"Is this… the legendary Marine Headquarters? What a grand and imposing place!"
"Is it really that imposing?"
Michael looked up at the Marine Headquarters, a place he had already grown somewhat accustomed to.
"...Actually, it's okay. Once you've seen it enough, it's nothing special. I actually think Fishman Island's scenery is better."
"No, no, no, Vice Admiral Michael, you just don't understand!"
Yamato struck a knowing pose, looking smug as she said,
"Scenery being beautiful is one thing! But imposing… that's different! And even if Fishman Island makes money, it's nothing compared to Marine Headquarters! Here… the air is filled with the presence of the strong!"
Michael couldn't help but smile slightly at her words.
Yamato might not look like a young girl judging by her height and build, but her mindset definitely gave it away.
Her admiration for the strong was written all over her face.
But… in the world of pirates, this was only natural.
Especially since Yamato grew up in the Beasts Pirates, where the law of the jungle ruled.
Even if she didn't want to be part of them, living there all her life was bound to rub off on her.
Not necessarily a bad thing…
At least she wouldn't turn into a complete slacker.
Now, Yamato wasn't screaming about becoming Kozuki Oden anymore.
Instead, she'd turned into a bit of a homebody obsessed with the Michael from her comics…
But she hadn't become useless. On the contrary, her powerful body and domineering presence far surpassed people her age.
She already had the air of a true powerhouse.
Even her Conqueror's Haki was brimming with strength.
If nothing unexpected happened, this Yamato might even surpass the Yamato from the original timeline at this age.
Michael suspected it was because Yamato admired the Marines so much after reading those comics.
She wanted to escape the Beasts Pirates, so she pushed herself harder and harder to get stronger so when the chance came, she wouldn't lose it just because she was too weak.
"The presence of the strong… It's not that big a deal," Michael shrugged.
"Once you get to know them, you'll realize most of them have pretty good tempers… Just don't go looking for trouble with Sakazuki and that pack of lunatics under him."
With that, Michael led Yamato, Ulti, and Page One into Marine Headquarters.
After spending a few days in Shimotsuki Village learning about the Revolutionary Army's situation and giving Monkey D. Dragon some reassurance, Michael brought everyone back to Marineford.
After giving Hawk Eyes and Enel a few days off, Michael now had to introduce these kids who'd run away from "home" to the dear Fleet Admiral…
Because no matter how you looked at it, this was Kaido's daughter.
Even though Michael could guarantee nobody would dare touch them, he still had to give old man Sengoku a heads-up.
...
"What? Kaido's kid? Another pirate's descendant?"
Sengoku looked up at his troublemaking adopted son.
"Are you sure Kaido won't lose his mind over this?"
"Huh? So what if he does? He's a monster, sure, but he's not like Whitebeard. Not that scary."
Michael waved his hand dismissively.
"And what proof does he have that she's his daughter?"
Michael tugged Yamato forward.
"This girl keeps calling herself 'Maria D. Yamato.' For all we know, maybe it's my sister who made a mistake back in the day!"
"Seriously? Could you at least have some shame?" Sengoku wiped his forehead, speechless.
"Of all people, you drag your own sister into this… Aren't you afraid she'll beat you? She's the only one who can beat you up and you wouldn't dare fight back!"
"Of course I'm afraid!" Michael raised his head proudly.
"If it comes to that, I'll just say it was my mistake back in the day!"
"Your mistake… You want the whole Marines to believe that Vice Admiral Michael had a kid before turning fifteen?" Sengoku's mouth twitched.
"Could you at least think about the Marines' reputation?"
"What's so embarrassing about it?" Michael waved his hand and turned to Yamato.
"Remember, when you go out, you say you're 'Maria D. Yamato.' As one of the two heads of the Maria family, I approve! Kaido? Don't know him!"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Michael!"
"Call me Dad!"
"Yes, Dad!"
Sengoku sighed.
He had completely lost the will to comment on this nonsense.
Now his head was spinning with one thought:
If the Marines really took in Kaido's daughter…
What would happen?
But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't come up with any real downside.
At worst, Kaido would fight the Marines to the death…
But he was already doing that anyway.
So what was the difference?
...
King walked into Kaido's room again.
Over the past few days, he had contacted Doflamingo and the Cross Guild to gather intel on Yamato.
But after reading the reports…
King was a little stunned.
"Kaido-sama, there's news about Yamato…"
"What? Great! Tell me where that ungrateful brat is right now! I'm bringing her back myself!"
"That… might not be possible." King said carefully.
"My judgment is… we should let Yamato stay outside for a while. When the time is right, we'll bring her back to the Beasts Pirates."
"What do you mean by that?" Kaido frowned, glaring at King.
"You know the price for joking with me… is death."
"This isn't a joke." King shook his head, his face troubled.
"But according to intel from Doflamingo and the Cross Guild… Yamato, along with Ulti and Page One, took that so-called 'Pain Ship' straight through the Calm Belt into the East Blue. Then, starving, they were rescued by the Revolutionary Army's Rescue Station in Loguetown."
"And? Since they were starving, they should have realized leaving the Beasts Pirates and their father was a mistake, right?"
"Logically, yes, but…" King gave a bitter smile.
"In Loguetown, Yamato met the Marine Chief Inspector Michael…"
"And now, she's followed Michael back to Marine Headquarters."
"...Pffft!"
"Are you okay?!"
Kaido raised his hand to stop the panicked King and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Michael!"
"You and I cannot coexist!"
---
read +200 chapters on Patreon tambeerg