"My, my... Michael truly lives up to his name. The moment he moves, the entire sea shifts with the ripples he creates..."
Gloriosa, seated in the Cross Guild headquarters, smiled as she scanned the fresh intelligence in her hands.
"Of course, Gloriosa," Rayleigh chuckled from the window. "He is Michael, after all."
"But using Wano as the stage... is that really wise?" Gaban polished his twin axes nearby. "Would Kozuki Oden agree? Even if he does, what about the other daimyo of Wano?"
"Gaban, you haven't spent enough time with Michael," Rayleigh turned, eyeing the slightly puzzled Gaban.
"You only know of his terrifying strength... but what he excels at most is persuasion."
"Persuasion?"
"Michael has that kind of charm... weren't we all swayed by him into forming the Cross Guild?"
"Are you sure it was his charm? And not his fists?"
"Of course... back then, Michael was far from what he is now."
"Tch, I almost forgot." Gaban shook his head. "But this time, the Revolutionary Army hasn't made any major moves... instead, it's the Marines mobilizing."
"For the Marines now, their enemies aren't just the pirates."
Gloriosa handed the intelligence reports to Gaban and Rayleigh.
The two men paled as their eyes landed on the glaring words: Dyna stone.
This weapon, banned across the entire sea, had somehow appeared on the black market!?
"Hey, hey... this can't be a joke, right? The World Government just let this thing slip into the black market?"
"Which is why I said, the Marines have more than one enemy..." Gloriosa stretched her slender, snow-white waist.
"The World Government... is far more ruthless than you'd think."
"So, what do we..."
"Just focus on intelligence and indirect pressure for now... it's not yet our time to act."
...
Michael had wanted to sleep in a little longer.
But today, the daimyo of Wano were gathering at the shogun's court for a meeting.
And most importantly... among the attendees was an organization called the "Overseas Trade Promotion Association"—something clearly cooked up by Kozuki Toki.
Michael wanted to see firsthand how far Toki's reforms for Wano had progressed.
So, accompanied by Yamato and Jack, Michael joined the meeting.
At first, his presence startled all the daimyo.
But when they learned Michael was Toki's adoptive father, though confusion flickered in their eyes...
They all accepted it without question!
"If Toki, who led Wano down the path of revolution, is a woman from over 800 years ago... then we can handle anything, no matter how absurd."
As the current daimyo of Kuri and the former shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Sukiyaki sat boldly right next to Michael.
"So, should I address you as in-law now? Michael."
Michael glanced at this man who had been pulled from the shogun's seat by Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi, raising an eyebrow.
"That's entirely up to you... To be honest, I'm not particularly skilled at playing the elder role."
"Ahahaha! Michael, you truly have a sense of humor!"
Kozuki Sukiyaki, whether compared to his son or his grandson, far surpassed them in terms of governance capabilities.
If not for the events of those years that left him guilt-ridden and unwilling to reclaim the shogunate, the current state of Wano Country might have been quite different.
Though Kozuki Sukiyaki was a man of great honor who excelled at caring for and protecting children, he equally valued Wano's laws and order...
In other words, he was one of the old guard who upheld the iSorationist policies.
Thus, until Kozuki Oden drove Kaido away, Sukiyaki's relationship with Oden had always been strained.
Even now, Michael could sense Sukiyaki's lingering discomfort whenever he saw Oden.
Yet he held Kozuki Toki in the highest esteem.
This... was somewhat contradictory.
"If I'm not mistaken, as a former shogun of Wano, weren't you always an advocate for isolationism?"
"Ah, indeed. When I was shogun, I firmly believed that was the way... Only by cutting off external influences could we preserve our internal stability." Sukiyaki gazed thoughtfully at Kozuki Toki seated at the head table, with Oden serving as the dignified mascot.
"But Toki-chan changed my perspective with facts. The Wano of today is more prosperous than ever before—that's incomparable."
"Yet new reports suggest Kaido is gathering allies again, preparing to invade Wano for revenge." Michael glanced sideways at Sukiyaki.
"Don't you think isolationism might have been better now?"
"My dear in-law, are you teasing me?" Sukiyaki chuckled dismissively. "As if Kaido never invaded during our isolationist era."
Michael nodded.
Kozuki Toki's reforms to Wano... truly carried on the legacy perfectly.
This adopted daughter raised by his future self was indeed born to revolutionize.
The entire meeting progressed smoothly under Toki's meticulous control.
Michael's eyes swept across each daimyo before settling on the chairman of the Overseas Trade Promotion Association.
This portly man...
Always gave Michael an inexplicable sense of dissonance.
Frowning as he studied him, that round, greasy face seemed almost like...
An unnervingly lifelike mask.
Michael didn't know why he felt this way, but since arriving in this world of pirates, he'd learned...
His body's instincts were the most trustworthy compass.
And when this so-called "Chairman Higurashi" noticed Michael's gaze, his eyes flashed with unmistakable panic and shock.
This man... was definitely problematic!
Yet Michael wouldn't openly challenge him before Oden and all the daimyo.
That would just be idiotic.
So Michael whispered a few words to Yamato and Jack beside him, and the two nodded solemnly before turning to leave.
"Hmm? What are your subordinates up to, in-law?"
"Oh, young people tend to be curious when they arrive in a new place. No need to keep them sitting around with boring adults like us, right?"
"Who knew you were so good with kids, in-law!" Kozuki Sukiyaki laughed heartily. "Speaking of kids, I've got some experience myself..."
"Uh, let's not talk about raising kids just yet... As the daimyo, could you at least tidy up the collection of anime girl figurines in your room?"
"...Wait, who told you about that!?"
"...Obviously Momonosuke, the kid you raised."
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