Inside the Germa royal palace, the Revolutionary Army officers met warmly with the Queen of Germa.
Neither side had expected their first meeting after the previous conflict to happen under such circumstances.
Because of Michael's presence, the Germa Kingdom and the Revolutionary Army had become natural allies.
Especially after Sora learned the true purpose of both Michael and the Revolutionary Army in detail, she didn't hesitate for a moment to want to join them.
Before becoming a queen, she was just an ordinary woman drifting on the seas.
Though she knew it wouldn't be easy, like her name suggested, she had always yearned for the sky and for freedom.
"Germa Kingdom is willing to share all its technology with the Revolutionary Army—except for the cloning technology," Sora said with a nod. "Germa Kingdom will be the Revolutionary Army's strongest ally in the North Blue."
"Your Majesty, with Michael around, I believe your word."
Dragon didn't hesitate either, readily accepting the offer.
As for the cloning technology, he also believed it was best left sealed away within the Germa Kingdom.
Thinking of this, Dragon once again looked toward Michael.
Every time the Revolutionary Army was about to face a turning point or a challenge, as long as Michael was there, things would always take a mysterious turn for the better.
Who could have imagined that the greatest enemy in the North Blue would become, after a coup, their closest ally in theory?
The new queen is the Chief of Staff's older sister? Who could even make sense of this?
...
"How are the three little ones—Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji—doing?"
After the meeting ended, Michael saw off the Revolutionary Army officers headed to other North Blue countries, then returned to the royal chambers.
As soon as he pushed open the door, three little figures of different colors charged at him.
But unlike Reiju and Sanji, who obediently called him "san," the three didn't seem accustomed to the concept of emotion. The moment they saw Michael, they instinctively rushed at him.
Thanks to the bloodline factor modifications, they had indeed become born war machines.
Although Michael easily blocked their attacks, at just three years old, the three brothers already possessed the combat strength of an average clone soldier.
In his eyes, that wasn't anything impressive—but if the outside world knew, they'd be shocked beyond belief.
After all, a normal clone soldier could easily take on ten regular people barehanded.
"Ichiji! Niji! Yonji!"
Sora's voice came from behind Michael. She rushed forward and scooped the three children into her arms.
Though the three had no emotions and had never even looked properly at their fragile mother...
How could she blame them?
She only blamed Judge—the heartless villain responsible for all this.
"Mo...Mother."
Enveloped in her gentle and warm embrace, Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji instinctively struggled at first, but quickly fell into confusion.
Never having experienced emotion before, they didn't understand what this feeling meant.
All they knew was that this embrace brought a strange sense of...
Attachment.
"My children, my children..."
Sora held her once-emotionless children tightly, repeating those words over and over.
Michael sighed and gently patted her shoulder.
A bit of Holy Light soothed Sora's turbulent emotions.
"Thank you, Michael. I'm okay now."
"Even if we only met today... don't thank me," Michael shook his head. "We're siblings. And siblings who staged a coup together. I'd say that counts as life-and-death comrades, don't you think?"
"Yeah..." Sora smiled and let go of the three children. "Ichiji, Niji, Yonji—this is your uncle."
"Uncle? What's an uncle?" Yonji looked confused, like someone who'd never heard the word before.
"An uncle is Mother's brother," Ichiji said, casting a disdainful glance at Yonji. "You and Niji really need to read more books!"
"...I didn't say anything! Why am I getting dragged into this?" Niji protested, glaring at his older brother.
Though the three were bickering, compared to the cold, emotionless war machines they once were, this was positively lively.
You could tell at a glance that they now had feelings.
"Seeing this scene... I'm so happy."
Sora's eyes were slightly red, but no tears fell. Instead, she wore a genuinely joyful smile.
"Mom! How are those three idiots doing?"
"Yeah, yeah! Is there any hope for those emotionless dummies?"
Reiju and Sanji burst into the room.
Michael glanced at the two—though they were calling their siblings "idiots," their eyes were full of worry. He nodded thoughtfully.
At this point in time, it seemed the three brothers hadn't bullied Sanji under Judge's orders yet.
Which meant Reiju and Sanji still considered them brothers.
"As long as I'm here, of course it was a success." Michael ruffled Reiju and Sanji's hair. "I'm an angel, after all. An angel."
"...Angel wings must be delicious ingredients, right?" Sanji looked up, eyes gleaming with envy at Michael's wings. "Am I right, Uncle?"
"...Is food all you ever think about?" Michael smiled kindly, then tugged Sanji's cheek. "Don't push your luck, you curly-browed brat!"
"I know Sanji's comment wasn't very nice..." Reiju pointed at her own face. "But still, there are five curly-browed people here! Uncle, you should be clear—it's him, the one with yellow curly brows!"
Michael couldn't help but smile at his precocious little niece.
With a sharp tongue like that, no wonder she'd grow up to be called "Poison Pink."
Looking around at the kids who shared his blood, Michael thought—
If these five could grow up under Sora's guidance, they might all turn out to be on par with Sanji.
And with transformation devices suited to their attributes...
Even in the New World, they'd be forces to be reckoned with.
"Sora, have you ever thought about what you want the kids to do when they grow up?"
"That... I've honestly never thought about it." Sora shook her head. "As long as they don't become emotionless killing machines, I don't care what they choose to do."
"In that case... why not send them to Marine Headquarters?"
"Marine Headquarters offers some of the best education for children of Marines in the entire sea."
"Marine Headquarters?" Sora's expression showed clear reluctance.
Michael smiled and said:
"It's not like they'd never come back. They'll be home every summer and winter. Besides..."
"Trust me—once you officially start working as queen, your reluctance will quickly turn into headaches and frustration."
"As a Rear Admiral who's led a bunch of teenage subordinates... I speak from experience."
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +100 chapters on Patreon tambeerg