The tea room of the Isshin Dojo was filled with people.
Michael, Hawk Eyes, and Enel sat on one side, while Monkey D. Dragon, Ginny, and Kuma were on the other.
Kōshirō Shimotsuki, who had just come out of his daughter's room, sat at the main seat, preparing tea for the friends who had come from afar.
"I wonder… what's the Navy's Chief Inspector doing coming to our Revolutionary Army territory?" Ginny spoke first, her tone awkwardly stiff, as if reading lines she wasn't familiar with. "I'm really curious!"
"Alright, stop pretending. If you wanted to pretend, you shouldn't have revealed it from the start." Michael rolled his eyes, then pointed to Hawk Eyes and Enel.
"It doesn't matter that they know my identity. They're just here to follow me… They became Navy members solely because of me. The important thing isn't the Navy—it's me."
"Phew! You should've said that sooner! I was just spinning my brain trying to figure out how to hide our relationship…" Ginny let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "So, Michael, is there a reason you came to Shimotsuki Village?"
"As your Chief of Staff, am I not allowed to come whenever I want?" Michael said, stretching out his hands. "Come on, let me hug little Bonney!"
"Tsk, so that's the real reason you came—for Bonney?" Ginny pouted but obediently handed Bonney to Michael.
"Be careful, this is the daughter that Kuma and I treasure the most."
"I don't think someone who casually holds a daughter around should say such things." Michael barely looked at Ginny, holding Bonney in his arms instead. "Ah, Bonney, I'm your Michael, the one who likes you the most."
"Alright, Ginny." Dragon, unusually, showed a warm smile. "You should see how Kuma usually talks to Bonney… that's really scary!"
Kuma lowered his head awkwardly but couldn't hide the pride on his face.
"Hey, I wasn't complimenting you!"
Laughter and chatter filled the tea room for a long while, only quieting as Koina and Zoro entered.
Kōshirō Shimotsuki waved to Koina and Zoro, then bowed deeply in a perfectly formal dogeza position toward Michael.
"Vice Admiral Michael, I cannot thank you enough… You saved my daughter's life. Whatever you ask me to do, I will willingly comply."
"It was nothing… really just a small matter. And in a way, I'm repaying a debt to the Revolutionary Army." Michael helped Kōshirō rise. "You reap what you sow. Simply put, Koina's life was never meant to end."
Kōshirō sat back down, his mind deep in thought.
Michael could say it that way, but Kōshirō's character wouldn't allow him to think lightly of it.
After much contemplation, Kōshirō turned to Monkey D. Dragon.
"Dragon-san… I accept your invitation."
Dragon's hand trembled slightly at those words.
Decades of invitations had been refused, yet now, with Michael involved, this veteran—whose achievements rivaled those of the earliest officers—agreed to join the Revolutionary Army?
Michael was equally surprised.
He had thought Kōshirō would continue to live in seclusion.
Although the original story never described Kōshirō's abilities, a man with the so-called "Soft Sword," who cannot even cut paper unless he wants to strike, is clearly no weakling.
Especially considering he had trained Zoro, a true prodigy of swordsmanship.
Michael glanced at Hawk Eyes beside him.
Right now, it was hard to say who was stronger—Hawk Eyes or Kōshirō.
"Now that we're all family, why don't you tell me about the current state of the Revolutionary Army?" Michael gently rocked Bonney in his arms.
"I heard the two little girls I rescued from the Grand Line, being Devil Fruit users, are now under Ginny and Kuma's care?"
"Oh, you mean Monet and Sugar, the sisters?" Ginny nodded. "Ah, talking about them is a headache… Sugar's fine. Besides being timid, her only hobby is eating grapes. But she hasn't grown taller… could it be because of her strange Devil Fruit ability?"
"Yes, the Hobby-Hobby Fruit indeed halts the growth of its user at the moment they consume it."
"Then it's not surprising… But her sister Monet, that Snow Snow Fruit user, is tricky." Ginny shrugged.
"She seems utterly infatuated with a hero who fell from the sky… If I hadn't told her your identity, she'd probably be on the Grand Line searching for you."
Ginny looked up at Michael's face again…
Though not as handsome as Kuma, to most women, it was still quite tempting.
"Still, both sisters' Devil Fruit powers are quite impressive. Especially the Hobby-Hobby Fruit. While turning into a doll erases all memories associated with them, in a way, it's an absolutely secure infiltration method."
"This… still needs more research." Dragon nodded, then continued, "As for the development of the Revolutionary Army… everything is moving forward according to our original plan. Our rescue stations, orphanages, and offices now span all four seas and have begun entering the Grand Line. Many countries are supportive of these facilities."
"Good, that's the first step." Michael smiled in satisfaction. "Dragon, after these past few years, you should understand… sometimes a soft approach is more effective than the gun in your hand."
...
East Blue, Loguetown, Revolutionary Army Rescue Station.
"Hey! We need some help over here!"
"There's a young girl and two children on this ship!"
"They're starving and about to collapse!"
"But the girl is still clinging to the ship, refusing to let go!"
The rescue station was unusually busy today.
Fearing to harm the girl, they had sent female members to persuade her…
But it was impossible to persuade her—the girl was far too strong!
And she was practically starving!
After some communication, the female Revolutionary Army members returned with faces full of indescribable expressions.
"So, what happened?"
"Uh… this girl said…"
The female revolutionary shook her head and continued:
"No one is getting her to separate from her Michael!"
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