"...No matter how many times I see it, it still feels unbelievable."
With Tashigi and Kuina sitting side by side, their identical faces left everyone feeling somewhat...
Astonished.
Meanwhile, the idiot green-haired boy with a head full of bumps was staring at Kuina with the same expression.
His not-so-bright brain simply couldn't comprehend how, aside from his own master making mistakes outside, there could exist two unrelated girls with no blood ties who looked exactly alike…
"Alright, are you two staring at these girls like they're some kind of spectacle?" Michael rolled his eyes and casually smacked the green-haired guy's head again.
"The world really does have such coincidences… and what's even more coincidental is that both of them are swordsmen."
"Swordsmen? So you brought her here…" Koushirou turned to Michael.
"Are you planning to leave her under my guidance?"
"Of course." Michael shrugged, a hint of helplessness on his face.
"I'd rather not come all this way, but you know how it is—getting Hawkeye to teach someone is harder than getting him to defeat me… and if given the choice, he'd pick fighting me without hesitation."
"That's true." Koushirou thought of Hawkeye's perpetually cold expression and found Michael's reasoning sound.
"But… isn't she a student from the Marine's youth training program? You're just openly sending her into Revolutionary Army territory for training? Aren't you worried something might happen?"
"Something happen?" Michael glanced at Koushirou, then at Ginny and Kuma.
"Do you two also think this is inappropriate?"
"That's for you to decide, Michael." Ginny idly twirled a few flames of different colors between her fingers, amusing the little Bonney in her arms.
"We're just following your lead. You and Dragon are the ones calling the shots here."
"I think… we shouldn't make too big a deal out of this." Kuma, still holding his Bible, smiled gently.
"After all, rumors have already started spreading across the seas, claiming that Michael is part of the Revolutionary Army… Soon enough, the World Government will likely use this as an excuse to investigate him."
"Kuma's right. My identity is probably exposed… not that I've ever hidden it in recent years." Michael chuckled dismissively.
"As for what the World Government wants… well, it's obvious. They'll use this chance to pressure the Marine into taking me down, splitting the Marine internally while simultaneously reminding the nations of the Grand Line about the Revolutionary Army's threat… After all, if even the Grand Inspector of the Marine is a Revolutionary, this organization must be plotting something huge!"
Michael's expression was calm, but his words left those around him anything but.
Especially Tashigi, who was now breaking out in cold sweat.
'Is... is this something a kid like me should be hearing?'
...
But Kuina and that loud-mouthed green-haired idiot Zoro were listening too, and they seemed completely engrossed!
Tashigi suddenly felt like her whole world had been turned upside down.
As if reading her mind, Kuina turned back and placed a reassuring hand on Tashigi's trembling one.
"Don't worry. Michael-sama identity is exactly what you just heard."
"...How can that possibly reassure me?"
"Because Michael-sama is both an outstanding Revolutionary Army member and an excellent Marine. Everything he does... is to help ordinary people live better lives." Kuina shook her head with a smile.
"And I don't believe someone who uses his powers to save common people could be bad."
"But... the Revolutionary Army and Marines have always been opposed."
"That was before... Is there really much difference between them now?" Kuina said gently.
"I heard you're also from East Blue. These past years, you must have grown up under the Revolutionary Army's protection too..."
"Well... that's true." Tashigi nodded. "In the four seas, the Revolutionary Army really is like everyone's guardian angel."
"And isn't that exactly what the Marines aspire to be?" Kuina hit the nail on the head.
"Today's Revolutionary Army is essentially a new Marine force - one that serves the people wholeheartedly without the World Government looming overhead... The relationship between Marines and Revolutionaries isn't as antagonistic as people think. Otherwise, why would Naval Branches still operate in the four seas with Marine personnel? Why would they still recruit new Marines there every year?"
Tashigi nodded blankly.
Before this, she'd just been an ordinary girl obsessed with swordsmanship.
How could she have understood such things?
Hearing Kuina's explanation eased much of her anxiety.
Michael listened quietly to their entire conversation.
His gaze lingered on the girl he'd pulled back from death's door.
Not only did she possess swordsmanship talent surpassing Zoro's...
But she was also remarkably precocious.
These insights she spoke of - most adults in both the Marines and Revolutionary Army couldn't grasp them, let alone a ten-year-old girl.
For the first time, Michael truly understood the saying "early wisdom brings early sorrow."
The Supreme Grand Stairway might well be the price of such precociousness.
But since he'd helped her survive that trial...
From now on, she would likely be the one challenging Hawkeye for the title of World's Greatest Swordsman.
"Ultimately, you needn't worry about me," Michael said, rising to his feet as his Wings fluttered slightly.
"This is the World Government's opportunity... but it's equally mine."
"The internal work with the Marines is nearly complete... Now it's time to focus entirely on the Revolutionary Army's side."
...
"Honestly! Calling all vice admirals and above for a midnight meeting... What's that old geezer Sengoku up to now?" Garp, who had already returned to Naval Headquarters with the Elite Training Camp, yawned as he stepped out of his house and headed toward the HQ office building.
"If it's just some trivial matter again, I swear I'll steal every last rice cracker from his desk drawer!"
"Enough, Garp. Stop complaining," Zephyr rubbed his ears.
"I never realized you could be so long-winded."
"It's all because of that fleet admiral Sengoku!" Garp waved his fist.
"Had I known there'd be overtime, I wouldn't have supported him for the position."
The two old men continued bantering like this as they entered Naval Headquarters.
By the time they reached the conference room, it was already packed with vice admirals from various divisions.
After all, not everyone could afford to stroll in leisurely like these two after receiving orders from the fleet admiral.
"Now that Garp and Zephyr have arrived, let's begin the meeting."
Sengoku nodded at them, his expression unusually grim.
Zephyr and Garp exchanged glances...
This atmosphere... something's off!