"What the...?"
Chewing on a piece of meat still clinging to a bone, King Luffy saw a flock of birds take flight from the distant shore, followed by a violent rumble. He asked blankly,
"With such a huge commotion, could a Sea King be attacking a ship?"
King Luffy's group had only just set up camp on the deserted island and had not even had time to rest before this sudden incident occurred.
But the moment King Luffy heard "Sea King," he thought of piles upon piles of meat, and drool instantly trickled from his mouth.
"Hey, hey, let's go catch that Sea King! We can roast it!!!"
"...Sure. The food on the ship is almost gone because you ate it all."
Sanji nodded, agreeing with the idea.
"Then let's all go take a look at the shore."
While the Straw Hat Crew was rushing over, a rather unpleasant little conflict was taking place by the shore.
"Crack, crack, crack..."
As the bicycle moved forward, clusters of ice crystals instantly spread across the sea, releasing frigid mist. A tall, slender figure was approaching the deserted island.
"..."
Looking out at the vast sea ahead, Kuzan yawned.
Ever since Austin had half-retired from the world, Kuzan had always felt that something was missing. Especially as he spent more time in the Marines and experienced more and more things, he gradually lost the passion and drive he once had.
The darkness of the World Government, not seeing Austin, his longtime rival, for so many years... it was as if he had lost his motivation.
Though he still possessed his own sense of justice, once his spirit was gone, it was gone.
Thus, on the surface, he had become the second greatest slacker in the Marines, second only to a certain someone.