"So, now that you've already liberated the South Blue and the West Blue, how's the progress going in the North Blue?"
Michael had come to Baltigo mainly because of Crocodile, but since he was already here, he naturally wanted to check in on his comrades' progress.
"The North Blue is clearly harder to deal with than the South Blue and West Blue," Dragon said, furrowing his brow for once. "The South Blue barely had any resistance, and the West Blue's mafia groups were disorganized to begin with, so the liberation wasn't too difficult."
"The North Blue..." Michael thought for a moment. "You're talking about Germa 66?"
"That's right, those bastards!"
Karasu, who had been ambushed by Vinsmoke Judge, was clearly agitated.
That didn't surprise Michael.
Among the Four Blues, the greatest threat to the Revolutionary Army was indeed Germa 66.
When a group possesses advanced war technology, they easily crush weaker forces with a technological advantage.
Just like how the Navy's ironclad warships outmatch pirates' wooden sailboats.
Germa 66's strength lay in their powerful clone army.
These clone soldiers not only had combat abilities far superior to ordinary people, but their minds were completely under the control of the Vinsmoke family.
When Vinsmoke Judge created them, he implanted into their lineage factors the concepts of fearlessness and unwavering loyalty.
In other words, he commanded an army of soldiers who were both powerful and absolutely obedient.
"If it's Germa 66, then yeah... that's no small challenge," Michael nodded in agreement. "After all, their clone army is far stronger than our current Revolutionary Army troops."
This wasn't some one-on-one duel between elites—it was full-scale war.
And Germa 66's overwhelming combat force at the grassroots level wasn't something that two Logia users could just even out.
Even so, Michael had never considered incorporating the clone army into his recruitment plans.
Only Vinsmoke Judge had full mastery of clone technology. Even if they snatched the technique from him, who knows how many traps he might have planted in it.
At a crucial moment, those could become serious threats.
And most importantly...
Not everyone could accept the concept of clone soldiers.
Given the ethical implications, there was no need to risk tearing the Navy or the Revolutionary Army apart over this army.
The best option was to let Germa 66—and their clone army—sink into the tides of history.
"So what should we do?" Kuma set down the Bible in his hands. "The best strategy is to capture the leader first... but Vinsmoke Judge has been hiding in the depths of Germa 66 this whole time. Even though Dragon and I both outmatch him, we've had no chance to get close..."
"Does Vinsmoke Judge know how strong you are?"
"More accurately, Vinsmoke Judge knows me," Dragon said, pointing to his face. "I once hunted the MADS Laboratory for Peace."
Got it.
So Vinsmoke Judge is one of the rare people who's seen Dragon in action.
No wonder he was so cautious dealing with the Revolutionary Army—only making a move when a Logia user was suspected to appear.
"That means... this mission is up to me."
Michael thought for a moment, then said with enthusiasm.
"What's your plan?"
"Dragon, I'm a Navy officer, remember? As a Navy officer, one of my blue-haired colleagues has gone missing in Germa 66 territory. It's perfectly reasonable for me to enter and conduct a search, isn't it?"
Blue-haired colleague?
The Revolutionary Army cadres all reflexively turned to the blue-haired woman pretending she wasn't involved.
Then, one by one, they gave Michael a thumbs-up.
"Michael, you really are the worst."
And at that moment, Crocodile finally realized—wait a minute, that so-called blue-haired colleague... was her!?
Michael turned to Crocodile with a kind smile.
"My dear Princess of Alabasta, would you be willing to do me this favor?"
"If I say no, will it make a difference?"
"Of course not."
"Then why the hell are you even asking?!"
...
Once the plan was set, Michael left Baltigo with Crocodile and headed for the North Blue.
As for the Revolutionary Army, all they had to do was mobilize at normal speed and proceed to the North Blue.
If everything went as expected, by the time they arrived, they could simply take over.
"Michael, what exactly are you trying to do?" Mid-air, Crocodile couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "You're a Navy Rear Admiral, yet also the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army... and God knows how many other identities you might have."
"So you're curious?"
"No shit. Who wouldn't be curious in this kind of situation?"
Now that Crocodile had reverted to her original gender, her temperament was gradually returning to that of the original Princess of Alabasta.
No wonder the Crocodile he had seen before always seemed to be hiding behind a faint, elusive mask...
This Crocodile, now, felt more real than ever.
"If I said it was for world peace, would you believe me?"
"That kind of talk might fool a kid. Do you even believe it yourself?" Crocodile shot him a disdainful look. "That's pretty hypocritical, don't you think?"
"It does sound a bit like that," Michael didn't argue. "But I am genuinely working toward that seemingly hypocritical goal... That's why I let you live. If I were just a Navy officer who wanted to be the strongest in the world, both you and Hawk Eyes would've died in the Alabasta desert already."
Crocodile opened her mouth, trying to argue back—but no words came out.
The fact that she was still alive... proved that what Michael said wasn't a lie.
...And that's what shocked her the most.
After a long silence, she couldn't help but click her tongue.
"Tch, you might just be the craziest person in the whole world."
"Maybe. But considering you're someone who's changed gender twice, do you really have the right to say that about me?"
After that exchange, Crocodile fell into a long silence.
But the atmosphere between them had inexplicably become much more harmonious.
As they neared the North Blue, Crocodile suddenly asked,
"If we're putting on a show, I can't exactly wear this outfit, can I?"
"That's easy—let's swing by the North Blue Navy branch," Michael said with a shrug and a cheeky grin. "I bet before today, you've never strolled into Navy territory so openly, huh?"
"I haven't set foot in Navy territory before... but I've walked right into Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise—more than once."
"...Damn. Way to kill the conversation."
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