"My, my, if it isn't our dear Admiral Kizaru? Drinking alone in here, are we?"
Kizaru Borsalino looked up, recognizing who it was as the mocking voice entered his office.
"Hmph, Michael, if you have time to spare, you'd be better off catching more pirates instead of wasting it on taunting me."
"My current work is far more important than catching a few pirates." Michael didn't spare Borsalino any courtesy, knowing full well that even if angered, the admiral wouldn't take it out on others.
After all, he wasn't Sakazuki.
"To be honest, I've been feeling somewhat lost these past two years..." Kizaru swirled the glass in his hand.
"Does the World Government truly still deserve our loyalty? The pirates I capture one day are handed back to Fish-Man Island the next for political bargaining..."
Michael wiped cold sweat from his brow.
Truth be told, this had been his idea—suggesting to Neptune and the others that they could reclaim the Sun Pirates by offering the World Government some trivial concessions.
He hadn't expected that his scheme to spite the World Government would inadvertently affect one of the Marine's beloved Three Admirals.
And of all people, the one who was theoretically the most steadfast.
So, after advising Fisher Tiger to stay put on Fish-Man Island for the time being, Michael rushed back to Marine Headquarters to clean up his own mess.
Playing the role of a spiritual guide? He'd done it plenty of times before!
A seasoned professional!
"So, you became a Marine just to pledge loyalty to the World Government?"
"Aren't you the same?"
"Don't play dumb... You've all seen what I've been doing these years." Michael curled his lip dismissively.
"The World Government? In my eyes, there's only one thing that matters—the interests of everyone in this world."
"Including going against the World Government?"
"Borsalino, you have to admit—the World Government has now positioned itself against the entire world." Michael sighed. "As Vegapunk's close friend, I know you're not the blindly loyal type... And even if you were, could you outdo old man Sengoku in that regard? Yet now, even Sengoku has stopped blindly serving the World Government."
Borsalino studied the man perched on his desk.
"Michael, now that I think about it... you're already thirty years old."
"...Damn, that's quite the leap in topic. And what about me being thirty? It's the prime age for making waves!" Michael rolled his eyes, the two pairs of Wings behind him twitching slightly before he turned toward the door.
"Since you've got the energy to tease me about my age, I take it you're fine now? I'll be going, then."
Without another word, he strode out of Admiral Kizaru's office, not a trace of hesitation in his step.
Borsalino lifted his gaze to the plaque hanging above him...
"Justice of Ambiguity... Tch. That suits you far better than it does me, Michael."
"So, back when you told us you were going to do something big... what exactly was it?"
"Oh-ho-ho, doesn't matter. It's not like you'd lead us all in a rebellion... Right?"
"Tch. With Michael's guts and way of thinking, nothing's impossible..."
Borsalino's eyes flickered with speculation, but he raised his glass and downed the liquor in one gulp, washing away all distractions.
Forget it, I'm not going to think about it anymore—it's giving me a headache.
Might as well go with the flow.
Why bother racking my brains when there are smarter people leading the way?
...
"So, you're setting off again?" Garp asked quietly as he watched Michael emerge from Borsalino's office.
"Heading to the Revolutionary Army this time?"
"Garp, do you realize your so-called 'quiet voice' is practically shouting through a megaphone?" Michael rolled his eyes.
"Thankfully, there's no one around the Admiral's office right now. Otherwise, what would you have me do? Defect on the spot?"
"Hey, you're the Grand Inspector now! If anyone overheard, you could just say you've found a way to negotiate with the Revolutionary Army and are going to test it out... Who'd dare question you? Everyone knows the Grand Inspector's combat skills rank below his ability to recruit and persuade!" Garp chuckled, then slung an arm around Michael's shoulders.
"Do me a favor and pass a message to that rebellious son of mine... Luffy's not a kid anymore, and now he's somehow eaten a Devil Fruit... Doesn't he want to see his own child?"
"You want the leader of the Revolutionary Army to visit Marineford to see his kid?" Michael pushed away Garp's hand, which was larger than a palm-leaf fan, with a look of disdain.
"Old man, has raising three kids all at once finally given you dementia?"
"Even if I have dementia, half the blame lies with your family!" Garp grumbled.
"Ever since you and Sengoku got promoted, who's had time to look after the kids? It all fell on me and my precious daughter in the end! Aside from Reiju, not a single one of those little rascals is easy to handle!"
"Mind your words—one of those 'little rascals' is your own grandson... If he's a little bastard, what does that make you? An old bastard?" Michael sighed.
"Even if you don't mind being an old bastard, I don't want to be a middle-aged bastard."
As he spoke, Michael swiftly ducked, effortlessly avoiding a "Fist of Love."
"Tsk tsk, old man Garp, did you really think I'm still that reckless kid you used to beat black and blue? Seems like you've been slacking on your training lately! Better watch out—next time you run into Chin Jao on the seas, he might flip you with his head."
With that, Michael spread his wings and soared into the sky, growing smaller in the distance.
Garp shook his fist indignantly.
"Tch. Even though Michael hasn't had any breakthroughs in strength these past few years... Damn, what an enviable talent. Comparing yourself to others just makes you miserable."
"I put my full strength into that punch just now..."
As soon as Garp spoke, the spot where his fist had swung exploded into a massive crater.
...
East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.
Since the Revolutionary Army had firmly rooted itself across the four seas and established numerous public facilities, it had effectively won the hearts of ordinary people.
Shimotsuki Village, as the most famous grain-producing region in the East Blue, was particularly valued by the Revolutionary Army.
In fact, the East Blue's main base was directly established in Shimotsuki Village.
Ginny, the "Revolutionary Flame," who had just given birth to Bonney, was currently at the Isshin Dojo in Shimotsuki Village, watching the children practice their swordsmanship while cradling the sleeping Bonney in her arms.
Koushirou Shimotsuki, along with Dragon and Kuma, had gone to the granary to check this year's harvest.
Left with nothing to do, she could only pass the time by watching the children.
Just then, a green-haired kid came stumbling in, looking utterly panicked.
"Help! Help!"
"Big Sis Ginny!"
"Kuina... she fell down the stairs!"
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