As the first person Michael successfully recruited (or rather, persuaded) into the Marines after arriving in Alabasta, Bellemere's arrival excited the entire Marine branch, leading to a grand feast with everyone participating.
Of course, Michael footed the bill.
Though usually somewhat stingy, he never hesitated when it came to such rightful obligations.
Despite having left the Marines for over a year, Bellemere seamlessly reintegrated into the group.
After all, the current Marines in Alabasta were all young recruits personally chosen by Sengoku—idealistic youths who still firmly believed in 'Justice'.
Such people suited Bellemere perfectly.
"Ahahaha! Back in the East Blue, I took down plenty of pirates! That's how I became a Marine branch captain so young!" Bellemere, clearly drunk, was slurring her words while boasting to her future subordinates.
"Ever heard of Golden Lion? When he broke out of prison, I declared he was nothing but a joke! Told him to come to the East Blue if he dared—I'd smack him silly! Would've yanked his wig right off!"
"Captain Bellemere is amazing!"
"Long live the captain!"
Michael's lips twitched as he glanced down at the two little girls sitting beside him.
"Is your mom always like this when she drinks?"
"Mom doesn't usually drink this much" Nojiko said, shaking her head like a little adult. "She's probably just... really happy."
"Happy? Nami wants to be happy too."
Nearby, Nami was struggling to stand up and nearly topple over.
Before she could fall, Hancock lifted her effortlessly, swinging her playfully in the air before gently placing her back in the chair.
Instead of crying from the sudden movement, Nami giggled and looked at Hancock.
"Again, pretty lady!"
Michael observed everything quietly.
He didn't expect Hancock to be so good with children.
But then again, given Amazon Lily's customs, the island was undoubtedly full of single-parent households where mothers helped raise each other's children.
"Hancock, it seems like you love kids," Michael said with a smile. "You handled that like a pro just now."
"Hmph! It's not that I like children! She just looked clumsy and noisy—if she fell, she'd start wailing miserably! So I—"
Before she could finish, Michael rested his hand on her head, giving it a gentle ruffle.
"Yes, yes, our Little Hancock is such a gentle child."
Michael's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.
"Hmph!" Hancock didn't say anything more, only letting out a snort, but the faint upward lilt in her tone betrayed that she was still pleased.
Michael chuckled inwardly—kids always fell for this kind of praise.
He knew the drill all too well...
Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up as the branch commander sitting at a table full of minors.
As Stella liked to say—
"Whoever brings the kids home takes care of them!"
"Even you, Michael, can't shirk responsibility!"
While the other tables were full with various local Alabastan specialties—fine wines made from baobab fruit, renowned for their mellow sweetness and among the most popular exports from the kingdom—Michael's table only had juice and milk.
After all, he couldn't exactly expect Hancock to drink with him.
He'd probably end up shooting himself out of guilt.
****
After settling the thoroughly drunk Bellemere, Michael thought it over and decided to take Nojiko and Nami to stay at his estate first.
After all, he was the branch commander of the Alabasta Marine Branch, and Cobra had specially gifted him an estate located less than fifty meters from the Alabasta Royal Palace.
Originally, Michael had intended for all members of the SWORD to live here, but the team members unanimously refused.
In the end, only the three underage sisters—Hancock and her siblings—stayed with him.
At this moment, as Michael surveyed the lineup in the estate, it belatedly dawned on him...
Was he somehow veering towards becoming an unwed father figure?!
But what could he do? The little girls he'd brought into the Marines were his responsibility now.
Just as he stepped into the estate, Michael suddenly looked up towards his own two-story house.
The lights in the first-floor living room were on.
"Hancock, tonight I'll leave Nojiko and Nami in your care."
"Understood."
Hancock had clearly noticed the light in Michael's room as well and agreed without hesitation.
As the princess of Amazon lily, though her life experience was limited, her intelligence was sharp enough to instantly recognize that someone wanted to speak with Michael privately.
Without another word, she took her two younger sisters, picked up Nami and led Nojiko back to their own quarters.
Michael glanced at the door Hancock had closed behind them, feeling slightly reassured, then headed towards his own room.
Pushing the door open, he saw a man draped in a massive cloak, his face obscured, seated at the dining table large enough to accommodate six to eight people.
"On such a fine evening, why isn't His Majesty Cobra enjoying intimate moments with his queen in his palace, instead of coming to my place?" Michael sat down across from him without hesitation, his face full of disdain.
"Let me make this clear—while I am indeed handsome, I'm definitely not into men..."
"Could you be serious for once, Rear Admiral Michael?" Cobra removed his hood with a wry smile.
"Besides, Titi has been pregnant for some time now. Shouldn't I be considerate of my wife's condition?"
"So you decide to bother me in the middle of the night instead?" Having grown familiar with Cobra, Michael had largely abandoned formalities.
"Out with it—what's so important that the king himself had to visit me in disguise?"
"Recently, there have been strange sandstorms near Rainbase. You've heard about this, haven't you..."
"Yes, rumors reached me..." Michael looked up at Cobra. "Do you know something more?"
"An Ohara—I mean, an Alabastan scholar who'd been living abroad recently returned. On his voyage back, he spotted a notorious pirate with an 81 million berry bounty!"
Cobra's expression darkened as he locked eyes with Michael.
"It's the man known as the Desert King—Crocodile."
------------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator