The affairs of the Kingdom of Lulusia concluded swiftly.
By the time the Revolutionary Army's offices stood tall once more on Lulusian soil, Michael and his team's work was essentially complete.
The rest would be handled by second-line logistical personnel.
After leaving behind sufficient armed forces to protect the newly liberated Lulusia, Michael led the remaining Revolutionary Army soldiers on their return journey.
However, Michael didn't take his troops back to their stronghold in the East Blue.
Instead, a few days later, they entered Alabasta directly.
The people of Alabasta seemed already accustomed to the presence of the Revolutionary Army Fleet.
As soon as the fleet arrived, the port of Alubarna sprang into action.
"Hurry! These two ships need repairs... Couldn't you have been more careful when docking? They hit the reefs! Who was steering this ship? I'm going to teach them a lesson they won't forget today!"
"Koda! It was Koda!"
"You bastard! Could you not throw me under the bus right now?!"
Michael and Ivankov exchanged smiles as they watched the harmonious scene of soldiers and civilians working side by side.
At that very moment, Michael suddenly turned his gaze toward the Alubarna harbor, where several vaguely familiar figures had appeared.
"Vice Admiral Mi—I mean, Michael-san, Ivankov-san, His Majesty Cobra has been waiting for you at the palace for quite some time," the messenger hurriedly reported as he approached Michael.
"He's been eagerly anticipating your return."
"Understood. We'll head there immediately."
With a polite nod to the messenger, Michael smiled and walked out of the harbor alongside Ivankov, making their way toward the palace of Alabasta.
"Hee—haw! A king like Cobra is truly one of a kind in this world, isn't he?" Ivankov exclaimed excitedly.
"I've never seen a monarch willingly decentralize power and establish a constitutional monarchy before..."
"But you have to admit, Cobra was born for this role," Michael chuckled. "Whether as a king or a revolutionary."
"A natural-born member of the Revolutionary Army, yet descended from one of the twenty kings who founded the World Government eight centuries ago."
Ivankov frowned slightly.
Though he shared a good relationship with Cobra, the latter's lineage... made Ivankov instinctively cautious.
"Don't forget, the Nefertari family was the only one among the World Nobles who refused to relocate to Mary Geoise and become those bloated Celestial Dragons," Michael patted Ivankov's arm reassuringly.
"They never proclaimed themselves as 'gods' or 'descendants of creators.' At their core, the Nefertari family has always been rebellious... wouldn't you agree?"
"...That's true."
"Moreover, under Cobra's leadership and reforms, Alabasta's implementation of a constitutional monarchy is—in my eyes—an achievement no less significant than the Revolutionary Army's decade-long covert operations!" Michael's eyes burned with intensity as he gazed at the distant palace.
"If such a system can thrive here in Alabasta... it proves we can replicate this model elsewhere!"
"You mean... promoting a new form of government?"
"Isn't that our mission?" Michael's smile shone brighter than ever before. "Absolute equality may be unattainable, but our goal is to maintain fundamental fairness! A constitutional monarchy largely fulfills this purpose... At least until the world is fully liberated, and for many years thereafter, it can satisfy the political needs of most people. Why else would I keep calling Cobra a genius?"
"Hee—haw! Hearing you say that, he really is a genius!" Ivankov raised both hands and spun in circles before tilting his large face thoughtfully.
"It'd be even better if this genius hadn't created the constitutional monarchy just to slack off, though."
"See through it but don't say it aloud—that's how we stay good friends."
...
Inside his palace, Cobra paced restlessly back and forth.
Until a familiar voice finally reached his ears.
"Cobra, you've grown increasingly impatient these days."
Looking up, he saw the man with four pristine white Wings standing before him.
"Thank heavens you're finally back," Cobra rushed forward eagerly. "So... how did it go this time? Smoothly?"
"Things are going quite smoothly... From the Revolutionary Army's perspective, the royal family of the Lulusia Kingdom is among the worst of the worst," Michael curled his lips in disdain.
"Even the Five Elders and Celestial Dragons loosened their grip and reduced the Celestial Tribute quota, yet these rulers couldn't care less—instead collecting even more... The epitome of being both stupid and wicked."
"Smoothly? That's good, that's very good." Cobra nodded with a smile. "You wouldn't believe how much importance both the Drum Kingdom and your sister place on this matter... After all, using them and Alabasta as gateways into the Grand Line."
Michael understood Cobra's implication.
Whether it was the Drum Kingdom, Alabasta, or even the Germa Kingdom...
Daring to take such action meant they had fully positioned themselves against the World Government—openly and without pretense.
Thus, this successful liberation by the Revolutionary Army wasn't just a morale boost for its soldiers but also reinforced the confidence of nations that had sided with the revolution from the beginning.
Even when facing the World Government's impending pressure, they now had the conviction to resist.
However, their conversation irritated the man who had been silently sitting in the corner.
"Hey, hey, hey! Aren't you being a bit too brazen? I'm still a Marine Headquarters vice admiral, you know. Discussing revolutionary operations right in front of me... You've got some nerve!"
The man stood up—towering over four meters tall, with soft golden hair and a crisp Marine uniform...
Michael glanced at him before walking over.
"Oh dear, my foolish... beloved little brother! Forgive me, I was so caught up earlier that I didn't notice you!"
"The Revolutionary Army and a king conspiring in a palace, yet failing to notice a Marine vice admiral sitting in the corner... You people are truly something else."
"Don't be so worked up, Rosinante," Michael said with a laugh. "It's been a while since we last met... Is that any way to treat your elder brother?"
"Hmph..." Rosinante curled his lip, mirroring Michael's earlier expression. "I'm just here to deliver some information... and check in on you all."
"Information? What information?"
"Oh, nothing too important." Rosinante spread his hands. "Just that those CP9 agents who were undercover in the Ship Country have arrived in Alabasta..."
Michael smacked his own forehead!
No wonder those figures looked familiar!
So it was those unlucky bastards!
With that thought, Michael's eyes gleamed as he turned to Cobra.
"Cobra... does Alabasta's military happen to need a covert unit proficient in all forms of espionage?"
"Not really?"
"Are you sure?"
"...We do!"
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