What Michael said was entirely based on reality.
The Navy's recruitment quality had worsened over the years.
The three Admirals, along with Gion and Tokikake were the final pinnacle of the Navy's recruitment...
One could even say it was a dying flash of brilliance.
In the following twenty years, the Navy's recruitment quality would decline year after year.
Even someone like Koby could become the Navy's hope.
If that's the Navy's hope, then it's a joke indeed.
Therefore, in order to change all of this—and to smooth the path of his revolution—improving the recruitment source was imperative.
The large number of swordsmen from Wano Country was one part of the plan.
And the female warriors of Amazon Lily, skilled in archery and Armament Haki, were another part of the plan.
After all, only with the injection of new blood could an organization that had become mere lackeys find a chance at rebirth.
"But if I go assassinate the Celestial Dragons, I'll be hunted down by CP0 forever, damn it!"
"This is the price." Michael smiled. "As the Empress of Amazon Lily, do you have the courage to make sacrifices for this country?"
Gloriosa's mouth was slightly open, her beautiful face marked with a trace of hesitation.
Doubt and guilt overlapped within her.
The doubt was about Michael's plan.
The guilt was toward Amazon Lily and Shakky.
Because of her impulsiveness back then, she had ultimately abandoned the country in favor of love, following Whitebeard and joining the Rocks Pirates.
And Shakky, who took over her throne, was only fourteen at the time.
She hadn't even asked Shakky whether she wanted to become the Empress of Amazon Lily.
Gloriosa finally looked up and glanced at Shakky.
She had made her decision.
"I'll do it!" Gloriosa nodded firmly. "As long as it puts the country on the right path, I'm willing to give everything."
Shakky looked at Gloriosa in surprise.
In her memory, this former Empress had always been willful, placing her personal emotions above the needs of the people.
Though she had not been tyrannical during her reign, she had never seemed like an empress—more like a beautiful and spoiled princess.
Now, Gloriosa was no longer an empress.
But she looked more like a wise ruler than ever before.
Michael nodded. This was a deal Amazon Lily could not refuse.
He then turned his gaze to Rayleigh and Gaban.
"What about you two? Want to take this job?"
Gaban said nothing, because he noticed Rayleigh was staring intently at Michael's face, as if trying to discern something from it.
"Michael, what exactly are you plotting?" Rayleigh asked gravely. "Your ambition is far greater than I imagined!"
"Ambition? No, I'm just an ordinary man who can't stand this world and wants to change it." Michael spread his hands, speaking casually. "If the change that transforms the world is a raging flood, then I am the first drop of water that breaks the dam. If it's a blazing fire, then I am the first spark."
"...Letting us join is fine." Rayleigh tapped the table with his finger. "But not assassination—change it to kidnapping."
"I want to execute the Celestial Dragons the same way the World Government executed Roger."
"If you agree, then we have a deal."
Michael narrowed his eyes. In Rayleigh's calm gaze, he saw a flame of vengeance that had never been extinguished.
Now, under Michael's fanning and provocation, it showed signs of reigniting.
"Execute the Celestial Dragons?"
"You pirates really know how to play."
"That's... fantastic."
"Deal."
...
Marine Calendar 1503.
On the first day of the new year, a massive and luxurious ship departed from Mary Geoise.
This time, there were as many as twenty-six Celestial Dragons on board.
Because of this enormous number, CP0's manpower was insufficient, so the Five Elders even dispatched the God's Knights—the organization responsible for judging Celestial Dragons—as escorts.
However, Figarland Garling, the Supreme Commander of the God's Knights, had more important matters to attend to and did not accompany them.
"Isn't deploying so many people for protection a bit excessive?" Marcus Mars, the Environment God, crossed his arms and spoke to an elderly man beside him who stood with arms wrapped around his blade. "Nowadays, anyone—pirate or otherwise—would have to be crazy to attack a Celestial Dragon, right?"
"Besides, isn't the destination the Sabaody Archipelago? Didn't Vice Admiral Gion already clean it out thoroughly with her troops?"
"You agree, don't you, Nusjuro?"
But Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the Finance God, didn't raise his head. He gently caressed the blade in his hand—Kitetsu.
The original and most powerful of the Kitetsu series, one of the Supreme Grade Blades.
"The Sabaody Archipelago?"
"Have you forgotten about that Marine called Michael?"
"Didn't that fool Rosward scream about making him pay? Because of him, they no longer had new slaves to use."
As Nusjuro spoke, a hint of scorn curled his lips.
As one of the Five Elders under Imu, he had gained immortal life through Imu's power.
In their eyes, these bloated and idiotic Celestial Dragons were equally repugnant.
However, that disgust stemmed from the fact that these imbeciles had sullied the dignity of the Celestial Dragon name.
"But wasn't that Marine, Michael, protected by Sengoku and Kong?"
"That's right. Sengoku has a close relationship with him. There's no need for us to offend Sengoku for trash like Rosward."
Their conversation was brutally realistic.
To them, Sengoku was one of the most powerful forces on the sea.
Even they had to take his stance seriously.
Back when they were searching for the Pirate King's child, Sengoku had followed orders, but it was clear he wasn't pleased.
"And recently, Sengoku even promoted that Michael to Rear Admiral."
"Seems like he's in charge of some secret mission."
"Should we have CP0 give him a warning while they're at it?"
"Of course. Even if people like Rosward are plentiful, the identity of a Celestial Dragon must remain exalted."
The two Five Elders said this as they returned to Mary Geoise.
At that moment, they had no idea that on the Sabaody Archipelago—the destination of the Celestial Dragons—a world-shaking event was about to occur.
If they could have foreseen it, the first thing they would've done...
Would've been to kill Michael.
"Leave it all to me."
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