One Piece : Admiral Falcon is Pissed off again today!

"W-Wait, what? Stealing Marine intelligence?!" Smoker, who had been watching the scene unfold, gaped at Hina beside him.

"Oi Hina, is it really okay for the commander to just slap labels on people like that?"

"Ugh, you damn smoke-belching idiot, get away from me! I don't want secondhand smoke!"

"Woman! I am smoke! I ate the Smoke-Smoke Fruit—I am smoke! It's not secondhand, it's firsthand!"

Though Hina and Smoker were two years apart, they had graduated from the same elite training camp.

The two of them were, without a doubt, among the most outstanding talents Zephyr had trained in recent years.

As for Shu and T-Bone, they too were products of the elite training camp, but since they weren't in the same class as Hina and Smoker, they weren't as familiar with them.

Thus, they refrained from joining in on the banter.

Meanwhile, Rosinante watched his brother Michael, with concern.

Don't let Rosinante's towering, dopey appearance fool you!

Having grown up under Sengoku's influence, he was actually quite sharp-minded.

The world's largest red-light district, thriving for decades without a single Marine raid...

If anyone claimed this had nothing to do with the World Government—or even the Celestial Dragons—Rosinante would gladly rip his own head off and use it as a soccer ball!

By doing this, wasn't his brother essentially picking another fight with the World Government?

All Rosinante could do was sigh helplessly.

Ever since he'd known Michael, his brother had always scoffed at the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

And after torching that slave smuggling ship, Michael's hatred for them had practically been carved into his bones...

After all, his brother was the vindictive type.

Despite his refined, noble appearance...

He had a fiery temper!

Especially towards those who crossed him—he never let grudges go.

This return to Marine HQ for the promotion ceremony, while part of standard procedure, was also meant to let his brother lay low for a while...

At the very least, he couldn't stay on Sabaody Archipelago for now.

With all these incidents piling up, the so-called Queen of the Pleasure District had practically delivered herself to their doorstep...

Given his elder brother's temper, he had probably long since lost patience.

Thinking this, Rosinante stole a glance at Michael's face.

A smile warm enough to melt hearts...

Yet four or five bulging veins of rage were already visibly throbbing on his face.

Oh dear, we're doomed.

Sure enough, the next moment, Michael directly spread his wings and charged towards Stussy.

No fancy techniques—just pure physical combat.

Ever since Garp acknowledged him as having reached the level of an Admiral candidate, this was the first time Michael had openly taken action in public.

The sudden burst of speed even left Stussy momentarily stunned.

Without caring whether she might expose her CP0 identity, she immediately used Soru to retreat backward.

But...

She was still a step too slow.

Seeing Stussy activate Soru, Michael gave a powerful flap of his wings, accelerating mid-air and instantly closing the distance to her.

With a single outstretched hand, he grabbed her by the ankle.

The smooth, cool texture of her skin felt exquisite, but Michael had no intention of appreciating it...

Without any thought of sparing her due to her beauty, he hurled Stussy upward with tremendous force, sending her crashing through multiple floors until she landed in the casino's topmost level.

The empty office was instantly filled with shattered stone and wood fragments.

Stussy coughed a few times, wiping blood from the corner of her mouth.

Just as she rose from the ground, Michael flew up through the hole she had created.

"Handsome little Marine... you're really starting to piss me off."

"Good thing that face of yours is so pretty, or I'd tear you to pieces!"

Michael watched as Stussy struggled to maintain her act.

Seeing people like her frustrated brought him nothing but satisfaction.

But for all his explosive temper, he hadn't lost his rationality.

He was well aware of Stussy's true identity.

His initial attack had indeed been impulsive...

But throwing her up to the top floor?

Wasn't that precisely to exchange a few words in private?

"Enough, Stussy. If you're going to act, either commit to the role or drop it entirely. Half-hearted performers like you... will crash and burn someday."

Michael glanced at the gaping hole behind him before stepping closer to Stussy.

This woman, whose age remained a mystery, possessed an undeniably captivating charm.

But... as the first successful clone from Vegapunk's MADS experiments and his staunch loyalist, Michael knew better than to get too close to her.

It risked leaving behind genetic material and Vegapunk would absolutely use it to clone him!

Not that he was boasting—he suspected his Devil Fruit abilities had already reached Vegapunk's ears through Marine intelligence.

A fruit embodying two opposing forces...

Naturally, this had drawn Vegapunk's keen interest.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Borsalino to deliver a custom-built warship as a gift.

This gesture left Michael both pleased and exasperated.

Pleased because winning over the One Piece World's foremost scientific mind would significantly boost their chances of crushing the Celestial Dragons and World Government.

Exasperated because...

Vegapunk, with his Brain-Brain Fruit-enhanced intellect, often had bizarrely ahead-of-their-time ideas.

Like cloning, for instance...Michael had no desire to see his own face among the "Seraphim."

But truth be told, Vegapunk's Seraphim Project was a perfect match for him.

..... Perhaps he should proactively offer Vegapunk some benefits, as long as they agreed not to create his clone?

Michael pondered for a moment, but Stussy before him interrupted his thoughts.

"What do you mean by this? What acting?"

"Tsk, you're CP0's mole in the underworld, while simultaneously being Vegapunk's mole planted within CP0... Do I need to spell it out any clearer?"

Michael had no intention of playing mind games with Stussy and spoke bluntly.

"After you return, tell Vegapunk I'll make good use of his ship."

"When the time is right, I'll go to Egghead to see him."

"After all... we're allies now."

Michael raised an eyebrow, looking at Stussy whose expression was gradually turn to shocked.

Damn, seeing that shocked manga face in real life is truly bizarre.

For some reason, remembering this is the One Piece World makes such things feel completely normal?

"How did you know..."

"You want to ask how I know your identity?"

Michael shook his head, took a step forward and pressed a finger against Stussy's lips.

Holy light flowed through his finger, carrying a trace of warmth into Stussy's body.

"Himitsu-desu."

"Our conversation today is also a secret. Please keep it forever confidential."

"Dear Miss Stussy..."

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