Even the Strong Are Weak When They Waver

In the New World, somewhere at sea.

"Whoa!!!!"

"So awesome!!!"

"That makes fifteen straight wins, right? Is there really no one who can defeat Vice Admiral Austin?!!!"

All the off-duty Marines had gathered around, their eyes wide as they focused intently on the card table.

On one side sat Vice Admiral Austin, his gaze sharp but a faint smile playing on his lips.

Opposite him was a soldier drenched in sweat.

"I-I lost again!!!"

"If you're bad, practice more. But don't forget the wager—you'll be washing socks for a week."

Amid a chorus of wails, Austin won another hand.

Austin, who was briefly on leave, had finally revealed Osborne's true nature: playful and carefree.

The entire warship had become rather lax because of it.

Just as Austin smiled and prepared to accept the next soldier's challenge—

"Beru beru beru..."

The Den Den Mushi in Austin's pocket began to ring.

Holding his cards in one hand, Austin used his dragon eyes and Observation Haki to watch the reflections of the cards in his opponent's pupils while answering the Den Den Mushi and bringing the receiver to his mouth.

"Hello? Austin speaking."

The voice from the other end of the Den Den Mushi belonged to a rough-sounding middle-aged man.

"Austin, it's Sengoku."

Hearing that, Austin's previously casual expression became more restrained.

Though Sengoku was not his teacher, he was still his direct superior. Sengoku had taken good care of him over the years, so Austin became more serious.

"I heard you defeated the World Destroyer?"

"Yeah. He's locked in the ship's brig now. I'm personally escorting him."

As Austin spoke, he manipulated his flame clouds and played a card from his hand.

He clearly felt no pressure over the matter at all.

Heh...

Could anyone really dare to come and break someone