At Momonosuke's exclamation, everyone's gaze turned to Yamato.
Michael wasn't surprised that Momonosuke recognized Yamato's identity.
After all, the two were the same age. When Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi jointly ruled Wano Country, Momonosuke had already returned with his mother Kozuki Toki.
So it wasn't strange that they had met before.
"What? Sister, your father is actually... Kaido?!" Kozuki Hiyori's face filled with disbelief as she released Yamato from their embrace, tears welling in her eyes as she pointed a trembling finger.
"You... you've betrayed our friendship!"
"No! When did you even develop this friendship?! Just now in that instant?!" Michael finally couldn't help but disrupt the bizarre atmosphere with his sarcastic remark.
"Alright, it's true that Yamato's biological father is Kaido... but many years ago, she already unilaterally severed ties with him."
"And now, she is my daughter."
Michael's attitude was uncharacteristically firm.
Because after hearing the name "Kaido," Yamato's expression had completely changed.
After staying by his side for so many years, even raising a cat or dog would have fostered some parental affection.
Not to mention a living, breathing young girl.
Momonosuke looked somewhat awkward, but his eyes held a trace of determination.
"But that doesn't change the blood ties between her and Kaido."
"Then what do you intend to do with me?" Yamato stood before Momonosuke, slightly raising her head.
"Seek revenge against me, or what?"
"I demand a duel!" Momonosuke shouted loudly, "A duel... to settle all grievances!"
"I'm not an unreasonable person. Over these years, I've reflected countless times on my former weak self... Nor will I blame everything Wano suffered on Kaido's daughter!"
"But... you too once benefited from the sweat and blood of Wano's people!"
"This... requires an explanation..."
"A duel, regardless of outcome, will settle everything!"
Momonosuke's words were resolute and decisive.
For Michael, his impression of Momonosuke mostly remained that of a lecherous little brat...
Even though he later grew to look twenty-eight years old thanks to Shinobu's ability, he was still an immature kid with some awareness but lacking steadiness.
But the Momonosuke before him was different.
If not for recognizing his face and Michael's knowledge of the original story, he would never have believed this was Momonosuke.
That spoiled and annoying perverted brat, having never experienced the loss of both parents or the hardships of traveling through twenty years of time, had grown up safely by Kozuki Toki's side.
Between his brows now carried a quality called "fortitude."
Though personally, Michael still didn't much like this guy.
Too weak.
Even if his challenge for a duel seemed manly...
Facing Yamato, who was naturally gifted and had trained under Michael for years...
He was still too weak.
"If you want a duel, then I'll give you a duel." Yamato unhesitatingly gripped her kanabo "A-Ken" in hand.
"In that case... let's do it now!"
"Hmph! Who's afraid of you? Bring it on!"
The two immediately took their stances!
....
Five seconds later...
Momonosuke lay collapsed on the ground, his face swollen like a pig's head.
"Sorry for lying, but you deserved it!"
"Can you just Shut up if you can't even speak properly!?"
Kozuki Hiyori sighed helplessly as she glanced at her brother.
Then she turned her gaze back to Yamato, who stood calmly beside Michael as if nothing had happened, and couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration.
Truly a woman worthy of being an idol's daughter!
She's so strong!
"I sincerely apologize, Lady Toki. I didn't expect a simple visit to turn into such a scene..."
Michael nodded toward Kozuki Toki.
Though he had come to collect a debt, the business discussion had actually gone smoothly...
But now, Yamato had gone and beaten up Momonosuke right in their garden, right in front of his own mother...
It was a bit hard to justify.
To his surprise, however, Kozuki Toki shook her head indifferently.
"These are the children's own choices, and they must bear the consequences themselves."
"If he doesn't even have that much tolerance, then how can he talk about opening the country, about setting sail to sea? How can he talk about becoming a man like big brother Whitebeard?"
Michael was momentarily stunned.
Then he realized—it made sense she'd call Whitebeard "big brother."
After all, although Kozuki Oden had been the captain of Whitebeard's second division back then, they'd addressed each other as brothers.
"Lady Toki is truly... remarkably broad-minded."
"Ah, well, not exactly..." Kozuki Toki rested a hand against her cheek, smiling.
"Lately I've been reaching my limit with this foolish son of mine too, to the point where I want to give him a beating... This just saves me the trouble."
Michael's mouth fell open.
Should he say this was exactly what he'd expect from a woman who'd spent time on Whitebeard's ship?
She really was formidable.
But then again, considering she'd traveled alone through over eight hundred years of time, she'd have had to be formidable—otherwise, she wouldn't have survived.
"But now that the children have quieted down, we adults can finally have a proper conversation." Kozuki Toki turned to Michael and gave a slight nod.
"I've long heard of your renowned reputation across the seas."
"Even the closed-off nation of Wano has heard of me?"
"Though Wano hasn't truly 'opened its borders' yet, under Oden's reforms, the country has established normal trade and information exchange channels with the outside world..."
Michael nodded.
That made sense!
Kozuki Oden's dream had always been to open Wano's borders.
The reason it hadn't fully happened yet was simply due to concerns about Pluton, hidden beneath Wano...
But Oden, having traveled the world, naturally understood that Wano needed to reestablish communication with the outside to avoid becoming "blind" and "deaf."
As Toki explained, Michael gradually came to understand Wano's current state.
Under Oden's series of reforms, though Wano still hadn't officially opened its borders, it had already achieved much of what opening them would entail.
The people were still somewhat conservative, harboring a bit of fear toward the outside world, so no one dared to leave Wano alone by sea...
But overall, life in Wano had improved dramatically compared to before.
It was also Oden's policies that had brought more outsiders to Wano.
That was why Michael and his group, though conspicuous in the Flower Capital, hadn't drawn crowds...
Well, the conspicuousness was mostly because Jack was just...
too terrifying in appearance.
"Lady Toki, you've told me so much about Wano—surely you didn't just want to make small talk?"
"Oh? You saw through me?" Toki's smile remained, but a hint of longing flickered in her eyes.
"I was hoping you could do me a favor..."
"A favor?"
Toki nodded eagerly.
"Yes, I wanted to see your..."
"angelic wings."