"Is this the legendary Navy Headquarters?"
Outside the docks of Marineford, little Hancock looked up at the distant Navy Headquarters building.
A soft "Wow" escaped her lips.
"So, what do you think? Pretty magnificent, right?"
"Yeah! It's almost as big as my palace!"
Hearing the completely innocent remark from little Hancock, Michael's mouth twitched.
Damn!
He completely forgot!
She's an honest-to-goodness royal heir! The kind who lives in a palace!
Even if the Navy Headquarters was grand, it was still just an office building. It could never compare to the luxury of a royal palace!
"That's not the point. The point is—when we meet the Navy officers later, don't instinctively start fighting or running away, got it!"
"We won't run! We're brave Kuja warriors!"
Now fully familiar with Michael, the three sisters rolled up their sleeves and showed off their tiny arms.
Michael's lips twitched again.
Kuja warriors, huh…
Who was it that got kidnapped right off their own pirate ship again?
Still, he couldn't be bothered to argue with the three little ones.
"Alright, you all get a day off today. Dismissed!"
Michael called out to the members of the SWORD Secret Special Force behind him.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone except Stella and Issho vanished in an instant.
"Uh… do you Navy people not get regular days off?"
Little Hancock cast a puzzled look at Michael.
In her little head, Michael's image had begun to shift into that of a cruel boss exploiting his workers.
"Don't talk nonsense. They just… really had to pee! Yep, that's it, urgent bladder business!"
Before Hancock could respond, Michael took the lead and walked straight toward Navy Headquarters.
The three little girls immediately chased after him without hesitation.
Issho and Stella followed behind at a leisurely pace.
"It's at times like these that I truly feel… Michael is just a twenty-three-year-old young man."
"Issho-san, are you joining the Navy this time?"
"It's not time yet." Issho tapped the ground lightly with his walking stick, speaking softly. "I've acknowledged Michael, but I'm still far from acknowledging the Navy."
Stella nodded thoughtfully, then picked up her pace to catch up to Michael, walking alongside him.
The golden and platinum strands of their hair were gently blown by the breeze—surprisingly harmonious.
"Heh… Michael, I look forward to the day your plan succeeds."
"When that day comes, it'll be a wonderful world, won't it?"
...
Inside the Admiral's office.
Sengoku had put down the files in his hands and stood up from behind his desk, now face-to-face with the three little girls.
"You're the Empress of Amazon Lily?"
"Not just the Empress—also a new recruit about to join the Navy."
Hancock nodded, showing not even a hint of nervousness in front of a Navy Admiral.
While Sandersonia and Marigold were clearly a bit timid, they managed to keep a calm appearance.
Michael nodded in approval.
Forget her extreme personality in the original series—so long as it wasn't something related to Luffy, Hancock's intelligence was top-notch.
As a royal heir, Hancock was practically perfect.
She had talent, guts, and brains.
As one of the rare female Conqueror's Haki users, her potential could rival Yamato's for top-tier female characters.
The two were similar in many ways. Aside from both mastering all three forms of Haki, Yamato's only real advantage was having Kaido as a father.
At least Yamato got early exposure to high-level techniques like Conqueror's Haki coating.
"A recruit? Do you have any idea? Amazon Lily has always been considered a pirate nation."
"What pirate nation? I don't know anything about that." Little Hancock glanced at Michael, then relaxed and smiled cheekily. "Is there a single pirate in Amazon Lily with a bounty right now?"
Sengoku's mouth twitched.
If he didn't realize by now that this little girl was completely in sync with Michael, then he had no business being a Navy Admiral.
"Hmph, what a sharp-tongued little brat." Sengoku snorted, though he couldn't quite hide the smile tugging at his lips. "I just hope when you become Navy soldiers, you don't bring your old pirate habits with you."
It sounded like he was still complaining, but in reality, it meant he had accepted Michael's recruitment plan.
"Amazon Lily's youth population is quite large. Bringing them to Navy Headquarters would be a hassle—and too flashy." Michael, seeing Sengoku had agreed, began to explain. "So I'm suggesting we station them at the Sabaody Archipelago for enlistment and training. After the recent cleansing, many areas there are vacant—perfect for accommodating this wave of new recruits."
"...Alright. You'll handle it, then." Sengoku nodded and sat back down in his chair. "Since this is your idea, you'll see it through."
As for the details, Sengoku didn't care.
He never doubted Michael's capabilities.
Just then, the messenger stationed outside entered and saluted.
"Reporting to Admiral Sengoku!"
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki, Vice Admiral Onigumo, and Rear Admiral Doberman have arrived!"
"Let them in."
Sengoku remained unfazed, but Michael's brow furrowed slightly.
Sakazuki was a given, but Onigumo and Doberman? They were extremists even among the hardliners.
Especially Doberman—that stubborn fool who openly berated Shanks during the war at Marineford.
Of all times, they had to show up now...
Michael looked toward the office door as three tall figures walked in one by one.
"Sit, all of you." Sengoku waved his hand toward the group.
Two couches were occupied on opposite sides: one side had Sakazuki, Onigumo, and Doberman.
The other side had Michael and the three little girls.
Maybe it was the intense killing aura from the three radicals, but while the sisters hadn't shown any fear in front of Sengoku, now their faces had gone pale.
After all, even the oldest—Hancock—was just a twelve-year-old child.
"Sakazuki, what brings you here?"
Sakazuki didn't answer. Instead, Onigumo and Doberman both burst into a fiery rant.
"Admiral Sengoku! We've heard about it already! That pirate nation, Amazon Lily, wants to join the Navy!? Absurd! Absolutely absurd!"
"Exactly! As Navy officers, we must not allow this to happen! This is nothing but pirates trying to infiltrate the Navy!"
Michael's eye twitched.
Anyone who knew him would recognize those two lines had just made his blood boil.
Are you kidding me!?
After all the effort I put into recruiting these elite troops, and now you want to shut it down!?
Oppose? Oppose your damn uncle!
"Onigumo. Doberman."
Michael stood up, eyes narrowing.
"If you two are really that bored..."
"I don't mind loosening up your hides a bit."
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