"Michael-san, those things I just heard... they're not all true, are they?"
After Crocodile walked into the room Ivankov had prepared for him, Ginny, face full of shock, turned to Michael and asked,
"Are the royals of Alabasta really that wild? Changing themselves back and forth like that?"
"Sometimes, to survive, people are forced to make extreme choices."
Michael smiled and looked at Ginny.
"You, Kuma, and Ivankov should understand this better than anyone. Wasn't it because you were grasping for that one sliver of hope that you tried to steal the Devil Fruit from the Valley of Gods, and only barely escaped with your lives?"
Hearing this, Ginny nodded.
"When you put it like that, I guess I can understand."
There's nothing more fortunate than surviving… and having a full stomach.
Well—maybe marrying Kuma would top that.
Thinking of Kuma, Ginny's expression softened.
Although she always acted loud and carefree, sometimes even childish—completely unlike a woman in her thirties—whenever she spoke about Kuma, the warmth unique to a woman would quietly surface.
"By the way, why are only you and Ivankov in Baltigo? Where are Dragon and Kuma?"
"Those two went to the North Blue to rescue that guy Karasu. I heard he recently found a Devil Fruit that might be a Logia-type. He was still hesitating about whether to eat it, and then Germa 66 from the North Blue caught wind of it."
As an East Army Division Commander, Ginny not only led Revolutionary Army troops into battle, but was also in charge of intelligence gathering for the entire organization.
After all, she had shown a natural talent for eavesdropping and communications since childhood—able to go undetected even under the very noses of the God's Knights.
At this moment, the look she gave Michael also carried a hint of respect.
To wield such immense power, yet never once seek personal gain.
She had originally assumed that when he encouraged Dragon to restructure the Freedom Fighters into the Revolutionary Army, he had done it to help himself climb higher within the Navy ranks.
But unexpectedly, he didn't. In fact, he had continuously used Navy intel and resources to support the Revolutionary Army, allowing it to expand rapidly over the past two years...
Most importantly, thanks to his help, the South Blue and West Blue had come under near-total control of the Revolutionary Army. And the local Navy forces there had accepted this reality—choosing to keep all the Revolutionary Army's movements completely under wraps.
At first, she hadn't fully understood why.
But later, in the many liberated nations, when she saw the local Marines smiling happily with their families, she finally understood.
Marines weren't born from stone.
They had families too.
When an entire country becomes happier, that's good for them as well.
As a result, the Revolutionary Army had formed a tacit understanding with the Navy forces of the South and West Blue.
And now, the Revolutionary Army had set its sights on the North Blue. Compared to the relatively peaceful South Blue and the mafia-dominated West Blue, liberating the North Blue was clearly far more difficult.
After all, the North Blue was known as the "strongest sea" of the Four Blues, and had produced countless powerful figures.
Of the future three Admirals, both Borsalino and Sakazuki hailed from the North Blue.
Even the top advisor under Sengoku, the influential Navy strategist Tsuru, was from the North Blue.
The Donquixote Family's base of operations was currently in the North Blue as well.
But the greatest obstacle to liberating the North Blue wasn't Tsuru or the two future Admirals, nor the Donquixote Family—it was Germa 66.
The former three, being high-ranking Navy officials, had their hands full dealing with the pirates of the New World and the World Government, so they couldn't spare much attention for the North Blue.
The Donquixote Family, meanwhile, was focused on controlling the entire underground world.
But Germa 66 was different. Ever since their founding over three hundred years ago, they had firmly entrenched themselves in the North Blue.
They were the most powerful local force in the North Blue, and had once ruled the entire sea.
As the Navy gradually occupied more of the world under the World Government's banner, Germa 66 fell into decline.
But in recent years, Vinsmoke Judge had returned to the Germa Kingdom and, using technology brought back from MADS revived Germa 66.
Before the Revolutionary Army even began its campaign in the North Blue, Germa 66, under Judge's leadership, had already launched the major incident known as the "Conquest of Four Nations."
That is, they beheaded the kings of four North Blue nations, painted massive portraits of the executions, and circulated them widely throughout the region.
In short, Germa 66 was once again on the path to becoming the dominant power in the North Blue...
"Germa 66? That family obsessed with transformations?"
"Looks like you're well-informed too, Michael-san."
Michael chuckled. Ginny sure liked calling him "san," despite being much older than him.
"That assassin family from Germa 66 might be unreliable, but they're undeniably a powerful opponent."
"That's what I thought too. Originally, I wanted to go with Kuma… and Dragon-san. But Dragon-san said someone needed to remain behind in Baltigo and gave me that responsibility."
Just bringing it up visibly frustrated Ginny. When she sighed, little jets of flame shot out, and her hair transformed into glowing embers that danced in the air—like a goddess born of fire.
"Anyway, you haven't slacked off on developing your Devil Fruit powers during this time, right?"
"...Hey! Michael-san, what are you, my grade school teacher? First thing after not seeing me for ages, you check my homework!?"
"Of course! I gave you the Flame-Flame Fruit so you'd get stronger, so you could fight alongside Kuma."
"Then how about you come feel it for yourself, Michael-san!"
Ginny's lips curled into a mischievous smile. She opened her mouth, and a torrent of flames burst forth.
Under Ginny's control, the orange-red flames swirled through the air and coalesced into streams of dazzling, radiant...
Meat.
"Is there anything in your brain besides Kuma and food!?"
Michael's lips twitched as he stared at the sea of flaming meat, the savory aroma of grilled barbecue seemingly already filling the air.
"Ahem! Who cares! As long as the firepower's fine, right!?"
With that, she half-transformed and flew into the air, launching a barrage of attacks toward Michael on the ground.
The scorching-hot flame "meat" streaked across the sky in dazzling arcs, striking from every direction at Michael.
Michael didn't take her lightly—Ginny had clearly taken all the lessons from his past scoldings to heart.
The fire's temperature was noticeably higher than the last time they met.
"If that's the case, then I won't hold back either, Ginny..."
"Just make sure you don't cry after getting hurt."
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