"Michael, Michael! How's Lindbergh doing out on the sea?"
"He's working with me, full of energy as always… though it'd be better if he didn't keep dragging other people along to test new weapons."
"Ahaha ＜(￣▽￣)/＞, figures—totally Lindbergh's style."
The tall, hot dog-mink woman said this, then added,
"Oh right, I haven't introduced myself yet—how rude of me! My name is Wanda!"
Michael froze for a moment.
No wonder this dog girl looked so familiar!
She was the mink girl from the original story who swapped clothes with Nami—and pulled it off perfectly!
Speaking of which…
Clothes swapping seemed to be a mink custom…
Michael sized up the ultra-short hot pants and halter top Wanda was wearing…
Better not.
Those clothes didn't really match his vibe.
"Still, we were probably a bit too nervous earlier. After all, a terrifying explosion shockwave just came from far away… quite a few elderly people and children in town were so frightened they had to go see doctors…"
Michael wiped sweat from his brow again.
Could he say that was actually his doing?
Yeah… better not.
Let this just remain a beautiful misunderstanding.
"Oh right, Michael, I was wondering earlier—although you look human, you have so many wings… We've only ever seen one person with black wings and flames behind his head before… but he didn't have as many wings as you."
Michael paused.
The mink tribe had encountered a Lunarian?
Are rare races really that easy to run into?
And yet across the entire sea, Lunarians were practically nowhere to be found.
And the one they met definitely wasn't "Wildfire" King…
Otherwise they'd surely complain about running into such a headache during an enemy invasion.
"I am human, that's true… Growing wings is my Devil Fruit ability."
"Ah, what a truly beautiful ability…"
...
Led by Wanda, Michael smoothly passed through the forest and entered the mink tribe's town.
The busy scene inside the town—and the doctors hurrying along the streets—confirmed what Wanda had said earlier.
"Michael-san… I'll take you to meet Duke Inuarashi right away!"
Michael subconsciously glanced at the sky.
It was still daytime; naturally, the one in charge was the ruler of the day, the "Day King" Inuarashi.
...
Following Wanda, Michael arrived in front of a fairly tall building.
It was the Musketeer Squad's headquarters.
After Wanda explained the situation to the guards at the entrance, the looks they gave Michael instantly shifted from vigilance to friendliness.
Michael raised an eyebrow.
Was Lindbergh's name really that useful?
That guy was indeed strong—there were even records in the original story of Revolutionary Army commanders rescuing Kuma from the hands of Marine Admirals…
Of course, they weren't facing Aokiji or Akainu, but Fujitora and Ryokugyu.
Still, that was an impressive feat.
But in Michael's eyes now, Lindbergh was just a pure weapons-manufacturing maniac…
And absolutely the biggest money-burner in the Revolutionary Army, bar none!
Whether it was research or manufacturing!
Every old MMO player knew—
If you level Engineering without a sponsor (a sucker) footing the bill, it's a massive money pit.
And right now, Michael was Lindbergh's sucker.
At least he'd gotten some benefits back from the guy…
"So you're a friend of Lindbergh! Back in the day, we were the finest musketeers under his command!"
As they spoke, the mink warriors outside—dressed unmistakably like the Three Musketeers—each drew their swords.
Three blades crossed in midair, striking their coolest pose.
"Uh…" Michael looked at the overenthusiastic minks and couldn't help complaining, "Do you also go around saying 'All for one, one for all'?"
"'All for one, one for all'? My heavens! What a legendary saying!"
"Ahaha, Michael-san, please don't mind them. Knowing you're Lindbergh's friend, they're just too excited," Wanda said with a smile. "After all, before Lindbergh left Zou, he was the captain of the Musketeer Squad!"
Michael twitched his lips, muttering internally.
"Why are you all shouting about!"
A gentle yet slightly stern voice sounded from a room inside the Musketeer Squad headquarters.
...
The next moment, the towering Duke Inuarashi lowered his head and stepped out through the doorway.
He wore European-style noble attire, a wine-red cloak draped over his shoulders, and blue sunglasses on his face.
Michael could clearly sense that behind those blue lenses, a pair of eyes was scrutinizing him.
Even though Inuarashi was a kind, benevolent, and humble leader…
He would still be on guard against a suddenly appearing stranger.
Before Wanda could introduce him, Michael stepped forward and extended his hand toward Inuarashi.
"You can call me Michael… I just rushed here from Wano."
"Wano…" Inuarashi's gaze instantly sharpened. "An extremely violent explosion just occurred in the direction of Wano… Don't tell me you were the one who invaded Wano and caused it?"
"Half right… That explosion was indeed related to me—but I was the one helping Wano deal with the invaders."
"Really?"
"Even through your sunglasses, I can feel your distrust…" Michael sighed and drew Oto and Kogarashi from his waist.
Inuarashi immediately assumed a defensive stance and stepped back.
Michael's mouth twitched.
"What are you dodging for… I'm showing you a token! As a retainer of Kozuki Oden, you should recognize Lady Kozuki Toki's swords, right?"
Inuarashi froze, staring at Oto and Kogarashi in Michael's hands…
Though they were newer than the ones Toki once wielded, they were indeed Oto and Kogarashi.
"Your relationship with Lady Toki is…"
"Although it sounds utterly unbelievable… I am indeed Kozuki Toki's adoptive father. Kozuki Oden even called me father-in-law."
With that single sentence, the mink CPU in Inuarashi's head completely overheated.
What did that mean?
Rounding it up…
You're my lord's dad?!
For a moment, Inuarashi truly didn't know what to say.
His brain told him this couldn't be right.
But his eyes told him… the token was absolutely legitimate!
After a long while, Inuarashi finally looked at Michael with an indescribable expression…
"That makes it sound like I suddenly gained a grandson… Just call me Michael."
"Alright…" Inuarashi let out a breath and finally adjusted his mindset. "Michael, your purpose in coming to the Mokomo Dukedom is…"
"Two things. First, I hope to recruit mink warriors…"
"And second…"
"I want to examine the Poneglyph."
"The one Joy Boy left behind!"
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg