"So... you're suggesting that we... cooperate with Totto land and the Whitebeard Pirates?" Monkey D. Dragon frowned as he looked at Michael, who had come directly from the New World.
"Are you sure they'll willingly work with us?"
Although Dragon had only been a Marine for a short time, his impression of pirates wasn't favorable.
So when Michael proposed this collaboration, Dragon's initial reaction was to refuse.
But Michael's next words left him with no rebuttal.
"What you aim for is the liberation of the entire world—not just freeing people from the oppression of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, but also protecting civilians from the threats of pirates! And now, there's a chance to transform the two largest pirate factions into proper nations. Don't you think this is a golden opportunity? With this move, not only will the pirate world fracture further, but the two strongest pirate crews, gathering formidable forces, will evolve into law-abiding nations. No matter how you look at it… this is nothing but beneficial!"
Michael spoke a lot, and quickly.
But his core argument was clear—
For the Revolutionary Army, this was an absolute win.
In fact, with the right approach, there was even a chance to turn the Whitebeard Kingdom and Totto land into mutual allies in offense and defense!
The key to all this lay in their weakness—and the Revolutionary Army's greatest strength—
Agriculture!
Only when their bellies were full would their ears be open, allowing the ideal of "equality for all" to take root in their minds.
"What you say… does make sense." Dragon frowned, then sighed.
"But how can you guarantee that these two pirate crews won't end up creating nations worse than the ones we've liberated?"
"Dragon, you've been so focused on the Revolutionary Army's cause these years that it's only natural you're not fully aware of the current state of the New World," Michael said with a smile.
"The lives of civilians in the major nations of the New World are far worse than those in Whole Cake Island."
"But I've heard that, though it's abolished now, the civilians of Totto land used to surrender a month of their lifespan to Charlotte Linlin every six months… Isn't that even more terrifying than the Celestial dragon?"
"Of course not." Michael shook his head solemnly. "Assuming a person lives to a hundred, under the rule of surrendering one month every six months, they'd still live to about eighty-five in Totto land. But what if, in another country, even with a full lifespan, they died from war or starvation? In the end, forget eighty-five—they might not even make it to forty-five."
Michael's words left Dragon stunned.
After careful consideration, Dragon nodded silently.
It was true.
Even if they had to pay with their lifespans… what they gained in return was prosperity and safety.
After all, under the protection of the Charlotte Family, Whole Cake Island was undoubtedly safer than any other nation.
At this thought, Dragon couldn't help but glance at Michael again.
This guy… had probably been scheming to turn these two least pirate-like crews into nations from the very beginning!
It was only recently that the conditions had aligned to make it possible.
"Tell me the truth—how long have you been sitting on this idea?"
"If I told you that this has been my goal from the start, would you think I'm too cunning?"
"…Can you speak normally?" Dragon twitched his lips, watching Michael's exaggerated coyness, and decided it was best not to ask again.
"Speaking properly... What exactly were you thinking, handing over two Devil Fruit Users to the Marines for free?"
Michael swiftly shifted the topic to Monet and Sugar.
"Is there a problem? Although Monet and Sugar were brought along by Ginny and Kuma, they never officially joined the Revolutionary Army. If they wanted to join that Marine youth program scouting genius kids worldwide, then so be it."
"You just agreed to it?" Michael frowned at Dragon. "That doesn't sound like you."
"Do I really have to spell it out? Dear Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, and Grand Inspector of the Marines, Michael? In the future you've woven, the Revolutionary Army and the Marines... are likely to converge, aren't they? Sooner or later, we'll become one family."
Dragon calmly exposed Michael's second-biggest secret—next to his identity as a transmigrator.
For a moment, Michael's body stiffened.
"...Was I that obvious?"
"Obvious? You might as well have whispered in my ear, 'We and the Marines are in cahoots—our goal is to liberate the world!'" Dragon sighed before continuing.
"Of course, my conversation with the old man also played a part."
"Conversation?" Michael paused, then pointed gleefully at the tattoo on Dragon's face and laughed.
"You mean this sandal imprint?"
"...I'll say it again. This is just a tattoo."
"Fine, whatever you say." Michael nodded.
"So, you and Garp had already... laid your cards on the table back then?"
"Need I remind you of my relationship with my damn father?" Dragon said calmly.
"We never had any real conflict—just differing views on justice... But now that we're converging, the only barrier between us is gone. Otherwise, would I have sent Luffy to Marine HQ so easily?"
"...If anyone dares call you Monkey family a bunch of brainless brutes again, I'll lose it! You're slicker than a damn monkey!"
"Ahahaha! Well, we are Monkeys, after all!"
...
"Youth program? What's that? And they're recruiting worldwide?"
"Probably talent reserves. Aside from Michael's Marines, the other young recruits... let's just say they're not exactly impressive."
"Preparing for a rainy day... sounds like Sengoku's style."
In Mary Geoise, the Five Elders sat in their usual seats.
At that moment, a figure cloaked in gray appeared before them.
"You've come."
"Yes..." The figure nodded, then lowered his hood—revealing none other than Figarland Garling, publicly exiled by the Five Elders.
"Figarland Garling, forgive our actions... But as part of this deception, it was the only way for you to uncover Michael's true nature."
"I understand... That's why I agreed to the plan from the start." Figarland Garling nodded.
"And it has borne fruit... There's new progress regarding Michael's identity."
"He... is a member of the Revolutionary Army."