"Michael Aniki, was everything I just heard… actually true?"
After Crocodile entered the room Ivankov had prepared for him, Ginny, her face full of shock, turned to Michael and asked.
"The member of Alabasta royal family plays around like this? Changing genders back and forth?"
"Sometimes, to survive, one has to resort to extreme measures." Michael chuckled, glancing at Ginny.
"You should understand this better than anyone. Wasn't it for a slim chance at survival that you, Kuma and Ivankov stole the Devil Fruits at God Valley and barely escaped with your lives?"
Hearing this, Ginny nodded.
"If you put it that way, I can understand."
Nothing is more blissful than surviving and having enough to eat.
Well, except maybe marrying Kuma.
At the thought of Kuma, Ginny's expression softened slightly.
Though she was always brash and even a bit childish—nothing like a woman in her thirties—only around Kuma did she reveal a hint of tenderness unique to women.
"By the way, why are only you and Ivankov in Baltigo? Where are Dragon and Kuma?"
"The two of them went to the North Blue to rescue Crow. I heard he recently found a Devil Fruit suspected to be of the Logia type. While he was still hesitating whether to eat it himself, he got targeted by Germa 66 from the North Blue."
As the commander of the Revolutionary Army's Eastern Division, Ginny not only led soldiers into battle but also oversaw the entire intelligence-gathering operation.
After all, she had shown a talent for eavesdropping and communication since childhood, even managing to evade detection under the noses of God's Knights.
Now, as she looked at Michael, her eyes held a trace of respect.
Despite possessing such immense power, he had never sought personal gain.
At first, She thought his encouragement for Dragon to transform the Freedom Fighters into the Revolutionary Army was meant to help him climb higher within the Marine ranks.
But unexpectedly, not only did he not do that, he even continuously used Marine intelligence and resources to nurture the Revolutionary Army, allowing it to grow rapidly over these past two years…
Most importantly, with his help, the South Blue and West Blue had largely fallen under the Revolutionary Army's control.
The local Marine branches had even accepted this, choosing to conceal all reports of the Revolutionary Army's activities in these two seas.
At first, she didn't quite understand, but later, in many liberated nations, she saw local Marine soldiers and their families wearing happy smiles.
That was when it finally dawned on her.
After all, Marine soldiers weren't born from cracks in stone.
They had families too.
The happiness of an entire nation was a good thing for them as well.
Thus, the Revolutionary Army and the Marines of the South and West Blues had formed an unspoken understanding.
Now, the Revolutionary Army's focus had shifted to the North Blue.
Compared to the relatively peaceful South Blue and the mafia-controlled West Blue, liberating the North Blue would be far more difficult.
After all, the North Blue was known as the "Strongest of the Four Blues," having produced countless formidable figures.
Among the future Three Admirals, Kizaru and Akainu both hailed from the North Blue.
The most influential figure under Sengoku, Chief of Staff Tsuru, was also from the North Blue.
The Donquixote Family's stronghold was currently stationed in the North Blue as well.
But the greatest obstacle to liberating the North Blue wasn't Tsuru or the future Admirals, nor was it the Donquixote Family—it was Germa 66.
After all, those three high-ranking Marine figures were preoccupied with pirates across the New World and the World Government, making it difficult for them to spare much attention for the North Blue.
And the Donquixote Family's ambitions lay in dominating the entire underworld.
But Germa 66 was different.
Since its founding over three hundred years ago, it had deeply entrenched itself in the North Blue.
They could be considered the biggest local power in the North Blue, having once ruled over the entire sea.
As the Marine under the World Government gradually took control of the world, Germa 66 had fallen into decline.
That was, until recent years, when Vinsmoke Judge returned to the Germa Kingdom and revitalized Germa 66 using the technology he had brought back from MADS—the so-called "Institute of Peace."
Before the Revolutionary Army even began its advance into the North Blue, Germa 66, under Vinsmoke Judge's leadership, had already carried out the infamous "Execution of the Four North Blue Kings" incident.
They beheaded the kings of four North Blue nations, then commemorated the act by painting a massive mural that spread throughout the sea.
It could be said that Germa 66 was once again on the path to becoming the North Blue's overlord…
"Germa 66? That family obsessed with power ranger transformations?"
"Seems you're quite well-informed, Aniki."
Michael chuckled.
Ginny really had no trouble calling him "aniki," even though she was much older than him.
"Though that Germa 66 isn't exactly reliable, they're undoubtedly a formidable opponent."
"That's what I think too. Originally, I wanted to go with Kuma… and Dragon, but Dragon told me that Baltigo needed someone to hold the fort, so he entrusted me with the responsibility."
Ginny was visibly upset when she brought up the matter, letting out a sigh that spewed small flames, her hair transforming into tiny embers that swirled in the air like a goddess born from fire.
"Speaking of which, you haven't neglected developing your fruit abilities during this time apart, have you?"
"...Hey! Aniki, what kind of elementary school teacher are you? After so long apart, the first thing you do is to check on my homework?"
"Nonsense! The reason I had you eat the Flame-Flame Fruit was to make you stronger, so you could fight alongside Kuma!"
"Then come and experience it for yourself, aniki!"
Ginny suddenly curled her lips into a triumphant smirk and opened her mouth, unleashing a torrent of flames.
Under her control, the orange-red flames formed countless dazzling streaks in the air transforming into a—
Meat.
"Does your brain contain nothing but Kuma and food?!"
Michael's lips twitched as he stared at the overwhelming fire shaped meat, almost able to smell the savory aroma of roasted meat.
"Cough, cough—mind your own business! As long as the power is there, what's the problem?!"
With that, she partially transformed and took to the air, launching a fierce assault on Michael below.
"Meteor Shower!"
The scorching flames of "meat" traced various trajectories, attacking Michael from different directions.
Michael didn't underestimate his opponent.
It was clear Ginny had taken all his past lessons to heart.
The temperature of the flames was noticeably higher than during their last encounter.
"In that case, I won't hold back either, Ginny..."
"Don't cry when you get hurt, alright?"
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