The power of the Black Gun had become even more terrifying.
That was the Five Elders' immediate reaction after receiving first-hand reports and battle footage from the field.
They had assumed Ozz would keep a low profile in the Sabaody Archipelago for a while. In fact, over the past two years, they'd nearly forgotten that this man was still a looming threat across the seas.
Yet here he was his return to the world stage marked by an explosion no one could ignore.
Realizing that they were now entering the negotiation phase, the Five Elders issued a curt, stern order to Spandine:
"CP9 stand down. All of you."
The CP agents, as if granted amnesty, quickly retreated like frightened rats abandoning a sinking ship.
Only Spandine remained, still kneeling on the deck of the warship, his expression one of bitter anguish as he held up the Den Den Mushi.
Ozz gave a faint smile and slowly extended his palm. With a flicker, the Den Den Mushi vanished from Spandine's grasp and appeared in Ozz's hand.
Relieved, Spandine bowed low in gratitude and vanished in a flash.
"Ozz," came a cold voice one that belonged to Saint Nasujuro, the Martial God of Finance and the most ruthless of the Five Elders. "Are you declaring war on the World Government?"
Now that all irrelevant personnel had been dismissed, the room tensed.
Ozz raised a brow, unfazed.
"Where is this coming from? I was on the island before the Navy even arrived. If anyone's trying to start a war, it'd be you, wouldn't it?"
"You knew the Buster Call would target Ohara."
"Did I?" Ozz's voice remained casual. "And how exactly do you know I knew?"
For a moment, Nasujuro was at a loss for words.
How could he explain it? That there had been a leak within the World Government? Saying so would only bring shame on themselves.
"Enough," another voice interrupted the Martial God of Environment, Saint Mars. "What's done is done. Talking about it now is pointless."
He paused, voice turning colder.
"You should understand, Ozz. When it comes to Ohara, the World Government shows zero tolerance. Even your presence there could never have changed its fate it was doomed to be wiped from the map."
That, at least, was true.
Ozz might be overwhelmingly powerful, but the World Government had endured for 800 years. It was built on a foundation of overwhelming strength and unwavering dominance. They couldn't capture Ozz but they couldn't be stopped either.
The Five Elders were confident in that.
They had assumed Ozz came here on Ohara's behalf, to throw himself into the fire and challenge the Navy head-on. That was the only explanation for why he'd gone toe-to-toe with their forces.
But they were wrong.
"I never said I was here to protect Ohara," Ozz said, shrugging, as if the very thought bored him. "You guys always think I have some grand scheme or ulterior motive."
He smiled lazily.
"But honestly, I just do what I feel like."
"???"
Now it was the Five Elders' turn to be dumbfounded.
Their eyes narrowed in disbelief as they stared at the Den Den Mushi, trying to process what they'd just heard.
"I only fought the Navy for one reason," Ozz said, his lips curling upward.
"And that was to announce to this era, I'm back."
A madman…
That was the first word that crossed all their minds. A massive, full-scale battle just to announce his return to the seas?
And yet, they understood.
Black Gun Ozz, now fully grown, had officially stepped back onto the stage of the world.
The Five Elders felt both reassured and deeply unsettled.
On the one hand, Ozz had always been relatively cooperative with the World Government. He was headstrong and irritating, yes, but at least he could be reasoned with unlike those chaotic pirates who knew nothing but plunder and destruction.
And with the sheer might and potential Ozz displayed, he would undoubtedly crush the new generation of pirates like insects.
In all their long lifespans, only a handful of monsters had ever reached such heights.
The last one?
He was already dead Rocks D. Xebec.
But their unease stemmed from Ozz's unpredictability. He was an uncontrollable variable. Letting him roam free across the seas could very well derail any number of their long-laid plans.
Just like this Buster Call incident.
"We understand how you feel, Ozz," said Saint Peter, the Martial God of Agriculture, his tone now graver. "But know this no matter what, the Buster Call is not something you can use to build your reputation."
"This isn't like an assault on Navy Headquarters. The Buster Call is the World Government's ultimate show of force across the seas it's not some officer's pride you can trample on at will."
In other words:
No matter how powerful you are, don't think for a second that you can turn the Buster Call into your stepping stone. That's the bottom line.
Ozz paused, thoughtful.
Then he nodded.
The truth was simple:
When the World Government gave him face, he was more than happy to return the favor.
If he went back on his word and forced a falling out, how would he ever become the next Face-Face Fruit user?
The Five Elders publicly reprimanding Sakazuki had already done more than enough to preserve his pride.
He wasn't someone who didn't know how to read the room.
"Well, if you're all saying that, how could I possibly argue?" he said with a grin. "Let's leave it at that."
"Ohara doesn't interest me. Do what you want."
Even though Ozz and Mihawk had decimated the Buster Call fleet, its remaining strength was still more than enough to raze Ohara.
The CP agents were still intact. The warships had firepower. Sakazuki, wounded though he was was still a Vice Admiral.
Ohara's destruction was never in question.
The only difference was whether it happened fast or very fast.
Perhaps what surprised the Five Elders most was how quickly Ozz agreed.
They had assumed that someone like him, given an excuse, would start bargaining, tossing out outrageous demands.
They had even braced themselves to make a few concessions.
But Ozz? Today, he was being surprisingly reasonable.
After a moment of thought, the Five Elders decided to extend a small olive branch.
"In that case, Ozz, consider the World Government indebted to you."
"So long as your requests aren't excessive, we will maintain a friendly attitude. A major falling-out doesn't benefit either of us."
And just like that.
What could have become a catastrophic war…
Dissolved in a few simple words.
In addition, at Ozz's request, the Five Elders tossed in a token gesture one that cost them nothing, but made quite the statement.
"Effective immediately, adjust the bounty on Black Gun Ozz to…"
"Four billion, four hundred and ninety million Berries!"
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