"All information related to the Golden Lion will be handled by you personally."
"But remember—no matter what, never engage the current New Flying Pirates head-on."
Michael reminded Rosinante over and over again.
He had no choice. Judging by the current level of individual power, the New Flying Pirates were simply too overwhelming.
Michael even suspected that the Beasts Pirates wouldn't be a match for them.
Having returned to the seas, they immediately became the main pillar of the entire pirate faction.
Compared to the Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates, who had already established their own nations, the New Flying Pirates were far purer in nature.
They weren't building a country—just being pirates, plain and simple.
And according to the intelligence Rosinante sent back, the New Flying Pirates had already started seizing territory throughout the New World.
They'd even clashed with several major pirate crews one after another.
For example—Ochoku of Hachinosu, Kaido of Raijin Island, and others...
Completely unreasonable, clearly picking fights on purpose.
But with so many top-tier fighters among them, every single battle ended in victory.
Therefore, Michael had every reason to believe that in the near future, if one were to list the so-called "Yonko" again...
It would probably be Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido.
"I get it. I'm there to gather intel, not to get myself killed." Rosinante shrugged. "Of course, I'll also keep those hotheaded guys in check—won't let them do anything stupid."
"Good. Your safety must always come first... You all are my biggest reliance for achieving my goals." Michael nodded, then let out a long sigh. "How is everyone doing?"
"Pretty good, actually. Since you already gave advance notice to all members of the SWORD Secret Special Force, there wasn't much shock among us... Though, sometimes we still have to put on a show for others. Usually, it's Smoker performing 'The Furious Secondhand Smoke,' or little Robin doing 'The Scum Who Abandoned Us.'" Rosinante chuckled. "But for those who are still kept in the dark, life hasn't exactly been sunshine and rainbows."
"Think I don't know that?" Michael gave a bitter smile. "But whether it's Sengoku or Garp, there's no way they'd completely accept my plan... So, keeping them in the dark for now is simply the most efficient option."
"And what about Vice Admiral Momousagi?" Rosinante had an unmistakably gossipy expression.
"She's probably figured out a few things by now, hasn't she?"
"She's always been smart. So even if she knows about my dual identity, it's not that strange."
"Ah, that explains it."
"Explains what?"
"Explains why every time she sees us from the SWORD Secret Special Force, she's always so warm and friendly... I guess it's not entirely out of concern, huh?"
"Rosinante, are you implying something? Let me remind you—if you say anything more, I won't hesitate to beat you half-dead with my own hands."
"Vice Admiral Momousagi, Stella, Crocodile... tsk tsk, your romantic debts are really piling up, huh?"
"...Enough. Shut up and prepare to die, Rosinante."
"I'm your brother! Blood's thicker than water!"
"Fake brother," Michael charged at him without hesitation.
"And since when were we even related by blood, huh? Look at you, you big oaf! Anyone over 1.88 meters tall has got to be a giant!"
...
Egghead.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
"Dr. Vegapunk, we've brought the latest reports."
"Vice Admiral Stella, how could you and Vice Admiral Crocodile trouble yourselves with such a minor errand?"
"Trust me, Vegapunk, we're quite happy to handle things like this." Crocodile plopped himself down on the sofa in Vegapunk's lab. "Egghead is fascinating at first sight... but after staying a while, all you see are cold steel walls and transparent laboratories."
"Vice Admiral Crocodile, that can't be helped." Vegapunk shook his head. "For most people, scientific research is extremely dull and tedious—endlessly repeating mechanical experiments to reduce variables little by little. That's why recruitment for Egghead has always struggled. Few can endure staying here long-term."
"Is that so? But you seem to be enjoying it quite a lot."
"Maybe... because I'm the smartest man in the world?" Vegapunk smiled faintly.
"Tch, you said that so earnestly it almost sounds shameless."
Vegapunk lifted a finger and pointed at the apple-shaped antenna on top of his head.
"I ate the Brain-Brain Fruit, a Paramecia-type. My brain capacity is limitless, and I can store an infinite amount of information. But as I absorbed more and more data, my brain kept growing in size." He shrugged. "So, I removed it and turned it into Egghead's cloud processor. This antenna serves as the receiver and transmitter for the signal link."
"Technically speaking, I'm a man without a brain right now—hahaha!"
"Tch, there it is again—Vegapunk's brain jokes." Stella sighed. "If your other bodies heard that, they'd mock your sense of humor for sure."
"Hahaha, let's spare me the embarrassment, shall we?" Vegapunk laughed twice, then his expression shifted, eyes gleaming with a sharp glint.
"...You two are unusually chatty today."
"Are we?"
"It seems that person has sent me a message." Vegapunk's gaze sharpened, locking onto Stella and Crocodile. "The one who arranged for you both to be stationed here— the Navy's Chief Inspector."
"To be exact, the former Chief Inspector."
"Oh, come on. You might fool others with that line... but judging by how the SWORD Secret Special Force treats Vice Admiral Michael, it's obvious—he'll return to the Navy sooner or later." Vegapunk said firmly. "This is all just part of the plan."
"Alright, now I see why Michael values you so much," Crocodile stepped forward, drawing a sealed envelope from the hook on his golden arm.
"This—only you are allowed to know. Meaning, this memory must be erased and not uploaded to your cloud brain processor."
"Fine, fine, such mystery." Vegapunk opened the envelope, his expression freezing as his eyes widened. Moments later, he looked up.
"Get ready. Michael is coming to Egghead."
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