However, what he didn't know was that not long after he left, Zephyr, who had been lying with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
A dangerous glint flashed across his gaze as his mouth curled into a wicked grin. "We have got to give this guy a good beating! He didn't even know who was going to give him weapons? What a jerk!"
Then he smiled again, as if speaking to someone: "Isn't that right, Ain?"
…
Meanwhile, unaware of Zephyr's muttering, Ian kept heading toward the back mountain.
When he arrived at his usual training spot, there wasn't a single person there, not even Ain or Binz.
Ian didn't say anything. He just lifted an eyebrow and began training at a slow pace.
Time passed bit by bit.
From morning to noon, then to afternoon, but that guy still hadn't shown up.
As the sun began to set, Ian frowned slightly while staring silently at the darkening hillside.
He even began to wonder if he had guessed wrong, that maybe that guy hadn't come at all.
But just as the thought crossed his mind, his Observation Haki picked up something. His eyelids twitched, and he turned his head toward an approaching figure.
At that moment, Ian understood everything.
So that's how it is? You want to play games with me?
The man approaching him, Kuzan, noticed Ian's expression and couldn't help but smile, amused.
Admiring Zephyr's sense of timing, he grinned and said casually: "Yo yo yo, long time no see, Mr. Ian."
Ian: "..."
He's definitely doing this on purpose!
Ian looked speechlessly at Kuzan, who had waited until after sunset to show up.
He could've come earlier or later, but now of all times?
"Were you waiting for me? Though judging by your face, my appearance doesn't seem to please you much."
Kuzan said cheerfully, clearly amused by Ian's expression.
He even tilted his head toward the sky and added, "Ah, no sunlight anymore, huh? What should we do now?"
Ian: "..."
Yeah, he's definitely doing it on purpose.
But Ian only raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed, and said coldly: "Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Kuzan: "...?"
An explanation?
I owe you an explanation?
For what?
Hearing that, Kuzan, who had been in a good mood, suddenly froze. And in that instant of confusion…
Ian didn't give him a chance to speak and said again, his tone full of dissatisfaction: "My wife is pregnant! And last night, someone suddenly showed up in the middle of the night and scared her half to death."
"What if something had gone wrong because of that? Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
"This..."
Hearing Ian's words, Kuzan snapped out of his daze.
Looking at the man before him, who seemed like a husband demanding justice for his wife, Kuzan scratched his head and said, "You're right, my apologies. I didn't know she was pregnant."
"Hmph, I'll forgive you this time. My wife is waiting for me to come home for dinner."
Ian snorted coldly again. "Come find me before noon tomorrow, and don't pull something like this again!"
With that, he picked up his clothes, turned around, and started heading down the mountain before Kuzan could say another word.
Kuzan: "..."
Kuzan stayed silent for a moment, then his eyelid twitched as he stared at Ian's retreating figure, his face darkening.
Where did this guy get that confidence from?
Your wife?
Do you even know what kind of identity your wife has?
Watching Ian's back, Kuzan's darkened face twisted into a sinister grin.
"Kid, why don't we settle the matter of you stealing my photo first?"
Ian: "..."
The chilling tone made Ian's eyelid twitch, and before he could fully turn around, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Then came a cold voice.
"Ice Time Capsule!"
This guy didn't even say anything before starting a fight?!
Feeling the bone-piercing chill rushing toward him, Ian didn't hesitate; he activated his Armament Haki, shattered the ice, and accelerated forward to widen the distance.
But even as he moved away, the freezing air chased him, instantly freezing the ground ahead into a road carved from solid ice.
A sneak attack?
Dodging Kuzan's ambush, Ian raised an eyebrow, gripping his one-handed axe as he faced Kuzan, who had already retracted his right hand and stuck both hands back into his pockets.
Too bad, he wasn't the same person he was a year ago!
Ian coated his axe in Armament Haki, looked expressionlessly at Kuzan, and said: "Come on then, let's continue."
Even though the sun had already set, he showed no fear before an Admiral.
After all, this guy wouldn't kill him, so what was there to be afraid of?
Perfect chance to see how far he still was from an admiral's strength.
He used to think he could chop down Sakazuki in two and a half years, but unfortunately, that golden finger never came up.
"Not bad, that's some spirit."
Kuzan nodded approvingly. "Looks like you haven't just been keeping your wife company in bed, you have actually gotten stronger. But..."
His easygoing tone shifted slightly, and a faint, icy grin formed on his lips. "It's getting late. So, to make sure your wife doesn't wait too long, I'll make this quick."
Ian: "...?"
Before Ian could react…
"Ice Age!"
Kuzan's low voice boomed.
In an instant, a terrifying cold radiated from his body, spreading like a net across the surroundings.
The strongest surge came from the icy path formed by the Ice Time Capsule, spread at a speed barely visible to the naked eye, reaching Ian's feet in an instant.
Even Moonwalk couldn't save him this time; his legs were caught and frozen solid in an instant.
Ian: "..."
Damn, this guy opened with his ultimate move again?
And this time, it was even colder than before.
Last time, he hadn't even been frozen. Sure, there'd been sunlight back then, but Ian could tell Kuzan hadn't been serious before.
As the frost began creeping up his body, Ian immediately channeled his Armament Haki, ready to shatter the ice.
"Oh? Still not enough?"
Kuzan's lazy voice sounded again. "Looks like your Armament Haki training's come along nicely, but unfortunately, it's too late now."
Another voice followed, and that familiar hand landed on him again. With a knowing smile, Kuzan said: "Ice Age!"
Ian: "..."
Ian's mouth twitched.
Seriously? Again?
There's no sun now. Is this really necessary?
He hurriedly swung his axe to try to put some distance between them.
However…
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