Olvia's hands were only symbolically tied together, but aside from that, she was not restrained in any way.
In the moment Robin left the office, a sudden uneasiness welled up inside Olvia's heart.
She was worried—worried that Robin would be caught by the collateral damage of the battle.
Although she knew her daughter was far from an ordinary little girl, until today, in her mind, Robin had always been that carefree, innocent child…
So of course she worried.
Just when she circled around the office for the fiftieth time, a series of footsteps came from outside the door.
The next moment, the door swung open.
Michael stumbled inside, then collapsed weakly onto the floor.
He lifted his head slightly and looked apologetically at Olvia.
"Sorry… I did my best…"
"From now on, the Revolutionary Army is in your hands…"
"Ah! I'm dead!"
After saying that, he stuck out his tongue, eyes wide open in "death."
This outcome was something Olvia had never imagined.
That invincible Michael… how could this happen?
A trace of helplessness instantly climbed into Olvia's eyes, and she instinctively knelt down in front of Michael.
"Vice Admiral Michael… there should be a limit to joking around, you know!" Nico Robin's helpless voice came from outside, "Are you trying to scare my mom into a heart attack?"
"Aiyaa, it was just a little joke." Michael rolled over and stood up in one motion, grinning at Olvia.
"I'm still alive… those three outside can't take me down."
"Yes yes yes, you're the strongest, okay?"
Behind Nico Robin, Kizaru entered with the thoughtful Momousagi and the utterly confused Chaton.
Once everyone stepped inside, Momousagi closed the door behind her.
"What is… going on here?"
Olvia blinked and shook her head as calm and rationality returned.
"Nothing much. We just put on a big show in front of the garrison on the Sabaody Archipelago."
Michael shrugged.
When Nico Robin shouted "We need to talk," a mouth appeared on each of the four people's palms.
Then a whole performance began, with Michael pretending to be defeated and captured.
Kizaru and Momousagi reacted instantly.
But Chaton had no idea what was happening. He just cooperated reflexively and now still wore a completely baffled expression.
"Sabaody is a bit special… it could be infiltrated by the World Government's eyes and ears." Michael shrugged again. "But being taken down by Borsalino, Chaton, and Gion—won't that make them suspicious?"
"Suspicious of what? Losing to one Admiral and two Admiral candidates sounds a lot more believable than injuring two Admirals in front of dozens of Vice Admirals, doesn't it?" Nico Robin curled her lips. "Your earlier achievements were a bit too exaggerated. Covering it up this time, showing weakness, is actually a good thing."
After speaking, Nico Robin sat back behind the desk.
Olvia looked at her daughter, then at Michael, then at Admiral Kizaru…
"You're… working together now?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Borsalino, unusually irritated, pulled out a cigar, lit it silently, and took a deep drag. "Why does such a troublesome matter have to fall on me…"
"After all, the Marines and the World Government are only barely maintaining a façade of harmony now… who knows what's happening behind the scenes?" Michael laughed and patted Kizaru's old waist.
"Compared to the World Government, the relationship between the Revolutionary Army and the Marines isn't entirely hostile… You've all interacted with Marines who were pulled back from the Four Seas in recent years—you should know what the Revolutionary Army has been doing there."
"Of course… why else do you think I was persuaded?" Kizaru took another deep drag and slowly exhaled.
"I didn't expect it… you planned from the beginning to pull the Marines out from the World Government's control."
"Not just independence…" Nico Robin lifted her head and said calmly, "Admiral Kizaru, the Revolutionary Army's internal military philosophy is almost identical to the doctrines Michael spread through the Marine-wide study program back then… Haven't you realized something?"
Kizaru froze mid-drag, jerked his head up, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Identical… don't tell me you think the Marines will all become the Revolutionary Army?"
"No no no, the Marines and Revolutionary Army will become one." Michael clapped his hands, drawing everyone's eyes.
"Everyone in SWORD's Secret Special Force already knows this."
Robin nodded to confirm.
"W-wait… I need a moment." Chaton sat on the floor holding his head. "That was… a lot of information."
"Besides the people you listed, who else knows?" Momousagi stepped up to Michael, staring straight into his eyes.
"Tell me…"
"Uh, old man Garp and Instructor Zephyr both know. As for Granny Tsuru… I'm not sure if she has guessed anything." Michael continued, "Oh, and Issho knows too."
"Issho… Issho? 'Fujitora'? The guy who joined the Marines through the World Draft?" Chaton frowned. "His reputation isn't great… he's known to be the closest to the World Government."
"But before he rose to fame and was inserted into the Marines by the World Government… he was actually an advisor for SWORD's Secret Special Force."
For a moment, the three who had just learned the truth all stared at each other, speechless.
The amount of information… was overwhelming.
"Since I told you everything, naturally, I need your help."
"Help? What makes you think I'd help?"
"Because your dear friend Vegapunk is on my side?"
"…Vegapunk is involved in this!?" Kizaru finally showed real surprise. "I thought you went to Egghead because of Golden Lion…"
After saying that, the last trace of conflict on Kizaru's face vanished.
Among the three Admirals, he undoubtedly had the lowest loyalty to the World Government.
Their philosophies had clashed from the beginning.
And ever since the World Government and Marines drifted apart, maintaining only a superficial harmony, he had known…
Marine independence was inevitable.
What he didn't expect was…
Michael.
"You… since when did you start planning all this…?"
"Since when?"
Michael shrugged.
"I set the sea on fire…"
"And that fire became the spark that ignited everything."
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg