While Marine Headquarters was mobilizing with urgency, a CP agent arrived at Big News Morgans' Aerial Mobile Base with the same intelligence.
"I've delivered the information. The Five Elders have a message for you—handle this as you see fit. I trust you won't miss such big news, will you?"
After leaving the intelligence and the Five Elders' message, the CP spy turned and left without hesitation.
Morgans slowly opened the documents.
The staff of the World Economic Journal crowded around, and gasps of shock filled the air.
"What? All the rumors circulating at sea... they're actually true?!"
"The Grand Inspector of the Marines... is really part of the Revolutionary Army?"
"Not just a member—he's one of its founders?!"
"This... this will be a fatal blow to the balance of the entire world!"
"After years of relative peace... the seas are about to be thrown into turmoil again."
Everyone chattered excitedly, but Morgans only sighed.
His brow was heavy with astonishment.
Because... from the very beginning of their collaboration, Michael had once told him:
"My identity will be exposed sooner or later."
"But when that happens, it might actually work in my favor... Report it as you normally would. Make this news... as big as possible."
In other words, Michael had long anticipated his exposure.
But should Morgans really go through with it?
After a long moment of contemplation, Morgans finally exhaled deeply.
This shrewd old bird, who had always played all sides, found himself trusting a man for the first time.
Trusting that even if he amplified this news and spread it across the seas, it would somehow aid Michael's cause.
"Ah, Michael... don't let me down now."
Muttering to himself, Morgans suddenly raised both hands and shouted loudly:
"Listen up, boys! This is the biggest news to shake the world since the execution of the Pirate King!"
"Everyone get moving! I want to see this story dominating an entire front page in tomorrow's edition!"
"Chop chop!"
Under Morgans' constant urging, the entire World Economic Journal sprang into action.
...
"Now... are you sure you want to go back?"
Just outside Shimotsuki Village, Michael who's preparing to leave, encountered Dragon who had hurried back.
"Dragon, of course I'm going back now," Michael said with a gentle smile.
"After all, the World Government went through so much trouble—using both the 'self-injury scheme' and 'sowing discord'—to create this situation... It would be somewhat inappropriate if I didn't respond, wouldn't it?"
"You're... really that confident?"
"Confident? No no no, I just firmly believe that the people's eyes are sharp, and so are those of the vast majority of Marines." Michael looked at Dragon, his tone exceptionally calm.
"Besides, the Revolutionary Army... has been lying low long enough. It's time to bare our fangs at the kingdoms of Paradise."
"The Revolutionary Army..." Dragon's eyes widened suddenly. "You mean you plan to return to the Revolutionary Army in such a high-profile manner?"
"Of course." Michael suddenly laughed. "What do you think? Quite the spectacle, isn't it?"
"It is grand... but isn't the sacrifice a bit too great?"
"Sacrifice? No no no, there won't be any sacrifice at all." As he spoke, Michael turned to leave. "I'm not actually stupid."
Dragon instinctively reached out to stop Michael but found himself at a loss for how to do so.
"Michael..."
"You've worked hard."
With that, he turned and walked in the opposite direction from Michael.
Since Michael was already prepared, the Revolutionary Army couldn't afford to hold him back.
...
Flying through the night sky with his Wings after so long, Michael was in an exceptionally good mood.
His four Wings seemed like the purest, most sacred things between heaven and earth, with flecks of Holy light rippling along the arcs of their movements, scattering across the starry sky.
He flew at tremendous speed, not slowing down even after entering the Calm Belt.
The Calm Belt at night was even more dangerous.
Without sunlight, the sea was pitch black, making even the faintest glimmer of light stand out like a glaring target.
Along the way, Sea Kings continuously leaped from the water, lunging at Michael.
Yet even these mountain-sized creatures could only catch his wake.
These true Sea Kings possessed intelligence no different from humans and other humanoid races.
After missing their initial strike, they didn't bother pursuing such an elusive target.
And so, on this quiet night, Michael stirred the Calm Belt into continuous waves.
He flew in this manner for a long time.
Though the sun had yet to breach the horizon, the darkness had already begun to fade...
It was then that Michael spotted, in the distance, the massive fleet of battleships.
Frowning, Michael focused his gaze and realized this wasn't an ordinary fleet of naval vessels.
Every single one was a War Behemoth-Class Battleship, exclusive to Marine Vice Admirals and above.
Michael suddenly realized that no matter the outcome of his scheme...
It would likely leave that old man Sengoku heartbroken for quite some time.
Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have dispatched such an overwhelming force to capture him, would they?
Counting them, nearly all the Vice Admirals from Headquarters had been mobilized.
To put it in perspective, even during the Egghead Island incident in the original timeline, only ten Vice Admirals were deployed for assistance—equivalent to a Buster Call's scale.
Yet the force arrayed before Michael... far surpassed even a Buster Call's might.
This lineup could effortlessly crush any pirate crew in existence.
Because he recognized many familiar vessels.
Like Garp's iconic dog-head ship.
Garp alone would have been formidable enough.
Michael had initially assumed that at most, Garp would lead a team of Vice Admirals from the SWORD Classified Special Forces...
But unexpectedly, the commanding officers weren't Garp, but Sakazuki and Kuzan instead.
Their battleships served as flagships at the formation's center.
Surrounding them were the vessels of Gion, Chaton, Issho, and other SWORD Classified Special Forces members.
Rubbing his eyes, Michael couldn't help but marvel at this extravagant display of naval power!
Even though he'd mentally prepared himself, witnessing such an assembly still left him momentarily awestruck.
"My, my, what's with this grand mobilization in the dead of night?"
"Who in this world could possibly warrant the entire Marine forces marching out in full strength?"
Michael's voice instantly echoed across the entire sea.
As he spoke, he actively flew toward an uninhabited deserted island in the Calm Belt.
The first to follow his lead and arrive on the island was Sakazuki.
"Michael, is this the grave you've chosen for yourself?"
"Sakazuki, don't be so confident just yet... By the way, don't forget what we agreed on before."
"I don't recall having anything to say to a traitor."
"...If you're going to say that, at least don't nod while doing it!"
"...Shut up!"
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