Although Michael and Ivankov were close friends, he still couldn't understand why Ivankov had chosen to become an okama...
And with such a big head to boot!
What was even harder to comprehend...
Was that this unlucky kid Momonosuke actually wanted to seek out Ivankov to become an okama and change his gender?
If Momonosuke were just the annoying brat from the original story, that would be one thing...
But now, this troublemaker had become his own grandson!
That changed the nature of the matter entirely...
And most importantly, if he really took Momonosuke directly to Baltigo to have Ivankov perform a sex-change operation...
Kozuki Toki might very well grab Oton and Kogarashi in a rage and commit patricide.
After all, from every angle, Kozuki Toki had perfectly inherited his short temper...
"Tsk, you're really giving me a tough problem here," Michael sighed, crossing his arms as he looked at Momonosuke kneeling steadily—clearly no stranger to this position.
"At the very least, you should tell me... why you want Ivankov to perform a sex-change operation and turn you into a woman."
"I..."
Momonosuke raised his head, opening his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.
His expression seemed somewhat ashamed.
"If you don't even have the courage to confess honestly to me, how can I resist pressure on your behalf in front of your mother?"
"Uh... sigh!" Momonosuke exhaled heavily, then abruptly straightened his posture.
"Grandfather! Listen to me care—fully!"
"Don't give me that dramatic delivery!" Michael smacked Momonosuke on the back of the head with a loud slap.
"If you're going to say it, say it quickly!"
"Owch!"
Michael had put some force into that slap, instantly reducing the over-three-meter-tall adult Momonosuke into a crouching, defensive ball.
But the posture didn't last long.
Soon, Momonosuke was rubbing his head while explaining.
"Grandfather, you might not know this, but ever since I was little, my biggest dream has been to set sail and become a warrior of the sea like Whitebeard!"
"And why would you have such an idea?" Michael crossed his arms, scrutinizing Momonosuke.
"Could it be just because you were born on Whitebeard's Moby Dick, planting the seed of this dream early on?"
"Isn't that enough?"
"Your sister was also born on the Moby Dick... Why hasn't she ever thought this way? So, that reason isn't convincing enough..." Michael shook his head.
"Or rather, I want to hear your real reason."
At this point, Momonosuke's limited intelligence had been mostly exhausted.
His expression made it clear that the only option left was to spill the truth.
And Momonosuke's reaction was exactly as Michael had anticipated.
"I truly want to become a warrior of the sea like Whitebeard... But as the heir to the shogunate of Wano Country, I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to become a true warrior of the sea in my lifetime."
"Is that really the case?" Michael's Wings quietly unfurled. "Do you genuinely wish to become a warrior of the sea... or are you simply trying to escape the shackles of being the shogun's heir?"
As Michael's words fell, Momonosuke abruptly raised his head.
His eyes held a trace of shame...
But even more so, relief.
"You're right... More than anything, I want to be free from the position of shogun heir." Momonosuke looked down at his hands.
"I know I lack the talent to govern a nation... Rather than becoming an incompetent shogun, it would be better for me to become a woman, allowing my father and mother to raise a suitable heir while they're still young..."
Lifting his gaze, only sincerity remained in his eyes.
"But my dream of becoming a warrior like Whitebeard is also real... And for me, achieving this dream in a woman's body would be most fitting."
Michael studied Momonosuke before him...
This train of thought was truly extraordinary!
Though he didn't fully understand it, he was profoundly impressed!
Yet considering Momonosuke's circumstances...
In a way, this could be seen as taking responsibility.
Knowing he'd be useless at governing, he chose not to cling to the position.
Coincidentally, he also harbored dreams of seafaring adventure.
Not wanting the Kozuki family to be left without an heir, he chose to sacrifice himself, giving his parents time to raise a new successor...
Though every step seemed outrageous, Michael...
Found the plan surprisingly feasible!
How to put it...
From another perspective, if this extremely isolated and overly feudal nation of Wano lost its sole legitimate heir...
Transitioning the country into a Constitutional Monarchy like Alabasta...
Might actually face fewer obstacles.
And from Michael's personal standpoint...
He was genuinely curious what expression Kozuki Oden would make upon seeing Momonosuke as a woman.
This counted as one of Michael's rare mischievous whims.
"I can agree to this... but only after we resolve Wano's current affairs."
"Wonderful!" Momonosuke cheered, then suddenly paused. "Huh? Resolve Wano's affairs? Is something happening in Wano?"
"Eh? Didn't I mention it during the banquet?" Michael blinked, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Recently, certain parties have begun eyeing Wano with predatory interest."
"Targeting Wano!?"
Momonosuke stood abruptly, his expression turning grave.
Though he didn't want to become Wano's next shogun, that didn't mean he'd tolerate threats to his homeland.
"Indeed, and the one preparing to move against Wano... happens to be an old acquaintance."
"Old acquaintance..." Momonosuke muttered, then realization dawned, fear flooding his eyes.
"K-Kaido!?"
"Correct. The very same Kaido who once enslaved all of Wano alongside Kurozumi Orochi. This time, he's returning with an even stronger Beast Pirates and allied forces in tow."
"Then I must inform Father immediately!" Momonosuke spoke in a panic before hastily jumping off the roof.
Michael couldn't be bothered to stop him.
After all, the plan was to inform Kozuki Oden anyway.
But had Momonosuke forgotten that Kozuki Oden had been completely knocked out by his cheap father-in-law—Michael himself?
Sure enough, Momonosuke rushed frantically toward his parents' bedroom...
And two minutes later, Kozuki Toki's furious roar erupted right on schedule.
By the time Michael leisurely strolled back to the guest room Kozuki Toki had prepared for them, he saw Momonosuke dangling from a streetlamp, his head covered in lumps.
Michael tucked his hands into his sleeves and sighed.
"Did I teach her that move?"
"Impressive."
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