On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he said:
"…What nonsense are you spouting! Deceiving the World Government comes at a price!"
But that single sentence from Sengoku instantly ignited Michael's simmering rage into a full blaze!
"…Old man, do you still remember your title? You're the 'Strategist'!"
"Was it me who deceived the World Government, or has the World Government been deceiving everyone? Do I really need to remind you of that?"
"A year and a half ago, under orders from the World Government, the Marines cooperated with CP spies to hunt down the Pirate King's widow—hell-bent on capturing Roger's wife and child! But if Garp and I hadn't intervened, with Onigumo and those CP agents involved, how many civilians' lives do you think would have been endangered?"
Sengoku was caught off guard by Michael's sharp retort and momentarily lost for words.
"On top of that, among the elite Vice Admirals assigned to this Buster Call is none other than Sakazuki!"
"Old man, I swear on my head—if everything proceeds exactly as you've planned, then he will, without a doubt, fire on the refugee ships just to eliminate every last trace!"
"So now, old man—no, dear Admiral Sengoku! Use that brain of yours, filled with both wisdom and blind loyalty, and think carefully!"
"If there's nothing shameful or scandalous hidden in history, why would the World Government go so far as to relentlessly target scholars who study it?"
"And the so-called guardians of the sea—who are they really protecting?"
"The World Government? Or the countless innocent civilians?"
"Admiral Sengoku! Answer me!"
Michael's voice was unusually fierce, his once-handsome face now slightly twisted with anger.
Ever since he transmigrated into this world, his bond with Sengoku had grown incredibly deep. In fact, Sengoku was the person who treated him best—no one else came close.
Precisely because of that, Michael couldn't bear to see Sengoku become the same man as in the original story—retired, forever haunted by regret and guilt as the Marine Inspector General.
But Sengoku on the other end of the Den Den Mushi didn't respond.
The Den Den Mushi mimicked his expression: brows furrowed in deep thought.
Michael decided...
To pour more oil on the fire.
"The World Government has never been just. The Celestial Dragons have never been divine. Can you really stand by and watch these two disgusting piles of filth reign over the Marines' justice?"
"So, Sengoku! Will you choose to be a loyal, obedient lackey—or will you fight for the people and for true justice?"
Michael's voice dropped to a low, devilish whisper.
After a long pause, Sengoku finally left him with one sentence, then hung up the Den Den Mushi in haste.
"…Time waits for no one."
Having witnessed the entire exchange between Michael and Sengoku, Garp was utterly astonished.
He had never seen Sengoku like this before.
And Garp had known Sengoku for decades.
They had been comrades since their youth, all the way into old age.
They were the kind of people who could trust each other completely, even with their backs turned in battle.
From Garp's perspective, getting Sengoku to change his mind was harder than climbing to the moon!
Even Garp couldn't manage that.
Unprecedented. Truly unprecedented!
"Michael, I can't believe it! That stubborn old mule Sengoku actually let you talk him into changing his mind?"
Garp laughed heartily, slapping Michael's shoulder.
Michael smiled calmly, then snatched a senbei from Garp's hand.
Then he said:
"Prideful as Sengoku is, do you really think a few insults to the face would be enough to sway him?"
"In the end..."
"He just subconsciously wanted to be persuaded."
...
After retrieving Stella from the island, Michael boarded Garp's doghead battleship.
They sped across the sea!
First crossing the Calm Belt, then into the West Blue, heading full speed toward Ohara.
Initiating a Buster Call took time.
The massive warships used in a Buster Call were stationed only at Marine Headquarters.
Unlike the original story, where the Buster Call was used on Enies Lobby, this wasn't as convenient!
Marine Headquarters and Enies Lobby were not only close in distance but also connected by special sea currents. Following a specific route between them allowed extremely fast travel.
It only took an hour or so to go from Marine Headquarters to Enies Lobby.
But the distance from Marine Headquarters to Ohara was definitely farther than from Paradise to Ohara.
So there was a time gap in between.
Which should be enough to evacuate the residents of Ohara.
They had called Sengoku in the morning.
By the afternoon, they were already in West Blue.
Now, off in the distance, they could already see the "Tree of Knowledge," that towering symbol of a civilized world.
Ohara was right before them.
Standing next to Michael, Garp shaded his eyes with one hand, peering toward the distant Tree of Knowledge.
But he turned to Michael and asked:
"Michael, be straight with me... What should the Navy and the World Government be, in your eyes?"
"Huh? You're asking me that? Do I look like I ate the Encyclopedia-Encyclopedia Fruit or something?" Michael rolled his eyes.
"At its core, the Navy's justice is about protecting civilians. But has the World Government issued a single policy in recent years that actually protects civilians? On the contrary—they persecute them at every turn. They don't even consider civilians from non-member nations as human… not to mention those damn Celestial Dragons who think they're above all law and order."
"All of this—doesn't it contradict what Marine justice is supposed to stand for?"
"But..."
Garp smacked his lips twice. He understood Michael's point all too well.
Because deep down, he thought the same.
But as Sengoku's only true friend—his comrade of decades—he couldn't just undermine him.
"There's no need to struggle with it. I'm not asking you to overthrow the World Government…"
"But I believe the Navy shouldn't be something the World Government can wield freely to stab at civilians."
"The Marines need to exist independently—outside of the World Government's control."
Michael leaned against the railing, his platinum-blond hair tousled by the sea breeze, adding a roguish edge to his look.
But in Garp's eyes, he saw traces of Sengoku in Michael...
Just a version of Sengoku that was smarter, and completely unbound.
Soon, Ohara grew larger and closer in their view.
After docking, Garp turned to Bogard and said:
"Maintain security here on the coast."
"But be ready to take on a large number of people."
Then, Garp and Michael, along with a few Marine soldiers, headed toward the village of Ohara.
"To be honest, this place just looks like a normal village along the way."
"You'd never guess this place has so much culture. Doesn't look like somewhere a bunch of scholars would come from."
Michael shrugged and explained:
"Ohara practices elite education, so…"
"It's either ignorant commoners who know nothing beyond eating, sleeping, and pooping—or scholars who understand everything and control all knowledge."
Even though the scholars of Ohara weren't bad people,
Their educational model was… dumb.
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