"What? This is... Whitebeard's son?" "Can you two old men process information any slower!?" Michael's lips twitched. "I already said—this is Whitebeard's clone, which technically makes him his son!" "Clone?" Garp stroked his chin, eyeing the still-catatonic Whitebeard Jr. "No matter how you look at it, this clone seems like a failure, doesn't it?" "It definitely wasn't made purely from Whitebeard's genes. Miss Bakkin probably mixed in some of her own... The strong and weak traits balanced out, and this is the result." "That's Buckinham Stussy." "Oh, that woman who was always clinging to Whitebeard on Rocks' ship!" The name instantly reminded Garp of the woman who used to hang off Whitebeard's shoulder during the Rocks Pirates' era. "So where is she now?" Garp gave Michael a strange look. "Even after all these years, the bounties on Rocks Pirates members were never revoked." "Dead." Michael shrugged. "Killed by this big oaf himself." "He... killed his own mother?" "Technically, he just killed one of his genetic donors. I wouldn't call Miss Bakkin's actions 'motherly' by any stretch." Michael scoffed before continuing, "Besides, the Miss Bakkin of today was nothing like the golden-haired beauty with bright eyes from back then—just a shriveled-up old lady who looked like a baked potato... Even if you caught her alive, she wouldn't match the wanted poster." "I see... Then forget it." Garp nodded, then suddenly realized something. "Wait a minute... Now that I think about it, wasn't there a woman in Vegapunk's MADS who looked just like Miss Bakkin?" "Oh, that was her clone—the first generation, and the most successful one. Far more accomplished than the original." Michael glanced at Zephyr and grinned. "But she's part of CP0 now." "CP0? So is she with Vegapunk, or—" "Take a guess?" Michael's smug grin was downright punchable. Garp only needed one look before his fists started itching. While Michael and Garp were shamelessly discussing this, Zephyr pretended not to hear, turning back to observe his students. "Zephyr-sensei, aren't you even a little curious about what we're saying?" Michael sidled up to Zephyr with a cheeky grin. "Don't you want to know what shady dealings Vegapunk has with the World Government and the Marines?" "Since when have I ever cared about such things? Michael, have you only just met me?" Zephyr sighed and looked at him. "No matter how the world changes, all I need to know is that I am a Marine." "I didn't say anything incriminating, Sensei. Why the rush to declare your stance?" Michael spread his hands and shrugged at Zephyr. Zephyr gazed deeply at Michael. Back when he was his student, Michael had seemed utterly mediocre, consistently ranking in the middle during every assessment. But who could have guessed that this mediocrity was merely a facade? Years later, he had risen to become the Marine's Grand Inspector, his strength now incomparable to his past self. Originally, in Zephyr's eyes, his most outstanding disciples were the trio of Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan. Yet now, in his heart, Michael had surpassed all three of them. At least in terms of achievements, the Grand Inspector was no different in substance from the Three Admirals… But Michael was far younger than the Three Admirals. If one considered everything Michael had done, even the combined accomplishments of the Three Admirals couldn't hold a candle to his. "What is it… that you truly want?" A rare trace of confusion flickered in Zephyr's eyes. "Do you wish to become the strongest? Or the one with the greatest authority? Or perhaps… both?" "I will become the strongest, and I will also wield the greatest authority. But these are not my goals—they are merely the means I need to achieve my ultimate purpose." Michael spoke these words without hesitation. He understood Zephyr all too well. If one spoke of kindness, Zephyr was undoubtedly the most compassionate man in the entire Marine. But excess in anything is a fault—which was why, after Whitebeard Jr. massacred the elite training camp, his temperament had completely changed, turning him into a man of extreme, black-and-white thinking. Michael did not agree with Zephyr's former "no-killing" principle, but he could accept it. Because in this world, there must always be such idealists—only then can the path forward be faintly illuminated. Moreover, the most important thing about a strong man is his conviction. If his conviction can be swayed by others, then he is no longer that strong man. In the original timeline, after Zephyr abandoned his no-killing principle, the essence of the "Black Arm" had already vanished. All that remained was a soul bent on vengeance against the entire world. "I see… Then what is this ultimate purpose of yours? Can you tell this old man?" "There's no reason not to." Michael shook his head, stepping to Zephyr's side before speaking softly. "I want the people of the world to rise up—to no longer suffer oppression from the World Government, from pirates, or even from the Marine. I want the world to enter an era of relative freedom and righteous order… I want equality for all, where people can live and work in peace, without fear of dying under the crushing weight of the Celestial Tribute or the threat of pirates." After Michael finished speaking, not only Zephyr but even Garp—who had been aligned with Michael from the very beginning—stared at him in shock. In the end, it was Zephyr's quiet chuckle that broke the stillness. "Michael… you truly are my most outstanding student!" His chuckle gradually swelled into full-blown laughter. "HAHAHAHA! Sakazuki and the other two—they probably wouldn't even dare to think of the things you've just said! Michael… you really are the most audacious man in the entire world!" "Is being bold and reckless such a bad thing?" Michael's lips curled slightly. "There's nothing wrong with either choice—living a safe life for oneself or ensuring everyone lives safely. If I were just an ordinary person, I'd choose the former without hesitation because I'm no saint..." "But with the power I possess now, I feel choosing the latter would let me sleep more soundly at night." "You... are truly exceptional," Zephyr said with an approving nod. "Let's go." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁 "You... aren't going to say goodbye to them?" "Goodbye for what? It's not like I'm going to my death." "I mean... they'll be training under Garp's supervision later..." "Yikes... Then maybe I should say goodbye after all... Poor little things." ----------------------------- Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on . (.)com/Newbietranslator