Michael was left speechless by Garp counter-question, After calming down for a while, he finally laughed helplessly.
"Who knew? I just gave him a little ...hmm lets just say encouragement. I never expected Kozuki Oden to be this impressive! I thought, at best, he'd just protect Kuri and then take his people to the seas, leaving Wano Country behind! Honestly, I was already prepared to receive and arrange for Wano refugees directly on Sabaody Archipelago!"
If he had known Kozuki Oden was this strong, he should've dragged old man Garp with him to Wano back then.
Maybe they could've finished everything in one go!
Just kill Kaido outright and be done with it!
Save everyone the trouble of dealing with that unkillable bastard later!
"I know Kaido pretty well—he's a freakishly talented guy, someone who stood out even under Rocks' command..."
"That Moria doesn't seem simple either, managing to hold his own against Kaido crew head-on. He must be a real pain."
Garp additional remarks made Michael think of something else.
Moria didn't suffer a total wipeout like in the original timeline. Did that mean he wouldn't become disillusioned and create that abomination of a ship, Thriller Bark?
And if Thriller Bark never existed, Ryuma corpse wouldn't be stolen and Brook in the Florian Triangle wouldn't lose his shadow.
So... did this mean the world trajectory was truly changing due to his influence?
Michael wasn't sure if the worldline would forcibly correct itself. But for now, the results were promising.
Kozuki Oden success meant that his subsequent plans could also be effective and achievable!
Thinking this, Michael shook his head.
No point dwelling on hypotheticals today.
Time to pop some champagne and celebrate~
But before Michael could speak, Garp grew increasingly chatty.
Old age tends to make people long-winded. Especially for Garp, who had recently become a new grandfather.
"Michael, it's been a year and a half since you last returned to Sabaody Archipelago. How come Gion hasn't complained at all? Has she become that easygoing now?"
Hearing Garp words, Michael understood.
So this was the real reason the old man talk so much.
Clearing his throat, he put on a righteous air and said.
"Could you not go stirring up trouble for Gion, please?"
"Right now, because of Roger last words during his execution, Sabaody Archipelago is like a damn convention—throw a brick and you'll hit ten people, eight of them pirates!"
"Last time we spoke on the Den Den Mushi, she even said she'd rather swap defense zones with Akainu and go to the front lines at G-1 in the New World!"
"Hahahaha! Seems like Gion luck isn't too great! She just got transferred there and now this happens!" Garp laughed heartily, completely carefree.
After all, not everyone could be like him—just toss the G-3 branch to Bogart and call it a day!
So, after giving Garp a middle finger, Michael went back to sifting through the pile of intelligence reports.
At that moment, Michael spotted a fresh document at the top of the stack labeled "Latest Orders." Just one glance and his face darkened instantly.
"...Garp-san. Take a look at this." Michael voice was noticeably deeper than before and this time, he didn't call him "old man."
Garp could tell—the kid was seriously pissed.
"See for yourself!" With that, Michael shoved the document in front of Garp.
Even someone as thick-skinned as Garp couldn't help but frown deeply after reading it.
"The authority to initiate a Buster Call was given to CP9 Spandine? That notorious idiot!?"
"And it's being launched against Ohara in the West Blue?"
"Has Sengoku lost his damn mind? What the hell did those nerds ever do to anyone?"
Bogart immediately stepped forward.
"How long ago was the Buster Call order for Ohara issued?"
"Report, Vice Admiral! The order was transmitted half an hour before I found you!"
Hearing this, Garp didn't waste another second—he pulled out his personal Den Den Mushi.
This was his direct line to Sengoku!
A few seconds after dialing, there was a "Katcha" sound and the call connected.
"Garp? What is it, why did you call me?" Sengoku voice sounded weary and the Den Den Mushi imitating his expression and showed a furrowed brow.
"Or have you finally decided to bring Michael and Stella back?"
"Sengoku, you bastard, have you gone senile already!?" Garp gritted his teeth as he spat out the question.
"Handing Buster Call authority to CP9 is one thing, but a damn Buster Call on Ohara? Those bookworms are just ordinary people! That's human lives we're talking about! A whole island worth of humans life!"
"Once a Buster Call is issued, it cannot be revoked! That's the Marine authority!" Sengoku voice turned icy under Garp fury.
"I'll evacuate the civilians, but the scholars..."
Sengoku didn't finish, but his stance was clear... The scholars had to die.
Garp veins bulged on his forehead at Sengoku sudden ruthlessness.
But he couldn't argue against the first part.
A Buster Call—an extermination-level military operation against a nation. It mobilized ten of the Marine largest, most advanced warships. Each ship would be commanded by a Rear Admiral from Headquarters.
Five elite Vice Admirals would also be dispatched to ensure sufficient combat power.
Each ship carried over a thousand elite soldiers—ten ships meant over ten thousand in total!
A military mobilization of this scale indeed cannot be changed overnight. Even if Sengoku himself wanted to call it off, the World Government would absolutely never allow it.
The ones who most wanted the scholars of Ohara dead were, of course, the World Government.
As the only Admiral at the time and the highest authority in the Marines, the most Sengoku could arrange was that single refugee ship.
Michael took a deep breath and snatched the receiver from Garp.
"Hey, old man, it's me."
"...Michael, so you were listening."
Michael closed his eyes, took another deep breath and said.
"Old man, Garp-san and I are currently in Grandline, very close to the Calm Belt! From our position, we can probably reach Ohara a full day ahead of the Buster Call forces. Garp-san and I can use that time difference to evacuate the civilians! Then you can directly order the Vice Admirals leading the Buster Call to conduct bombing on Ohara without landing on the island, leaving no chance for CP agents to investigate! Even Five Elders wouldn't have anything to say about that, right?"
Michael tone was eerily calm.
As if he were discussing what to have for dinner with Sengoku.