"Round them all up?" York blinked in surprise, staring at Michael.
"Don't tell me you plan to single-handedly take down everyone heading to Egghead?"
"Surprised?" Michael tilted his head, looking at this Vegapunk clone whose appearance was merely that of a sixteen-year-old girl.
"You just revealed my identity yourself, didn't you? As Vegapunk, you should know part of my past... So tell me with that brain you share with the original and other clones—can I not do it?"
"Can you really do it?" York suddenly sprawled lazily across the enormous bed.
"Though I don't know who the World Government would send for this, let's take a guess."
"First, the Five Elders won't be dispatched... They need to remain at the World Government now and report the discovery about Mother Flame to higher authorities..."
"Second, they won't send CP0 or CP9 either. The reason is simple—they're not strong enough."
"Lastly, sending the Marines is even more impossible... Never mind that the Marines and the World Government are currently at odds, or that the two Vice Admirals guarding Egghead are actually your people. Even without that connection, they can't guarantee the Marines would hand Egghead over to them completely... So there's no need for them to do something that only benefits others."
York truly lived up to being one of Vegapunk's clones.
Though she spent most of her time eating, excreting, and sleeping... she was still exceptionally brilliant.
In just a few sentences, she had analyzed the World Government's motives and possibilities with perfect clarity.
"So if the World Government won't send these people, who else do they have left?" York smiled playfully at Michael and countered.
"As the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff now, you should be able to answer that, shouldn't you? You must have already gathered the necessary intel from your own information network."
Michael looked at York and finally nodded.
Yes, he had already guessed what the World Government was scheming...
With all other factions either unsuitable or unable to act, there was only one possibility left...
The new Flying Pirate Fleet, led by the Golden Lion.
A faint smile curled at Michael's lips.
Since the World Government had nurtured this pirate force, they were the most suitable candidates for this task at this very moment.
After all, aside from the Revolutionary Army, no one would suspect that the newly emerged strongest pirate crew had shady dealings with the World Government.
"If it's them, then it makes sense..."
"But... do you really think I'd fear a league of losers?"
As Michael spoke, his angelic Wings, which had remained hidden until now, unfurled once more before everyone.
At a glance, it was clear—besides the two massive pairs of Wings...
A third pair had already begun to sprout from their roots.
...
"Report, Fleet Admiral! Urgent intel!"
Outside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, a messenger hurriedly announced.
"Enter!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
The messenger rushed in after receiving permission, only to find the Marine Hero Garp, instructor Zephyr, and Chief of Staff Tsuru all gathered there.
"Don't just stand there—what's happened?"
"Yes, sir!" The messenger swallowed hard and quickly reported, "The newly formed Flying Pirate Crew, which has been making major moves in the New World recently... suddenly appeared in the skies above a certain area of the New World! Based on their trajectory... their target seems to be Egghead Island!"
"What... Egghead Island?" Sengoku abruptly raised his head. "Alright, you may leave now."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
After the messenger left, Sengoku's expression darkened instantly.
"That damn Golden Lion... rising out of nowhere, breaking into Impel Down to free prisoners was bad enough, but now he's even setting his sights on Egghead Island!" Sengoku snorted coldly.
"Egghead Island is absolutely non-negotiable for us! Vegapunk's importance goes without saying!"
"Of course. The technology Vegapunk holds is far too advanced. If any of it falls into pirate hands, it would be disastrous," Tsuru nodded.
"At the same time, we must also be wary of the World Government... We have to admit, the current World Government is no longer the entity we should be loyal to... And the circumstances surrounding the formation of the new Flying Pirate Crew are far too coincidental... So much so that it feels like someone is deliberately pulling strings behind the scenes."
Tsuru outright spoke these treasonous words in the Fleet Admiral's office.
Yet, shockingly, not only did Garp and Zephyr show no objection to her statement, even Sengoku remained silent, tacitly agreeing.
The shift in the Marine's highest command's attitude toward the World Government was entirely due to Michael.
If not for Michael constantly instilling ideas like "the Marine should be independent" in them, they wouldn't have considered this possibility first, especially with the World Government weakening and acting inhumane.
The change in mindset wouldn't revert just because Michael left.
Thus, over the past five years, the Marine and the World Government grew increasingly estranged, even secretly clashing.
For instance, three years ago, the World Government began cutting off the Marine's military funding...
And a year ago, under the World Government's direction, hidden "Regional Justice Faction" members within the Marine ran amok in a non-affiliated country, behaving worse than the most despicable pirates.
This incident momentarily shook the reputation Michael had painstakingly built for the Marine over the years.
As a result, Sengoku dealt with the matter severely, marking the first large-scale execution of Marine soldiers for grave crimes.
After this incident, Sengoku had, in essence, privately severed ties with the World Government.
Under these circumstances, Vegapunk became more crucial than ever.
Sengoku was no fool.
From Vegapunk...
He saw the future.
Just as he had once seen it in Michael.
"Whether the Flying Pirate Crew is a black ops unit created by the World Government or not, Egghead Island must remain under Marine control..." Sengoku suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Garp and Zephyr.
"Garp, you and Zephyr, go handle this."
Zephyr nodded silently.
Though he had retired from the frontlines, he wouldn't refuse Sengoku's order at a time like this.Garp pondered for a moment before saying:
"The two of us aren't enough..."
"To be safe, I need to mobilize the SWORD Classified Special Forces."
"Hmm, you go contact Rosinante..."
Sengoku nodded, then a glint of determination flashed in his eyes.
"If the Flying Pirates want to force their way through..."
"Let them come only to never return!"
----------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator