(I ate the Brain-Brain Fruit. I'm a Brain-Brain Human. I can store extra brains.)
Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1492.
Dramoss Island—a modest, unremarkable dot on the front half of the New World.
"Hey, Jesse! You don't want the whole town finding out you still wet the bed at eight, do you?!"
Down a cluttered alley, a bare-chested boy with wild black hair stood grinning wickedly at a snot-nosed kid across from him.
Not far off, a few other kids glared at the older boy—furious but too scared to speak.
"B-but I even washed the sheets before sunrise... Ozz, how'd you know—" Jesse's voice cut off mid-sentence. He clapped both hands over his mouth, terrified the others might've heard.
"I've told you before," Ozz said smugly, snatching the kid's allowance—a few hundred Berries—and stuffing it into his pocket, "Nothing escapes these eyes of mine."
He laughed heartily and swaggered off, leaving behind an angry, tearful Jesse.
Once Ozz was gone, the rest of the kids dared to come comfort Jesse, cursing under their breath.
"Damn it... I swear, one day I'll get him back for this!"
"Yeah! That Ozz guy's always stealing our allowance. Next time, I'll knock his teeth out!"
But one of the kids just stared after Ozz's retreating silhouette, face tight with fear.
"We can say that, but let's be real... Even the mayor said it—Ozz killed a wild boar when he was six."
In his eyes, a flicker of remembered warning:
"He's a born monster."
"Nice, another 500 Berries. That's two more newspapers this week."
Ozz pushed open the door to his house in high spirits.
This was his ninth year in the world of One Piece. Abandoned at birth, raised by the old village chief—he'd long grown used to this strange new life.
But he hadn't yet seen the true vastness of this world. So he religiously bought newspapers from the seagull sellers, soaking up every scrap of information about the happenings out at sea.
Today was no different. He'd just come home for lunch—but strangely, the old chief wasn't around.
Frowning, Ozz glanced around. No sign of him. He tilted his head toward the neighbor's door and squinted, concentrating.
A moment later, he shook his head. "Not there either, huh."
Probably off chasing women again. He didn't give it much thought. He headed to the kitchen, grabbed a few loaves of bread and some ham, and sat down to eat while scanning the paper.
"The remnants of the Rocks Pirates are expanding their forces—led by Golden Lion, Whitebeard..."
Nothing too noteworthy today. Although—gotta say—young Charlotte Linlin? Seriously hot.
He munched away, eyeing the curvy figure printed in the photo. Then continued reading.
"The Roger Pirates sighted near Sandrilla Island."
He paused.
Pirate King... Still chewing, Ozz let out a low whistle. But he kept reading—
Wait a minute.
His chewing slowed. Something felt off. He jerked his head back up to that last line, eyes locking onto it.
Roger Pirates spotted... Sandrilla Island.
Hold on—
Isn't that just a few dozen nautical miles away?!
Holy shit.
At this point in the timeline, Roger hadn't even reached Raftel yet. He wasn't the Pirate King—not yet.
Ozz's whole body stiffened, eyes wide as plates. His mind raced.
"Thirty damn years I waited in my past life... and never figured out what the One Piece was. Now I've got the chance to see it for myself?!"
If I could just get on Roger's crew...
This wasn't just a stroke of luck.
This was starting at the top.
While other pirates spent their lives chasing the Grand Treasure, he'd barely set out and already had the map in his hand.
And the Roger crew—nothing but world-class monsters. Pick up a few moves from any of them and you're Final Boss material in a movie.
Not to mention the name value—look at Buggy! Even years later, people still treat him like royalty just for having been on Roger's ship.
Decision made.
"Gramps, I'm going to join the Roger Pirates. I'll pay you back for raising me when I return rich and famous!"
He scribbled a farewell note.
With a stick slung over his shoulder and a bundle of gear tied at the end, Ozz set off, determined. Someday, when he made it big, he'd repay the villagers who raised him.
"Even the stray dogs—I'll have them working security detail in some big kingdom. That's fair enough, right?"
Ozz swept up every useful item left in the chief's hut and sprinted full-speed toward the docks.
Meanwhile...
A massive, ornate ship—its bow carved with twin mermaids—pulled into the largest dock on Dramoss Island.
At its prow stood a man exuding quiet command.
Red coat draped over broad shoulders, captain's hat pulled low, and a mustache like twin hooks. He stood with the grin of someone born to rule, his presence practically bending the air around him.
"What a monster..."
Even from this distance, Ozz could sense the canyon of power that separated them.
This was Gol D. Roger—the Pirate King.
At this point in time, he'd already survived the God Valley incident and was now journeying the world, seeking the last Road Poneglyphs for one final adventure.
Healthy. Unstoppable. Living his best life.
Roger's crew disembarked casually—they were only here to restock supplies.
Among the giants and warriors, two small figures stood out in stark contrast.
One had red hair. The other, a red nose.
"Who're you calling red-nose, huh?! Say it again, I dare you!" Young Buggy's face turned crimson with rage.
"No one said anything, Buggy." Shanks hopped down from the gangplank, pressing his straw hat against the wind. "Even without words, I can feel it. Your Observation Haki is red-nosed or something...?"
"No way! Someone did say it! I felt it in my bones!"
Buggy clenched his fists and scanned the crowd—until he spotted the boy sprinting their way.
"Hey! Was it you, brat?!"
"Hahahahaha... Sashi buri dana, Buggy! Shanks!"
Ozz came running, waving with a grin plastered on his face.