"The divination shows..."
"The chance of odd numbers winning is fifty percent..."
Beside the long-haired man who had just smiled and gone all in, a cold-faced blond man was looking at the divination cards in his hand with some distress.
As expected, any result involving Ozz became vague and ambiguous.
Ozz was having a wonderful time here.
Although no one here was qualified to truly play against him, and no one could put up ten billion berries to gamble with him, he was still enjoying himself immensely.
As for the other guests in the VIP room, once they heard that if they gambled against Ozz, they would only lose all the money on them if they lost, but would gain ten billion berries if they won, each of them became incredibly enthusiastic.
Every single one of them thought they would be the chosen child of luck.
In the end, however, they could only stare at life in doubt as they lost every last coin they had to Ozz.
How wonderfully naive.
Only a handful of clear-headed people stood at the side, cold sweat running down their faces as they watched the smiling man seated at the gambling table.
Putting aside whether it was even possible to beat a master of Observation Haki like him...
Even if their luck truly defied the heavens and they somehow barely won a round, did they really think they could take ten billion berries off the Gran Tesoro?
With Dice, the burly blond man in a black suit, smashing his head down to reveal the dice...
"One point and six points! Odd wins!"
"How is this possible?!"
The fat face of a small kingdom's king twisted in disbelief. He could not believe he had lost.
If he had to hand over all the money in his treasury, what would happen to this year's Heavenly Tribute?
The moment he thought of that, he could not help wanting to go back on the bet.
But obviously, no one could refuse to pay a debt owed to Ozz.
Hawkins, who was temporarily working as a dealer in Golden City, spoke coldly.
"A bet is a bet. If you lose, you pay. The underworld will have a specialized debt-collection team."
...
Watching the tall, long-haired figure at the gambling table, smiling brightly as he won every round, the Straw Hats' pupils shrank. The cowardly trio even burst into tears.
"H-how could this be?!"
"Don't tell me the honored guest they mentioned is that Ozz?!"
"So scary!"
Luffy and the others did not react much better.
Zoro gritted his teeth, cold sweat on his face.
"I should've realized it sooner. That teleport during the race..."
"And that sandstorm and huge slash..."
Luffy, meanwhile, shouted the names of the people before him without hesitation.
"Uncle Ozz! And... Crocodile and Hawkeye!"
Hearing her name, Little Sand finally turned away from another gambling table and glanced sideways at Luffy and the others.
"What's this... since when can pirates of this level enter the VIP room?"
"Hey! Ozz!"
"Next time, go play in your private VIP room!"
Little Hawk, who had been resting in a chair in the lounge area with one leg crossed over the other, opened his eyes as well and looked at Zoro.
Zoro clicked his tongue and said,
"That giant slash earlier was an attack aimed at me, wasn't it?!"
"An attack?"
A trace of confusion appeared in Mihawk's eyes.
"That was nothing more than casual play."
Hearing that, even Zoro, who usually loved chanting dramatic lines before using his moves, felt veins bulge across his forehead.
Casual play?
Then what did that long chant and his big move count as?!
At this moment, Ozz also turned his head and looked at the extremely tense Straw Hats.
"Oh my, isn't this future Pirate King Luffy, my disciple, my adopted son, and their companions..."
"Long time no see."
"So? Want to play a round?"
Ozz showed a very kind smile.
Faced with Ozz's direct invitation, everyone in the Straw Hat Pirates except Luffy instantly raised their guard to the highest level.
After sailing the seas for so long, and with several crew members being familiar with Ozz, they already understood what kind of man he was.
To this day, a certain rule-like rumor still circulated across the sea.
Although its origin could no longer be traced, and no one knew who first said it, its reliability had earned a reputation.
That rule was this:
Never gamble with Ozz. Never compete with Ozz. Never play any kind of win-or-lose game with Ozz.
No matter how exaggerated or tempting the stakes might be.
The Straw Hats, who had heard this rumor before, were all wary.
Even his most beloved disciple and adopted son.
Ozz clutched his chest, feeling a chill in his heart.
So he raised the stakes, offering a devil-like temptation of the highest order.
"If you win, the wager can be any condition you want. One wish, with no restrictions."
"For example, the way to become Pirate King, the path to becoming the world's greatest swordsman, an Eternal Pose to the All Blue, endless treasure, the truth of world history..."
Ozz spoke softly, and every word struck precisely at the dreams and wishes buried in their hearts.
The moment each person heard their own dream, they were shaken. Their pupils trembled.
Especially Nami and Sanji. Their dreams were more direct and realistic, the kind Ozz could truly fulfill with ease.
Baccarat, Tanaka, and the others smiled when they heard those words.
Those who worked in casinos understood better than anyone how terrifying the desires hidden in people's hearts could be.
"What are you smiling at? If you want, you can join too."
"Huh?"
Baccarat and the others, Tezolo's subordinates, were stunned when they heard that.
They could join too?
"That's right. Do whatever you like. As long as you can beat me, your wishes can be fulfilled as well."
Ozz turned around, then looked toward the door.
"What do you think, Tezolo?"
"Lord Tezolo?!"
Baccarat, the others, and the guests in the VIP room all looked toward the arriving Tezolo.
A faint, hidden shock could be seen in his eyes.
"Mr. Ozz, you mean that as long as we can beat you, any method is allowed?"
"Of course."
The moment that condition was proposed, even someone as rich and experienced as Tezolo could not help feeling tempted.
His rational mind told him not to gamble with Ozz.
But desire was like a boulder rolling down a mountain. From the moment he began making dirty money, it had never been able to stop.
After thinking for a moment, the corner of his mouth rose.
"Very well. Then what will we have to wager?"
For such immense benefits, he could even accept temporarily allying with Straw Hat Luffy.
As long as he could obtain the chance to make any wish come true, anything would be worth it.
"That..."
Hearing this, Ozz's eyes lowered slightly, as if he were thinking.
A moment later, the corner of his mouth curled gently.
He spread both hands. In his half-open eyes, a faint scarlet glow emerged.
"I don't seem to lack anything."
"How about this? Wager whatever each of you believes is most precious."
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The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
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