Another Debt Left Behind by [Kong Ao], and That Kick to Kaido's Face

Aside from Rocks, Whitebeard, and the others, there was one more person Kaido remembered with crystal clarity.

One of the only two people in the world who had ever left a shoeprint on his face.

Black Gun Austin.

Ever since the battle of God Valley had ended—the most unforgettable experience of his youth—Kaido had not seen that guy again, all the way through his true adulthood and into middle age.

Now, through his drunken haze, a sudden shout gradually brought that figure from the depths of his memories into focus.

"That voice... it can't be wrong..."

Kaido's bleary eyes widened, his gaze beginning to focus as he saw the Den Den Mushi right before him.

The familiar voice and facial features gave him a strange sense of déjà vu.

Kaido subconsciously called out that name.

"You're... Austin?!!!"

"You're not dead?!!!"

Kaido actually knew Austin was not dead. After all, the man had made far too great a name for himself, and he looked no different from [Kong Ao].

It was just that Austin's whereabouts had been elusive over the years. Several times Kaido had gone looking for him, only to be beaten back halfway by Garp.

Over all these years, Kaido had never actually met [Azure Austin].

So, in his muddled state of mind, he instinctively assumed Austin was dead.

One could only imagine how shocked Kaido was at that moment.

It was no less shocking than if Kaido, now a Sea Overlord who was even faintly called the [World's Strongest Creature], suddenly heard that Rocks had come back to life.

Kaido might have made something of himself now, but if Rocks truly stood before him, Kaido's presence would definitely still fall short.

After all, a captain was a captain.

And in a sense, Austin was someone who could stand