Chapter 21: Arrival at Laugh Tale — Let’s Save a Log Pose First

"Figures. Changing history was never going to be that easy."

Ozz crouched next to Buggy, who was flushed red from head to toe, and sighed with regret.

Even though he'd been reminding Buggy for months to eat healthy and keep training, the poor guy still managed to fall sick right near the end of the voyage.

And there wasn't much Ozz could do about it either. He couldn't exactly force Buggy to keep sailing at the cost of his life.

Just like in the original timeline, Shanks volunteered to stay behind and take care of him.

Ozz wasn't too worried—he knew that as long as Buggy didn't push himself, a few days' rest on the island would have him back to normal.

After saying his goodbyes to Shanks, Ozz understood what came next: the final chapter was upon him. His "newbie protection phase" was coming to an end.

So during those last few days, he threw himself even harder into studying under Rayleigh and Jaba, trying to squeeze out every last drop of knowledge. Anything that could become a weapon for him to carve out his future on the seas.

Truth be told, if he weren't worried that fighting Roger before reaching Laugh Tale might accidentally kill the guy, Ozz would've loved to test himself against a living legend. Just once. Just to know exactly how far the peak really was.

But there was no time left.

Once Uncle Jaba finished sketching the final map, Ozz gazed at the island marked Final Island—and even his heart, usually so steady, began to race.

They set foot on the island.

Ozz walked forward with the rest of the crew. Roger led the way, stride full of purpose.

And then, as they beheld the truth—

Laughter erupted around them.

"Haha! Looks like we got here too early after all!"

Ozz had plenty of guesses in his head. But even he couldn't help smiling when he saw it for himself.

"So this… this is the One Piece, huh? Damn you, Oda."

The ship slowly drifted away from Laugh Tale.

Ozz sat at the stern, rolling a strange bracelet-like device in his hand. Embedded in it were three small glass orbs, each housing a needle.

Roger stood off to the side, watching the island grow smaller in the distance.

"Captain," Ozz called, not bothering to be discreet, "I'm gonna log a pointer. You mind?"

He held up the device openly, glancing at Roger beside him.

To be honest, he was already prepared to be turned down. But surprisingly, Captain Roger didn't object.

"Go ahead," Roger said. "Just don't go spreading that thing around, yeah? I trust you, Ozz."

"Just keeping it as a memento," Ozz replied with a grin.

The return voyage was as full of laughter and booze as their journey there had been. No one seemed weighed down by the fact that the adventure was ending.

But Ozz… felt a little hollow inside.

He knew.

The parting was coming.

He lay in silence by the edge of the deck, tossing the eternal log pose into the air, catching it, tossing it again, catching it again.

Jaba noticed his mood.

Holding a newspaper in one hand and a bottle in the other, the older man strolled over.

"Ozz. Want a drink?"

Ozz blinked. He wasn't really the drinking type, but still… he accepted the bottle. They clinked it together.

"...Ugh. Bitter."

"A real man of the sea drinks. It's how we show our spirit!"

"I don't get it…"

Even so, Ozz clinked bottles with him again.

They downed most of the liquor between them in just a few swigs. Jaba casually tossed the empty bottle into the ocean, then handed over a small, weathered slip of paper.

"Here. My vivre card."

"Huh?"

"If someday you change your mind and finally realize how great alcohol really is, come find me. We'll drink together."

"Hate to break it to you, but you'll probably be waiting forever."

Ozz laughed. He hadn't expected this side of Jaba—the man who'd always been one of the stern, dependable "parent figures" on the ship—showing such warmth in the face of parting.

Still, he liked it. Maybe one day, when the seas were calm, he really would drop by and see the old guy.

After all, he was planning to swing by Elbaf sooner or later. He wanted to explore the place properly—and see for himself just how Jaba had managed to win over a wild female giant.

And the fact that he actually had a half-giant kid somewhere? That raised some… very interesting anatomical questions.

Did he… go inside?

The thought made Ozz squirm with curiosity.

Elbaf. That's a must-visit, for sure.

After about ten days at sea, land reappeared on the horizon.

Ozz stood at the bow, staring ahead as the silhouette of the island came into view. Beside him stood Oden, Rayleigh, and Roger.

Next to Roger, who towered at a massive 2.7 meters, Ozz really did look like a kid again.

"Ozz," Rayleigh said, eyes fixed on the island ahead, "do you remember what you said when you first came aboard?"

"Of course," Ozz replied without hesitation.

Even if he had said it just to hitch a ride back then, it wasn't something he could ever forget.

"I actually said the same thing to Rayleigh once," Roger said with a smile, gently ruffling Ozz's hair.

"By rights, you're probably the one most suited to inherit my will."

Then, his voice softened, teasing but heavy with meaning:

"But somehow… I get the feeling you're not the kind of man who follows destiny's script, Ozz."