"Kaido, it seems your daughter... has far more ambition than we imagined," Charlotte Linlin glanced at Kaido.
"She's preparing to expand her influence..."
"Blackbeard remains in exile, while the Red Hair Pirates follow an elite-only approach with no interest in expansion... Naturally, Yamato, with the third-highest bounty, becomes the prime target... If she wants to expand her forces, many would willingly become her vassals."
As a cunning schemer who viewed everyone as tools, Kaido saw things clearly.
"This isn't surprising—there are many pirates now, but none strong enough to lead... Yamato has both the reputation and strength to fill that role..."
"Though you're boasting about your daughter... I sense a 'but' coming."
"...But a newly ascended 'Emperor of the Sea' starting to build her own faction... Neither the World Government nor the Angel Alliance wants to see this. So the coming days will be Yamato's most troublesome period."
Kaido shook his head.
Once a pirate reaches Emperor-level, they inevitably become entangled with either the World Government or the Angel Alliance.
Take Blackbeard—his ties to the World Government run deep.
Red-Haired Shanks hasn't shown it openly, but everyone knows he's on excellent terms with the Angel Alliance.
As for Yamato now...
Well, Kaido might wish she became a pirate to inherit his legacy, but reason tells him...
Bullshit!
This is clearly the Angel Alliance deploying Yamato to consolidate pirate forces.
So...
The Angel Alliance won't move against her, but the World Government? That's uncertain.
Lately, the World Government has become more active.
An Emperor of the Sea, with both Kaido as her birth father and Michael as her adoptive father... who's also clashed repeatedly with the World Government-backed Blackbeard...
However you look at it, the World Government will definitely target Yamato.
"Tch... This is really problematic."
"Difficult to handle? If it's difficult, then let's not handle it at all!" Charlotte Linlin waved her hand with an imposing air.
"My foolish little brother! Have you forgotten about me? Whether it's from your side or Michael's, Yamato and I are closely connected... So this is a favor I'm definitely helping with!"
Charlotte Linlin
With that, she turned to look at Smoothie standing nearby.
Then, her eyes lit up as if she'd thought of a brilliant idea.
"Smoothie, you've been by my side all these years. You've worked hard..."
"Mother, I haven't worked hard at all."
"No matter. You may not feel it, but it pains me to see my daughter's formidable combat talents wasted on endless kingdom paperwork... But no worries! I have a mission for you now!"
"Please speak, Mother!" Smoothie's expression immediately turned serious. "I will spare no effort to complete this mission!"
"Join the Angel Pirates."
"Join the Angel Pirates?" Smoothie instinctively glanced at Kaido nearby. "Then what... identity should I use?"
"Use the name of Whole Cake Island." Charlotte Linlin nodded with a smile. "If we're going to back someone up, we should make our stance clear."
...
After staying in Water Seven, the shipbuilding nation, for some time, Michael set sail again.
The next destination: Sabaody Archipelago.
This would be Michael's final stop before entering the New World.
Standing on the deck, Michael watched the setting sun gradually sink below the horizon.
The entire sea reflected vast stretches of shimmering red light...
But soon, as the redness reached its peak... darkness fell.
Yet after nightfall, Michael sensed something unusual.
From the beginning, his maintained Observation Haki had detected a small, unflagged boat approaching the Maria at considerable speed across the sea.
Michael's interest was instantly piqued.
By now, their pirate ship and jolly roger design had surely spread across the world.
Truth be told, most people would steer clear upon seeing the Old Geezers Pirates' ship and flag.
They'd built quite a fearsome reputation—after all, few these days dared to kill members of the Angel Alliance.
But this line of thinking also helped Michael deduce the visitor's identity...
Someone from the World Government.
Though what exactly brought them here, Michael would have to wait and see.
Sure enough, as the small boat drew near, a figure clad entirely in white leaped from it and landed silently on the Maria's deck.
Not a single sound was made.
Just as this person prepared to do something to draw out the Old Geezers Pirates' crew, they suddenly felt an iron grip tighten around their throat.
It was a hand.
A hand they had no power to break free from.
Though its owner didn't seem intent on killing them—with such overwhelming strength, snapping their neck would take but an instant.
Truthfully, they'd expected the pirates on this ship to be strong... but not this strong.
As they prepared to identify themselves, the person behind them spoke first.
"It's been a long time..."
"Stussy."
Stussy froze—how had her identity been exposed so easily?
In the eyes of the vast majority of the world, Queen of the Pleasure District Stussy had completely vanished after the Pleasure District was seized by Doflamingo.
Moreover, over the years, as Vegapunk's mole within the World Government, she had never once had her cover blown!
Which was why, upon suddenly hearing a stranger call her by name, Stussy's breathing momentarily faltered in confusion.
But what did this person mean…
What did they mean by "long time no see"?
And that voice…
The moment she thought of the "voice," Stussy froze in place.
It was as if a heavy hammer were pounding her brain in a steady 4/8 rhythm.
That voice—she would probably never forget it in her lifetime!
"Holy shit!? Michael!?"
The moment Stussy uttered those words, she felt the hand around her neck loosen.
She immediately turned her head and saw a man wearing a red fox-fur scarf around his neck, removing the mask from his face.
And beneath that mask…
Was Michael's face!