"What the heck? Maria D.?"
Michael froze for a moment.
"Is it my sister? Or maybe some of my nephews?"
"Do you think if the Queen of Germa and her descendants came to Loguetown, we wouldn't have any warning?"
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"That person's name should be Yamato, and she claims her surname is 'Maria D.'!"
"Pfhh!"
The tea Michael had just sipped sprayed right out of his mouth at that name.
"Wait, you're sure her name is… Yamato!?"
"That's right… and she's from Raijin Island in the New World."
Michael let out a long breath upon hearing this.
Others might not know what secrets Raijin Island held… but he did!
That guy Doflamingo had delivered the information straight to his desk.
Raijin Island was now Kaido's main base.
Which meant…
This Yamato was one hundred percent Kaido's daughter!
At this moment, Michael finally felt the headache coming on.
Because he had changed Wano's fate back then, Kozuki Oden had not ended up being executed by Kaido after suffering in the boiling pot.
So, most likely, Kaido's daughter hadn't picked up the bizarre habit of calling herself "Kozuki Oden."
But what did Ginny just say?
She called herself "Maria D. Yamato"!?
When did the Maria family get tangled up with this one?
"Damn… really ran into trouble this time."
Michael sighed, then stood up and looked at Ginny.
"Alright, you're coming with me."
"Why should I go with you? Go by yourself!"
"Go by myself, my ass!"
Michael felt his chest clog up with frustration.
"Did you forget that, except for the core cadres, the rest of the Revolutionary Army hasn't seen the real face of the Chief of Staff?"
"...Oh right! I totally forgot about that!"
Ginny slapped her own forehead.
"It's just—you've been strolling around the East Blue's Revolutionary Army headquarters in full Navy officer uniform like it's nothing, so I ignored that issue entirely."
"You're getting real sarcastic lately… who taught you this?"
Michael smirked, waved toward Enel and Hawk Eyes, signaling them to do their own thing instead of tagging along.
It was just Kaido's daughter after all…
Even if Kaido himself showed up right now, Michael could guarantee he'd leave in pieces.
Then, his four wings spread open, and he shot into the sky.
"Wait! Michael just takes off instantly like that!? You want me dead, is that it!?"
Ginny transformed into flames with a string of curses and chased after him.
...
The distance from Shimotsuki Village to Loguetown wasn't far.
At Michael and Ginny's speed, they reached Loguetown in about an hour.
Looking at the island, Michael felt a faint stir in his heart.
Ever since Roger's execution here, he had never returned to Loguetown.
Now, seeing it again, it truly lived up to its name as the East Blue's greatest town.
The development was so fast it was even approaching the bustle of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Well, it made sense.
If there was anyone in the past decades who influenced the world the most, it was Gol D. Roger.
And his execution site naturally became the world's top sightseeing spot.
Whether pirates, Revolutionary Army, Navy, or civilians who'd never set sail, anyone coming to Loguetown never missed seeing the Pirate King's place of death.
Be it to pay respects—or to spit on it.
Either way, you paid the entrance fee first.
This rule had been set by the Navy Headquarters even before the Four Seas became Revolutionary Army territory, and it was the Loguetown branch collecting the fees…
And the one who issued this order wasn't anyone else—it was Garp.
Of course, in the end, it was Michael fanning the flames behind Garp that made it happen.
And the money wasn't sent to Headquarters either; it was used directly for Loguetown's development.
Over the years, as the Revolutionary Army liberated the Four Seas completely, the Navy's branches there became meaningless, and they moved everything to the Grand Line, abandoning control over the Four Seas.
Sengoku had complained to Michael about this several times, only to be brushed off each time.
Fortunately, Sengoku also understood the Four Seas weren't that important to the Navy's strength, so after a few grumbles, he let it go.
In fact, later Sengoku even said that abandoning the Four Seas and focusing on the "Paradise" and "New World" was the wiser choice.
So now, this ticket business was handled by the Revolutionary Army.
"It's been ages since I came to Loguetown."
"Huh? Michael, weren't you born in the South Blue and adopted by Fleet Admiral Sengoku when you were young? You came to Loguetown before?"
"The last time… was to send someone off."
Michael glanced at the 'Myōjō' on his waist as he spoke.
It seemed to sense this place as well, trembling slightly in response.
"Back then I was so young… not like now, an old-timer already."
"...Michael-san, you're running out of things to say, huh? If you're old, then what does that make me?"
Ginny shot him a look.
"I'm already thirty-nine!"
"...If you know you're old, why keep calling me '-san'?"
"Out of respect! For you, for the strong! You don't get it!"
"...Actually, it's because calling me 'sensei' would make you feel like you owe me a whole generation of respect, right?"
"Tch, with how much you nag, you really do sound like an old man."
With that, Ginny accelerated straight toward Loguetown.
Michael had no choice but to follow.
When the two descended from the sky, the people only showed mild surprise.
But that was mostly at Michael in Navy uniform.
Ginny's presence they were already used to—everyone knew the Revolutionary Army had a beautiful yet bold female officer who descended in flames from the sky.
"Miss Ginny! You're finally here!"
A passing Revolutionary Army member hurried over.
He only glanced at Michael without saying a word.
"Station Chief Drake told us to take you to the Rescue Station as soon as we saw you."
"Alright, let's go."
Ginny nodded without explaining who Michael was.
They soon reached the Rescue Station by the shore.
From afar, Michael saw the ship Yamato had arrived on…
"What the hell… is with this ship?"
Michael stared at the giant image of his own face painted on the hull.
The whole ship was themed after him…
"Drake said it was a weird ship… I didn't expect it to be this weird."
Ginny held back her laughter, patted Michael on the shoulder, and said,
"Looks like… you've got yourself a super big fan!"
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