Long Time No See, Kuzan-san~

"Please consider it carefully!"

"Not for sale."

Austin sighed inwardly, wondering if there was an almanac in the One Piece World, and if today was an unlucky day to go out.

He'd only gone downstairs for breakfast and already he was being pestered by this Famous Sword enthusiast.

He couldn't reveal that he was also a Great Swordsman, or that would just invite more scrutiny. But if he insisted he was just a collector, the other person would think he was wasting a treasure.

So annoying.

He should have never come to Marineford. It would have been easier to Warp to Impel Down and disguise himself as a Jailer to get in.

"Ara-ara, Gion, Tokikake, I finally found you. Mr. Garp and Chief of Staff Tsuru are..."

Just as Austin was getting fed up, a familiar voice called out from the other side of the street.

The moment he heard that voice, Austin looked up at the sky and sighed.

As expected, it was an unlucky day to go out.

In such a vast Marineford, he had to run into an enemy.

"Huh? It's Rear Admiral Kuzan-san. Please wait a moment, I'm..."

Gion and Kuzan were old acquaintances from the Marine Academy, so they weren't surprised by his appearance. She greeted him.

She was about to explain that she was busy, but a sudden wave of cold air and spreading ice left her bewildered.

Seriously?

It's just a little late for a meeting?

"Dotol Austin!!!"

Kuzan, however, seemed to ignore her for the moment. Instead, he glared at the person beside her with murderous intent, his expression terrifying.

It was the first time Gion had seen the usually lazy and carefree Kuzan show such seriousness.

"What? Are you talking to me?" Austin tried to play dumb, wearing a completely innocent expression.

"Huh? You think I wouldn't recognize you just because you changed your clothes and put on sunglasses? What a joke, you bastard! My hatred for you has never diminished!!!"

Having pursued the Roger Pirates with Garp for years, Kuzan was arguably the Marine who understood Austin the best, and also the one who had been tricked by Austin the most.

Later, during their pursuit, Kuzan had decided he would never appear on deck unless it was a boarding battle, all to guard against this guy.

If anyone knew the true value of Future Sight combined with Armament Haki and Seastone Bullets, it was Kuzan. If he said he was second, no one would dare claim first.

Seeing that his murderous intent had become palpable, Austin sighed.

He decided to take off the sunglasses, revealing a calm and perfect smile.

"Long time no see, young Ice."

The moment the sunglasses came off, a frosty fist loomed larger in his eyes. That Justice Fist, taught by Garp, was aimed directly at Austin's face.

But even the black fist descending before him couldn't erase the smile on Austin's face.

The punch landed.

Smoke instantly filled the air, but everyone present was skilled in Observation Haki and could see everything that was happening.

Gion and Tokikake finally reacted.

That tall figure in sunglasses was actually a Pirate!

"He disappeared instantly?"

"That speed... is it Soru?"

Tokikake analyzed calmly.

Gion's face flushed with shame and anger. To be toyed with by a Pirate in Marine Headquarters! She drew the Famous Sword at her waist, preparing to fight.

"If it were just Soru, he wouldn't be able to escape Observation Haki. It must be a Devil Fruit ability... Hey, you two need to be careful. This guy isn't easy to deal with."

While warning his two companions, Kuzan's ice began to spread rapidly around him.

"That guy was once a crew member of the Roger Pirates. Though I hate to admit it, that bastard's strength is comparable to Roger in his youth.

He's a user of Three types of Haki, a Great Swordsman, possesses extremely high-level Observation Haki, and is a user of an unknown Devil Fruit ability.

A Pirate with a bounty of one billion, Black Gun Austin!"

Kuzan's expression was deadly serious. Even though he despised and was angered by Austin's actions, he had to admit, this guy was qualified to be his arch-nemesis.

Just like Roger was to Vice Admiral Garp, someone he was determined to arrest.

Kuzan now was not the "slacker" he would become after the Ohara incident. He followed "Burning Justice,"

And running into such a passionate young Kuzan here, Austin was also quite helpless. It seemed he couldn't blend in anymore.

Let's get this over with quickly.

With that thought, Austin's figure appeared behind Gion at some point.

"Excuse me, Miss Marine, could you return my sword?"

As quick as lightning, After sensing a figure behind her with Observation Haki, she didn't hesitate at all.

Gion's slender waist suddenly exerted force, and a swift, accurate, and ruthless Sword Draw Slash shot out like a flying, cold meteor.

The sharp sword energy quickly sliced through, leaving a dozen-meter-long crack on the ground.

After confirming Austin was a pirate, this previously approachable and gentle female Marine had transformed into a battlefield blood rose, ready to spill blood on the spot if one wasn't careful.

"To be a Swordsman at such a young age? What a terrifying woman."

Whoosh—

At some point, Austin's tall figure had reappeared behind her.

His immaculate trench coat and his relaxed, composed expression all indicated that the previous sharp slash hadn't even touched the hem of his clothes.

Instead, Austin had simply grabbed her sword-wielding wrist and, with a slight exertion of force, easily restrained Gion's arm.

With a terrifying display of brute strength, a faint cracking sound echoed, and her bare hand holding the Nether Crow trembled and loosened its grip. At the same time, an expression of unbearable pain appeared on Gion's face.

The Famous Sword returned to its owner.

Uh... although he wasn't exactly the true owner.

"You damn pirate, don't touch Gion!!!"

Seeing Austin appear behind Gion, a furious roar erupted from not far beside Austin, like the charge horn for love.

Tokikake charged forward, his fist also coated in a dense layer of Armament Haki.

He stared angrily at Gion, who was being restrained by Austin, his eyes seeming to spew fire.

Seeing Tokikake step forward, Gion, who was being restrained, also felt a glimmer of hope.

This guy's brute strength is too exaggerated. If Tokikake can hold him off for even a second, she's confident she can find an opportunity to escape immediately.

"Die!!"

"Well done, Tokikake!!"

"Sigh... I don't even know what you guys are burning with..."

Clang—

Almost instantly, a flowing red Haki instantly wrapped around Austin's leg. With a explosive kick, As if time had stopped, that dark leg miraculously appeared in front of Tokikake's chest.

"...Wha... What!?"

Tokikake's instincts screamed danger, but he couldn't react at all.

Then, With a sonic boom, Terrifying brute strength and flowing Haki intertwined, continuously acting upon that flabby body.

His consciousness was lost almost instantly.

Tokikake's broad body flew into the distance at an unbelievable speed, even faster than when he charged, smashing through house after house.

Under Gion's despairing gaze, He finally collapsed in the ruins, eyes rolled back, and fell unconscious.