"Report! Intense combat has broken out on the outskirts of Mary Geoise! The Five Elders and Garling are currently besieging... Michael!"
At the Marine Headquarters in Marineford, the high-ranking officers of both the Marine and the Revolutionary Army had gathered in the conference room, harmoniously exchanging opinions on their merger.
Well, "harmoniously" might be an overstatement—aside from Garp, who looked thoroughly exasperated, everyone else was indeed in high spirits.
Just then, a messenger burst through the doors, loudly delivering the explosive news.
Upon hearing it, the Marine and Revolutionary Army members finally realized...
So this was what Monkey D. Dragon had meant by "fishing" earlier?
"Are you certain... all Five Elders have mobilized?"
"Yes! Absolutely certain!"
"Then we... must go support Michael!" Sengoku suddenly stood up. "Sakazuki, you, Kuzan, and Borsalino will make the trip."
Others might not understand the Five Elders' strength, but Sengoku knew all too well...
Five beings each at least admiral or emperor level—even if Michael were stronger, he couldn't fight against so many alone.
Just as Sengoku gave the order, Monkey D. Dragon reached out to stop him.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, don't act rashly... this is actually part of Michael's plan." Dragon stepped in front of Sengoku.
"He intends to use himself as bait in this operation to draw out the world government's greatest trump card."
"Trump card?"
"Uranus." Dragon smiled. "For this, he even exploited their intelligence gap, using Baltigo as bait just to force Uranus to reveal its true location."
Sengoku was stunned...
"The world government has mobilized all Five Elders! Are you certain Michael can hold out until they're forced to use Uranus?"
"You shouldn't ask me that—you should search your own heart." Dragon met Sengoku's gaze directly.
"Do you have enough faith... in Michael's strength?"
These words gradually calmed the agitation in Sengoku's heart.
With his emotions stabilized, his intellect regained its footing.
"Was this plan Michael's own idea?"
"Who else would dare be so bold as to directly challenge the world government's highest military power?"
"You... truly believe Michael will be unharmed?"
"I trust him more than I trust myself." Dragon shook his head. "In fact, all of us in the Revolutionary Army unconditionally believe in Michael... He's already led us to create countless miracles... one more won't make a difference."
Sengoku looked around—every Revolutionary Army officer present wore expressions of absolute confidence, completely unshaken.
...
Alabasta Royal Palace.
"That Michael is taking too many risks... He didn't even tell me about this beforehand!" Angel D. Sora slammed the table.
"Does that brat even remember he has a sister?!"
"Queen Sora, please calm down..." Cobra sighed. "The battles Michael fights now are far beyond what any of us can participate in... Rather than worrying here, we should focus on being the Revolutionary Army and N.E.W Marine's strongest support."
"Our kingdom of Drum has also received news..." Wapol propped his chin on his hands. "This must be the first time the world government's ultimate weapon is being exposed to everyone, right? Truly... terrifying."
"If you're scared, go hide in a corner." Dalton, captain of Drum Kingdom's royal guard, showed no respect to his own king.
"Drum Kingdom won't miss you either way."
"Dalton! How long are you going to hold onto that grudge!? Haven't I changed!? Don't forget you scored lower than me in the last major study session!" Wapol sounded thoroughly exasperated.
"Besides being the king, I'm also the director of Drum Kingdom's Number One Smelting Plant! You'd better show me some respect!"
"Shut the hell up, all of you!" Sora delivered a flying kick straight to Wapol's face. "My little brother risking his life on the front lines! Take your petty squabbles and settle them at home, you bastards!"
As the first nations in "Paradise" to side with the Revolutionary Army, these three kingdoms had now become the most unshakable of allies.
Alabasta, with its large population, provided human resources.
The Germa Kingdom, building on its existing foundation and through Michael's connections, had established contact with Vegapunk, thus becoming responsible for technological resources.
Meanwhile, the Drum Kingdom could produce Wapometal—a shape-memory alloy—through Wapol's Devil Fruit abilities.
The three nations formed a complete production chain.
Industrial products and weaponry manufactured from Wapometal had now entered the debugging phase.
Soon, they would be mass-produced for both the N.E.W Marine and the Revolutionary Army.
"Dad! What are you all whispering about here?" Vivi walked in, her blue hair swaying, wearing a pendant made of silver chains and pure white feathers around her neck.
"Dinner's ready! Even if you're discussing state affairs, you should fill your stomachs first!"
...
Elbaf, the Underworld.
"Fufufufu, it seems things have begun."
Loki, bound tightly to the roots of the Adam Wood, completely immobilized.
Yet he still managed to unleash earth-shaking laughter.
Before him, a Video Transponder Snail had suddenly appeared.
The live footage it projected was none other than the battlefield where Michael was clashing with the Five Elders.
However, since the images were captured from a distance, they weren't particularly clear.
Still, they were enough to reveal what was happening.
And standing beside him was a man… One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, "Red Hair" Shanks.
"What exactly is this thing you said is about to begin?"
"It seems you've already completely become Michael's man, haven't you?"
"I handed over his intel, betraying my own sense of justice… So until I feel I've repaid this debt of guilt, I'll do anything for him."
"Including broadcasting the fight between the Five Elders and him from afar and transmitting it worldwide via the Video Transponder Snail?"
"I merely had my crew protect Big News Morgans and his team, that's all." Shanks lifted his head.
"You should know I don't believe you're the kind of man who would kill his father and steal the giants' ancestral fruit… After all, you were destined to be king. That fruit would've been yours sooner or later—it doesn't add up. So what exactly do you know?"
"What do I know?"
Loki stuck out his tongue, his maniacal laughter piercing the heavens.
"Why, the arrival of that delightful end, of course!"
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