Sea Circle Calendar 1493.
"Why's this Oden guy wearing a diaper?"
Perfect weather, gorgeous day.
The Roger Pirates had just finished restocking on some island.
Aus came back from shopping with a newspaper. Shanks and Buggy were huddled together reading when one story caught Roger's attention.
It was about the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, recently famous new face on the seas:
Samurai Kozuki Oden
"A Wano samurai? He looks pretty badass!"
"Ugly as shit."
Aus grimaced, shouldering a wine barrel taller than himself and dropping it in front of Roger. "Looks like some pervert wearing crotchless underwear—convenient for taking dumps anywhere?
If you ask me, black military uniforms are the coolest. Right, Barrett?"
That's right—a month ago, hardheaded Barrett had already joined the crew.
And that battle where he challenged Captain Roger? Aus watched the whole thing. You couldn't call it evenly matched—
More like a one-sided beatdown.
As for those rumors about fifteen-year-old Barrett matching peak Rayleigh?
Aus had this to say:
Talk like that and I'll think you're brain-dead.
Forget Barrett—even fifteen-year-old Roger, fifteen-year-old Whitebeard, or fifteen-year-old Rocks wouldn't stand a chance against peak Rayleigh.
You think mastering all three Haki types plus Great Swordsman plus Conqueror's Coating is some joke?
Could only say Buggy sometimes really had no filter—Barrett trading a few blows with Rayleigh became "matching him."
But Aus didn't hate this trait.
He'd survived a direct Armament Haki kick from Vice-Captain Rayleigh. Hopefully this guy would hype him up more later.
Like:
"That Aus bastard was my crewmate on the Roger Pirates. At nine he was already going toe-to-toe with Vice-Captain Rayleigh..."
Though Barrett wasn't world-class strong yet, he was definitely a body technique master.
Shortly after joining, he'd sparred with Aus.
After that exchange, even monster Barrett couldn't help thinking heroes were everywhere.
That insanely high-level Observation Haki, monstrous strength that made even him shudder, plus skilled body techniques—
Just ten years old, able to spar with fifteen-year-old him without falling behind. Even confident he wouldn't lose, he definitely couldn't easily take down his opponent.
Barrett didn't trust companions, but he respected strength.
So facing Aus's attempt at conversation, he didn't ignore it—just nodded.
As military, he definitely thought uniforms were the coolest clothing.
"Diaper? Hahahaha!!!"
Hearing Aus's description, Roger cracked up, wine sloshing loudly in his bottle.
Seeing this, Crocus's face darkened. He snatched the wine bottle: "Your body can't handle more alcohol!
You don't want to collapse halfway before finishing the voyage, do you, Roger?"
Hearing this, Roger's face froze, then he said miserably: "Don't be like that, Crocus. Just a tiny bit won't hurt."
Too bad—in front of the ship doctor, his captain status meant jack shit. He could only watch helplessly as Crocus walked off with his precious booze.
Without alcohol, Roger felt pretty down. But things quickly turned around—
Aus had somehow snuck up beside him, secretly pulling a wine bottle from his coat and quickly stuffing it in Roger's arms.
The two locked eyes.
Roger: Good kid, Aus!
Aus: No words needed, Captain.
"Is this okay, Rayleigh? Roger's condition..."
Their little act definitely couldn't escape Observation Haki, but the crew who noticed didn't say much.
"It's fine. Roger's not a man who goes down easy!"
With booze again, Roger was obviously way more energetic, shouting to everyone:
"Everyone! Back to the New World!!!"
"Hell yeah!!!"
...
...
"Big news, big news!!!"
"New World overlord Roger Pirates appear in the New World's second half!!!"
"Crushing multiple big pirates with billion-berry bounties! The new era's Rocks?!"
Ever since Roger got diagnosed with terminal illness and decided to reach the final island, the Roger Pirates' journey seemed to hit fast-forward.
Just two years—conquering left and right, chasing Poneglyphs everywhere. Two years flew by.
New World's second half,
Ed War waters.
"Aus, your bounty's out!"
On deck, a wild party was going down.
Buggy, wrapped in his usual headband, ran over excitedly yelling, nearly face-planting from running too fast.
Hearing this news, all crew members froze, then raised their cups toward the long-haired kid in the crowd, chattering:
"You made it, Aus!!!"
"Let's celebrate Aus getting bounty with another party!!!"
"Yeah!!!"
Sea breeze blew, the kid's long hair swaying on deck. Aus walked over to Buggy with a juice bottle, glaring at these party maniacs.
"My head getting a price—this becomes your excuse for partying too?"
"Don't kill the mood, Aus."
Shanks, also infected into party mode, really dug this atmosphere.
"Can't help you guys." Aus grinned, then took the wanted poster from Buggy.
The biggest photo showed Aus from some naval battle he'd joined. In the shot he looked badass as hell, eyes looking down on the world with faint red light blazing—seriously intimidating.
Bottom line: looked scary strong.
["Black Gun" Doctor Aus] [Bounty: 139,600,000 Belly] [Extremely Heinous, Dead or Alive]
"Aus, seriously?! 139 million..."
Buggy, always keeping low profile (slacking off) plus being weak, hadn't hit the Marines' radar yet, so Aus's hundred-million bounty shocked him.
Though this included the Roger Pirates name boost,
Plus Aus loved battlefield sniping, making enemies—every time Garp chased them some curly-haired Marine specifically targeted Aus,
But this hundred-million bounty still said everything.
This meant though Aus was only 12, he was already World Government-recognized as a dangerous pirate.
Shanks agreed too. Though Aus could be annoying, he was definitely a worthy opponent.
But just as they were about to say more, Aus raised his hand to stop them.
He suddenly looked up seriously, confusing the two little guys who looked up too.
Looking and looking, Buggy noticed something wrong.
Several black dots slowly emerging from the clouds?
"Can't escape after all." Aus took his black gun, wisps of black slowly wrapping the barrel, terrifying red light blazing in his eyes.
"The Battle of Ed War!!!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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