"Chief of Staff! Our sincerest apologies!"
Michael sighed slightly as he watched the row of people bowing deeply before him...
Just what kind of reputation had he gained in the rumors?
The way they were acting, it was as if he was about to execute them on the spot.
But...
"You all joined the Revolutionary Army within the last few months, didn't you?"
"Yes, because we haven't received revolutionary education for very long, we can't directly participate in major operations of the Revolutionary Army yet. Instead, we're being guided by various senior officers..."
Paula raised her head, her eyes filled with both fear and admiration.
These two somewhat conflicting emotions made Michael both amused and exasperated.
However, he hadn't expected that several individuals who were originally supposed to become officers of Baroque Works had instead joined the Revolutionary Army.
Their Devil Fruits were actually quite impressive...
If they hadn't appeared so early in the story, they could have been considered to have decent potential.
At least from what he could see now, with proper training, they would become excellent talents for the Revolutionary Army in the future.
After all, as Devil Fruit Users, they possessed a considerable baseline of ability.
But what truly surprised Michael was that Bentham had already become the user of the Paramecia-type Mane Mane no Mi ...
It hadn't been long since Kurozumi Higurashi's death.
Should he say Bentham was lucky? Or was the inertia of history just that formidable?
"Alright, there's no need to act so timid in front of me. Although the Revolutionary Army has a chain of command, that's only for combat operations. There's no hierarchy between individuals,"
Michael motioned for them to sit down while casually stuffing some beef jerky into little Bonney's mouth.
"I don't look that scary, do I?"
"O-of course not..." the group responded in unison, their eyes drifting toward Michael... or more precisely, behind him.
They weren't afraid of Michael at all!
What terrified them was the enormous beauty reclining on the living Cloud behind him!
Though this woman appeared gorgeous, those eyes of hers...
They had no doubt that if Michael weren't present, they'd be dead at her hands!
As natives of the Four Blues and Paradise, they weren't very familiar with the powers of the New World...
Even if they'd heard legends about "BIG MOM" Charlotte Linlin, they'd never connect her with this stunning giantess before them.
"So you all came here with Ginny to liberate and expand our bases?"
"That's right... This entire route is under Commander Ginny's leadership!" Paula, as the group's spokesperson, answered.
"We'll conduct squad explorations centered around Commander Ginny... After marking locations, our Revolutionary Army comrades will follow up later to carry out liberation or reforms."
Michael nodded.
This approach was indeed more efficient than slowly advancing with large forces.
More effective and more targeted.
After all, Paradise was no smaller in scope than the New World.
Even with the Revolutionary Army's manpower, without using more efficient methods, complete liberation would take years.
So then...
"Where's Ginny?"
"Commander Ginny... isn't she right over there?"
Following Bentham's pointing finger, Michael looked...
He'd thought it was his imagination earlier...
But this woman really was just watching the show!
Indeed, even after Michael had finished conversing with Ginny's subordinates, Ginny remained completely engrossed in the spectacle—
The epic battle between Dorry and Brogy.
Under that terrifying aura, if one wasn't afraid of being caught in the crossfire, they could indeed witness an ultimate battle filled with power and wildness.
Seeing these two, Michael couldn't help but smile.
Because these two, just like Crocodile, could rank at the top of the "appeared too early" victim list.
Now sitting before him, looking extremely awkward in his brown trench coat with an explosive Afro, was Mr. 5, and beside him, still diligently producing wax, was Mr. 3...
These two had actually managed to severely injure the captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates through schemes and traps in the canon.
One must know that Dorry and Brogy, who had acquired new equipment and rested to return to their peak condition, were formidable warriors who shone brightly on Egghead Island, capable of assisting Luffy in battling the Five Elders!
A single battle had raised their bounties to 1.8 billion Berries each!
It might seem exaggerated, but considering the giants' backgrounds and experiences, it was actually quite reasonable.
"Hey! Ginny! What are you standing around for?"
Michael called out, and Ginny's ears twitched as she turned to see Michael... and the towering figure behind him, Charlotte Linlin.
As the commander of the Revolutionary Army's Eastern Army and the person in charge of internal communications and intelligence, she was naturally the most well-informed.
She immediately recognized this enormous beauty as one of the legendary "Emperors of the Sea," "BIG MOM" Charlotte Linlin.
But what puzzled her was... Why was this woman here?
Was Michael close with her?
She had already discarded forty-two husbands... Yikes!
Could it be that Michael was into that kind of thing!?
This was truly explosive information!
In that instant, Ginny's mind raced.
Her eyes sparkled with gossip!
Then she transformed into a blazing streak of fire, descending from the sky.
"Big Bro
Michael! You... finally came!"
Ginny couldn't help but glance at Charlotte Linlin again.
After all, a ten-meter-tall beauty had a different visual impact up close versus from afar.
"By calling me here... you're not thinking of recruiting these two into the Revolutionary Army, are you? As much as I'd love to, it's just not realistic."
Michael shrugged.
The people of Elbaf might not oppose the Revolutionary Army, and some, like Saul, had even joined the Revolutionary Army or the Marines...
But Dorry and Brogy were exceptions.
The captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates held an extraordinary status in Elbaf.
One could even say they were the spiritual leaders of Elbaf.
In a way, they were as important as the king of Elbaf.
Long-term subtle influence might work.
But expecting to succeed with just a few persuasive words? Wishful thinking.
"Can't handle it? Well, if you can't, then just get them out of here..." Ginny pointed at the island.
"This is one of the rare places with prehistoric ecology, and the resources are incredibly rich... But if these two keep fighting here, we can't mine anything."
"That's simple."
Michael nodded, then looked at Charlotte Linlin beside him.
"Well, your idol is right here..."
"Don't you want to fight them?"