On the coastline of the Sabaody Archipelago, the Marines were patrolling alongside CP9.
Unlike the Marines who treated it as a routine task, CP9 was desperately risking their lives to search for any trace of the Celestial Dragons.
Because if they couldn't find them... well, they already knew.
They were as good as dead.
At that moment, someone with wings on their back came flying unsteadily toward the shore, clutching a cloth bundle in their arms.
A sharp-eyed Marine immediately recognized the figure—it was Michael, recently promoted to Rear Admiral and subsequently dismissed from the role of Vice Admiral's adjutant.
"That's Rear Admiral Michael!"
"Rear Admiral Michael doesn't look so good!"
"Wait a second! That person behind him... it's the Dark King, Rayleigh!"
Before all the gathered Marines and CP9 agents, Rayleigh landed a flying kick that sent Michael crashing onto the shoreline. But upon seeing the number of Marines present, he frowned slightly and then turned to leave.
"Rear Admiral Michael! Are you alright?"
The Marine soldiers rushed to his side. As a seasoned veteran of the Sabaody Archipelago, Michael held considerable respect in their hearts—second only to Vice Admiral Momousagi.
But CP9 could only grit their teeth in frustration.
In their reports, Michael was the main culprit behind the destruction of the slave trade in Sabaody Archipelago—an irritating thorn in the side of the Celestial Dragons.
Yet the moment they saw what Michael was holding in his arms, they instantly threw all such thoughts out the window.
Had there not been so many Marines around, they would've rushed up to Michael and banged their heads on the ground in gratitude!
It was Saint Charlos, one of the Celestial Dragons!
Even though it was only one of them, it was enough to turn their doomed situation around. At most now, they might face some punishment—but not execution.
The Marines were short on personnel, and CP agents even more so.
The World Government would take that into account.
"Rayleigh... Gaban... they killed the Celestial Dragons."
"I used everything I had to save this last one..."
After uttering those words, Michael lost consciousness.
His final thought before "passing out" was...
Damn you, Rayleigh!
That kick really had some force behind it!
...
News that Michael had saved a Celestial Dragon quickly spread across the entire Sabaody Archipelago. Marines and CP9 agents all converged at the location.
But no one paid the slightest attention to the far end of the coastline, where a massive Celestial Dragon ship was slowly pulling out of port, eventually vanishing into the open sea.
...
Michael remained "unconscious" for exactly three days.
On the third day, just as he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a most unexpected visitor—
Sakazuki.
At that moment, Michael was leaning against the side of the bed, wearing a look of fury and humiliation, as though still bitter about being bested by Rayleigh.
After all, a proper act had to be complete from start to finish.
In this regard, he was a purist.
Half-measures were an insult to professionalism!
Stella sat beside the bed, peeling an apple for him. Rosinante was massaging his shoulders.
Smoker was in the middle of reporting that, despite always scolding him for reeking of second-hand smoke, Hina had started secretly learning how to smoke herself!
Shu and T Bone wore bitter smiles—one trying to clamp a hand over Smoker's big mouth, the other doing his best to hold Hina back to keep her from going berserk.
"That's right! Hold me down, T Bone!"
"Otherwise! I won't be able to stop myself from killing Smoker!"
And just as Sakazuki opened the door and walked in, he witnessed this bizarre scene.
A chill inexplicably ran down his spine.
Shaking his head to dispel the strange thought, Sakazuki looked up at everyone present.
"Momousagi, I need to speak with Michael."
Momousagi raised an eyebrow, then shot a glance at the members of the confidential SWORD unit.
The group that had been joking around a second ago immediately scrambled out the door—and even closed it behind them.
Michael's mouth twitched.
What a bunch of backstabbing traitors!
So what if it's just Sakazuki!?
Couldn't you take him with you!?
Not that he was afraid of Sakazuki.
They just didn't see eye to eye.
"Michael, this time, I'm here as a special investigator appointed by the World Government, sent to look into the Celestial Dragon assassination."
"...Isn't this sort of thing usually Borsalino's job?"
"Vegapunk recently went to the ruins of Ohara. Kizaru is acting as his escort."
Sakazuki pulled up a wooden chair next to the bed and took the half-peeled apple from Stella, continuing where she left off.
His knife skills were far superior to Stella's.
"So, what did the investigation turn up?"
Michael looked at Sakazuki. His expression was incredibly calm—almost too calm.
"During the days you were unconscious, every major figure in the world—Celestial Dragons, kings, high-ranking World Government officials, the Marine Headquarters, and even the major pirate crews—all received a video."
"A recording of the Celestial Dragons being executed by the Pirate King's two hands—Rayleigh and Gaban—alongside Gloriosa, formerly of the Rocks Pirates."
"They declared the formation of the Cross Guild and announced bounties on Celestial Dragons, World Government officials, and CP agents."
"Rumors are spreading across the seas that even tyrannical kings and bloodthirsty pirates will be targeted by the Cross Guild's bounty system."
As he spoke, Sakazuki put down the now-peeled apple and the small knife.
"For me?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize we were that close."
Sakazuki paused mid-reach, then abruptly pulled his hand back and took a big bite of the apple.
"What the hell, coming to visit a patient and not even bringing a gift—and then you eat the patient's fruit? Sakazuki, are you starving or something?"
"Michael," Sakazuki interrupted, his voice low and heavy, "you saved the only surviving Celestial Dragon. But... I still have to ask you something."
"Ask me what? How I managed to snatch a bratty Celestial Dragon out of the hands of three legendary pirates? Or what role I really played in all this?"
"You're not the kind of man who gives a damn about the life of a Celestial Dragon."
Sakazuki stood, looming over Michael, and his gaze—unexpectedly—held a trace of admiration.
"Just like me. I don't care about anything except the Marines. Civilians, the World Government, even the Celestial Dragons—they mean nothing to me."
With that, he fell silent, waiting for Michael's answer.
Michael looked up, narrowing his eyes at this seemingly brutal and heartless man.
Then, suddenly, he smiled—calm and understanding.
Of course.
A true powerhouse like Sakazuki, especially someone so extreme...
How could he ever be content to serve as the World Government's or the Celestial Dragons' lapdog?
"...Sakazuki."
"In the future, do you want to become Fleet Admiral?"
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