"Maria D. Michael?"
Originally, Kaido didn't understand why Doflamingo wanted to tell him information about the Marines.
But when he heard that familiar surname, Kaido instantly became interested.
"What's his relationship with the Queen of the New Germa Kingdom, Maria D. Sora?"
"Biological siblings." Doflamingo shrugged. "It was only because of her Marine brother that Sora's coup was successful."
"Good. The rest of the intel… come inside and talk." Kaido nodded, then turned and walked toward the safe zone.
The thunder couldn't harm his body, but the constant noise was still too distracting.
He was now extremely interested in this "Michael," so he didn't want to miss a single word.
...
After returning to the safe zone, Doflamingo followed Kaido into a building that looked like the castle of a demon king.
They wound through the corridors until they reached the top floor.
Kaido sat down heavily at the massive table and gestured for Doflamingo to sit as well.
Doflamingo glanced at the huge chair. With a flick of his hand, countless threads gathered beneath him, forming an elegant white chair tall enough for him to sit at eye level with Kaido.
"Where do you want me to start, 'Beasts' Kaido?"
"Since this is intel meant to prove your sincerity, of course you'll start from the beginning. Everything. In detail. No holding back."
"Fine." Doflamingo nodded. "The first time this man gained some fame on the seas was six years ago, the same year Gol D. Roger was executed."
"He openly destroyed a smuggling ship supplying slaves to the Celestial Dragons."
Kaido froze.
This was a Marine?
Weren't Marines just the lapdogs of the government?
They actually dared to go against the Celestial Dragons behind the World Government?
Kaido couldn't help but recall his childhood…
He was born in the Vodka Kingdom and became the strongest warrior of the country at ten years old.
But that damned king, just to secure the right to attend the World Conference, wanted to "sell" him to the Marines as a bargaining chip.
From that day on, Kaido began to hate the Marines and the World Government with all his heart.
"You… thought of something?" Doflamingo noticed Kaido's empty gaze and asked instead of continuing. "Are you thinking that this man is different from ordinary Marines?"
"Marines… how different can they be? They're either obedient government dogs or disobedient government dogs… even monsters like Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr are no exception."
"But… this man really does seem to be an exception." Doflamingo gave a bitter smile. "Before that incident, Michael was just an unknown Lieutenant Commander, serving as Vice Admiral Gion's adjutant and helping manage the Sabaody Archipelago… Afterward, he did something that got him promoted straight from Headquarters Lieutenant Commander to Headquarters Rear Admiral."
"Three ranks in a row?"
"Yes. Three in a row… all because he saved Marine Headquarters from the Golden Lion's disaster attack."
When the words "Golden Lion" left Doflamingo's mouth, Kaido's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
This sounded like one of those stories where a hidden monster suddenly sheds his disguise and rises to power overnight.
And from the beginning, Michael's name…
Had always sounded familiar.
"After that, he formed a special Marine unit."
"A special Marine unit? The one even the World Government doesn't know the full details about?" Kaido looked at Doflamingo, puzzled. "Then why do you know?"
"You think I'd tell you that I was almost wiped out by that unit?" A trace of shame crossed Doflamingo's face. "Damn it, even now I'm technically still under him… He ordered me to unify the entire underworld."
"So now… you plan to turn on him?"
"No, just playing double agent… Michael doesn't bother with trivial details." Doflamingo sighed. "Or maybe he just doesn't see me as a threat at all."
Kaido watched Doflamingo's expression, his curiosity about Michael growing stronger by the second.
"His most terrifying feat was the great battle on Fishman Island against Whitebeard." Doflamingo said as he took out a Den Den Mushi. "My men were disguised as civilians shopping on Fishman Island… got lucky enough to capture it on film. Honestly, outside of Fishman Island, hardly anyone even knows about this."
Kaido grabbed the Den Den Mushi, aimed it at the wall, and played the footage.
The video was a bit shaky, but most of the fight was recorded clearly.
Kaido's pupils widened.
That battle… even if he replaced Whitebeard on Fishman Island, at best he could only fight Michael to a draw…
But what shocked him most wasn't Michael's combat power…
It was the two pairs of pure white wings—one large, one small—on his back.
He finally remembered!
Where he had seen that figure before, and heard that name!
"You… come with me."
Kaido tossed out the words, then got up and walked toward another room.
Doflamingo looked confused but followed anyway.
...
Under Kaido's lead, they walked through more of the demon king's castle until they reached the innermost room.
The lights blazed brightly.
But Kaido suddenly stopped at the doorway, peeking inside.
Doflamingo's mouth twitched. Was this… sneaking around?
But as he looked inside, he almost burst out laughing on the spot.
Only Kaido's murderous glare stopped him from losing control.
Inside the room—clearly a child's bedroom—
There were Michael: Holy Light of Justice posters and merchandise everywhere!
This was Fishman Island's best-selling product, with the same-name series serialized weekly in the World Economic Journal, written by the same author as Warriors of the Sea: Skies Above!
And the main character… was a handsome Marine with platinum-blonde hair and a pair of shining white wings, named Michael!
And a girl with demon horns just like Kaido's was rolling on the bed, hugging a giant Michael body pillow.
"Vice Admiral Michael is just too handsome!"
"I've decided! I'm going to follow in Michael's footsteps!"
"Set sail and become a great Marine!"
It was Kaido's ten-year-old daughter, Yamato.
Beside her, his four-year-old adopted daughter Ulti and two-year-old adopted son Page One were copying their big sister, rolling around the bed with their own Michael body pillows.
And the most eye-searing part was…
The Michael on the body pillow was shirtless.
"That Michael guy… I'm going to find him… and kill him."
"To think he actually made my daughter…"
"Into a shut-in otaku!"
---
read +175 chapters on Patreon tambeerg