"Michael, I know you just went through a major battle... but you didn't tell us the fight damaged your brain too?" Ginny sighed as she addressed Michael.
"Weren't you supposed to gather all the officers for a meeting? Why did you walk in carrying a durian?"
"Even though you're older than me, I'll have to discipline you!" Michael casually tossed the durian toward Ginny.
"How could you speak to your elder brother like that!"
"What did I say... Ow! It's prickly! You ambushed me!"
"Don't drop that fruit... it's the legendary Float-Float Fruit."
Michael's single statement instantly chilled the previously lively meeting room in Baltigo.
Everyone instinctively turned their gaze to the multicolored durian on the table...
"This is... the Float-Float Fruit?" Ivankov leaned in to examine what was arguably one of the ugliest fruits even among Devil Fruits.
"Wait, how did you manage this? Didn't you just defeat Shiki a few days ago? Don't tell me you've mastered the technique to extract Devil Fruits!?"
"What are you thinking? How could such a technique exist?" Michael rolled his eyes.
"Just got lucky... after defeating Shiki, the Float-Float Fruit happened to attach itself to a durian stored on the Seraphim Ship."
"That's... unbelievably good luck?"
"Of course, there might be some fate involved too." Michael patted the Oto and Kogarashi swords hanging at his waist.
"I basically forcibly inherited all of Shiki's legacy... maybe the Float-Float Fruit thought it would be rude not to come to me?"
Michael shrugged.
Truth be told, if he hadn't already eaten a Devil Fruit long ago, the Float-Float Fruit would have been the optimal choice.
But as things stood, they'd have to select someone else to consume it.
However, as Michael scanned the room, he suddenly realized...
There really wasn't anyone suitable for this fruit.
To be precise, almost everyone with the potential talent to develop fruit abilities was already a Devil Fruit user.
Among the present officers, the only non-user was Koushirou Shimotsuki.
But...
"Shiki's Float-Float Fruit? Sounds powerful." Koushirou Shimotsuki said with narrowed eyes and a smile.
"But... I have absolutely no interest in anything outside swordsmanship."
"I see..." Michael nodded and simply set the Float-Float Fruit aside.
"We'll discuss this later then... no matter how powerful the fruit, it needs the right person to unleash its potential."
Having said this, he gave a nod to the silently observing Dragon.
"We can begin now."
Just then, Michael felt someone tugging at his robe from below...
Looking down, he saw a pink-haired girl who looked exactly like a younger version of Ginny climbing up his leg.
It was Bonney, who had just turned five this year.
"Oh my, isn't this our little Bonney!" Michael reached out and scooped Bonney into his arms, saying,
"Uncle Michael and the others are about to discuss serious matters now. Will you stay quietly with uncle for a while?"
"Mmm!" Bonney nodded cutely while extending her tiny hand toward Michael.
If it were any other child, Michael might not know what to do...
But Bonney...
This was one of the original Supernovas, the "Big Eater," who had perfectly inherited both Ginny's eating habits and appetite.
Michael reached into Jack's ever-present backpack and pulled out various snacks.
Soon, the foraging little beast was pacified with enough food, settling down temporarily.
The atmosphere in the conference room gradually grew more serious.
"The Grand Line Army has already reignited the Revolutionary Army's reputation through Lulusia... Next, the four armies from East, West, South, and North should enter the Grand Line too."
"We've discussed this before—the East Army is already on its way to the Grand Line," said Ginny, the East Army commander.
"But we can't commit all our forces to battle... The East Blue is our largest supply base, so at least a third of our troops need to remain to secure our logistical lines."
"I've already considered that. We can ask Alabasta and Germa for help. Right now, they have plenty of manpower and can fully support our supply lines... Plus, given my relationship with Alabasta and Germa, you know they're ironclad allies—no need to worry about loyalty." Michael nodded at Ginny.
"But I want you to handle this personally."
"No problem at all," Ginny agreed. "I'll set out right after the meeting."
After Michael finished speaking, the other officers began pouring out all the issues they'd been holding onto.
With both Dragon and Michael—the two highest authorities—present, it was best to resolve everything quickly.
Within five minutes, the two found themselves drowning in a sea of problems.
After all, they were leading a revolution—a life-or-death endeavor...
They weren't afraid of having too many problems.
What they feared was people keeping issues to themselves...
As the saying goes, "A tiny leak can sink a great ship."
But...
At first, most matters were serious and significant...
Later, however, trivial yet troublesome issues started cropping up.
"I get that it's awkward, but shouldn't local residents marrying Revolutionary Army members be handled by the administrative office?"
"What? The princess of a local kingdom has taken a liking to him?"
"Are you stupid? Any royalty living normally in our territory must be just and benevolent rulers. Let them marry! We're the Revolutionary Army—here to overthrow the World Government's tyranny! If we start playing identity politics... how are we any better than them?"
"What? The princess fell for another girl?"
"Yuri is the best... I mean, sexual orientation is a personal freedom!"
Michael sighed.
This was the world of One Piece, after all—nothing could surprise him anymore.
The meeting continued in full swing...
But he had forgotten one thing.
That was the food Michael had just given Bonney, but it wasn't enough for the little girl.
Being the considerate child she was, Bonney decided not to disturb Michael during his meeting and find food herself!
So... her eyes landed on the Float-Float Fruit placed beside Michael.
But what does a five-year-old know about Devil Fruits?
To her, it was just a strangely shaped durian!
Rubbing her hands together, Bonney quickly pried open the durian's shell.
Inside, she found the fruit's flesh—completely whole!
She'd never seen a durian like this before, and it didn't even smell bad?
Curious, she opened her mouth wide and stuffed the entire thing in...
"Gulp..."
"Bleh... so gross..."
Little Bonney, who could eat three pounds of anything that wasn't literal feces, gave her verdict.
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