"This increase was within expectations," Bonney shrugged. "Honestly, if Blackbeard hadn't betrayed us at the last moment with that underhanded trick... it might not have been him who took Hachinosu!"
"Which is why we later drove Blackbeard out of Hachinosu again," Jack remarked casually, seemingly unfazed by his own bounty.
"But what surprises me is Yamato directly jumping to a 3 billion bounty... Was the guy setting these bounties your fan or something?"
"Don't ask me, I have no idea," Yamato sighed. "But it's fine this way. With this bounty, at least most challengers will think twice... Honestly, I'm getting tired of pirates who don't know their limits."
"Hey hey hey... Captain, this is a 3 billion bounty! Aren't you taking this too lightly?" Brook stared at Yamato in disbelief.
"You realize... there are only a handful of people on the entire sea with bounties over 3 billion! And most of those bounties are practically obsolete now... Gol D. Roger is long dead, Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin became kings, and Kaido fell to Michael's blade... Right now, the highest active bounty belongs to the only remaining Emperor, 'Red Hair' Shanks—4.6 billion!"
"Next is Marshall D. Teach, that Blackbeard bastard, with 3.996 billion!"
"And right after him... is our captain's 3 billion bounty!"
Brook counted them off on his bony fingers...
"That means our captain is now the third most wanted pirate in the world!"
Seeing Brook's excessive excitement, Yamato waved dismissively.
"It's not..."
"Not number one yet."
...
The Seraphim Ship was even faster than before, likely due to Vegapunk's further modifications to this prototype over the years.
So before the sky had completely darkened, they had already arrived at Marineford.
Of course, one reason was that the incident site was relatively close to Marineford.
However, Michael didn't immediately reveal his identity at the port.
Instead, he retracted his wings and disembarked from the Seraphim Ship alongside Reiju and the others.
"Uncle… are we really not going to announce your return to everyone?"
"Reiju, listen to your aunt. The current situation is actually beneficial for Michael… Staying hidden in the shadows is far more efficient than operating openly," Imu, walking beside Michael, stroked her chin and added.
"Of course, we should still notify the key decision-makers."
Reiju froze, unsure whether to follow the instructions of this strange woman who called herself "aunt."
She could only cast a pleading glance at Michael.
"Do as she says… But as for the 'aunt' part, just treat it as nonsense," Michael said, pressing a hand against Imu's face to silence her before she could retort.
"Oh, and don't forget to notify Wano Country as well."
"Ah, right! How could I forget?" Reiju suddenly smacked her forehead. "Uncle, Lady Kozuki Toki, as a high-ranking member of the Angel Alliance, spends most of her time in Marineford… For example, right now."
Reiju's words prompted enthusiastic nods from the youngsters around them.
Especially Luffy.
He had a vivid impression of this woman who often looked at him with strange eyes.
"You're saying… Toki is in Marineford?"
Michael was taken aback, and in the next moment, his Observation Haki instantly enveloped all of Marineford.
Soon, he located Kozuki Toki's position.
"Kozuki Toki? Toki?" Imu frowned. "That little girl actually got married?"
"Little girl?" Michael glanced at Imu, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"From Toki's perspective now… you're the little girl."
...
"Sigh When will these days of handling paperwork in Marineford ever end…" Kozuki Rin sat at her desk, pen in hand, grumbling incessantly.
"And why does Hiyori get to slack off…?"
"That's entirely because you're always scheming against your own sister, isn't it!?"
Kozuki Toki retorted in exasperation.
In most situations, Kozuki Toki carried herself with serene wisdom.
But…
Teaching her descendants was an exception.
Kozuki Hiyori was manageable—though excessively lazy, at least she didn't cause trouble.
But Kozuki Rin was different.
Not only had she forced Kozuki Toki to "bear and raise children," but a few years ago, she had also tried to sneak away to join Yamato's pirate crew.
Though becoming female seemed to have unlocked her potential, allowing her to inherit the swordsmanship talents of both Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki…
Unfortunately, she had also begun idolizing Joy Boy, aspiring to become a great pirate like him.
And Kozuki Toki knew all too well what kind of person the real Joy Boy from history had been.
A pirate? How laughable.
But even if she said it outright, the current Kozuki Rin probably wouldn't listen.
At this thought, Kozuki Toki couldn't help but sigh.
If Father were here, it would be so much better. This child won't listen to anyone now, but if it were her grandfather speaking, things would be different.
Thinking of Michael, Kozuki Toki turned her gaze toward the darkening sky outside the window.
Though she knew Michael would eventually return...
Seven years of waiting had even begun to shake her confidence.
Had her ability's sudden outburst that time truly kept the timeline within the proper bounds?
What if she had sent Father too early or too late...?
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Hiyori, go answer it."
"Okaaay"
Kozuki Hiyori lazily stood up and walked over to open the door.
The house they were staying in now was right next to Marine Hero Garp's home, so visitors were usually familiar faces.
But when Hiyori opened the door, she saw a young man and woman standing outside...
The woman was dressed in a regal queen's attire.
The man wore a white robe with a fiery red fox scarf draped around his neck.
When Hiyori's gaze traveled upward and she saw his face, she froze in place...
Then let out a piercing scream.
"Gra—mmph!"
"Shh, shh Hiyori, don't make a sound!" Michael quickly covered his granddaughter's mouth.
"I'm not ready to announce my return yet!"
Only after Hiyori nodded dumbly did Michael release her.
Kozuki Toki, who had rushed out at the noise, froze completely when she saw the familiar, long-missed red fox scarf.
"What's wrong? Is that all the reaction I get from my own daughter?"
"Toki?"
Kozuki Toki remained motionless, standing rooted to the spot.
After a long pause... a single tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
"Father... welcome back."
---------
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