Chapter 96: What You Know Is That You're Going to Die

Just imagine.

If this were the young Big Mom the one from Kaido's memories an eight-meter-tall, striking beauty who ruled the seas with charisma and power…

And if she could handle Ozz's monstrous physique.

Ozz wasn't so sure he could've resisted that temptation.

But now?

That waist, once proud and shapely, had long since evened out with her broad shoulders. Her face had filled out with soft, sagging flesh. You could faintly see the proportions of her youth… but just barely.

And let's not even start on the rows of kids staring at him like he was prime marriage material.

Forget it. What's gone is gone...

"Mamamamama Ozz, why didn't you tell me you were coming? What a delightful surprise~"

Big Mom beamed as she saw Ozz approaching, clearly pleased.

There's an even bigger surprise waiting for you, Ozz thought silently, though on the surface, he kept up his usual easygoing smile.

"Ever since you called, I came rushing over without a moment's rest."

"Mamamamama!"

Big Mom lit up even more at his reply and walked alongside Ozz toward the tea party venue.

Trailing behind them were their respective crews.

Little Hawk and Little Croc followed as usual, calm and expressionless cold-blooded types who didn't talk much. Even though this was their first time seeing the whimsical Cake Castle, they kept their cool and didn't gawk.

Big Mom's children, on the other hand, weren't nearly as composed.

"So that's the infamous Black Emperor? Doesn't look much older than my little brothers…"

"Wow, what a hunk. If I could marry him one day… (heart eyes)"

"Wait, isn't he Mom's target?"

"So what? Doesn't mean we can't dream…"

"Everyone shut up!"

The whispers were quickly silenced by Katakuri at the front, who barked a sharp command.

Sweat trickled down his forehead.

These spoiled brats… they'd gotten too used to speaking freely. Daring to gossip like this while Ozz was right there? Unbelievable.

As Katakuri feared, both Big Mom and Ozz had heard every word.

Ozz didn't react he was long used to being the object of admiration. But Big Mom?

She suddenly lit up, intrigued.

"You know, Ozz… that reminds me, I should've thought of this sooner."

She turned to him with a grin. "Why don't I give you one of my daughters? I mean, it's not like you'd ever be my only husband."

"???"

Huh?

Come again?

Even Ozz, who'd faced dragons, demons, and world-ending threats, was thrown off by this sudden twist in logic.

Was that something you just said out loud?

And honestly have you seen your kids? Most of them looked like they'd fallen out of a nightmare. Only a handful could even be considered halfway decent.

And on top of that, at this point in the timeline, most of them were still kids.

"…Let's, uh, talk about that some other time."

Ozz twitched the corner of his mouth in a polite attempt to deflect.

Love? Marriage?

Those things would only get in the way of his freedom and his dreams.

The group soon arrived at the tea party grounds.

It was… quite the spectacle.

Even though there weren't many guests, the sheer number of singing, dancing homies animated beings made from Big Mom's soul magic created an over-the-top atmosphere.

It felt more like a Broadway musical than a pirate gathering.

Even Ozz and his companions couldn't bring themselves to interrupt.

"It's starting~ It's happening~"

"Mama's tea party has begun~"

Flowers, trees, mountains, teacups.

Everything had come to life, singing and dancing.

"Just in time~ Right on cue~"

"The Black Emperor has arrived~"

The music swelled.

Ozz stepped into the venue like clockwork, the star guest of the show.

The usual guests underground emperors who once held sway over global resources were now pushed to the sidelines, standing like background extras.

"Lord Ozz!!!"

"So handsome!!!"

"The strongest of the new generation!!!"

The crowd erupted into wild, unrestrained cheers, praising him with the kind of fervor usually reserved for royalty or gods.

Even Ozz, who'd weathered countless grand events, couldn't help but get swept up in the energy.

It was infectiously joyous.

"Oi,don't tell me you're actually getting into this?"

Crocodile gave Ozz a sidelong glance as the latter waved at the cheering crowd, flowers and vines swirling around him in a living symphony.

"This guy's always been like that doing whatever he wants."

Hawkeye muttered, not even sounding surprised. He left the comment hanging and walked ahead without another word.

Truth be told, Ozz had never attended a tea party of this caliber before.

Sure, the Roger Pirates held feasts but those were just roughneck banquets where a bunch of grown men gorged on meat and booze.

Nothing like this level of opulence and spectacle.

And yet, among the crowd lining the venue's edges, a few familiar figures caught Ozz's eye.

He took his seat at the main table beside Big Mom, casually lounging as if he owned the place.

"Mamamamama You noticed them already, didn't you, Ozz?"

Big Mom gave a knowing chuckle and clapped her hands.

Homie guards stepped forward, escorting a line of people some in chains, others walking freely.

A few familiar faces stood among them.

"Quite the gift you've prepared."

Ozz immediately recognized them.

These were the underground figures who had either outright refused to submit to him or had tried to straddle the fence.

He bit into a chocolate stick that had appeared in his hand from who-knew-where, dangling it from his mouth like he didn't have a care in the world.

But even as he played the part of the laid-back emperor, a few individuals did pique his interest.

"…I thought you were going to keep hiding forever."

His gaze locked onto a strikingly dressed blonde woman with a chic bob cut, stylish handbag in hand, standing obediently among the others.

"Stussy."

"Lord Ozz flatters me. How could a humble woman like me dare defy your will?"

Stussy, the so-called "Queen of Pleasure Street" stood among a handful of underground bosses like "Loan Shark" Lu Feld who hadn't been chained.

They'd sized up the situation, and without hesitation, had immediately chosen to switch sides, pledging loyalty to Ozz.

"…Is that so?"

Ozz crossed one leg over the other, gazing lazily at the neatly lined-up "rulers" of the dark world, all bowing their heads before him.

He said nothing more.

Just snapped his fingers.

And in the next instant.

To the shock of the homies and the gasps of the tea party guests.

The chained underground bosses lying on the ground began to dissolve, their bodies crumbling to ash, drifting away like burnt paper.

"You didn't submit because you admired me. Or because you realized you were wrong."

"You submitted… because you knew you were going to die."

Ozz took a sip of his black tea, sampled the flavor, and then absentmindedly stroked his chin as he glanced at the few still standing.

"…If you want to live, those of you who're still upright…"

"…Hand over your Vivre Cards."

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