accustomed to calling someone 'old man'?"
"After all, old man, your Stand is the most useless." Takatsuki smiled and said without hesitation, "That line is simply too famous."
"Hermit Purple, huh…" Looking at the purple vines appearing on his hand, Avdol said from the side, "Mr. Joestar's Stand isn't very powerful, but you can't say it's useless."
Takatsuki waved his hand. "It's not truly useless, it's more like a joke. After all, among Stands, only the invincible Star Platinum and the most useless old man will be known to everyone in the future."
"Yare yare."
"Oh My God! Is my Stand really looked down upon so much?"
"But, Takatsuki, since you said you know us in the future, why didn't you learn Hamon?"
Even now, Joseph hadn't forgotten to question Takatsuki's origins.
"After all, in the future world, there are no more Hamon warriors. Kars was banished to space, and all vampires were annihilated. Hamon became optional. Perhaps there are still some in the world, but they are just ascetics. Even you, old man, neglected your training after defeating Kars, didn't you? After all, 'effort' and 'keep it up' are your two most hated words."
Takatsuki said somewhat helplessly. Not only him, but many Jojo fans had also complained that if the old man were still around in Stone Ocean, the story would have ended immediately with a single camera shot. One could even say that the old man's Stand was actually the most useful.
After all, the old man was number one in information warfare. Dio's Stand before he acquired "The World" was also Hermit Purple. Although the plot didn't elaborate, it's clear that he used Hermit Purple's ability to find so many talented and Beyonders.
Although his own abilities also played a significant role.
"Indeed, I didn't expect the Hamon legacy to be cut off with me. Although there are no more Pillar Men, perhaps vampires created by lost Stone Masks might appear in the future."
Joseph didn't refuse and looked at Jotaro. "Jotaro, do you want to learn too?"
"Yare yare."
He pulled down his hat without expressing any opinion, then picked up the cup in front of him and stood up.
Kakyoin, standing nearby, glanced over, then picked up his cup and walked towards Takatsuki.
Raiden Mei, who was wiping Kiana's mouth with a napkin because her face was greasy from eating, saw two tall figures.
Jotaro Kujo, who would be one meter ninety-five tall in the future, was already over one meter eighty tall as a high school student, much taller than his peers. Kakyoin was also one meter seventy-eight.
The two stood beside Mei like two tall walls.
"Um... is there something you need?"
Facing Mei's question, Jotaro remained silent. His face, hidden by the brim of his hat, gave off an intimidating aura that kept people away.
"Sigh..."
Seeing this, Takatsuki sighed, then stood up. "Forget it, this is still too difficult for Jotaro. After all, he'll be like this even after a few decades."
Takatsuki was about to say 'forget it' when Kakyoin stepped forward, ready to give Jotaro an out.
Jotaro suddenly reached out and stopped them. "What happened this afternoon... I'm sorry..."
After speaking, he pulled his hat lower, put a cigarette in his mouth without lighting it, and quickly left the private room. Kakyoin gave a apologetic smile to the others. "I'll go check on him."
"That kid Jotaro gets so nervous talking to a girl."
Joseph said, exasperated, then turned to Mei and Kiana. "I'm sorry, that kid Jotaro isn't very good with words."
"It's fine... But why is Mr. Jotaro apologizing to us?"
Raiden Mei knew the general personalities of the group from Takatsuki's earlier story. Jotaro's personality was quite distinct, and compared to the harsh words she had suffered before, this was much better. As for Kiana... she hadn't even realized what was happening.
"It's fine, Jotaro is just too shy. We can go out together after dinner..."
Polnareff said, walking over and reaching out to put his arms around their shoulders.
Before he could finish speaking, his hands were each grabbed by a hand. On the right, King Crimson stared with a regretful face, while on the left, Takatsuki held his left hand with a smile.
"Polnareff, talk is talk, but it's better not to get handsy."