Michael wasn't sure if Kuzan had truly taken his words to heart.
After a moment of contemplation, he simply walked into the cabin to contact Grandma Tsuru.
"Are you planning to reconcile Kuzan and Sakazuki?" Sengoku stepped beside Michael, lowering his voice.
"That's no simple task... I couldn't do it, and just thinking about their tense relationship gives me a headache."
"Their conflict stems from differing principles and moral standards," Michael gestured.
"Kuzan's moral compass is a bit higher, while Sakazuki's is a bit lower... Over time, the latter is bound to cause trouble... So having the former act as a restraint in advance is ultimately a good thing."
"But those two have been at odds since they were rookies," Zephyr crossed his arms, his eyes full of concern.
"Ice and magma... They've always been about hurting and tormenting each other."
Michael looked around at the old-timers, all nodding in agreement, and nearly laughed in exasperation.
"You old geezers... Are you overthinking this? I'm not asking them to become inseparable best friends, much less start a romance! I just want them to be decent workplace partners!" Michael nudged Garp.
"Did you think every fleet admiral and hero could be as close as you and old man Sengoku, sharing the same pants? Come on, if they can just return to a professional working relationship, that's enough... Neither of them is the type to disregard the bigger picture."
Michael's words had the old-timers nodding repeatedly.
They really had been projecting their own expectations onto the situation.
Meanwhile, Imu, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly posed a question to Michael.
"Michael, about that problem you mentioned earlier... If you had to make the choice, what would you do?"
"Me?" Michael pointed at himself, then burst out laughing. "I'd just force the incoming Sea Train to stop!"
"...Wait, that was an option!?" Imu blinked. "Weren't you just tricking people?"
"From the very beginning... I only said braking was impossible, not that external force couldn't stop it," Michael grinned mischievously. "It's Kuzan's fault for not realizing it... The fundamental reason I said he's unfit to be fleet admiral is right there—he can't see the essence of the problem.""Then... how did that man named Sakazuki respond back then?"
"Oh, he chose to blast the Sea Train's control room..." Michael shrugged. "Because there's a sentry post five hundred meters above the Sea Train tracks that can instantly detect any situation. If someone kidnapped so many civilians and tied them to the tracks, it would have definitely been reported by the sentry post already. Then all approaching Sea Trains would have been notified in advance via Den Den Mushi... So any Sea Train still coming at this speed must be working with the kidnappers. Blowing it up was absolutely justified."
"Tsk tsk, that's... quite the strategist."
Imu kept nodding in approval.
For Sakazuki to earn recognition from Queen Imu, who served as the rebellion army's supreme commander eight hundred years ago, spoke volumes about his capabilities.
This was also an aspect of Sakazuki that often got overshadowed by his appearance and aggressive demeanor...
Most people viewed Sakazuki as nothing more than a relentless, bloodthirsty warrior.
But in reality, he was far more meticulous than anyone imagined.
After silently marveling at this for a moment, Michael suddenly turned to Imu.
"Wait, are we missing two people on board? Where are Rin and Hiyori?"
Imu said nothing, merely raising her slender white finger to point toward the distant battlefield.
Following her gesture, Michael nearly choked on his own breath when he saw.
That Kozuki Rin! She actually charged into battle with Kozuki Hiyori in tow!
Although after the gender transition from Kozuki Momonosuke to Kozuki Rin, the sword skills inherited from both parents through her Lineage Factor had gradually begun awakening...
But...
Kozuki Hiyori was completely clueless about swordsmanship!
Just as Michael prepared to drag them back and scold Rin for being such a reckless elder sister... he paused mid-step and ultimately held back.
Because he saw Kozuki Hiyori following behind Rin suddenly draw... two pistols.
Like this, back-to-back with her sister, she plunged into the pirate horde.
This fighting style... why did it remind him so much of Izo?
Michael patted his forehead.
Seven lost years couldn't be fully recovered just through intelligence alone.
From this perspective, he would likely encounter many similar situations in the future.
Surprises... or shocks.
"How could you think Toki would raise her children to be delicate noble ladies with no strength to tie up a chicken?"
"Who are you calling a delicate lady with no strength to tie up a chicken?"
"Ahem... mine is a special case." Imu awkwardly touched her elegant face, then pointed at the trio leaning on the ship's railing watching the commotion.
"Aren't these three also weaklings with no strength to tie up a chicken?"
"They just can't handle high-level battles..." Michael rolled his eyes, but his attention shifted to Uta, Usopp, and Kaya under Imu's prompting. "But as the second generation of the Red Hair Pirates... they're a bit too weak."
With that, he nodded at Garp.
The old rogue Garp instantly understood Michael's meaning.
He grabbed the collars of Uta's trio and tossed them straight off the Maria.
"As pirates! You better take fighting seriously!"
...
The blockade formed by numerous pirate crews gathered in Paradise was completely shattered by the rookies' efforts.
Michael looked at the sea littered with wreckage and smacked his lips.
What an eyesore.
Before he could speak, Shu—now dressed in pirate attire but still wearing his face covering—acted alongside T-Bone.
Right-angled sword slashes and waves of rust swept across the sea, instantly clearing the surface.
"My, my, when it comes to covering tracks, you two are the best." Michael chuckled, patting his old subordinate's back.
"Now... that's much better."
"Isn't that our job?" Shu replied with a smile.
Just then, Ace walked over, holding a pirate flag.
"Uncle Michael... we found this on the largest pirate ship."
Michael paused, then took the flag.
Four bones crossed in an "X" shape.
Topped with three skulls in a row...
This was...
"The flag of the Blackbeard Pirates."
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