Marine Headquarters, Junior Class Training Base.
"Whoa! You guys, look at the news! The legendary pirate Golden Lion is dead!"
A boy in a Marine trainee uniform held a newspaper in his hands. His arms suddenly stretched, grabbing the gate as he slingshotted himself into the base…
And smoothly jumped in through the classroom window.
At this time every day, the Junior Class had cultural lessons.
Luckily, class had just ended, or he'd definitely have been punished again.
Everyone turned to look at the boy who had barged in.
A black-haired boy with freckles on his face stood up helplessly and said,
"Luffy! What did you see this time? Why are you so worked up?"
"Ace! Look at the newspaper! It says that the legendary pirate, who was once compared to Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard, was taken down at Egghead!" Luffy patted the dust off his uniform without a care, then lifted his head and said excitedly, "And it was Michael who did it!"
"Keep your voice down!" Ace sighed and gave Luffy a light punch on the forehead—but thanks to Luffy's Devil Fruit, it didn't hurt at all.
Still, Luffy quieted down right away.
He might be a bit of an idiot, but he had one redeeming quality—
He always listened to his big brother.
"First of all, Michael-san has been dismissed from the Marines. Don't mention his name so carelessly!"
"Second… your news is way too late. We already read that newspaper two days ago."
"Huh!? This paper's from two days ago?" Luffy looked confusedly at the newspaper in his hands. "But it looks so new!"
"Ah, Luffy… I think you can officially say goodbye to cultural lessons," Nami teased, walking over and patting Luffy on the shoulder.
"Let me tell you, for someone with strong limbs but a simple head like yours, catching up to Michael is gonna be pretty hard!"
"Hard?" Luffy tilted his head, then grinned. "But I still want to become a Marine who surpasses Michael!"
The moment those words came out, everyone in the Junior Class sighed in unison.
Sometimes, they really did envy Luffy.
Pure goals, incredible talent…
They might make fun of his stupidity, but deep down, everyone knew—
Among all of them, Luffy was the one most likely to make that dream come true.
"Still, to have taken down the legendary Golden Lion… that must mean Michael fully recovered after being besieged by two Admirals and almost all the Vice Admirals back then," Ulti said, resting her chin on her hand. "I just wonder how Yamato's doing with him now?"
"Since when are you the type to care about people?" Page One looked at his sister as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Page One, I'd suggest you don't provoke your sister right now," Sugar said with a mischievous smile. "Otherwise, she'll pin you to the ground. Unlike me—I only get love and affection from my sister."
"Damn it!" Page One clutched his head in agony. "Why couldn't my sister have been someone gentle like Monet!?"
"Maybe it's just… fate?" Law said flatly, holding his long nodachi as usual. "You two are blood siblings, after all."
"Then I wish I had a cute little sister like Lami!"
"ε=(′ο｀*)))sigh, but Lami only wants a brother like Law~"
"Enough! Everyone, quiet down!" The reliable class monitor Reiju and vice monitor Tashigi spoke in unison. "Even if you don't care about the Marines' image, at least show some respect for the teacher!"
They both gestured toward the person behind the podium, smiling as she observed them all—
Grandma Tsuru.
That was the kind of privilege the Junior Class enjoyed.
In combat, they had Zephyr and Garp.
For academics, they had Grandma Tsuru and Vice Admiral Komei.
"Don't mind me—go on, go on."
Tsuru was always gentle and tolerant when dealing with children.
Except… when it came to truants.
The moment she spoke, everyone snapped to attention and went silent.
Even Luffy, who was usually oblivious to the atmosphere, shut his mouth.
After all—
Hanging from the clothesline behind Tsuru was a whole row of poor souls punished for skipping class.
Sanji and his three brothers, along with Sabo.
"In the Junior Class, you can speak freely. After all, I also watched Michael grow up… But until he and the Marines truly make a move to shake the seas, you must treat that name with respect. Understand?"
"Yes, Vice Admiral Tsuru!"
"Good. Someone get those naughty boys down—we've got a lesson to continue." Grandma Tsuru adjusted her glasses with a smile. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, the historical influence of the Fish-Man Island Treaty…"
...
Far away from Marine Headquarters, in Dressrosa…
"Achoo!"
Doflamingo sneezed, rubbing his nose afterward.
"Strange… why does it feel so good after sneezing? Like someone's repeating my past mistakes—it's refreshing!"
But after muttering that to himself, his expression grew serious as he stared at the newspaper in his hands.
"Michael, oh Michael… you never stay quiet, do you? Seems like the rise of the new Flying Pirates wasn't part of your calculations, huh? Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone this far to make such big news! Because logically, hiding in the shadows would be the most efficient move for you right now…"
As that thought crossed his mind, Doflamingo's eyes lit up.
The Golden Lion was dead, the new Flying Pirates had scattered, and many major powers in the New World had taken the opportunity to absorb fresh blood…
Yet, so far, none of the great pirates who had followed the Golden Lion had resurfaced.
No word of them joining other pirate crews.
Could this mean…
He might have a chance to recruit them under his banner?
After all…
Even though he was ready to stab Kaido in the back when the time came, his current power still wasn't enough.
The Beasts Pirates were definitely the biggest winners after the Flying Pirates' disbandment—
They had gained over a hundred new SMILE ability users out of nowhere!
"Looks like… it's time to set the hidden Donquixote Family in motion."
Doflamingo murmured to himself.
But he didn't know that far away from Dressrosa, in another building, a beautiful woman lowered her hand from her face.
It was Viola—the current Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Dressrosa, and the youngest daughter of the late King Riku.
As the user of the Glare-Glare Fruit, she had long been recruited by Rosinante after Doflamingo seized the throne, acting as a secret informant to monitor his every move.
After deactivating her ability, Viola immediately took out a Den Den Mushi.
"This is Viola."
The voice that came through was unmistakably Rosinante's.
"Go ahead."
Viola began to report all of Doflamingo's recent actions to him.
"Good work, Viola!"
"Serving the people!"
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg