When Michael and Cobra returned to the banquet hall, the number of people inside was clearly much higher than before.
They even spotted a few familiar faces.
For instance, King Riku of Dressrosa, along with King Elizabello of Prodence, his closest ally, practically like they wore the same pair of pants.
There was also old lady Conney, acting regent of the Sorbet Kingdom.
And Jinbe, attending on behalf of King Neptune and Queen Otohime to offer their congratulations.
As for the rest of the kings, Michael had no real impression of them.
Anyway, Oda never depicted them in detail in the original story, so they probably weren't of much importance…
All of them were merely targets destined to be purged by the Revolutionary Army sooner or later.
Since Cobra was the host, he naturally couldn't afford to neglect these royals who had come from all over the world.
He exchanged a nod with Michael before stepping forward to begin socializing.
Michael, however, only returned a nod to Jinbe. After receiving a Navy salute in reply, he turned back toward Bell-mère and the others' table.
But to his surprise, the seat he had originally occupied was now taken by a woman.
Michael didn't show the slightest displeasure. In fact, he went up rather obsequiously and said:
"Hehe, what brings you here too?"
"If I'd known earlier, I would've gone to the port to welcome you myself."
The newcomer was none other than Michael's elder sister in this life—the current Queen of Germa, Sora.
Michael couldn't help but marvel. Ever since this woman had taken on the responsibilities of ruling, she seemed like a completely different person.
Gone was the sickly, frail figure who used to lie bedridden. Now her brows carried sharp determination, and she radiated the air of a resolute and decisive queen.
Even Crocodile, seated with her, seemed somewhat suppressed under her aura.
…Of course, it might also have been the natural pressure that came from her being the leader's elder sister.
"Why would you come meet me? Don't you have things of your own to handle?" Sora rolled her eyes and pointed to the seat beside her.
"Sit down. I have something to ask you."
"Uh, I haven't bullied my nephews lately, have I?" Michael asked doubtfully, but still sat down obediently. "Even if they were bullied, it was definitely that old geezer Garp picking on them… That man, I've disliked him for ages. Always bullying kids!"
"This isn't about the children—it's about the Germa Kingdom."
"Ah, come on, you're the queen of Germa! My own blood sister! Let's be real, having two opposing decision-making voices in one country just pulling against each other… that's not healthy at all."
Michael tried to brush it off, but such tricks were utterly useless before Sora, a mother of five children.
"Stop whining. As my younger brother, you're also a member of the Germa royal family now. Don't think you can shirk responsibility!" Sora snorted coldly, then sighed. "This decision will shape Germa's future… I truly can't see it clearly on my own."
Michael smacked his lips.
What now?
With his sister speaking so seriously, he couldn't just keep dodging.
"Alright then, tell me—what kind of decision has you so torn up?"
"The North Blue… is no longer suitable for Germa's survival." Sora glanced at the Navy officers and the youngsters at the table, recognizing them all as her brother's trusted companions, so she spoke without reservation. "Germa 66 once committed unforgivable crimes not just in the North Blue but across the Four Seas. Even though my foolish husband has already paid with his life, the countries once oppressed by Germa 66 will never let go of their hatred. That's why I've decided to relocate Germa into the Grand Line, to start anew."
Michael listened carefully and nodded.
Honestly, he didn't see a problem with that.
Sure, Judge had been the one stirring up all the trouble back then, but it was only natural that people still resented the Germa Kingdom as a whole.
So, to avoid future conflicts, Germa disappearing from the North Blue was the best solution.
As for entering the Grand Line—that wasn't an issue either.
Germa's kingdom was made up of countless snail ships. They could easily split up and slip into the Grand Line without difficulty.
But once inside, the unpredictable weather of the Grand Line made it unreliable to keep functioning as a floating kingdom at sea.
So the key would be finding a proper location where Germa could settle and truly begin again.
"I think it's doable, but it'd be best to find a large uninhabited island where Germa can establish itself."
Seeing Michael agree with the relocation, Sora nodded. Without delay, she pulled out a Den Den Mushi.
"Époni, transmit orders to the whole nation at once. Enter the Grand Line in an orderly fashion and find a safe place to await further instructions."
"Everything else will be decided after Michael and I return."
Michael twitched the corner of his mouth at his sister.
So everything had already been prepared in advance. Asking his opinion now was clearly just for peace of mind.
"What are you staring at? Do you have a problem with your sister's decision?"
Feeling Sora's gaze, Michael shuddered involuntarily.
Was this that so-called bloodline suppression?
"Ahem, of course I don't object. But there's one thing I really have to say."
"Then spit it out already!"
"No need to be so hot-tempered." Michael chuckled. "Marinford's school is on a long break right now. By now, those five little ones should almost be home…"
The instant Sora's expression froze, Michael's mouth twitched again.
"Don't tell me… you haven't informed the children about moving?"
...
"Uh, if I'm not mistaken, we should have a home, right?"
A snail ship was drifting quietly on the sea.
Sanji lifted his head toward Reiju.
"We… should, right?"
"But now, forget about a home, we don't even have a shred left." Ichiji sighed. "Could it be Mom found us too annoying and just abandoned us?"
"What!? That's way too uncalled for, Mom!" Yonji shouted, startling Niji, who had been spacing out beside him.
"You keep scaring me like that, I'll seriously punch you again!"
Reiju looked at the empty sea around them and finally sighed.
"How about we head back to the North Blue Navy branch? They could send us back to Navy Headquarters. At least with Grandpa Sengoku, we're still treated like treasures."
"That works. Even though we fight with Ace and the others all the time, it's still kinda fun… Just as long as Sanji doesn't step foot in the kitchen again." Yonji snickered.
"What did you say, you moss-headed idiot!?"
"You curly-browed bastard, who are you calling names!?"
"You're a curly-brow too, you know!?"
As Sanji and Yonji quarreled, a pirate ship slowly drifted past them.
"Hey, brats, did you lose your way?"
At the bow stood a young man with a head of bright red hair and a straw hat on his head.
He gave them a dazzling smile.
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