"Wait, you just got back from over 800 years ago, right?" Rocks ran a hand through his hair, now completely dyed pure white by Holy Light.
"And you're already itching to stir up trouble?"
"Is this stirring up trouble? I'm doing this for everyone's benefit!" Michael rubbed his hands together eagerly, "It just so happens my return hasn't been announced yet... which means right now, I'm the one in the shadows."
"So that's your reason for becoming a pirate?"
"Isn't that reason enough?"
Rocks was utterly speechless at Michael's actions.
Though he had been a pirate himself, and once dreamed of becoming the King of the World...
But that was all in the past.
Now, he was just an ordinary old man living in Marineford as a "Pirate Affairs Advisor"...
Though "ordinary" definitely needed quotation marks.
Given his combat experience and gradually returning physical prowess after regaining his complete body, even high-ranking officers of the Angel Alliance were no match for him.
But still...
"I feel like you're just... letting yourself go wild now. You've been a marine, a Revolutionary Army member, the shadow leader of Cross Guild, guided the Twenty Kings to overthrow the Ancient Kingdom 800 years ago... and now you're reaching into the pirate world?" Rocks looked at Michael helplessly.
"So... what exactly are you trying to do?"
"To put it in lofty terms, I need to go to the frontlines to find a way to eradicate piracy... It's also how I'm reconnecting with the people's will these days." Michael gave Rocks a thumbs up, "But if we're being honest... I've been gone too long and need to rediscover my place in this era. And truthfully, I kind of miss my other daughters."
"Weren't you still awkward about their existence before this?"
"Ahaha, as you get older, these things start feeling more natural."
...
While Michael's decision sounded utterly absurd, to the Angel Alliance's higher-ups, this was the real Michael.
What was common sense?
Was it edible?
Otherwise, he wouldn't have pulled off so many schemes right under the World Government's nose back then.
Thus... all present executives unanimously approved Michael's "Undercover Pirate Investigation Plan."
And after Michael's repeated confirmations, everyone promised not to reveal his return to anyone outside Marineford.
...
Over the next week, Michael led the second generation—with Reiju at the forefront—to remodel the Seraphim Ship's appearance.
Without compromising any of the Seraphim Ship's capabilities, they transformed its exterior into that of a wooden sailing ship.
And raised a pirate flag.
Originally, Michael wanted to add white wing motifs around the skull, only to discover...
Yamato's Angel Pirates had already used that design!
To avoid awkward flag collisions at sea later, Michael ultimately changed it to a skull pierced by the "Morning Star."
And this skull flag was designed by Marianne, also known as Ms. Goldenweek, who hadn't grown much taller than seven years ago.
This girl, whose abilities rival those of a Devil Fruit user despite not having eaten one, now serves as Tsuru's secretary at Marineford.
Of course, only the highest echelons are aware of her powers.
After all, the combined effects of Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit and Marianne's emotion-influencing painting skills can achieve near-perfect brainwashing.
And Doflamingo remains the sole victim of this dual-ability synergy.
"Uncle Michael! Why are we remodeling the Seraphim Ship to look like a pirate vessel?"
"Don't tell me you're planning to become a pirate? Oh dear… that would be such a headache… I'd stand no chance against you, Uncle Michael! ε=(′ο｀*)))"
Having finished his work, Luffy squatted on the mast like an innocent monkey untouched by the world, asking questions while flicking the straw hat on his head.
On his chest, an "X"-shaped scar was faintly visible.
Michael turned around and realized that Luffy—wearing a red open beach shirt, blue swim trunks, and that straw hat—looked almost exactly like the person he was meant to become.
"...By the way, where did this straw hat with the red ribbon come from?" Michael raised an eyebrow and countered.
"Don't tell me you also worship the so-called 'world's first pirate,' Joy Boy?"
"According to Rocks, Joy Boy was indeed strong… but I don't think he was a pirate. That's just propaganda from the World Government. Whatever the enemy says, you should believe the opposite."
Though Luffy's eyes seemed naive, they gleamed with an insight that pierced through illusions.
"As for my hat, it has nothing to do with Joy Boy. Some weird lady named Kozuki Toki gave it to me… said it reminded her of an old friend. I liked it, so I kept wearing it."
"I see…"
Michael nodded without further comment.
It seemed Toki was reminiscing about her old comrade in her own way.
So, though the process was entirely different, a "Straw Hat Luffy" had still come into existence.
Except this straw hat wasn't part of the Pirate King's legacy—passed down from Roger to Red Hair to Luffy—but born from nostalgia for Joy Boy.
That… wasn't so bad.
At least, to Michael personally…
Luffy just looked better with a straw hat on.
"Hey! Luffy! Why aren't you helping?!"
"Idiot Ace! I already finished my part!"
"Finished my ass! You just stacked the wood like building blocks, you moron!"
Ace burst out from the cabin in a fiery temper and delivered a familiar "Fist of Love" straight to Luffy's head.
Michael raised an eyebrow…
Clearly, Ace had inherited Garp's teachings too.
At the same time, a curved sword hung at his waist.
Though vastly inferior in quality, its shape bore a striking resemblance to the predecessor of "Morning Star"—Roger's 'Ace.'
"Fight back, Luffy!" Michael egged him on from the sidelines. "You're not chickening out just because he's your brother, are you?"
"Of course I'm not chickening out! There's just no need to fight him right now," Luffy retorted stubbornly.
But Ace shook his head with a light chuckle, his face wearing an expression of teasing amusement toward his younger brother.
"My foolish little brother, you should focus on breaking your perfect losing streak against me first!"