"Ohara? Alabasta?" Sengoku sighed. "So after that incident back then, you sent Ohara's survivors to Alabasta?"
"No no no, those villagers were foolish to an excessive degree. Getting them to leave Ohara was difficult enough—how could they completely abandon their homeland for Alabasta? At the time, we settled them on a resource-rich archipelago nearby and left with the scholars." Michael shrugged.
"Speaking of which, those scholars now all consider themselves Alabastans."
"You couldn't have foreseen the current situation even back then, could you?" Sengoku stared into Michael's eyes.
"In other words, you'd already planned to lead a rebellion from that time onward."
"I suggest you rephrase your wording. 'Rebellion' is a term used by the World Government and their allies. When we talk about this among ourselves, we should use 'uprising,'" Michael stretched his wings and settled more comfortably.
"That's right. Ever since I burned that slave ship, I've been mentally exploring countless paths to overthrow the World Government time and again."
Upon hearing this definitive answer, Sengoku let out a long sigh.
Now it seemed clear—every move Michael had made over the years had been deliberate.
From the very beginning, he had been singularly focused on this one goal...
No wonder Tsuru had dared to tell him back then, even before fully understanding Michael's ultimate intentions, that the Marine would undergo drastic changes because of Michael.
But looking at it now, it wasn't just the Marine that was being reshaped.
The entire world had gradually been molded by Michael's invisible hands into the form he envisioned.
"Does the Revolutionary Army know about your plan to merge the Marines with them?"
"I haven't informed them yet, but whether it's Dragon or the other high-ranking members, they've probably already realized it. After all, the phrase I've repeated most often in front of them is... 'The Marine isn't our enemy—they just haven't become our allies yet.'"
Sengoku nodded.
The Revolutionary Army had indeed lived up to that.
When they liberated and incorporated the four seas into their territory, the local Marine Branches were aware and even welcomed it.
Before the Marine consolidated its forces to focus entirely on the Grand Line, the local branches had coexisted harmoniously with the Revolutionary Army for quite some time...
And those branch marines who returned to headquarters seemed to have been influenced by the Revolutionary Army, excelling in both promotion speed and problem-solving abilities compared to those officers who only knew violence.
"In that case, of course I'm willing to give my approval..." Sengoku said with a smile. "And even if I disagreed, at least half of the Marine's top-tier fighters are already on your side! You've completely seized control of the narrative."
The SWORD Special Forces, the junior cadets, the two old-timers Garp and Zephyr, the scheming duo Kizaru and Akainu, plus Chaton and Momousagi...
Not to mention the countless officers in the Marine who idolized Michael!
His fanbase had even produced a few young vice admirals...
Take Doll, the base commander of G-14 Branch, for example.
She was one of Michael's most fervent followers.
To emulate her idol, she not only trained relentlessly but also dyed her hair platinum blonde.
This trend had once caused platinum hair dye to sell out across Marineford.
And far from fading after Michael left the Marine, the phenomenon only grew stronger.
As a result, even years after his departure, Michael's influence within the Marine still far surpassed that of the Three Admirals.
"Control of the narrative or not... I have no interest in becoming Fleet Admiral."
"But I... am already old," Sengoku sighed deeply and spoke slowly. "Though my health is fine, age catches up to everyone... So it's time to start considering the next Fleet Admiral."
"If you insist on putting it that way, I recommend Sakazuki."
"...Logically speaking, your relationship with Sakazuki should be the worst, right? After all, his way of doing things is completely incompatible with yours."
"While I disapprove of some of Sakazuki's actions, I acknowledge his capabilities," Michael said without hesitation. "Moreover, I already promised him that the Fleet Admiral position would undoubtedly be his in the future... Though in my heart, the most suitable candidate for Fleet Admiral should be Borsalino, but his personality isn't suited for leading in an era where we must overthrow the World Government and establish a new world order."
"So you never considered Kuzan at all, before or after?"
"Kuzan?" Michael shook his head with a light chuckle, devoid of any mockery.
"He hasn't even figured out how to be an Admiral properly yet."
"Fair point."
After a night-long discussion, Michael and Sengoku finally finalized the details of the merger between the N.E.W Marine and the Revolutionary Army.
"You're leaving so soon?"
"No choice, old man. Though the N.E.W Marine and the Revolutionary Army are destined to unite, it's best I don't flaunt it too openly before everything is settled... Besides, I still need to inform Dragon and the other officers about this." Michael spread his Wings at the shoreline, giving them a slight flap as he hovered mid-air.
"Though Dragon has entrusted me with full authority over the Revolutionary Army's direction, I should at least inform the leader."
"Is that so? I look forward to seeing that brat Dragon in Marineford again."
With that, Michael nodded once more to Sengoku before soaring into the sky, soon vanishing entirely from the old man's sight.
"Michael..."
"I find myself growing more and more eager for the future you've described."
...
Near the ruins of God Valley in the New World.
An unmarked ship lay anchored.
The calm sea rippled as a figure burst from the water.
The crescent-shaped beard and hair, unaltered even when wet, made his identity unmistakable.
Figarland Garling.
"Pwah! You were right—the submerged ruins of God Valley have indeed disappeared!"
Climbing aboard, he addressed another man on the deck.
"I've already shared this information with you..."
The man pulled back his hood, revealing a head of red hair.
"Now, return my best friend and my daughter."
"Father."