After Michael arrived in Alabasta, Bell-mère became the first person he (half-coaxed, half-lured) into joining the Navy, which sent the entire Marine branch into a frenzy of celebration. A massive banquet involving everyone was immediately held.
Of course, the bill was covered by Michael.
While he could be a bit stingy at times, when it came to things that were rightly his responsibility, he never hesitated.
Although Bell-mère had been away from the Navy for over a year, she seamlessly reintegrated into the group.
After all, the current Alabasta Navy was composed of young Marines personally selected by Sengoku after thorough vetting—idealistic youths who still firmly believed in "justice."
People like that were exactly Bell-mère's type.
"Ah hahaha, back in the East Blue, I took down quite a few pirates myself!" Bell-mère was clearly drunk, slurring as she bragged to her future subordinates.
"You know the Golden Lion, right? When he broke out of prison, I said outright that the Golden Lion was just a pompous blowhard! If he had the guts to come to the East Blue, I'd slap him so hard his wig would fly off!"
"Bell-mère-san is amazing!"
"You're the best!"
Michael's mouth twitched slightly as he lowered his head to look at the two little ones sitting beside him.
"Is your mom always like this when she drinks?"
"Mom usually doesn't drink this much," Nojiko said, shaking her head like a little adult. "Maybe... because she's really happy today?"
"Happy? Nami wants to be happy too."
Nearby, little Nami, who still needed a booster chair, struggled a bit before managing to stand up. Just as she was about to fall, Hancock scooped her up effortlessly with both hands, gently swinging her in the air before placing her back in the seat.
Instead of crying from the sudden lift, Nami giggled and looked at Hancock.
"Pretty lady, again!"
Michael observed the whole scene silently.
He genuinely hadn't expected Hancock to be this good with kids.
But thinking about it, with the customs of Amazon Lily, the island was full of single-parent families or clusters of single-parent families helping each other.
As the Empress of Amazon Lily, Hancock's mother probably didn't have time to raise her daughters due to her duties.
So Hancock had likely been raising her two younger sisters herself.
"Hancock, seems like you like kids," Michael said with a smile. "You sure know how to soothe them."
"Hmph, I don't like kids! It's just... she looked dumb and noisy, and if she fell, she'd start bawling her eyes out! That's the only reason I—"
Before she could finish, Michael reached out and patted her head gently.
"Yes, yes, our little Hancock is such a gentle girl."
His eyes curved into smiling crescents.
"Hmph!" Hancock didn't say anything else, just snorted. But from the upward curl at the end of her tone, it was clear she appreciated the praise.
Michael chuckled inwardly. Kids, after all, respond best to this kind of thing. He had it down to a science by now...
Otherwise, he wouldn't be the Branch Commander sitting at a table full of underaged kids.
As Stella once put it—
"Whoever brings the kids takes care of the kids!"
"Even Michael doesn't get to weasel out of this!"
While other tables were filled with local Alabasta specialties and liquors made from baobab fruit—sweet with a soft finish, and among the kingdom's most popular exports—Michael's table only had juice and milk.
He couldn't exactly expect Hancock, who was only twelve, to drink with him.
Otherwise, he might end up executing himself in shame.
...
After settling the completely drunk Bell-mère, Michael thought for a moment and decided to take Nojiko and Nami to stay at his estate for the night.
After all, as the Branch Commander of the Alabasta Navy, Cobra had gifted him a manor located less than fifty meters from the Alabasta royal palace.
Originally, Michael had wanted the entire SWORD Secret Special Force to live there, but the team had unanimously declined.
In the end, only Hancock and her two younger sisters, all minors, stayed with him.
Looking at the current scene in the estate, Michael suddenly realized...
Wasn't he starting to look a bit like an unmarried foster dad!?
But what could he do? The little girls he recruited into the Navy—he had to look after them himself.
Just as he stepped into the manor, Michael abruptly looked up toward the second floor of his two-story house.
The lights in the first-floor living room were on.
"Hancock, I'll leave Nojiko and Nami with you for tonight."
"Okay."
Hancock had clearly noticed the light in Michael's room too, and didn't hesitate to agree.
As a royal heir, she might not have much life experience, but she was smart enough to recognize when someone wanted a private word with Michael.
Without another word, she took her sisters, picked up Nami, and led Nojiko back to their room.
Michael watched as Sandersonia closed the door behind them. Once reassured, he turned and headed for his own room.
When he opened the door, he found a man sitting at the large dining table—one that could comfortably seat six to eight people—wearing a giant cloak that concealed his face.
"Such a lovely night, Your Majesty Cobra. Why aren't you enjoying your bed and your queen's company in the royal chambers? Why sneak into my place instead?" Michael sat down across from him without hesitation, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Let's make it clear—I know I'm handsome, but I'm not into dudes..."
"Could you be serious for once, Rear Admiral Michael?" Cobra gave a bitter smile as he removed the cloak. "Besides, Titi's been pregnant for a while now. I ought to be considerate of my wife's hardships, right?"
"So you came to bother me in the middle of the night?" Now that he and Cobra were on familiar terms, Michael didn't hold back anymore.
"Alright, what happened? What's so serious that the king had to sneak over here in disguise?"
"Strange sandstorms have been appearing near Rainbase lately. You've heard about this, haven't you..."
"Yeah, I've heard some rumors..." Michael looked up at Cobra. "You know something, don't you?"
"It's a scholar from Alabasta—well, technically from Ohara—who had been living abroad and recently returned. On the voyage back, he spotted a pirate with a bounty of eighty million Belly!"
Cobra's face darkened as he locked eyes with Michael.
"He's known as the King of the Desert—Crocodile."
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