"Let's just say, they were kind enough to bring you all the way to the Grand Line... but your escape speed was truly impressive." Michael patted his pink-haired niece's head and continued with a smile.
"But well done. Minors should always prioritize their own safety—especially when it comes to someone like Red Hair. No harm done in abandoning him."
"Hey hey hey! Is this how you educate children!? You're a Marine! Shouldn't you at least teach them about loyalty and the meaning of comrades?"
Despite his injuries, Shanks was now completely relaxed after withstanding Michael's slash but he couldn't help but interject him.
The officers of the Red Hair Pirates watched the scene unfold with dark expressions on their faces.
A pirate scolding the Marine about their parenting philosophy...
"My advice is to mind your own business when it comes to our family matters," Michael raised an eyebrow.
"You're pretty tough, though—covered in injuries like that and still moving around."
"That's the benefit of starting early," Shanks shrugged. "I was already a cabin boy on Roger's pirate ship at nine years old!"
"Being illiterate isn't exactly something to brag about."
If you boarded a pirate ship at nine, what else could you be but illiterate?
Meanwhile, as they spoke, Crocodile and Stella descended from the sky onto the deck.
The appearance of swirling sand and drifting clouds left the entire Red Hair Pirates momentarily stunned.
Wait, when did the Marine gain two more Logia-type Devil Fruit users?
And isn't the Sand-Sand Fruit the ability of that Crocodile guy who's been making waves on the Grand Line recently?
How did this power end up with this tall, blue-haired woman in a white suit and a fur coat!?
Then that probably means…
Crocodile has met his end.
Come to think of it, there haven't been any news about Crocodile for the past six months.
"Vice Admiral Michael, what should we do next?" Crocodile raised an eyebrow. "Should we round them all up?"
"Have you gotten addicted to capturing pirates lately? Don't say I didn't warn you—these guys are only acting so meek because I'm here… If it were just the two of you, you wouldn't stand a chance against this entire crew," Michael shook his head.
"You two take care of the kids… I need to have a word with this pirate captain."
Without waiting for Shanks to respond—or even minding his still-bleeding wound—Michael dragged him into the ship's cabin.
"Ow! Could you be gentler?" Shanks said, almost tearful. "If you'd just asked, I would've followed you in. Was the manhandling really necessary?"
"Enough with the whining."
Michael shot Shanks a glance before cutting straight to the chase:
"Right now, I have seven recruitment slots to bring seven pirates into the Marine's fold. They'll be called the Warlords of the Sea… and I think you'd be a perfect fit."
"Huh? Warlords of the Sea?" Shanks scratched his head. "What's that supposed to be?"
"Pirates who work hand-in-hand with the Marine. We can grant you the right to freely enter any major city or port, hunt other pirates for bounties, and operate without being wanted. Even if you do end up with a bounty, it'll be frozen from the day you become a Warlord… Of course, if you dare to harm civilians, We'll revoke these privileges immediately…"
"And personally hang your heads in the center of whatever city you caused trouble in."
As Michael laid out the terms, Shanks grew increasingly stunned.
Had the Marine gotten a taste of the benefits after working with the Whitebeard Pirates and decided to try the same trick again?
This strategy of recruiting one group to take down another was downright ruthless.
But Red Hair didn't care about any of that.
His goal was to become the Pirate King through his own strength and that of his crew. Thɪs chapter is updated by noᴠelfire.net
What happened to other pirates was none of his damn business.
"I'm… intrigued," Shanks pondered for a moment before nodding. "Becoming a Warlord does sound convenient."
"Oh? Really?" Michael was actually surprised.
He didn't expect Shanks to show interest—let alone actively express willingness to become one of the Warlords…
He'd even prepared a few persuasive lines just in case.
"You do realize this would put you at odds with every other pirate out there, right?"
"So what? My goal is to become the Pirate King…" Shanks flashed a grin, his arrogance faintly reminiscent of Roger's.
"I was going to be their enemy anyway!"
Michael nodded, then pulled out a Warlord appointment document.
"Sign here, and within seven days, news of your identity will spread across the entire ocean."
Shanks didn't have a pen on him, so he simply wiped his hand across his wound and pressed it firmly onto the appointment document without hesitation.
After completing this action, Shanks raised his head.
His eyes held no fighting spirit, no hatred—only the questioning gaze of someone seeking truth.
"Can you tell me... why our captain disbanded the Roger Pirates after reaching Laugh Tale?"
"And what exactly did you do for the captain that made him give 'Ace' to you?"
A mysterious smile curled at the corners of Michael's lips.
"You... truly want to know?"
"Then are you prepared for the pressure you'll face after learning the truth?"
Michael and Shanks remained in the cabin for so long that the children grew restless, itching to eavesdrop on their secret conversation.
Just as Sanji broke through the crowd and was about to charge into the cabin, the door suddenly swung open.
A hand instantly lifted Sanji off his feet.
"Wah! Uncle, what were you talking about in there for so long?"
"Tch, kid, curb your curiosity. At your age, you should focus on school, training, and maybe improving your atrocious cooking skills."
"Who says my cooking's bad? Don't slander me!"
"Tch, hate to break it to you, but after eating your food, your mother enters a near-out-of-body experience every time... That cooking of yours is something else. I'm tempted to add it to the Marines' weapons registry."
Michael laughed at Sanji.
Ignoring the boy's struggles, he gestured for Stella and Crocodile to follow him toward the Transponder Snail Ship.
"Shichibukai, Red-Haired Shanks."