After Roger's death, the world descended into chaos.
That wasn't just an exaggeration.
Not only pirates, but even countless civilians took to the seas, hoping to pursue the great treasure that the Pirate King had personally acknowledged.
This kind of mass frenzy was something Michael had anticipated.
But what the World Government did next was far beyond his expectations.
Instead of trying to quell the inevitable pirate surges across various nations, or gently guiding the civilians under their rule...
They poured massive manpower and resources into tracking down anyone even remotely connected to Roger.
They didn't even bother to hide it—everything was blatantly exposed in the newspapers.
For example, Tom, the world's number one shipwright who used the Treasure Tree Adam to build Roger's pirate ship.
Because of that, the World Government sent him to the execution platform as well.
If it hadn't been for the sea train project depending on Tom's expertise, which earned him a ten-year reprieve...
His fish-man head would have already been displayed on a pike.
Michael, seeing this baffling move, felt like his intelligence was being ground into the dirt.
How the hell did these bastards get into power?
Is it just a matter of being dumber than everyone else?
The Five Elders were the worst of them all.
Their long lives hadn't brought them any real wisdom—only the contempt and arrogance bestowed by power.
"Here, old man Garp, take a look at this."
Michael handed the newspaper to Garp.
Garp's expression was already grim due to the explosion in pirate numbers.
After reading the article...
His entire face practically turned to charcoal.
"Do those in power really have brains the size of rice crackers?"
"Shipwright Tom is a totemic figure in Water 7!"
"Do they seriously want the entire Water 7 to hold a grudge against the World Government and the Marines?"
"One day, a shipwright might 'accidentally' leave a hole in a warship or government vessel during repairs, and you'll be dead before you even realize it!"
"Offending shipwrights at sea? What the hell are they thinking!?"
Michael's expression remained calm.
He took a sip of tea, then sneered:
"What's the point of scolding the World Government? A regime that rules the world through brutal suppression and slavery—what do you expect? That they'll grow a brain? As long as they keep worshipping the Celestial Dragons like gods, that's enough for them."
"Even though I completely agree with what you just said..." Garp shrugged. "But don't forget, we still have a 'promise' to fulfill."
"What's the rush? According to Roger's description, it'll still be quite some time before the birth."
Michael narrowed his eyes, lounging in the chair like he was slacking off—but in truth, his mind was racing.
The Great Pirate Era had officially begun.
And it was time for him... to start laying the groundwork.
As a transmigrator, he had the privilege of being willful.
He would use any means necessary to change the future he disliked.
"Oh, right, old man."
"What is it?"
"Do you know Big News Morgans?"
"That slightly unhinged news tycoon? Yeah, I know him. His organization works quite closely with the Marines."
"Good. I need him to do me a little favor."
"What favor?"
"Deliver a message."
...
"There's a fool prince in Kuri~ There's a fool prince in Kuri~"
"Sigh, how could Sukiyaki-sama give birth to such a ridiculous son?"
"Dancing naked every day! It's humiliating! Utterly disgraceful!"
"He's tarnishing Sukiyaki-sama's name! That guy should just commit seppuku and be done with it!"
All kinds of insults and ridicule seeped through the walls of the Daimyo Mansion and into the Kōzuki household.
Kozuki Oden, dead drunk, barely managed to sit upright, yet he still poured glass after glass of alcohol into his mouth.
For the past year, he'd remained in a nearly constant state of drunkenness.
Because...
Only in this state could he numb his pride while performing that humiliating naked dance.
The Kozuki Oden who was once called brother by Whitebeard, who could battle Roger as an equal...
Was already dead.
Dead on the vast and boundless sea.
And what remained in the Daimyo Mansion... was merely his struggling, surviving shell.
"O-Oden-sama! Wake up! Please, wake up!"
Kin'emon stumbled and crawled his way into the Daimyo Mansion.
At this point, he had no regard for manners anymore.
Not that Kozuki Oden had ever cared about such things to begin with.
"Ahh, Kin'emon, your voice is too loud. My head's splitting... Is it time to dance again?" Oden responded drunkenly while getting to his feet and starting to strip.
"Hold on, let me take off my clothes first..."
"My lord! Please stop degrading yourself like this!"
Tears welled up instantly in Kin'emon's eyes as he witnessed the scene. Bitterness surged in his heart...
One naked dance could save a hundred lives!
But was Kaido really someone who honored his promises? Was Orochi?
And yet, Kozuki Oden chose to believe...
For an entire year, had Kaido and Orochi released the hostages as promised?
No one knew.
But throughout all of Wano, Kozuki Oden had become the ultimate laughingstock.
His reputation and authority had been utterly destroyed.
But...
He was still Kozuki Oden! The Second Division Commander that Whitebeard never forgot!
He was supposed to be the true shogun of Wano!
"My, my... what a sight. So this drunkard is the infamous Daimyo of Kuri? 'Seeing is believing,' I suppose. The Second Division Commander of Whitebeard's ship was more impressive."
A mocking voice came from outside the door.
A tall beastman covered in feathers casually strolled in, uninvited.
He wore a top hat, a black cloak, a pale blue shirt, and red-and-white checkered pants.
This was one of the Six Emperors of the Underworld, the king of the intelligence network—"Big News" Morgans.
His birdlike appearance came from eating the Bird-Bird Fruit, Albatross form.
"I think... I've seen you before." Kozuki Oden burped, his drunken eyes filled with icy apathy. "But don't block my way."
"I don't know what you're planning to do, but here's a friendly tip—you'd better hear me out first."
Morgans pulled a letter from his chest.
"Entrusted by another, one must be faithful to the task."
"A man named Michael asked me to deliver a message to you."
"Michael? Who? Never heard of him."
Kozuki Oden shook his head.
"Doesn't matter whether you know him or not. My job is to relay the message."
"That man said, 'Kozuki Oden, you're a dumbass who brought disaster upon your entire family! Your brain's practically clogged shut! But thankfully, not completely shut! Open the envelope—inside is all the intel you need.'"
With that, Morgans turned and left without hesitation, not saying another word.
After boarding his airship, Morgans looked back at the gradually crumbling land of Wano.
He muttered to himself under his breath:
"I'm one of the Six Emperors of the Underworld, and I'm actually running around delivering messages?"
"If I could beat that guy, I'd never agree to this lame-ass job!"
"And Garp too! You're supposed to be a Marine hero!"
"Threatening good citizens like, 'If you don't want to lose your base, you better listen up,' or some crap..."
"These two Marines... they're more pirate than the pirates!"
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +100 chapters on Patreon tambeerg