"Welcome back, Lord Ozz! And Mr. Mihawk…"
Walking down the bustling red-light district, every girl along the way was visibly excited by their arrival especially at the sight of Ozz. The fervor bordering on fangirl fanaticism was unmistakable.
Thanks to the legendary reputations of these two powerhouses, Sami's influence in the underworld was booming like never before. There was even talk of her becoming the undisputed queen of the underground.
The red-light district's business had soared to rank among the top two globally, rivaling the scale of the New World's lively Joy Street.
Daily earnings were calculated in billions.
So, these two weren't just the ladies' protectors they were their walking fortunes.
Who wouldn't love that?
Ozz led the way, smiling warmly as he greeted the beautiful women, occasionally giving a playful nod or ruffling a head. His handsome face wore a gentle smile that left both young and mature women utterly captivated.
Mihawk, on the other hand, kept his cool, arms crossed, trailing silently behind Ozz. None of the flirtatious attention could shake his unwavering focus on the way of the sword.
At the heart of the red-light district, they turned and spotted a beautiful young mother holding a baby.
Anyone here with a child in the central area naturally had a unique status.
"Long time no see, Ozz-san, Mihawk-san," the mother, Rogue, smiled gently, her eyes full of gratitude as she looked at Ozz.
"Oh? Isn't this Lady Rogue?"
Since Ozz brought Rogue back to Sabaody Archipelago, she had settled in peacefully.
For someone who barely blinked at expenses especially since a single sword he'd acquired, the "Ace," was worth over a billion berries supporting a pregnant woman was a trivial cost.
More than a year ago, Rogue gave birth to Roger's son, Ace. On the very day of Ace's birth, Ozz had come all the way back from a remote island just for the occasion.
He still remembered how Rogue had tried to have Ace call him godfather. That had startled Ozz so much he hastily refused.
He couldn't imagine being on the same generational level as Captain Roger.
What would happen if Ace called Uncle Rayleigh "big brother"?
Would Ozz become "Mr. Ozz" forever?
Captain Roger was pretty old to be having a child definitely causing some generational confusion.
In the end, it was simpler to just keep calling Ozz "Mr. Ozz."
"You brought little Ace out to enjoy the sun… What a lively little fellow. No doubt he's Roger's child."
Maybe it was natural intelligence when Ozz and Mihawk approached, Ace reached out his arms.
Ozz lifted the baby Roger's son into his arms, weighing him thoughtfully.
Then he glanced over at Mihawk, who was watching coldly from the side, and smirked:
"Hey, Hawk, want to hold the kid?"
"Huh?" Mihawk's usually stoic face showed a flicker of surprise.
Then Ozz gently passed Ace into his arms.
"Wait… hold on, you"
Despite Mihawk's serious expression and slight fluster, he carefully cradled Ace.
Ozz couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Compared to the baby, he clearly enjoyed teasing Mihawk more.
"Hahaha, alright, alright…" Ozz chuckled, returning Ace to Rogue's arms.
"We're heading out to sea this time. Might be a while before we're back.
If anything happens, find Sami or just call my Den-den Mushi," Ozz said to Lady Rogue.
He playfully pinched Ace's cheek before waving goodbye.
The two then headed upstairs toward the center district, soon arriving at Sami's office.
"Well, well, Lord Ozz and Mr. Mihawk, why didn't you notify me earlier? I'll have things ready at once…"
Used to Sami's enthusiastic hospitality, they settled on the sofa. Ozz crossed his legs comfortably as two maids quickly brought orange juice and red wine.
"So, Sami, Mihawk and I are planning to set sail. Help us get ready," Ozz said casually, two small maids sitting on his lap.
Mihawk quietly sipped wine, silent as they'd agreed beforehand.
In fact, Ozz had spent his leisure time over the past two years planning the timeline and route.
Sami, of course, was well-prepared.
"All supplies and essentials have long been gathered, Lord Ozz."
The maids chimed in:
"Yes, yes, everything's ready clothes, food…"
"About 10 billion berries in cash, packed into several chests."
"Wow, that's thorough~"
"Can we come along too, Lord Ozz?"
"Yes, yes! We can massage, feed you, scrub you, warm the blankets…"
"No way. This isn't a playhouse. The ocean's dangerous, and even I can't guarantee your absolute safety."
"Ah… But why"
The cheerful chatter continued until Mihawk, who had been quietly drinking, frowned and interrupted.
"Hey, aren't you forgetting something?
To set sail, you need a ship!"
Ozz froze, suddenly remembering.
"Oh, right!"
With all his teleporting lately, he'd completely forgotten that travel still required a vessel.
Sami responded calmly:
"Well, about that…"
"I've already thought it through for you, Lord Ozz,"
a gruff, weathered voice cut in, as a slightly disheveled figure appeared at the door.
Ozz had sensed the presence early on, so he smiled and greeted:
"Shashi buri dana, Uncle Rayleigh."
"The Underworld King Silvers Rayleigh!" Mihawk's sharp eyes locked onto the legendary swordsman.
Mihawk's sword cravings flared, but he knew the occasion wasn't right and restrained himself.
Rayleigh had been living in Sabaody Archipelago for years, often coming by to share a drink under Ozz's name.
They had met many times, but Rayleigh never sparred seriously with Mihawk.
At Ozz's current level, Mihawk was still too green to face Rayleigh at his prime.
Rayleigh's arrival and the topic at hand made Ozz raise an eyebrow in surprise.
He quickly glimpsed a vision of the near future, and his surprise deepened.
"Uncle Rayleigh, you actually…"
"Hey, Ozz, using Observation Haki like that kills all the fun of life!" Rayleigh chuckled and gave Ozz a friendly nudge.
"Go, Ozz. Represent us old-timers and check out this new era.
Do it aboard the Oro Jackson!"
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