After Roger death, the world descended into chaos.
This was no exaggeration.
Not only pirates, but countless civilians also took to the seas, eager to pursue the great treasure personally acknowledged by the Pirate King.
This kind of mass frenzy was something Michael had anticipated.
But the World Government actions truly exceeded his expectations.
Instead of focusing on quelling the potential surge of pirates across nations or guiding their citizens with reason, they poured vast resources into targeting everyone connected to Roger.
They didn't even bother hiding it—everything was blatantly exposed in the newspapers.
For example, Tom, the world greatest shipwright who had built Roger ship from the legendary Adam Wood, was sentenced to execution because of it.
If not for the fact that the Sea Train project couldn't proceed without him—granting him a ten-year reprieve—his fishman head would already be on display as a warning.
Seeing such baffling decisions, Michael felt as if his intelligence was being ground into the dirt.
How the hell did these idiots even rise to power?
Was it really just a contest of incompetence?
The Five Elders were the cream of the crop in this regard.
Their unnaturally long lives hadn't granted them wisdom—only an ever-growing arrogance and disdain, reinforced by their unchecked authority.
"Here, old man Garp, take a look at this." Michael handed the newspaper to Garp.
Garp was already in a foul mood due to the sudden explosion in pirate activity.
After reading the report, his face darkened to the point of resembling charcoal.
"Do these people in charge have brains the size of rice crackers?"
"Tom the shipwright is practically a symbol of Water 7!"
"Do they want the entire city to despise the World Government and the Marines?"
"From now on, if shipwrights 'accidentally' leave flaws when repairing warships or official vessels, we won't even know how we died!"
"Pissing off shipwrights on the high seas? What the hell are they thinking!?"
Michael, however, remained calm.
After taking a sip of tea, he sneered coldly.
"What's the point of cursing the World Government? A regime that rules through brutal suppression and slavery—do you really expect them to have brains? All they care about is licking the Celestial Dragons' boots."
"Not that I disagree with you..." Garp shrugged. "But don't forget, we still have an 'agreement' to fulfill."
"No need to rush. According to Roger description, there's still plenty of time before the birth."
Michael leaned back in his chair, appearing lazy, but his mind was racing.
The Great Pirate Era had officially begun.
It was time... to start laying the groundwork.
As a reincarnator, he might as well be a little selfish.
He would use every means possible to alter every future he disliked.
"By the way, old man Garp."
"What is it?"
"Do you know Big News Morgans?"
"That slightly unhinged newspaper boss? Yeah, his organization works pretty closely with the Marines."
"Good. I need him to do me a small favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"Deliver a letter."
***
"In Kuri, there's a foolish lord~ In Kuri, there's a foolish lord~"
"Ah, how could Lord Sukiyaki have raised such a disgraceful son?"
"Jumping naked every day! What a disgrace! Such a disgrace!"
"He's tarnishing Lord Sukiyaki name! This guy should just kill himself in apology!"
The walls of the shogun palace could not muffle the torrent of insults and curses directed at the Kozuki household.
Kozuki Oden sat slumped in a drunken stupor, yet he continued to pour sake down his throat, cup after cup.
For the past year, he had remained in this state—perpetually drunk.
Because… Only like this could he numb his pride enough to dance naked.
The Kozuki Oden who had once been regarded as a brother by Whitebeard, who had clashed with Roger… Was already dead.
Dead somewhere on the vast, endless sea.
What remained in the shogun palace was nothing but the hollow shell of his existence.
"O...Oden-sama! Wake up! Please, wake up!"
Kin'emon stumbled into the palace in a panic, too frantic to even mind his manners.
Not that Kozuki Oden cared about such things anyway.
"Ahh, Kin'emon, your voice is too loud… my head's splitting… Is it time to dance again?" Oden slurred, already rising to his feet and fumbling with his clothes.
"Just wait… I'll strip and go right away—"
"My lord! Please, stop degrading yourself!"
Kin'emon's eyes welled up at the sight, his heart aching with sorrow.
One naked dance—supposedly to save a hundred lives.
But was Kaido a man of his word? Was Kurozumi Orochi?
Yet Kozuki Oden chose to believe…
For an entire year, had Kaido and Orochi ever honored their promise to release the hostages?
No one knew.
But across all of Wano, Kozuki Oden had become nothing but a laughingstock.
His dignity and reputation—utterly ruined.
But…
He was Kozuki Oden!
The man Whitebeard still spoke of fondly, the former commander of the Second Division!
He should have been Wano true shogun!
"Well, well, what do we have here? So this drunkard is the legendary Daimyo of Kuri? Truly, 'seeing is believing'—though I must say, the Kozuki Oden from Whitebeard crew was far more impressive."
A mocking voice cut through the air as a tall, feathered beastman strode uninvited into the room.
Dressed in a top hat, black cape, light-blue shirt and red-and-white checkered pants—this was one of the Underground Emperors, the "Big News" Morgans, ruler of the information world.
His avian appearance came from his Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Albatross.
"I think… I've seen you before" Oden hiccuped, his drunken gaze icy.
"But don't block my way."
"I don't know where you're headed, but as a friendly warning, you'd better hear me out first."
With that, Morgans pulled a letter from his coat.
"A man got to honor his commitments."
"A certain someone named Michael asked me to deliver a message."
"Michael? Who? Don't know him." Oden shook his head.
"Doesn't matter if you do or not. My job is to pass it along."
"This man said: 'Kozuki Oden, you're a fool who's doomed your entire family! Your brain practically clogged shut! But luckily, not completely! Open the envelope—inside is all the intel you need.'"
After speaking, Morgans turned and left without hesitation, not uttering another word.
Only after boarding his airship did Morgans glance back at Wano Country, which was gradually beginning to show signs of decay.
Muttering under his breath
"I'm one of the Underworld Emperor! And they made me personally deliver a damn letter!"
"If I weren't outmatched, I'd never stoop to such undignified work!"
"And Garp! You're supposed to be the Marine hero!"
"Threatening a law-abiding citizen, saying 'obey if you don't want to lose your headquarters' or some nonsense..."
"Those two Marine men! They're worse than pirates!"