One Piece : Admiral Falcon is Pissed off again today!

When Michael declared this, Gion wasn't surprised.

After all, since the burning of the slave smuggling ship, Michael had almost completely become a different person.

The original Michael was low-key, tactful and amiable.

The current Michael was flamboyant, irritable and ready to fight anyone at the drop of a hat.

Especially when facing the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, his attitude was clear: if you don't kill me, I'll definitely kill you.

Who knows what impact this would have on the entire Marine force, or even the whole world...

What consequences would it bring?

"Fine, your life is yours to decide" Gion finally sighed and relented.

"As for the living arrangements you mentioned, I'll figure something out... Given the current situation, I wouldn't allow them to stay in the Marine barracks anyway."

"You don't think I'd cause trouble for the Marines, do you?"

"Are you okay? If you're fine, go eat some senbei." Gion looked at Michael's handsome face but then remembered his explosive temper and rolled her eyes.

"Since when does a secret special forces unit live with regular stationed troops?"

"Uh, now that you mention it, that makes sense."

"Let me think... On Sabaody Archipelago, the Marines do have several large estates with all the facilities fully equipped. They just need some cleaning."

"Oh, that sounds great... Huh? Wait a minute?" Michael looked at Gion in shock.

"Why would the Marines have large estates? Is someone embezzling funds? Let me tell you, this is right up my alley now!"

"You're overthinking it. After wiping out so many gangs this time, all these properties were originally bought by them. After their destruction, they were naturally confiscated by the Marines."

***

Sabaody Archipelago, a certain large estate.

Under Gion's arrangements, it had now been designated as the base for the SWORD Special Forces.

And now, inside this estate belonging to the classified special forces, young Marines were waiting idly.

At this restless age, being stuck on standby was pure torture.

So Rosinante and the others, whom Michael had brought from Marine Headquarters, were now standing in the living room, staring wide-eyed at little Robin, who was only eight years old.

"Hina is surprised. You're saying you're eight years old?" Hina looked utterly disbelieving.

"You can join the Marines at eight?"

"Ahem, Hina, that's a bit hypocritical of you" Rosinante glanced at Hina and reminded her.

"When Vice Admiral Tsuru decided to recruit you specially, you were only nine."

"Ah! That's right! Hina almost forgot." Hina smacked her forehead.

"You totally forgot, didn't you?"

Smoker muttered from the side, immediately earning a death glare from Hina.

Some traits are just ingrained from childhood and never change.

"And don't underestimate Robin," Rosinante patted little Robin's head.

"I just found out that although she's only been in the Marines for a short time and is still a recruit, she's actually taken over Michael Aniki original job as Vice Admiral Gion's aide..."

"So in a way, the Rear Admiral was forced to get promoted because Robin-chan took his spot..." Shu always had a unique perspective on things.

"Kids these days are terrifying."

"It's not right for you all to gossip about the Rear Admiral behind his back like this." Finally, T-Bone—who had no flaws except for his ugly looks—spoke up in Michael's defense.

"But judging by Vice Admiral Gion's attitude towards Rear Admiral Michael, it seems his work as an adjutant really hasn't been up to par."

"Shh! Keep it down! Rear Admiral Michael is coming! Wait! Who's that golden-haired beauty beside him?"

"I know, I know! It's Stella-san! She was once a wandering singer rescued by Michael-san from a slave smuggling ship. Now she's a Marine Lieutenant Commander and his direct subordinate!"

Robin's innocent voice rang out, but what it earned… Was the eager gazes of everyone present.

When it came to gossip, they were all dead serious.

Even Rosinante, who adored his Michael the most and the straightforward T-Bone were no exception.

"Honestly, just based on how well their looks complement each other, Michael Aniki and Lieutenant Commander Stella really do make a good match" Rosinante remarked, seeing his brother in nothing but the best light.

"Whether they're a good match or not is debatable," Smoker said bluntly, pointing in the direction Michael and Stella were approaching from.

"Look at them—just walking side by side without even holding hands?"

"Shut up, Smoker! You socially inept oaf!" Shu smacked Smoker hard from behind.

"There are plenty of ways for young men and women to express their feelings! Not everyone handles relationships like you!"

Rosinante, Smoker and Shu were busy trading jabs about their superior, but T-Bone's next words hit them like a ton of bricks, leaving them grimacing in pain.

"You know, you all sound more like experts in romance than in being Marines."

"Since you're so knowledgeable, I assume all three of you must have girlfriends, right?"

Silence!

Deafening silence!

And the one who finally shattered it was Hina's utterly unrefined laughter!

"HAHAHA! Spouting theories left and right, sounding like three love gurus—only to turn out to be three little virgins with zero romantic experience!"

Her laughter echoed in their ears and their earlier smug remarks now circled back like sharp boomerangs, piercing their hearts.

"Damn, my heart hurts! How can words be so cruel?!"

"My heart can't hurt anymore… because it's completely rusted over—oh wait, I'm the Rust-Rust man!"

"....."

Just as the three were wallowing in their respective emo phases, Michael and Stella entered the room.

Taking in the chaotic scene before him, Michael had expected as much—but still took a deep breath before speaking.

"Well, well, my little troublemakers… You all seem pretty bored, huh?"

"Rear Admiral Michael! Lieutenant Commander Stella!"

Though each of them was brimming with pride, at the end of the day, they were professional Marines.

Chain of command still mattered to them.

Even Smoker—who hadn't yet fully evolved into the rebellious thorn that would later defy HQ and head to Loguetown—was no exception.

"Alright, let me introduce them. Robin, Stella, starting today, they will also become members of the SWORD Secret Special Forces!"

"Robin, a new recruit and a Paramecia-type Flower-Flower Fruit user. Though only eight years old, she's very smart."

"Stella, a Marine Lieutenant Commander and a Logia-type Cloud-Cloud Fruit user. Though she never attended Instructor Zephyr's elite training camp, she is the disciple of Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp."

"From today onward..."

"We are comrades striving to change the Marines and the world!"

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