"So now that you've liberated the South Blue and West Blue, how's progress in the North Blue?"
Although Michael had only come to Baltigo for Crocodile's matter, since he was here, he might as well check on his comrades' progress.
"The North Blue campaign is significantly more challenging than the West and South Blues." Dragon rarely furrowed his brow.
"The South Blue offered little resistance and the West Blue's mafia families were never united, so liberation wasn't difficult."
"The North Blue..." Michael pondered briefly. "Germa 66?"
"Exactly, those bastards!"
Crow, as a victim of Vinsmoke Judge's sneak attack, clearly grew agitated.
This was within Michael's expectations.
Among the four blues, the greatest threat to the Revolutionary Army was indeed Germa 66.
When possessing advanced military technology against less powerful forces, technological superiority always creates overwhelming advantage.
Like the Marine's steel warships against pirates' wooden sailboats.
Germa 66's strength lay in their powerful clone army.
These clone soldiers not only surpassed ordinary humans in combat capabilities but were also completely ideologically controlled by the Vinsmoke Family.
Because when creating the clones, Vinsmoke Judge had incorporated concepts like fearlessness and absolute loyalty into their Lineage Factor.
In other words, what he possessed was an army with formidable combat strength and absolute loyalty.
"If it's Germa 66 we're dealing with, then they indeed pose a significant challenge," Michael nodded in agreement.
"After all, their clone army is far superior to the current soldiers of the Revolutionary Army."
This wasn't a one-on-one duel between the strong—it was genuine warfare.
The overwhelming ground-level combat strength of Germa 66 couldn't be compensated for by just two Logia users.
Even so, Michael had never considered incorporating the clone army into his recruitment plans.
Only Vinsmoke Judge had mastered and specialized in cloning technology.
Even if they seized the technology from him, there was no guarantee he hadn't planted hidden traps.
At a critical moment, these could become serious security risks.
And most importantly...
Not everyone could accept the concept of clones.
Given the ethical issues involved, it wasn't worth risking internal division within the Marines or the Revolutionary Army for this army.
Thus, the best choice was to let the clone army sink into the tides of history along with Germa 66.
"So what should we do?" Kuma set down the Bible in his hands. "The best approach would be to capture the leader first... But Vinsmoke Judge has always hidden deep within Germa 66. Though both Dragon and I are clearly stronger than him, we've had no opportunity to get close..."
"Does Vinsmoke Judge know your strength?"
"To be precise, it's Vinsmoke Judge who knows me." Dragon pointed at his own face.
"I once pursued the MADS Peace Research Institute."
So Vinsmoke Judge was one of the few who had witnessed Dragon in action.
No wonder he'd been so cautious when dealing with the Revolutionary Army, only daring to make a move when a suspected Logia-type fruit appeared.
"In that case, this matter still falls to me."
Michael pondered for a moment before speaking enthusiastically.
"How do you plan to handle it?"
"Dragon, I am a Marine after all. As a Marine, it's perfectly normal for me to enter Germa 66's territory to search for a missing blue-haired colleague, right?"
A blue-haired colleague?
The Revolutionary Army cadres couldn't help but glance at the blue-haired beauty who was "keeping herself aloof from worldly affairs."
Then they all gave Michael a thumbs-up.
"Michael, you're truly the most devious one here."
Meanwhile, Crocodile finally understood—after all this, the so-called blue-haired colleague was referring to her!?
At this moment, Michael turned to Crocodile with a friendly smile.
"Would you be willing to help me with this, dear Princess of Alabasta?"
"If I say no, would it make any difference?"
"Then why the hell are you even asking?!"
Once Michael finalized the plan, he immediately left Baltigo with Crocodile and headed for the North Blue.
The Revolutionary Army only needed to mobilize their forces at a normal pace and then march towards the North Blue.
If nothing unexpected happened, by the time the Revolutionary Army arrived in the North Blue, they could directly enter takeover mode.
"Michael, what exactly are you trying to achieve?" Mid-flight, Crocodile couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer and finally asked.
"You're both a Marine Rear Admiral and the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff... and who knows what other identities you might have."
"Obviously. Anyone would be curious in this situation."
After reverting to her original gender, Crocodile's temper gradually returned to that of the former Princess of Alabasta.
No wonder the Crocodile I'd seen before always seemed to wear a faint, illusory mask...
This version of Crocodile was the most genuine.
"What if I told you it's for world peace? Would you believe me?"
"Save that nonsense for children. Do you even believe it yourself?" Crocodile shot Michael a slightly disdainful look.
"That's a bit hypocritical."
"It does sound that way," Michael admitted without refuting. "But I truly am working towards that seemingly hypocritical goal... That's why I let you live. If I were just a Marine striving to become the world's strongest, both Hawkeye and you would have died in the deserts of Alabasta."
Crocodile opened her mouth to retort but found no words.
The fact that she was still alive proved the truth of that statement.
... And that was what shocked her the most.
After a long silence, she couldn't help but click her tongue.
"Tch. You're probably the craziest person in the world."
"Maybe. But in the realm of madness, do you—a person who's changed genders twice—really have the right to call me crazy?"
After the conversation between Crocodile and Michael ended, a prolonged silence fell between them.
Yet, the atmosphere between the two had inexplicably grown more harmonious.
As they neared the North Blue, Crocodile suddenly spoke up, "If we're putting on an act, I can't very well go in wearing this outfit, can I?"
"Simple enough—we'll just make a stop at a North Blue Marine base," Michael shrugged, grinning.
"I bet before today, you've never strolled so boldly into Marine territory, have you?"
"I've never set foot in Marine territory, but I've swaggered into Mariejois' Pangaea Castle more than once."
"...Damn, way to kill the mood."
------------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on .
(.)com/Newbietranslator