"But speaking of which..."
Whitebeard suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze sweeping over Kaido's face.
Kaido frowned slightly, feeling uneasy under Whitebeard's undisguised scrutiny.
Though weakened by illness, Whitebeard was still Whitebeard.
Just the aggression in that gaze alone made Kaido instinctively begin gathering strength within his body.
"Do you have any issues with... Michael, Kaido?" Whitebeard abruptly changed the subject, chuckling.
"After all, back then, all your plans were completely ruined by that guy... Not only was the Beasts Pirates disbanded, but even your daughter became Michael's staunch follower."
"..."
For a moment, Kaido didn't know what to say to this old man...
This geezer really knew how to hit where it hurt!
Just those two sentences alone were enough to make him want to throw down right here and now!
...
Of course, that was the old Kaido talking.
After being beaten into paralysis by Michael and gradually recovering over the past seven years, Kaido's mindset had changed somewhat.
His ambition had faded, replaced by a pure drive to climb higher.
But... that drive had been shattered to pieces by Charlotte Linlin.
In the end, Kaido became what he was now...
Given up, but not entirely.
He still harbored some resentment toward Michael for paralyzing him back then... but he also knew his limits.
Seven years ago, he was no match for Michael.
Seven years later, he stood even less of a chance.
He wasn't stupid enough to think someone like Michael would stagnate over seven years.
Just when he'd nearly given up on life entirely, he discovered Yamato had set sail and become a pirate!
So now, Kaido's only joy was watching Yamato rise step by step to become one of the new Emperors of the Sea.
Of course... whether he'd lose it if he found out Yamato was actually part of the Angel Alliance was another matter entirely.
"Newgate, I'll be straight with you—I'll never be friends with that bastard Michael... but I respect strength, I admire strength. Michael beat me fair and square back then, and I accept that! Compared to him, I hate the Celestial Dragons and those worms in the World Government way more... If I had to choose, I wouldn't mind standing with you lot," Kaido rumbled.
"Besides... I know Yamato's personality well enough. Even if she's become a pirate now, if your Angel Alliance is going to war with the World Government, she'd never just stand by and watch."
"So you're saying you'll cooperate with the Angel Alliance?" Charlotte Linlin stared at Kaido as if she'd seen a ghost.
"...Can you really swallow that grudge from back then?"
"If I can't swallow my pride, what better choice do I have now?" Kaido let out a long sigh. "And make no mistake, Linlin, I'm not collaborating with the Angel Alliance—I'm doing you a favor... just out of old friendship, nothing more."
"Is that so, Kaido?" Whitebeard threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Gurararara! You stubborn brat! In the end, you still can't let go of our bond! In that case, would you be interested in joining the Whitebeard Pirates and Whole Cake Island?"
Kaido sat in Charlotte Linlin's garden, watching the ever-boisterous Whitebeard, but his thoughts drifted back forty-four years to the "Pirate Island" of Hachinosu.
That day, the fifteen-year-old Kaido had begun making a name for himself, gaining notoriety across Pirate Island.
Then, a man with golden hair and a white beard stood before him.
Kaido's beast-like instincts told him one thing...
He was no match for this man.
But just as he prepared to fight with everything he had, the white-bearded man spoke.
"Hey, brat, ever thought about becoming a pirate?"
"Rocks wants to meet you... interested?"
That moment, so long ago, mirrored this very one.
"If you're not afraid I'll cause trouble, then I don't have a problem with it."
Whitebeard sized Kaido up, then nodded.
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Good. In that case, I'll share some good news with you." Whitebeard crooked a finger at Kaido.
"Wanna hear it?"
Kaido's lips twitched inexplicably.
Then he leaned in.
"Your daughter, Yamato... she is indeed a pirate. But she's also the special operations captain of the Angel Alliance, codenamed..."
"Throne Angel."
Kaido: "!!!???"
The joint expedition of the Whitebeard Pirates and Whole Cake Island was finalized amid Whitebeard's "Gurararara" laughter and Kaido's howls.
...
Michael had originally planned to head straight for the G-1 command center...
But then he received a communication from Red-Haired Shanks.
Shanks requested that Michael make a trip to Elbaf.
Preferably... with Rocks in tow.
After some thought, Michael agreed.
This way, he could also bring the warriors of Elbaf directly to G-1—killing two birds with one stone.
So, after departing from Sabaody Archipelago, Michael changed course.
Instead of taking the Calm Belt, he entered the New World through Fish-Man Island, sailing straight for Elbaf.
Three days later...
The Maria arrived safely at Elbaf.
Though it still flew a pirate flag, bore the appearance of a pirate ship, and its crew dressed as pirates...
Michael removed his mask, and upon setting foot on Elbaf, he no longer concealed his holy Wings, confirming his identity.
Thus, he moved through Elbaf unimpeded.
And everywhere he went, he was met with the fervent gazes of Elbaf's giants.
Because... Michael's current form perfectly matched the image described in Joy Boy's journal.
If the giants had previously treated the "Seraphim Fruit" with the same reverence as the "Nika Fruit"...
Now, seeing Michael, they were truly witnessing the legendary "Doomsday Archangel."
With fervent eyes, Michael led the Old Geezers Pirates and the SWORD Classified Special Forces straight toward Orsuto Castle.
The massive crowd marched in and saw two figures who had been waiting for them.
The man hailed as the world's strongest pirate—"Red Hair" Shanks.
And the right-hand man of the Pirate King, the "Mountain Eater" Gaban.
Michael nodded at Gaban before immediately turning to Shanks.
"You... When exactly did you confirm I had returned?"
"Of course, it was when your bounty was issued."
Red-Haired Shanks grinned, "To get a few old-timers to take to the seas as pirates..."
"Only Michael would have the guts—and the face—to pull that off."