"My, my, what a strange country this is. There are way too many people who look exactly the same, aren't there?"
Michael chatted casually with the clone soldier guiding him as they walked down the corridor toward the palace.
The clone soldiers weren't all identical—they were produced from several or even a dozen different templates.
Soldiers from the same template looked identical and by blood, they could practically be considered brothers.
In a way, it bore some resemblance to the gene-seed and Astartes created by a certain golden giant sitting on a toilet.
Of course, the gap between them was as vast as the difference between the One piece world and that other world.
But if Michael had to choose, he'd still pick the One piece world.
Sure, it was frustrating at times, full of annoying things and unpleasant affairs, but at least it was a world brimming with life.
The clone soldier didn't answer Michael's question.
His mission was to escort this officer to the king's palace, not to engage in conversation.
Seeing no reaction, Michael raised an eyebrow slightly.
The technology in the One piece world was… peculiar.
On one hand, they still used firearms and cannons which were still quite primitive.
On the other, genetic modification and cloning were treated like child's play.
The sheer distortion of this tech tree bordered on the indescribable.
After following the clone soldier for a short while, they arrived at the palace of the Vinsmoke Family.
Michael folded his wings slightly as he stepped through the gates.
To be honest, the style of the Germa Palace didn't sit well with Michael.
It wasn't the extravagant, gold-plated splendor of the Sorbet Kingdom, nor did it have the feel of the Alabasta Palace.
In Michael's eyes, it didn't even resemble a palace.
Cold, hard and metallic—it felt more like the secret base of an evil organization.
Fitting for its reputation and character, though.
Michael smirked and strode forward.
He had already spotted the king seated upon the throne—Vinsmoke Judge, with his gravity-defying mustache.
"Who goes there! Don't you know the Germa Kingdom prohibits unauthorized entry?"
"My deepest respect to King Vinsmoke Judge, I am Rear Admiral Michael of the Marine Headquarters."
The moment Michael spoke, Judge's brow furrowed.
Though his words said "respect" neither his body language nor his tone carried the slightest hint of respect.
"Even the Marine's is forbidden entry. We can protect our own nation."
"Oh, that... It has nothing to do with whether you can protect your country or not. A colleague of mine has gone missing within Germa 66's territory. Naturally, I'm here to find them."
Michael paid no mind to Judge's cold, rigid tone, maintaining a friendly smile from start to finish.
Yet beneath that friendliness... Judge sensed an unsettling chill.
A Marine officer, missing within Germa 66's domain?
Impossible!
Under Judge's absolute command, the entirety of Germa 66 has been avoided the Marine at all costs!
How could such a thing happen?
"Rear Admiral Michael, could there be some mistake?"
Instantly, Judge's tone softened, as if the cold-faced man from moments ago had never existed.
"We of Germa 66 have never had dealings with the Marine."
"Do you really think this is up to you?" Michael's smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold stare.
"I'm here to inform you, not to ask for your permission. If you have any complaints, feel free to take them up with the World Government."
With that, Michael turned and strode out of the palace hall.
This brief meeting left Judge with a throbbing headache.
Others might not notice, but he was a scientist who had worked alongside Vegapunk, specializing in Lineage Factor research.
Though their fields differed, they had exchanged knowledge frequently.
Thus, his ability to identify Devil Fruits was exceptionally sharp.
At a glance, he recognized those faintly glowing Wings—undoubtedly a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit!
And this man, already a Rear admiral at such a young age, was likely a key figure in the Marine's.
This... was someone he couldn't afford to provoke.
"Notify all soldiers within the kingdom—mobilize immediately and search for the missing Marine officer!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
****
The moment Michael stepped out of the palace hall, his ever-expanding Observation Haki picked up on a pair of eyes watching him from the shadows.
Was Judge so distrustful that he'd sent someone to monitor him?
Michael smirked, gave his wings a flap and vanished in an instant.
"Huh? Where'd that winged guy go!?" A young girl's surprised voice came from the corner.
"He was just here!"
The girl scrambled out of hiding, only to find herself suddenly lifted off the ground.
It wasn't that she had learned to fly—someone had grabbed the back of her collar and hoisted her up.
Clone soldiers would never do something like this, so...
"What's this, just a kid?"
Michael held the girl up to eye level, taking in her swirly eyebrows and pink hair.
Her identity was obvious.
Vinsmoke Reiju, Judge's eldest daughter and princess of the Germa Kingdom.
At the same time, she was the first product of Vinsmoke Judge's modification of the Lineage Factor, granting her an extraordinarily strong physique.
Like Sanji, she also retained her emotions.
"H-Hello, Marine-san" Reiju stammered, her small face slightly flushed.
In this country, one rarely saw many different faces.
And Michael's face—one that could charm both elderly women and young girls—was indeed a bit too astonishing for young Reiju.
"If I'm not mistaken, you must be Princess Vinsmoke Reiju of the Germa Kingdom?" Michael said with a faint smile.
"Why were you secretly following me?"
Michael didn't believe this child was tailing him out of mere curiosity.
With that, Michael set Vinsmoke Reiju back down on the ground.
Had it been one of her four brothers, Michael might have continued holding them up while talking.
Unexpectedly, the moment Reiju touched the ground, she immediately grabbed Michael's cape.
"Marine-san... please save my mother!"
"She's been hospitalized for a long time, but her condition keeps getting worse."
"But Father..."
Reiju fought back tears, her eyes flickering with fear at the mere mention of her father.
She didn't dare to defy him in the slightest.
"But your father turned a blind eye to this, didn't he?"
Michael smiled.
As a scientist capable of modifying Lineage Factors, could Judge truly have no solution for the side effects caused by the drugs that suppressed them?
This petty, vindictive man...
Was taking revenge on his wife.
And Michael had always held one principle:
While he might not always know what was right, opposing his enemies was never wrong.
The more they opposed him, the more it proved he was on the right path.
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