The child didn't remain puzzled about his parents' plans for a second child for long before shouting and running off to join his playmates.
"Kids are so full of energy. When I was young and met Linlin, we'd run around all day without ever getting tired."
Gerd stepped forward and nodded at Michael.
"About the conscription issue... has it been resolved?"
"Everyone was eager to volunteer when they heard the Angel needed help," Gerd chuckled.
"After all, in Elbaf, most people grew up reading Joy Boy's books and listening to tales passed down about him... And whenever Joy Boy is mentioned, the Angel of the End can never be left out of the story."
"Being praised by a beauty like you... I'm almost embarrassed," Michael shook his head with a light laugh.
"Watching stories unfold is certainly interesting... but no matter how much you mentally prepare, you never quite get used to becoming part of the tale yourself."
"For us warriors of the Giant Tribe, being able to play any role—significant or minor—in a story that will be told for generations is an immense honor."
"Is that so..." Michael nodded, then stood up and called out to Charlotte Linlin in the distance.
"Linlin! It's about time—don't forget you're supposed to be our guide this time!"
"Alright, alright, stop nagging!" Charlotte Linlin waved dismissively at Michael before bending down to comfort the children.
After a while, Charlotte Linlin—now dressed in Giant Tribe attire to follow local customs—stood before Michael.
This outfit... Michael was willing to call it Viking-inspired, borderline divine attire.
Similar to Gerd's clothing, but bolder.
One could only say, truly befitting a woman who had been married forty-two times.
Of course, Oda had always had this kind of flair.
Having lived in this world for so many years, Michael had somewhat grown accustomed to it.
Michael turned around and saw the towering Giant Tribe warriors forming a veritable forest of muscle—a visual spectacle no other race could ever hope to match in their lifetime!
"Let's set off! To God Valley!"
"Wait, if we leave now, what about Gaban?"
"Rayleigh, as companions, we should at least understand his current situation... A second child is naturally more important than anything else."
"No, I just suddenly realized that while we're about to go diving for ruins, Gaban gets to stay with his gorgeous giantess wife... How heartbreaking."
After saying this, the two strongest men in history—both standing at 188 cm—locked eyes and flashed radiant yet utterly devious grins.
The two top-tier powerhouses suddenly exuded a hint of mischief in their demeanor.
"Colon! Clon! You brat! Come here for a sec!"
"What is it, Uncle Michael? Uncle Rayleigh?"
"Listen, later you..."
The two leaned in and whispered something into Colon's ear.
After bidding him farewell, they set sail with the mightiest warriors of Elbaf!
As countless massive ships departed Elbaf, a distant cry brimming with embarrassment and anguish echoed faintly from the direction of the western village.
"Ah, that feels much better now."
So declared Michael and Rayleigh.
...
After scouring the seas for ten full days, they finally located the ruins of the former God Valley by tracing the underwater currents.
With no landmarks in sight, they could only outline a rough search area.
Pinpointing the exact location would require more detailed underwater reconnaissance.
Yet with the help of nearly all the young and middle-aged giant warriors mobilized for the task, it took another three days to gradually narrow down the ruins' coordinates.
"Hmm? A News Coo?"
Michael stood atop the mast of a giant ship and waved at the bird.
Noticing the gesture, the News Coo swiftly slowed its flight and perched on the mast.
One hundred belly for a newspaper—fair price for all.
Michael dropped a coin into the pouch on the bird's chest and took a copy.
"Coo! Coo-coo!"
The News Coo was delighted.
Humans who paid promptly were good humans!
Unlike that orange-haired young woman near Marineford, who always haggled endlessly over a mere hundred belly!
Watching the bird soar back into the sky, Michael unfolded the latest World Economic News.
Since arriving in Elbaf, information had been relatively scarce.
Even when Shanks' crew came, they hadn't brought any fresh updates.
Just as Michael planned to kill time with the newspaper, the front page greeted him with two entire spreads dominated by a single headline:
The Marine Declares Independence.
Michael's eyes widened—rounder and rounder—as he read.
This move made sense… yet it was utterly unexpected!
He had originally planned to contact his aligned Marine contacts after retrieving Lunar Technology from the God Valley ruins to orchestrate this very event.
But now…
The Marine had independently declared secession—top to bottom!?
And they must have coordinated with Morgans beforehand.
Only after independence was a done deal did Morgans release this exclusive report.
Meaning… the Marine's secession likely occurred during Michael's stay in Elbaf.
"Old man Sengoku… Who knew you'd be this bold once the penny dropped?"
"I was still weighing the pros and cons, and you just marched straight to Mary Geoise to lay your cards on the table?"
"What can I even say?"
"Respect."
...
"It seems that while Garp and I were dealing with the aftermath of Wano, you all went ahead and pulled off something major."
Tsuru sat in Sengoku's office, flipping through reports on the Marine's recent internal purge of the World Government's hidden operatives.
"As the saying goes... speed is the essence of warfare. Since we got a good pretext from you, naturally we had to make full use of it before the other side could react."
Sengoku couldn't help but show a somewhat relieved smile.
Ever since leaving Mary Geoise, he felt his state of mind had become completely different from before.
He had originally thought that severing ties with the World Government and making the Marine independent meant abandoning the justice he had once clung to.
But now he realized...
He had gained a whole new understanding of the so-called "Justice Above All."
"In that case, a new beginning naturally calls for a new name..."
"New... let's call it the N.E.W Marine!"
...
"N.E.W Marine..."
Michael, perched on the mast, stroked his chin as he read the Marine's new name printed in bold letters on the newspaper.
"The meaning is good..."
"But the name is a bit ominous, don't you think?"
"Ah well... as long as the old man is happy."
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator