Locke stood silently at the doorway, his hawk-like eyes locked onto the uninvited guest lounging in his living room.
Star Platinum loomed at his back, ready to strike at any moment.
But still…
"To see a Stand, plus that signature hairstyle—three golden donuts on his head…"
A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant.
Finally, a single name rose up—
Giorno Giovanna!
Noticing Locke's guarded yet contemplative expression, Giorno smirked and elegantly placed the last piece of steak into his mouth.
"Grandpa, you're still so dull." He twirled the fork in his hand. "Seeing your grandson show up like this, can't you show a little more excitement?"
"I even picked this exact moment deliberately, when you were still young—"
But before Giorno could finish—
"Thief!!"
"That's MY steak!!!"
Peeking out from behind Locke, Dio's golden hair practically stood on end as he spotted the scene inside the living room.
That was the Australian M9 Wagyu ribeye he had scrimped and saved for two whole months to buy!
And this damn blond thief was just sitting there in his house, brazenly eating it?!
"The World!"
Without hesitation, Dio summoned his golden Stand. His furious fist shot straight toward Giorno's smug face.
Clark, who had long suspected something about Dio's strange powers, instinctively tried to stop him:
"Uncle Locke, Dio—"
But to his shock, Locke didn't move a muscle. He made no attempt to stop the fight.
Instead, the corners of his mouth curved ever so slightly, and his eyes gleamed with knowing light.
Because—
"Pathetic."
A flash of dazzling gold lit up the room. Behind Giorno appeared another golden humanoid Stand, which effortlessly caught The World's punch.
The two golden Stands faced off in the living room, invisible sparks crackling in the air.
"Muda!"
With a casual shove, the figure sent Dio's The World staggering backward.
Dio stumbled, his crimson eyes wide with shock—
This stranger not only had a Stand, but it was golden like his own?!
Could it be—?!
"Th-this is—?" Dio stammered in disbelief, turning to Locke. "Dad, what the hell—?"
At last, Locke moved.
Slowly removing his cowboy hat and hanging it on the wall, he spoke in a voice eerily calm:
"Enough."
"Giorno. Explain."
Did I… ever say my name?
For a moment, the blond youth looked puzzled. But soon he relaxed.
After all, his name had been given to him by his grandfather—it was only natural it was already known.
With a shrug, Giorno rose gracefully from the sofa.
His movements carried the elegance of a man at a high-class banquet, utterly unbothered by having just been attacked by a Stand.
"Giorno Giovanna Kent, sixteen years old. Currently employed by the Anti-Injustice Social Republic. Serving as vice-captain of Team 'X-Passion.'"
He brushed his fingers across the ladybug brooch on his chest and glanced toward the silent golden figure beside him.
"And this is my Stand—"
"Gold Experience."
"Golden Experience."
Anti-Injustice Society?
Locke's expression tightened. Could it be… the one he was thinking of?
"Golden Experience can give life to inanimate matter."
As if oblivious to Locke's reaction, Giorno casually picked up the TV remote from the coffee table. With the lightest touch from Golden Experience—
The remote instantly transformed into a blue ladybug.
Dio's crimson pupils narrowed, while Clark gasped in awe.
"Cool!"
"That's amazing!"
To Clark, it was clearly more like a magic trick than anything else.
After all, he couldn't see Stands.
"Show-off."
"Clark, wipe that look off your face. Compared to my Stand, this one doesn't even come close."
Dio crossed his arms, though his eyes couldn't help but follow the little ladybug crawling across the floor.
Giorno only smiled faintly. "Every Stand has its own uniqueness. For example—"
He glanced at Locke. "Grandpa's Star Platinum is better at—"
Why does this kid talk like he's spinning fairy tales?
"All right, Giorno," Locke cut in with a helpless tone. "Start by making your identity clear."
"Hahaha."
"Simply put…" Giorno snapped his fingers, and a bouquet of flowers suddenly bloomed in his hand. He handed them to Dio with a flourish. "I'm your future son, Dad."
"Oh, from the future—"
"?!"
Clark's jaw dropped wide enough to fit an egg. "F-future?!"
Dio's expression shifted from disdain to shock. "Wait… you're my son?!"
He had thought this blond guy might be some long-lost brother!
With a carefree smile, Giorno spun gracefully, and a fresh bouquet of roses appeared in his hand. He winked at Clark with a suspiciously mischievous tone:
"My Emperor uncle, Giorno presents you with flowers."
Clark blankly accepted the bouquet, his blue eyes widening further. "E-Emperor?"
Though he still couldn't quite believe in time travel, seeing Uncle Locke wasn't denying anything… that was proof enough it was probably real.
As expected of the Kent farm… always finding a way to make my life more colorful. Now we've got time travel… oh, and emperors too.
The living room sank into awkward silence.
Until—
"So…" Dio's voice trembled, "you mean to tell me, the thief who stole my steak is my son?!"
"Yes, Dad." Giorno gave an elegant bow. "To be precise, your son from the future. And by the way—"
A sly smile spread across his face. "The steak was delicious. Thanks for the meal."
"Wryyyyyyy—!!"
Dio's roar shook the farmhouse. "Who the hell said you could call me Dad?! And that was MY steak!"
"So… you're Dio's future son?" Clark finally snapped out of his shock, cautiously asking, "But why call me Emperor?"
Giorno's smile grew deeper, laced with meaning. "Because in the future, Uncle Clark, you are—"
"Giorno." Locke cut him off, rubbing his temples. "Time travel isn't a joke."
"You suddenly appearing here—what's your real purpose?"
The room fell silent.
Giorno's expression turned serious. He adjusted his tie slightly.
"In truth, I came to warn you."
"We only discovered it by chance—the world wasn't supposed to be this way. Someone altered the past, and that's what led to that future." Giorno's voice sank low. "There's a being that wants to use us… to reshape the world."
"To use the Kent family as tools to achieve some unknown goal."
A flicker of worry passed through his golden eyes.
"I don't know if changing the past like this will work… but at least it's better than doing nothing."
"The story of the world we came from—I don't want to see it play out again."
Locke's eyes sharpened instantly. "Keep talking."
BOOM—
Thunder rolled. Outside, the last trace of sunset was devoured by storm clouds.
It was the sign of an approaching storm.