In their first official exchange, Michael immediately launched an attack on Kaido's family ties.
Leaving everyone present utterly dumbfounded.
What kind of decent person resorts to such verbal insults during a king-meets-king, general-versus-general confrontation?
"Honestly, I can't quite grasp Michael-sama actions..." Jack shook his head. "But damn, it feels good."
"I couldn't agree more."
Yamato crossed her arms and nodded solemnly.
"Why are all the children Father raised like this?" Kozuki Toki's lips twitched as she glanced at Momonosuke and Kozuki Hiyori.
"You two... absolutely must not learn this behavior from your grandfather!"
Then she looked up at Michael.
Ready to hear how he planned to confront Kaido next...
Only to see Michael happily hang up the Den Den Mushi after thoroughly enjoying his taunt.
"Huh?"
Everyone present, regardless of age or gender, collectively made the same sound of disbelief.
"W-wait, that can't be right?" Kozuki Oden tilted his head, deep in thought. "I know verbal sparring is part of psychological warfare... but why hang up?"
Michael scanned the room with a mysterious smile.
Insult and retreat.
The ultimate method to provoke maximum fury.
Even Michael was surprised—sometimes, internet troll tactics could be downright satisfying.
"What's the rush? After insulting him like that, do you really think Kaido will let it slide?"
Sure enough, mere seconds after Michael spoke, the Den Den Mushi rang again.
"Pururu Pururu, Pururu Pururu."
"Click."
Michael answered effortlessly, grinning as he said.
"So Kaido, how are you feeling now?"
"...Michael, I will kill you."
"You might need to take a number... plenty of people want me dead. Where do you rank? Might as well call your own daughter 'big sis' while you're at it?"
Michael's arrogant tone and relentless provocations made everyone look at him differently.
"Uh, if I recall correctly, we're supposed to be the good guys, right?" Jack scratched his long horn.
"So why... does this feel so punchable?"
"Whether it's provoking or not..." Kozuki Toki looked at Michael's animated face and chuckled softly,
"But I know Father must be very happy right now."
If there's an argument and one side is happy, then the other's mood must be...
Not so pleasant.
Kaido had even subconsciously released a hint of Conqueror's Haki.
But in the end, he forcibly suppressed his urge to rage.
"Enough, Michael. What exactly do you want to say? If you're just trying to anger me, congratulations—you've succeeded. You and I... it's a fight to the death!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, haven't we been sworn enemies since over a decade ago?" Michael said with a grin.
"After all, driving you out of Wano Country and making Yamato my daughter were both my doing."
"I know that well. And I also know it was you who secretly stirred the pot, pushing Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin to formally establish their nations..." Kaido's voice gradually darkened.
"What exactly are you scheming in these seas? Once the Marine's Grand Inspector, the famed 'Silver Falcon,' and now the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff... Every major event in the world these years seems to have an invisible hand behind it, pulling the strings."
"And that hand... is you, Michael!"
"No matter what you're plotting, one thing I'm certain of..."
"You are undoubtedly the biggest stumbling block standing in my way!"
Michael shook his head and chuckled softly:
"I'm not like you. I never considered you a stepping stone... just a stray dog on the roadside that I could kick to death anytime."
"Except you, this stray dog, think that by finding fellow outcast allies, you can take me on?"
"I'm right here in Wano. Don't you want to claim its rule? Then bring your ragtag friends and challenge me!"
"Watching those delusional fantasies in your head... tsk tsk."
"I'll knock you back to reality."
Hearing this, Kaido's expression froze momentarily before breaking into an even broader smile.
"Is that so?"
"I also have a gift I can't wait to give you, Grand Inspector Michael."
...
"Ugh! It hurts so much!"
In the dungeon, Weevil once again tried to break free from the Seastone Chains piercing his collarbones and shoulder blades.
But the excruciating pain made it nearly futile.
"I can't stay here..."
"I may be dumb, but even I know I can't drag down Father and Michael!"
Weevil muttered to himself, as if trying to bolster his own courage.
At the same time, he gathered what little strength he had left, preparing for another attempt to break free.
Just then, a woman's voice echoed through the dark dungeon.
"This humble one advises you not to waste your effort. Even if you tear free at the cost of shattering your collarbones and shoulder blades... you'll lose all ability to fight."
Though slightly hoarse, her tone suggested she was in decent condition.
But Weevil, simple as he was, couldn't grasp such nuances.
He dumbly turned his head left and right, and when he saw no one else, the eternally glowing crystal pendant on his nose seemed to grow longer.
"A ghost! A ghost!"
"What nonsense are you spouting! I am clearly human!"
"Then why can't I see you if you're human!?"
"Because I'm in a different cell, you idiot!"
"You can't call me an idiot! I'm just… not very smart!"
"Tch, whatever. Arguing with you is beneath me, and it feels like bullying a fool…" The woman sighed, her voice not sounding too far away.
"You must be Weevil, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, right?"
"H-how did you know!?"
"...That traitor from your crew comes by every day just to mock you. It'd be stranger if I didn't know." She sighed again before continuing.
"Listen to me—spend the next while recovering from your injuries. Don't try to break free again… Later, I'll help you."
"You'll help me? Who even are you?"
"You ask who I am?"
The woman's voice suddenly rose an octave.
"I am Vice Admiral Boa Hancock of the Marines, codenamed 'Empress'!"
"Sounds impressive, but you're still locked up in a cell…" Weevil muttered under his breath.
"Shut up! I'm just… just infiltrating the enemy! That's right!"
"This is all part of my plan!"
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