"Angel D. Michael?"
At first, Kaido didn't understand why Doflamingo was telling him about a Marine.
But the moment he heard that familiar surname, his interest was instantly piqued.
"What's his relationship with Angel D. Sora, the Queen of the New Germa Kingdom?"
'They're biological siblings,' Doflamingo shrugged. 'It was thanks to her Marine brother that Sola's coup succeeded.'
"Good. Let's hear the rest inside." Kaido nodded, then turned and walked toward the safe zone.
Though lightning couldn't harm his body, the deafening noise was still too much of a distraction.
He was now deeply interested in this 'Michael' and didn't want to miss a single word.
Once inside the safe zone, Doflamingo followed Kaido into a fortress-like structure resembling a demon king's castle.
After winding through several corridors, they reached the top floor.
Kaido immediately took a seat at the massive table, gesturing for Doflamingo to do the same.
Glancing at the oversized chair, Doflamingo extended a hand, summoning countless threads that wove beneath him into an elegant white chair—one tall enough to let him meet Kaido's gaze at eye level.
"Where would you like me to start, Kaido?"
"Since this is intel meant to prove your sincerity in our cooperation, then of course, start from the beginning. Leave nothing out."
"Fine." Doflamingo nodded. "This man first made a name for himself six years ago—the same year Gol D. Roger was executed."
"He publicly destroyed a smuggling ship that supplied slaves to the Celestial Dragons."
Kaido froze.
A Marine destroying a slave ship of the Celestial Dragons?
Weren't Marines just the government's lapdogs?
And yet, this one dared to oppose the Celestial Dragons, the very power behind the World Government?
Kaido's mind flashed back to his own childhood...
Born in the Kingdom of Vodka, he had become the nation's strongest warrior by the age of ten.
But the damned king, in exchange for participation rights in the Reverie, had tried to 'sell' him to the Marines as a bargaining chip.
From that day on, Kaido had harbored nothing but hatred for the Marines and the World Government.
"You... seem lost in thought?" Doflamingo noticed Kaido's distant expression and paused, choosing to ask instead.
"Do you think this man is different from the usual Marines?"
"The Marine... how much difference can there be? They're just obedient government dogs, or less obedient government dogs... Even powerhouses like Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr are no exception."
"But... this man seems to be a real exception." Doflamingo forced a bitter smile.
"Before this incident, Michael was just an unknown lieutenant commander, serving as Vice Admiral Momousagi's adjutant in managing Sabaody Archipelago... After that, he did one more thing that directly promoted him from headquarters lieutenant commanders to headquarters rear admiral."
"An instant promotion?"
"Exactly, an instant promotion... All because he protected Marine Headquarters from destruction during Shiki's catastrophic attack."
When the name "Shiki" came from Doflamingo's lips, Kaido began to frown.
Why did this sound like... the story of a monster lurking in the shadows suddenly shedding its disguise and rising to power?
And from the very beginning, he'd felt that the name Michael... sounded strangely familiar.
"After that, he formed a special marine unit."
"Special marine unit? That mysterious force even the World Government knows nothing about?" Kaido looked at Doflamingo with suspicion.
"Then why would you know about it?"
"Do I look like I'd tell you I was nearly killed by that very unit?"
A trace of shame crossed Doflamingo's brow.
"Damn it, to this day I'm practically his subordinate... He ordered me to unify the entire underworld."
"So now... you're planning to turn against him?"
"No, just a double agent... That guy Michael doesn't really bother with minor details." Doflamingo sighed.
"Of course, it could also be that he thinks I pose no threat at all."
Kaido observed Doflamingo's expression, his curiosity about Michael growing stronger by the minute.
"And his most terrifying masterpiece was the great battle he fought against Whitebeard in Fishman Island." Doflamingo said, pulling out a recording Den Den Mushi.
"My men happened to be disguised as civilians shopping on Fishman Island at the time... Got lucky and captured this scene. I can safely say hardly anyone outside Fishman Island knows about this."
Kaido reached out, took the Den Den Mushi, aimed it at the wall and began to play it.
The footage was shaky, but most of the scene was recorded.
Kaido's pupils gradually dilated.
This battle... even if he were to replace Whitebeard in this Fishman Island, at best he could only achieve a draw with Michael...
But what shocked him most wasn't Michael's combat prowess...
It was Michael's two pairs of pure white Wings—one large, one small.
He finally remembered!
He had seen this figure somewhere before, and even heard this name!
"You... come with me."
Kaido threw down these words, stood up, and headed towards another room.
Doflamingo was puzzled but followed nonetheless.
Led by Kaido, they walked further through the Demon King's Castle until they reached the innermost room.
Now, the lights were blazing brightly.
Kaido suddenly halted at the door, then peeked inside.
Doflamingo's lips twitched—was this some kind of burglary?
But when he followed Kaido's gaze inside, Doflamingo nearly failed to suppress his laughter.
Only after Kaido shot him a murderous glare did he manage to hold it back.
Inside this room was clearly a child's room...
Everywhere were merchandise from the Justice's Morning Star: Michael series!
This was Fishman Island's hottest-selling product, with the serialized story blazing through the World Economic News, written by the same author as Warrior of the Sea: Sora from back in the day!
And the protagonist... was a handsome marine with snow-white Wings and platinum-blond hair, named Michael!
A girl with demon horns like Kaido's was currently hugging an oversized Michael body pillow, rolling back and forth on the bed.
"Vice Admiral Michael is just soooooo dreamy!"
"I've decided! I'm going to follow in Michael's footsteps!"
"I'll set sail and become a great marine!"
This was Kaido's ten-year-old daughter, Yamato.
Beside her, his four-year-old adopted daughter Ulti and two-year-old adopted son Page One were imitating their elder sister, hugging smaller versions of the body pillow while rolling around on the bed.
And the most eye-searing part...
The upper half of the body pillow's design featured a shirtless Michael.
"That guy called Michael... I'll definitely find him and kill him."
"To think he's turned my daughter, Kaido's own flesh and blood..."
"Into a shut-in otaku!"
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