_theon

[Starts at Raftel]
[Shanks and Buggy, Lifelong Rivals]
[Black Gun, Red-Haired Clown King]
[Observation Kill + Conqueror's Coating + Sea Stone Bullets]
[No Powers Allowed]
[The Ultimate Boxer Shorts]...

Throughout the life of a pirate, Ozz’s achievements were too many to count. But if there was a true turning point in his destiny, it had to be that one moment from childhood, that bold, defiant cry—

"Hey, kid. Why do you think you deserve a spot on our ship?"
The man who hid the greatest treasure at the end of the seas—the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger—looked at the boy before him and asked with a grin.

"Hahahahaha... Isn't it obvious? To turn the whole damn world upside down!"

After that day, Roger realized with a jolt—he might’ve picked up another monster for a crewmate.

Strength surpassing even the giants? Natural-born Observation Haki?

And so, Ozz, who conned his way aboard with sheer wit and thick skin, began to reveal terrifying potential—Haki, marksmanship, swordsmanship, martial arts. All mastered at a freakish pace. Along the way, he also became the closest of comrades to Shanks and Buggy.

NOTE: This fanfiction was originally crafted in Chinese by its rightful creator. My role here is solely as a translator, aiming to share this story with English-speaking readers while preserving its original spirit and tone. The cover image was sourced online and is used for illustrative purposes only. Full credit and respect go to the original author and the image's rightful owner. Arrigato gozaimasu!

Author: 盗宝团长

The pinnacle of pirates! Beginning as a trainee in Roger's crew

If he ever challenged Ozz to a duel again, he was a damn mutt.

He lay sprawled out on his stomach, teeth clenched, a flaming-hot lump the size of a fist throbbing at the back of his head. The pain still kept him up at night. He'd been whining nonstop about how Ozz never knew how to go easy on people.

Ozz, for his part, clearly wasn't losing any sleep over it.

Barely an hour after Shanks woke up, Ozz waltzed in with Buggy in tow—looking as casual as if he were here to share snacks, not apologize for a smackdown.

"Don't be so petty, Shanks," Ozz said, grinning as he lounged in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, elbow propped on the table, gnawing on a comically large meat drumstick. "Getting your ass kicked is part of getting stronger."

He took another bite, then added with mock innocence, "And besides… it's not like I meant to hit you that hard~"

Buggy chimed in from the side, helpfully adding fuel to the fire. "Yeah, Ozz basically helped you unlock Armament Haki, right?"

Because if he didn't rough Shanks up now, in twenty years? The guy would be an absolute nightmare to fight.

Top-tier Conqueror's Haki. Observation Haki so sharp it could see the future. And a crew that could go toe-to-toe with Roger's. The dude was a walking cheat code. Ozz could already feel the headaches that future him would suffer.

So why not stack a little dirt on him now? Make some memories. Something fun to bring up when they crossed paths down the line.

But of course, Shanks had no idea how thoughtful Ozz was being. He just turned away with a pouty scowl, refusing to even look at him—pure wounded child energy.

Unfortunately, turning his head meant brushing the swollen bump on the back of it against the pillow again.

He winced so hard his face scrunched like a wrung-out rag.

"Stop sulking already. Here, meat. You want it?"

Ozz dangled the meaty bone in front of him, still chewing casually.

"Alright, suit yourself." Ozz shrugged and brought it back to his own mouth. "Not like there's any more in the kitchen anyway. We're out of supplies. Gotta wait till we dock tomorrow to restock."

"…I'm not hungry," he growled, teeth clenched. "Eat all you want!"

Buggy couldn't hold it in. He burst out laughing.

Ozz looked down at Shanks, then at the meat in his hand.

Chapter 20: Ozz — Yes, I’m the King of Winning Without Trying