"I have to say Michael, you're truly wicked."
Gion swaggered down the streets of the lawless district alongside Michael.
Looking at those who usually committed every imaginable crime now looking pale and exhausted, as if they might drop dead at any moment.
She couldn't help but give Michael a thumbs up.
Though called the "lawless district" it was still technically under marine jurisdiction.
But those who operated businesses or ran gangs here all had some connection to the World Government or even the Celestial Dragons.
So the marines had always turned a blind eye to this area.
But when they actually intervened, these gangsters and human traffickers who usually acted arrogantly and looked down on the marines discovered that... Compared to the Marine's power, they were utterly insignificant.
"Divide the Sabaody garrison into six groups, conducting inspections in shifts at different times each day, each lasting three and a half hours."
"You could turn living men into ghosts with this method." Gion shook her head.
"Especially those inspection phrases you came up with. Honestly, after hearing them a few times, they start echoing in my head. I can't imagine how painful this multi-layered psychological torture must be for these people."
"Did any gangsters or traffickers resist?"
"Of course." Gion nodded, pointing into the distance.
"They're all right there."
It was the transportation hub of the lawless district, but now it was piled with a small mountain of corpses.
Under such psychological torment, some inevitably lost their minds completely.
What awaited them was bullets and blades.
"As for those large gangs and slave auctions that hired powerful pirates as guards, they all complied with inspections after I captured six pirates with bounties over 70 million."
"Funny thing is, forget continuing their human trafficking operations—they can barely take care of their daily lives now."
This outcome was within his expectations.
"Then it's about time to have all marine soldiers enter the area and rescue all the victims."
"Give them a quick death and hang them outside their respective establishments."
Michael spoke calmly, but even Gion who knew the plan felt a chill at his words.
Was this method cruel?
But applied to these human traffickers and gangsters, Gion felt nothing but satisfaction from head to toe.
They thought since the Celestial Dragons were their backers, the marines couldn't touch them?
Michael curled his lip.
He had plenty more dirty tricks up his sleeve.
"Public security hasn't been great lately and the esteemed Celestial Dragons are about to visit Sabaody Archipelago again."
"I'm just ensuring the safety of the Celestial Dragons by eliminating all potential threats and preventing any assassins from sneaking in!"
"If by chance a Celestial Dragon gets assassinated, wouldn't that give me the perfect excuse to sweep through the entire Sabaody Archipelago?"
Gion glanced at Michael, who was deep in thought and couldn't help but smirk...
This kid's heart is truly dark...
However, despite her fondness, Gion hesitated as she watched Michael who's still scheming and asked.
"Michael, I don't know what exactly you're planning, but... are you really doing this for the Marine's sake?"
Michael looked at Gion in surprise.
This wasn't the kind of question he'd expect from the combat-oriented Gion.
"If you see the Marine as a tool, a means for the World Government to maintain its rule, then no, I'm not doing this for the Marine's benefit."
"But if you view the Marine as the guardian of peace and order, as the protector of civilians, then what I'm doing now is a true Justice."
Michael had always been open with Gion, even sharing some details about his Devil Fruit abilities with her.
"Diminishing the influence of the Celestial Dragons, step by step, to elevate the Marine beyond the World Government's control—ideally making it a counterbalance to the World Government itself."
"Remember, the World Government's rule has always relied on the Marine, not the lofty Celestial Dragons. When the World Government violates the very justice the Marine upholds, if the Marine doesn't correct this, it's no different from supporting tyranny."
"Only when the absurd reign of the Celestial Dragons falls from grace can the Great Pirate Era, which emerged as a response to their tyranny and represents 'chaotic freedom,' truly come to an end."
Michael raised his head, gazing at the distant pile of corpses and the rising sun beyond it.
This time, the event later known as the "Great Sabaody Archipelago Purge" came to an end amidst waves of execution gunfire.
"Sengoku, Michael's actions this time were a bit too extreme."
Garp sat in Sengoku's office, leaning back on the sofa.
For once, he didn't snatch Sengoku's snacks but spoke with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Of course I know, I'm not blind..." Sengoku didn't even lift his eyes.
"But this time... the Celestial Dragons didn't react at all."
"No reaction?" Garp was surprised.
Given the scale of the operation, how could the Celestial Dragons stay silent?
Michael's actions this time were a crackdown on slave trading and rampant gang activity.
They were a direct slap to the Celestial Dragons' faces, grinding their dignity into the dirt.
"Do you think the Celestial Dragons care about the lives of those slave traders and gangsters?"
"In their eyes, what could be more important than preserving their own 'noble' lives?"
"So when Michael handed over the pirates working for the slave traders to the World Government, claiming they were the uncovered assassins, the Celestial Dragons didn't doubt him at all. Instead, they were relieved they hadn't gone to Sabaody Archipelago earlier."
As Garp listened, he suddenly chuckled.
"How long has it been since we last saw the Celestial Dragons so humiliated?"
"Not even showing anger after suffering such a loss."
A faint smile briefly appeared at the corner of Sengoku's lips but quickly faded.
"Don't celebrate too soon."
"While the Celestial Dragons may have backed down... the Five Elders and the World Government haven't."
"So to be safe, let's recall Michael to Headquarters."
Garp nodded in agreement.
"Right, with his achievements in hunting pirates over these two years, a promotion is definitely in order."
"But does he need to return to Marine Headquarters? If you ask me, wasn't he supposed to become the branch commander of the Alabasta Marine branch? Just send him directly to Alabasta."
"Establishing a Marine branch takes considerable time and it's best for Michael to remain hidden in the shadows for now..."
Sengoku raised his head and looked at Garp.
"Remember my idea from yesterday?"
"You mean... that special unit?"
"Exactly. I think Michael is currently the most suitable candidate."
As Sengoku spoke, he set down the document in his hand.
"Preliminary Proposal for the Establishment of SWORD Special Forces"