Michael traveled day and night, and with the Seraphim's unmatched sailing speed, it took him three days to reach the Sabaody Archipelago.
He anchored the Seraphim on a nearby island, then took a large passenger ship with Yamato to head toward the archipelago itself.
Jack's target was far too conspicuous, so he stayed behind on the Seraphim, ready to set sail at any moment for extraction.
Upon setting foot on the island, Michael immediately activated his Observation Haki.
Although he lacked Fujitora Issho's unique ability to sense good and evil within people, his coverage range was nearly the same.
After extending it over the entire Sabaody Archipelago, Michael began a systematic search.
And soon enough, within the Marine Base at Sabaody, he found people whose presences felt all too familiar...
"Why the hell did that unlucky bastard Saul get caught and dragged into the Marine Base? Didn't I tell him to stay around the Giant District on area No. 16?"
"Well, this is Robin's territory..." Yamato said with a grin. "If she really wants to storm into the Giant District and grab someone, who's gonna stop her? Besides, the ones who come here for vacation are rarely giant warriors anyway."
"Alright, let's head to the Marine Base."
"Huh? We're just gonna walk straight in like that?"
"What else? You wanna wait for little Robin to let him out herself?"
Michael sighed, then started toward the Marine Base with Yamato following close behind.
The bustling streets along the way made Michael nod in admiration.
"But I have to admit, little Robin's done an incredible job governing Sabaody... It actually looks peaceful and prosperous now."
"I'd say it feels kinda like Alabasta," Yamato commented.
"Different geography," Michael said, gesturing toward the horizon. "This place is the endpoint of the first half of the Grand Line — a gateway separating Paradise from the New World. If something goes wrong here, the trouble's far greater than in Alabasta."
He pointed toward the street ahead.
"Look, just along this regular street, I've already seen at least two pirates with bounties over fifty million. Yet here they are, acting like normal civilians."
"So pirates just strut around openly like this?"
"Ever since my time here, Sabaody's always had a policy of leniency toward pirates. As long as they don't cause chaos, I turned a blind eye and sent them off to the New World to fight among themselves."
"That... is that really a good idea?"
"There's nothing wrong with it. This way, we can drain the wealth from their hands and put it back into circulation — and at the same time, reduce their overall strength. After all, the New World's only so big. When too many pirates crowd in, they start killing each other."
As Michael and Yamato chatted, they passed through the street and headed toward the Marine Base.
The closer they got, the fewer civilians they saw.
The crowd gradually shifted from civilians and pirates to Marines.
Naturally, the Marines paid extra attention to the two hooded figures walking toward their base.
Especially since their direction clearly led to the Marine facility itself.
"Father... looks like they've already spotted us."
"Let them. We didn't come here to hide our identities anyway."
Michael glanced at the Marines in the distance. After whispering a few words to each other, one of them immediately ran off toward the Marine Base.
He didn't even need to guess — they were calling for backup.
And currently, stationed at Sabaody Archipelago were not only Rear Admiral Gion "Momousagi"...
But also Vice Admiral Chaton Tokikake, and Admiral Borsalino "Kizaru."
Michael was quite curious to see whether those three would come out together.
...
"Report! Rear Admiral Robin! Two unidentified individuals are approaching the base directly — highly suspicious!"
"Did you send someone to intercept and question them?"
"W-We did..." The Marine swallowed hard. "Lieutenant Commander Ōsaki, who was on gate duty, tried to stop them — and got knocked out with a single punch!"
"Then, after they entered the base, several Captains rushed to intercept them... but they were all taken down effortlessly!"
Robin frowned.
"Have the others been notified?"
"Before we could, Admiral Kizaru had already headed for the gate with Vice Admirals Momousagi and Chaton, and, uh..."
"And what?" Robin's gaze snapped toward the soldier. Even someone as calm as her felt her heartbeat quicken.
"I-I overheard Admiral Kizaru call one of them..."
"Michael!"
The moment she heard that name, Robin jumped to her feet, unable to hide the surge of emotion on her face.
Sitting nearby, Olvia — her hands symbolically tied — chuckled softly.
"Robin... I told you, you can't keep me locked up."
"Hmph! So what if it's Vice Admiral Michael! I'll have him stand trial alongside you if I must!"
Robin swallowed the last bite of her meal, and Olvia obediently set her spoon down.
The nearby Marine soldier didn't dare make a sound.
When he'd entered to report, the woman who looked like a prisoner — despite her hands being bound — had been feeding Robin with a spoon...
The scene was just too bizarre.
Still... that woman looked so much like Rear Admiral Robin!
"What are you staring at? Let's go!"
Robin grabbed her Justice cloak, the word "Justice" glinting brilliantly in the sunlight as she strode toward the exit.
Olvia looked at her daughter's back, her eyes growing moist.
"You really did grow up well, Robin."
...
Inside the Marine Base.
The high-alert sirens blared.
Within moments, every Marine was fully armed and ready.
But when they saw their supposed "enemy," everyone froze.
According to the briefing, it was two unidentified intruders forcing their way into the base...
But on-site, the moment the hood came off, they saw the face of none other than...
The former Chief Inspector of the Marines — Michael.
At once, confusion rippled through the ranks of the Sabaody garrison.
Sabaody Archipelago had always been Michael's stronghold.
Whether it was the original stationed troops or the Amazon Lily warriors who later joined, they all revered him as a hero.
But now... their hero stood before them, stripped of his rank.
The feeling was unbearable.
"Ara ara... isn't this my favorite Michael?"
"Why show up at Sabaody so suddenly, hmm?"
Borsalino walked forward, standing before Michael.
His tone was as lazy and teasing as ever, but his eyes gleamed with caution.
"So very..."
"...terrifying."
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg