"Michael-san… no, Michael-sama, while I may seem like just a crazy fan, the truth is… I also want to escape my father's control and cruelty…"
Michael sat in the meeting room of the Revolutionary Army's relief station, facing Yamato, Ulti, and Page One.
The youngest was ten, the oldest sixteen.
They had crossed the treacherous New World and the terrifying Calm Belt in a ship crammed with fan merchandise, arriving unscathed in the East Blue?
This wasn't just due to Yamato's formidable strength—it was also because the three of them had incredibly good luck.
But… it must have been born of desperation.
The internal environment of the Beasts Pirates was the epitome of "survival of the fittest."
In the original story, what Kaido did to his own daughter Yamato could only be described as "brutal."
If he treated his own flesh and blood like that, imagine how he treated his adopted children.
Had Ulti and Page One not stolen and eaten two Ancient Zoan fruits, they probably wouldn't have even survived to adulthood within the Beasts Pirates.
In the end, they reached a consensus: under the guise of "chasing an idol," they fled the Beasts Pirates.
In a way, this was an act of proactive self-salvation.
Unexpected, yet entirely reasonable.
"So, essentially, you set sail to escape from Kaido?"
"That's right. I'm Kaido's daughter, and these two are my younger sister and brother."
Yamato didn't hide her identity.
Though she might despise her father, she felt no shame in her bloodline.
"Kaido's daughter!?" Ginny suddenly stood up from her seat. "You mean that Kaido from the New World? The so-called 'Strongest Creature,' the infamous pirate!?"
"Uh… my father's reputation is that big?" Yamato scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Other than comics, I'm not really interested in anything else, so I honestly didn't know… I just knew he was strong. Really strong."
"Well, though a bit airheaded… you've grasped the key point." Michael nodded with a smile.
"You just need to know your father is strong. If you truly want to oppose him, keep striving to grow stronger yourself."
Though Michael said this, his thoughts were different.
Because the execution of Kozuki Oden by Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi never happened in this timeline, the relationship between Kaido and Yamato wasn't as irreconcilable as in the original story.
After all, Yamato wasn't beaten, imprisoned, or shackled with explosive cuffs from childhood.
The current Yamato's resentment was directed more at the Beasts Pirates as a whole.
The fact that she still referred to Kaido as "father" suggested their personal relationship might not be as strained as one would think.
In the original story, she called him by his name—or even "that bull-headed gorilla."
…Though admittedly, that was pretty accurate.
"You... won't arrest us?" Yamato finally showed a hint of unease.
"After all, you're a marine, and we're the children of pirates..."
"What's wrong with being pirates' children? Do you consider yourselves pirates? Or are your names on any wanted posters?" Michael rolled his eyes. "If not, then you're just civilians... So why would I arrest civilians? Do I look that bored?"
Michael's stance was clear—whether "pirate" or "marine," such identities were personal choices, not inherited through blood.
Otherwise, Garp's son should have been one of the Marine's core pillars.
"Whose child you are means nothing."
"Who you are is what matters."
With that, Michael turned and headed for the door.
Just as he pushed it open, he heard a loud thud behind him.
Yamato was on her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"Vice Admiral Michael, I want to be a marine!"
"I want to join the marines!"
Ginny watched the scene and whispered to Michael.
"Why does this moment suddenly make me hear some intense music in my head... Wait, what's basketball?"
"Ahem, that's not something you should be thinking about!"
...
New World, Thunder God Island.
"WHAT!? Yamato ran away with Ulti and Page One!?"
Kaido shot to his feet upon hearing King's report.
"Those are my children! More importantly... they're carrying a Mythical Zoan and two Ancient Zoan fruits!"
Rage simmered in Kaido's voice.
He did have genuine affection for his biological daughter and his adopted children...
But it was also true that he intended to use them as powerful assets for the future.
This was the contradiction within Kaido.
King, who was delivering the report, felt a cold sweat trickle down his forehead.
He sensed the sudden surge of Kaido's overwhelming, violent Conqueror's Haki.
"Find them. We must bring Yamato back!"
"Boss, if we send the lower ranks... they might not be a match for Yamato."
"Then have them gather intel. Once we locate Yamato... I'll personally drag my ungrateful daughter back!"
"Understood..." King nodded before leaving.
The room fell silent, leaving Kaido alone.
Kaido took a deep breath...
"That's right!"
"Yamato must have gone chasing after that damn star—what's his name, Morning Star Michael or whatever..."
"Hmph, the Marine's Grand Inspector, is it? Given the chance, I'll tear you to pieces!"
"How dare you lure my daughter away!"
...
Michael didn't stay in Loguetown any longer and instead returned to Shimotsuki Village.
But after Yamato stubbornly insisted on following him, he had no choice but to bring her and the two siblings along.
"You... really have a dirty mind. How is it 'stubbornly following you' when you agreed faster than anyone else?"
"Ahem, such promising talent delivered right to me...how could I not poach them? Besides, I'm weakening the pirates' forces! That's absolutely a great merit."
"The way you're desperately trying to cover it up looks really pathetic."
Michael and Ginny walked ahead, talking in low voices.
Meanwhile, Yamato, Ulti, and Page One were curiously observing their surroundings.
Having lived either on Onigashima or Thunder God Island their entire life, they'd hardly ever experienced normal environments.
Arriving at Shimotsuki Village had sparked their curiosity.
Michael glanced back at them, only for Yamato to immediately catch his gaze.
She responded with a sunny, sweet smile.
"Ginny..."
"What is it?"
"This time...I actually feel a bit guilty about tricking kids when poaching talent."
"Wait...you're only feeling guilty now? Just how inhuman were you before?!"