Michael rolled his eyes—he wasn't here to listen to Rocks reminisce about his glorious past.
And Rocks only said a few more words.
By the time Charlotte Linlin returned with the Sweet Commanders and her eldest son Perospero, Rocks had already set aside the watering can.
Then, he walked off on his own toward the ruins of God Valley.
Along the way, the conveyor belt-like convenience facilities had a distinctly postmodernist flair.
It must be said that Perospero, aside from being the chief steward of Whole Cake Island, also possesses craftsmanship skills with an aesthetic and level unparalleled in the world.
Throughout Cake Island, there are houses and elevators he created by blending candy with steel components.
Michael and the others followed Rocks inside.
The remaining ruins were tall enough that even the now-grown Charlotte Linlin could walk in without issue.
However, someone of Gerd's standard giant size couldn't fit and had to wait outside.
Thanks to Michael's gradual trimming, they didn't have to walk far after entering before they approached the so-called Lunar Technology.
Michael and Charlotte Linlin had already witnessed the true form of Lunar Technology along the way.
But even so, Michael couldn't help but sigh…
The tech tree of this damn world was so absurdly skewed.
This feeling of being both backward and advanced—he had experienced it countless times!
He just couldn't get used to it!
"Ah, this is it." Rocks looked once more at the Lunar Technology that had once cost him all his strength, one arm, and one leg, yet he showed no agitation.
Instead, he was eerily calm, as if meeting an old friend.
"Just thinking about how I almost got killed by this lifeless thing back then makes me laugh from the bottom of my heart."
"Impressive that you can stay so composed." Michael stood beside Rocks, staring at the time-crossing Lunar Technology.
"So, how exactly do we activate this thing?"
"Energy, of course." Rocks shrugged. "Haven't you heard the saying, 'If you haven't eaten pork, at least you've seen a pig run'? But as for how they obtained energy strong enough to pierce through Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki—I have no idea."
Michael nodded.
If nothing unexpected had happened, the energy required to activate this Lunar Technology machine was likely the same as the one-time-use Mother Flame that powered Uranus.
Though the nature of the energy was probably different.
As someone who had worked with Vegapunk to perfect the Mother Flame, Michael clearly knew that the Eternal Fire within it couldn't directly penetrate Conqueror's Haki or Armament Haki.
"Thinking about it now, possessing energy like that would be enough to destroy everything, wouldn't it?"
Rocks mused.
Haki in this world was absolutely one of the two pinnacles of power, balanced alongside Devil Fruits.
But now, above these two balancing points, there might emerge a new, unprecedented force.
"So after all this talk, we can't activate this thing right now, can we?"
"Correct." Rocks nodded. "But there's no need for us to rush."
"No need to rush?" Charlotte Linlin frowned. "How can we not rush this? If Michael can't go back to the past, won't the whole world fall into chaos?"
"Linlin." Rocks turned to face her, his expression calm. "He is destined to return to the past. It's an inevitability."
With that, he walked out of the ruins, picked up the watering can, and resumed tending to the plants.
Michael understood what Rocks meant.
This was an already closed loop of events.
Even if he couldn't activate the machine now, he would inevitably find a way to do so later.
"Linlin, how about doing me a favor?"
"I've already helped you plenty, one more won't make a difference."
"Seems Kaido's life is truly valuable to you."
"Even without my foolish little brother... I'd still be willing to help you."
"I'm truly flattered." Michael said, patting the Lunar Technology machine. "Then help me deliver this thing to Baltigo..."
"Baltigo? Why mention that place suddenly?" Charlotte Linlin froze before blurting out, "Could it be... the Revolutionary Army's headquarters is currently located in Baltigo?"
"I neither confirm nor deny that." Michael shrugged.
Aside from Revolutionary Army members, the only ones who knew Baltigo housed their headquarters were Rayleigh and others from the Cross Guild, along with Whitebeard Pirates' officers.
Now, the Charlotte Family joined that list.
"And you? Where are you going?"
Before Linlin finished speaking, Michael had already spread his wings and flown out of the ruins, disappearing.
After a long pause, Linlin waved at Perospero and the Sweet Commanders.
"You handle this matter."
With that, she departed too.
Only Katakuri and the others remained, exchanging bewildered glances.
Smoothie muttered under her breath.
"She's cured of her hunger pangs, but I fear she might catch lovesickness next?"
"I heard from Amazon Lily that lovesickness is terrifying too! Several empress have died from it!"
As these words were spoken, Shakky on Sabaody Archipelago and Gloriosa returning to Elbaf simultaneously sneezed.
...
Three days later, Marineford, N.E.W Marine Headquarters.
After concluding another major meeting, Sengoku walked from the conference room toward his office.
Following closely behind was Donquixote Doflamingo who's influenced by the Wash-Wash Fruit and Friend-Friend Fruit's yellow-green effects.
Sengoku couldn't help but reflect—while the original Doflamingo was truly wicked and maintained his act for long, his "Wise King" title was earned through genuine capability.
In terms of both intellect and personal ability, Doflamingo was practically flawless.
One might even say he far surpassed Rosinante in matters requiring cunning.
"No more business today, go rest."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku." The solemn-faced Doflamingo saluted. "I'd like to visit my former subordinates."
The fruits affected cognition and personality—Doflamingo retained all his original memories.
Sengoku nodded in approval.
Those captured from Wano hadn't been sent to Impel Down, but were instead held in temporary seastone prisons at Marine Headquarters.
Impel Down itself remained in a state of uncertainty.
After Doflamingo left, Sengoku returned alone to his office.
Upon opening the door, crisp "crunch-crunch" sounds reached his ears.
A man with multiple pairs of pristine white Wings sat cross-legged on his desk, munching from a bag of spicy rice crackers.
Seeing Sengoku enter, the man didn't bother standing.
"Yo, old man, long time no see."