In the premium hot springs facility of the Marine Headquarters.
Steam swirled in lazy tendrils, the air thick with a comfortable heat.
Mike reclined against the smooth, jade-lined edge of the pool, warm water covering his chest.
His eyes were lightly closed, giving the impression of total relaxation, but his mind was already leagues away, charting the course of the coming storm.
Kalifa stood quietly by the poolside, her golden hair draped casually over her shoulders.
Her beautiful eyes were fixed on Mike's profile, her thoughts lost in the dizzying events of the past few days.
A small smile played on Mike's lips.
This is getting interesting…
Whitebeard had made his call, and the terms of their deal were set.
Now, all that was left was to watch the curtains rise on the grand spectacle of the Summit War.
Tap—Tap—Tap—
Light but steady footsteps approached, breaking the tranquility.
Kuro appeared silently behind Mike like a shadow in the mist.
"Captain," Kuro bowed slightly. "Admiral Kizaru and Admiral Aokiji have arrived. Accompanying them is… Admiral Akainu."
"Oh?" Mike's eyes slowly opened, his brows lifting in genuine surprise.
"Akainu is here too?"
For a man as rigid and stubborn as Sakazuki to actively seek him out… it could only be about the New Marine.
It seemed Kizaru and Kuzan's recruitment pitch had gone even better than expected.
To sway a Marine Headquarters Admiral in less than a day… that kind of efficiency was, quite literally, lightspeed.
"Hmm." Mike gave Kuro a meaningful glance. "Let them in."
"Yes."
As Kuro turned to leave, Kalifa quickly and quietly followed.
She understood her place.
The upcoming conversation was not for a mere CP9 member, even one who now held the title of the Captain's personal secretary.
Discussions involving the three pillars of the Marines' military might were the kind that could send shockwaves across the entire world.
'Admiral Kizaru and Admiral Aokiji are close to the Captain… but Admiral Akainu?'
'The man famous for his 'Absolute Justice'? He's aligned with Captain Mike as well?'
It was utterly unbelievable.
'Captain Mike… you truly are unfathomable' Kalifa thought, an inexplicable warmth welling up inside her.
She couldn't resist one last glance over her shoulder.
Mike was slowly rising from the water, droplets cascading down his bronze skin, tracing the powerful, well-defined contours of his muscles.
The chiseled abs, the broad chest, the impossibly handsome face—he exuded an allure that was almost otherworldly.
"..." Kalifa felt her cheeks flush, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Flustered, she quickly lowered her head and hurried after Kuro, burying the shock and the fluttery feeling deep within.
'I have to warn Lucci and the others,' she told herself.
'There can be no wavering in our loyalty.'
'Who in this world could possibly stand against the combined might of the three Marine Admirals?'
.....
A few moments later, Kizaru, Kuzan, and Akainu entered, each wrapped in a simple white towel.
"Well, well, Mike-boy, enjoying yourself?" Kizaru chirped the moment he stepped in, a grin on his face that clearly said.
'You sure know how to live.'
He practically skipped to the edge of the pool and plopped down.
"Ahhh—" Kuzan followed, sinking into the hot water with a long, contented exhale until only his head remained above the surface.
"You two…" Akainu frowned at their casual attitudes before his sharp, molten gaze settled on Mike.
"So, you're Mike?" His deep, magnetic voice was laced with scrutiny.
"A pleasure to meet you," Mike said smoothly, casually picking up a nearby cigar box.
He selected a meticulously crafted premium cigar and offered it to the other admiral.
"Admiral Akainu. Care for one?"
"..." Akainu's eyes lingered on the cigar for a moment before he accepted it.
He rolled it between his fingers, lit it, and took a deep drag.
The rich, spicy flavor of the tobacco filled his mouth, followed by a subtle, lingering sweetness.
"This cigar… is exceptional," Akainu admitted, a rare note of praise in his voice.
As a connoisseur, he knew this was one of the finest cigars on the seas, something far beyond what an admiral's salary could afford.
"Naturally, Sakazuki," Kizaru chimed in with a grin.
"It's a premium product, rarer than the headquarters' special reserve. Worth a fortune~"
Just then, Kuro returned carrying two boxes.
At a gesture from Mike, he opened the smaller one, revealing an exquisitely packaged cigar case.
"A small token of our first meeting," Mike said casually. "A greeting gift."
"..." Akainu's eyes flickered.
That single box was worth roughly a month of his salary, given away so freely.
This kid was astonishingly generous.
His anticipation for the "endless military funding" grew even stronger.
He silently accepted the case, a flicker of something almost resembling a smile on his face, before stepping into the pool himself.
"Hey, Kid…" Kizaru's lazy drawl came from behind. "What about my bonus?"
"Heh—" Mike chuckled and signaled to Kuro, who slowly opened the larger, heavier box.
"Whoosh—"
As the lid lifted, a brilliant golden glow filled the entire room, so bright it was almost blinding.
"Heh—" Kizaru grinned, flashing his signature sleazy smile. "Not bad for a hard day's work."
"..." Akainu's gaze was immediately drawn to the box.
A ripple of emotion crossed his usually impassive face as he stared at the mountain of gold Belly.
"'Bonus'? What do you mean?" he asked, his voice low.
A rough estimate put the contents at well over ten billion Belly… enough to build an entire fleet of top-tier warships.
"Admiral Akainu, this is just pocket change," Mike said casually, puffing on his cigar.
"This is Kizaru's recruitment project bonus for bringing you into the fold. The New Marine Admiral's basic monthly salary is a separate one billion Belly."
"…?" Akainu slowly set down his cigar, his deep voice carrying a trace of barely concealed emotion.
"One billion Belly… is just the basic salary?"
"For the New Marine, money has never been an issue," Mike said with a smirk.
He went on to detail a staggering array of bonuses and benefits—quarterly bonuses, project bonuses, pirate suppression awards, festival red envelopes—a system so generous it sounded like something from a fantasy.
"In short," he concluded, "the New Marine will never shortchange any officer who sheds blood for the peace of these seas."
As he spoke, Mike's mind was already envisioning the future: a network of prosperous territories, from Alabasta to Skypiea to Whitebeard's former islands, all connected by Blueno's Door-Door Fruit, allowing him to travel the world and enjoy life to its fullest.
With the endless riches from the deep sea, funding this new era of justice—and his own comfortable lifestyle—was no problem at all.
"..." Akainu listened, his brow twitching.
The offer was so lavish it was obscene.
Kizaru and Kuzan then smoothly filled him in on the Deep-Sea Gold Rush project and the New Marine's core philosophy of "liberation."
Akainu listened in silence, but the steam rising from the hot springs couldn't conceal the fire that was slowly igniting in his eyes.
It was the fire of ambition, of desire, and of recognition.
"The New World…" Akainu finally said, his voice low and tinged with a new urgency.
"You're really giving me full authority?" He needed a definitive answer.
"Of course," Mike leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Akainu's.
"The New World Army—from its formation to its deployment—will be under your complete command."
"Good." Akainu stubbed out his cigar. "Then let me see your strength."
He slowly rose, molten lava flowing across his skin, radiating a scorching heat.
"Someone who can convince Borsalino and Kuzan is no weakling. I'm curious… just how strong are you?"
Kizaru and Kuzan watched with keen interest.
They were curious too.
No one had ever seen Mike go all out.
"Alright—" Mike smiled faintly and beckoned to Kuro.
Strength was the only true currency in this world.
Kuro immediately understood, retrieving the Kusanagi and presenting it to Mike with both hands.
The moment Mike's fingers wrapped around the hilt, the atmosphere in the entire resort changed.
"BOOM—"
A terrifying aura erupted from him, so immense that the very air seemed to tremble.
The temperature skyrocketed, waves of heat rolling off him as if they were standing at the mouth of a volcano.
It was a presence that was violent, scorching, and utterly destructive.
"This is…?!" Akainu's pupils constricted, the lava on his body crackling instinctively in response to the overwhelming threat.
Mike's voice was a low magnetic whisper like a primordial god speaking from the dawn of time.
"All creation, reduced to ashes…"
"Ryūjin Jakka!!!"