Michael had arrived at Sabaody Archipelago three days earlier.
However, after sending Imu and the younger members who weren't on wanted posters to investigate first, they reached a conclusion...
Nico Robin was determined to kill this so-called 'Golden Thief.'
So Michael had no choice but to reluctantly remove his signature red fox scarf and full-face mask, switching to a half-face mask instead.
And then...
No one recognized him at all.
"So my true identity is the mask and scarf?" Michael clicked his tongue in amusement. "In that case, if I just sent the mask and scarf to the Angel Alliance, could I collect the bounty directly? Over a billion Beri!
"The people from the Angel Alliance aren't actually fools..." Imu replied calmly, "But... this Nico Robin seems to have been your subordinate originally, right?"
"Correct, she's like a little sister to me."
"...A man who sows wild oats everywhere... tsk."
"That's clearly your issue... I practically raised this girl myself!" Michael rolled his eyes. "Though Robin is much calmer than I imagined she'd be."
"No matter how furious she might be inside, she's still the governor overseeing this vast stretch of sea. She can't possibly wear her hatred and pain on her sleeve at all times, can she?" Imu sighed.
"Sometimes, that's what high status means—even grief and anger can only be fully expressed during the rare, almost nonexistent private moments..."
As she spoke, Imu's gaze at Michael carried a hint of reproach.
"Uh, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Hmph!"
Imu snorted but didn't elaborate further.
They simply walked along the streets of Sabaody Archipelago, experiencing the maritime-themed civilization from over eight hundred years later.
As mentioned earlier, while Sabaody Archipelago carried certain risks... its splendor remained among the most dazzling across the entire Grand Line.
As the central hub of the entire ocean, Sabaody Archipelago essentially condensed the whole world within itself.
No matter how remote a place might be, its specialties would eventually appear in Sabaody's markets.
People from all over the world considered Sabaody Archipelago a promised land they must visit in their lifetime.
This was why Nico Robin, who had already taken on the heavy responsibility of Chief of Staff for the Angel Alliance in some capacity, still served concurrently as Governor of Sabaody Archipelago.
Nowadays, Sabaody's status could even be mentioned in the same breath as Marineford and Dressrosa, the frontline headquarters.
"Thank you, Michael," Imu suddenly spoke up. "Thank you for allowing me to come to your era."
"Uh, didn't you stubbornly tag along?"
"With your power, even in that situation... you could have thrown me out of the teleportation range anytime you wanted, couldn't you?" Imu abruptly clung to Michael's back, whispering warm, ambiguous words into his ear.
"Admit it, Michael... you still care about me."
"Cough cough, speak properly—why jump on someone's back for no reason?"
Michael peeled Imu off himself and continued walking forward.
Imu watched Michael's retreating figure and sighed.
"Michael... you can't run forever, can you?"
...
On the other side of Sabaody Archipelago.
"My, this is my first time visiting Sabaody since the World Government and Angel Alliance went into full confrontation... I wonder if I can still find any truly dazzling delicacies here now?"
"Sommers, you really can't let go of your obsession with food, can you?"
"Hahaha! Killingham, though we're Celestial Dragons, our pursuit of fine cuisine is no different from other races!"
"Of course, we'll enjoy the food... but before that, could you two keep your voices down? You do know we're Celestial Dragons, don't you?"
"Gunko, don't mind them. We can just abandon them if the Angel Alliance discovers us."
"Tsk tsk, Shamrock, you're really... heartless."
These four individuals were none other than the current leader of God's Knights, Figarland Shamrock, and his subordinates.
Saint Killingham, user of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Qilin.
Saint Sommers, the Thorn Man who ate the Thorn-Thorn Fruit.
And Gunko, wielder of the Arrow-Arrow Fruit.
The reason they appeared on Sabaody Archipelago...
Was entirely because of Blackbeard.
"Ever since command was handed over to that lowly pirate Blackbeard, we've been doing all his dirty work..." Saint Sommers snorted coldly. "Who knows what the Five Elders were thinking... allowing that scum to take whatever he wants."
"Do not question the decisions of the Five Elders, Sommers." Shamrock turned around, his face—identical to Red-Haired Shanks'—hidden in the shadows of his hood, yet his sharp gaze pierced through the darkness to pin Sommers in place.
"If the Five Elders agreed to Blackbeard's demands, it means he's sufficiently... important!"
"Fine, fine. If you says so, what objections could I possibly have?"
Though quite advanced in years himself, Saint Sommers had no desire to challenge this young monster Shamrock.
After all...
He would definitely be the one to die.
The mere thought that the terrifying Red-Haired Shanks who roamed the seas was Shamrock's twin brother sent chills down Sommer's spine.
The Figarland family's Lineage Factor...
Wasn't it a bit too overpowered?
But no matter how strong...
Didn't he still have to follow orders from that filthy pirate just like the rest of them?
"Don't forget our mission this time... the target has arrived at Sabaody Archipelago."
"Target? Which target are you referring to?" Though Killingham had maintained his lazy hybrid form throughout, his question cut straight to the point.
"The Five Elders' target, Princess Vivi... or Blackbeard's targets, the Golden Thief and the Old Geezers Pirates?"
"All of them." Shamrock stated succinctly.
"According to intelligence, the Old Geezers Pirates arrived at Sabaody three days ago... while Princess Vivi will arrive today and remain on the archipelago for some time." Gunko added.
"Though I despise these so-called pirates... I must admit these scum scattered across the seas do provide unexpectedly useful information."