"Beware... the Nefertari?"
Michael and Robin hadn't lowered their voices intentionally, so Crocodile, who had been keeping an eye on their movements from nearby, instantly transformed into swirling sand and appeared at Michael's side.
Frowning, she examined the Poneglyph.
"This... makes no sense. Although Joy Boy was defeated by the twenty Celestial Dragon families that formed the World Government—the 'Twenty Kings'—why single out the Nefertari family? Especially since the Nefertari never became Celestial Dragons and instead returned to Alabasta."
"That I don't know." Robin shook her head. "Though it has nothing to do with historical records, this is indeed what the legendary Joy Boy left behind, and it's written exactly like this."
"And the more important question is... why would Joy Boy leave a message for a bastard like Michael'? There's an eight-hundred-year gap between Michael and Joy Boy!"
After saying this, Crocodile turned her gaze to Michael, hungry for an answer.
Michael looked at Crocodile, then at Robin, and sighed.
"Alright, I suppose it's time to inform you all... Gather everyone."
Robin nodded, crossing her arms before her chest.
Around each member of the SWORD Forces who had been occupied with their own tasks, a hand with a mouth sprouted.
"Everyone, assemble at the temporary camp."
Within minutes, all members of the SWORD Forces, along with Jack and Yamato, had gathered in the temporary camp.
Surveying the confused faces around him, Michael sighed.
Then he reiterated his relationship with Kozuki Toki.
Aside from perceptive individuals like Rosinante, who had already sensed something odd and gotten answers from Kozuki Toki, the others were completely in the dark.
"Eh!? Time travel!? Eight hundred years ago!? Adoptive father!?" Hancock's eyes had already begun spinning like mosquito coils.
"So just how many daughters do you have!? You damn old man!"
"Sandersonia, Marigold, calm your elder sister down," Michael rubbed his temples. "As unbelievable as it sounds, it appears that at some point in the future, I'll travel back over 800 years—and it seems I won't just adopt Kozuki Toki but also meet the legendary Joy Boy..."
Truth be told, Michael was beginning to feel somewhat puzzled now.
Just how long had he stayed in the past...?
Through his extensive investigations across the world, Michael was discovering more and more traces he'd left behind 800 years ago...
So many that it was almost excessive.
Not to mention, there were now two more points of suspicion.
One was what he'd just learned: "Beware of the Nefertari."
The other was the news about Rocks brought by Charlotte Linlin.
Everything seemed to converge on that era over 800 years ago, before the World Government was established...
There were simply too many mysteries.
As a transmigrator, Michael couldn't help but feel exasperated...
'Oda sure as hell didn't draw any of this!'
Indeed, how could an entire world be fully depicted in just one manga?
But after his moment of reflection, Michael looked up at everyone.
"Stay alert about these matters. If you ever come across any strange information related to that 800-year mark, you must inform me."
"Yes, sir!"
"Alright, no need to be so serious. How's the cleanup going?"
"Report! The remnants of the Beasts Pirates and their allies have been dealt with... but there's a minor issue." Rosinante stepped forward, gesturing with his hands.
"And this minor issue is... a bit tricky to resolve."
"Tricky to resolve... and you're calling it minor!?" Michael glared at his occasionally scatterbrained brother.
"What's the problem?"
"Dyna Stone."
"Dyna Stone... Dyna Stone!?" Michael froze for a moment.
"Where the hell did the Beasts Pirates get Dyna Stone? That stuff isn't even sold on the black market, is it?"
"That's the issue... Not only did they have Dyna Stone, but they also used members of the Donquixote Family to place them in various hidden locations across Wano... in considerable quantities." Rosinante sighed.
"But the reason I called it 'minor' is that the Donquixote Family members value their lives. They didn't just bury the Dyna Stone—they installed anti-collision and detonation devices... So unless subjected to extreme force, they won't explode. The only real problem is their locations."
"Are the Donquixote Family members all dead?"
"Some are alive, but they were placed in batches, so only a small portion can be found," Rosinante shrugged.
"Though there's not much danger involved, it's still a rather labor-intensive task."
As he spoke, Rosinante sighed.
"If only we had enough smart and plentiful hunting dogs or something similar... maybe that could speed up the process."
Upon hearing this, Michael's gaze instantly shifted toward the cats and dogs chatting with Kozuki Toki...
"You mean... we actually have those?"
...
A day later, upon receiving Rosinante's report, the Marine Headquarters immediately dispatched Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Tsuru and Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp to Wano Country to oversee the prisoner transfer.
"Tsk tsk tsk, look at this, Tsuru. That brat Rosinante is getting bolder with his lies," Garp said, flicking the report in his hand.
"Claiming Kaido disappeared after battling Charlotte Linlin... Does he really think we don't know Michael is in Wano?"
"This just proves Rosinante has grown up," Tsuru chuckled softly, sipping her tea. "Some things are understood by both the writer and the reader of the report, yet they can't be stated plainly on paper."
"Tsk, all these convoluted ways... I'll never learn them in my lifetime."
"You're far beyond such 'convoluted ways,' Garp..." Tsuru glanced sideways at him. "As they say, still waters run deep..."
"I don't understand a word you're saying, Tsuru..."
"Then don't. But don't forget, our entire Marine force is now tied to Michael like grasshoppers on a string... You all owe me some transparency at least."
"Well... You'd better ask Michael yourself when you have the chance." Garp pointed into the distance.
"Look, Tsuru, we've finally arrived at Wano."
As the fleet led by Garp's flagship entered Wano's inland sea, the scenery along the shore came into view.
Everywhere, keen-nosed minks were sniffing the ground frantically.
"Uh..." Garp looked around, confirming their location before whispering to Tsuru.
"Are we really in Wano?"
Just then, one mink seemed to catch a scent.
After digging with its claws, it unearthed something wrapped in a transparent substance.
"(^o^)/ The minks have done it again!"
Even from a distance, Garp's sharp eyes could see clearly.
"Holy— Holy shit!"
"Dyna Stone?!"
Garp and Tsuru exchanged glances, their faces instantly darkening.
These days, the only ones who could obtain Dyna Stone... were the World Government.
Which meant behind Kaido this time...
Lurked the shadow of the World Government again!