The most frustrating thing for Rosinante was that after just joining the SWORD Secret Special Force with Michael, he was immediately sent by him to go undercover with his own blood brother.
Going undercover was one thing. After all, when it came to his real brother, even though he knew he was born rotten to the core, the little bit of brotherly bond that remained still made him want to try and save him.
But what the hell was this situation now!?
Undercover at the Alabasta Navy Branch!?
Was this some kind of joke!?
Double undercover?
And before Rosinante left, Doflamingo had even spoken to him frankly…
"That undercover mission was something the Five Elders specifically asked me to arrange. They want you to enlist in the Alabasta Navy Branch as an undercover agent and keep a close eye on Michael's every move."
"Even though right now we're actually working for Michael, we still have to put on appearances for the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons. So… sorry to put you through this."
"Your enlistment papers have already been taken care of by the Five Elders."
"Just send back some irrelevant intel once in a while, that'll be enough."
"The most important thing is this… Michael has seen you before. So don't go too far. If you piss him off, both of us brothers won't be able to handle the consequences."
After those words, Rosinante was shipped off to Alabasta.
And then came the reunion—with the SWORD Secret Special Force and Michael.
Now, Rosinante sat in the Alabasta Branch Base Commander's office, staring wide-eyed at Michael, who was staring right back at him.
After a long silence, Michael sighed.
"Sometimes, I really don't know if the Five Elders are geniuses or idiots."
"If you say they're stupid, well… when they know they can't deal with me head-on, they at least think to send an undercover agent to collect intel."
"But if you say they're smart, then what the hell is this—sending my undercover agent to go undercover on me?"
"The fact that the World Government hasn't completely collapsed under those fools… it's only because the Government and the Navy already had such a massive foundation to begin with."
Michael never had much respect for the Five Elders.
In other stories, the longer you live, the stronger you become, and your wisdom only grows with age.
But in the world of One Piece…
These Five Elders, who had gained immortality through Imu's ability, weren't nearly as strong as one might imagine, nor had they gained even an ounce of wisdom.
Honestly, even a few pyramid scheme bosses from the South Blue could have done better than them.
But the saddest part was… some people are too stupid to even realize they're stupid.
"Did the Five Elders give you any mission that absolutely has to be completed? Something like digging up secrets about SWORD or about me?"
"There is something like that… but, do you really think I'd go through with it?" Rosinante shook his head, a scornful smile on his lips.
"The Five Elders themselves told me four CP0 agents tried to ambush you, and you wiped them all out in one move… So as a fresh recruit who just joined the Alabasta Branch, isn't it perfectly normal that I wouldn't have access to any core secrets?"
If you set aside all the mess, Rosinante was actually quite happy.
At least he could see Michael again, and the rest of the team.
And Michael's group seemed to have gained quite a few new members…
For example, the three Hancock sisters and Bell-mère, and even Crocodile and Hawk Eyes…
Especially Crocodile and Hawk Eyes.
Although Crocodile hadn't yet made a name for himself across the seas before Michael caught him and forced him to change gender, as a member of the well-informed Donquixote Family, Rosinante had long known Crocodile's reputation.
It was just impossible to connect this tall, sexy blue-haired lady with the slick-haired man she used to be.
If even he couldn't make the connection, then outsiders stood no chance.
And Hawk Eyes…
Rosinante never thought he'd meet him again here of all places.
The man who once cleaved their standard-issue battleship in half with a single slash was now serving as one of Michael's subordinates.
Rosinante himself didn't even have a Devil Fruit power.
Thinking about it, he couldn't help but glance through the crack of the door a few times at Hawk Eyes.
How vast was the difference between him now and that terrifying swordsman?
"Alright then, since the Five Elders sent you back as an undercover agent, I'll prepare the information you need to send them… After all, it was their own mistake to hand me the reins. So if I dangle a carrot they can never reach… well, that's perfectly reasonable, don't you think?"
Michael's expression twisted into what could only be described as a sinister—no, righteously dignified—smile.
"Anyway, enough talk. Since that's settled, why don't you give me a report on the Donquixote Family's situation lately… I have high hopes for them."
Rosinante nodded.
Then he began to report on the Donquixote Family's current situation.
"Right now, the Donquixote Family has basically taken control of the underworld across the Four Seas and Paradise."
"Most of it was through subjugation, but some of it is through alliances—for example, the West Blue mafia, as well as some of the former underworld kings."
"The current problem is, there hasn't been a suitable opportunity to truly step into the New World."
"Even though the underworld kings are technically allies, they're guarding the New World fiercely against the Donquixote Family's entry…"
"But recently, Kaido of the Beasts Pirates contacted Doflamingo. I wasn't able to gather any details before I was sent back here undercover."
Rosinante's report was concise and to the point, giving a clear picture of the Donquixote Family's sphere of influence in just a few sentences.
This progress was actually faster than Michael had expected.
At first, he thought that in such a short time they'd only manage to unify the underworld of the Four Seas at best. But now, they were already just one step away from entering the New World.
But that final step… without external help, it might take many years—until they'd built up enough strength and resources to reclaim Dressrosa.
But… Kaido was reaching out to Doflamingo already?
Logically, there were still over ten years before Caesar began his SMILE artificial Devil Fruit research.
Right now, Caesar was still working under Vegapunk.
"No matter. About Kaido, I'll give Sakazuki a call and have him keep a close watch on Kaido's movements for now."
Michael had always been very satisfied with Rosinante's work.
After all, in the entire SWORD Secret Special Force, there weren't many who truly used their brains—and Rosinante was one of them.
Honestly, if it weren't for his innate advantage in infiltrating the Donquixote Family, Michael would never have let Rosinante leave his side.
"Alright then, go meet your 'new' colleagues."
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