After receiving Michael's order for full mobilization, Sakazuki had been waiting at G-1 for Michael's arrival.
He had waited too long for this day.
So long that he'd begun to feel old.
"Sakazuki, you're still the Fleet Admiral of the Angel Alliance. Is it really appropriate for you to sneak out of the office every day at this time and dump all the work on me?"
As Sakazuki stood on the seaside cliff gazing into the distance, an all-too-familiar voice came from behind.
Sakazuki didn't need to turn around to know it was the Angel Alliance's Co-Commander, Garp's eldest son, Monkey D. Dragon.
This position had been jointly decided by him, Sengoku, and the other old-timers.
Though their titles seemed similar, in reality, Monkey D. Dragon functioned more like a political commissar.
"Dragon, I just can't wait any longer... I can't wait to see that bastard Michael!"
A glint of eager anticipation flashed in Sakazuki's eyes.
"Seven years—a full seven years! He promised to make me Fleet Admiral, to overthrow this world crushed beneath the Celestial Dragons together... Now that he's finally returned, of course I'm more excited than anyone!"
"Do you think I don't want to? Back then, he transformed my Self-Defense Army into the Revolutionary Army, then swept through the Four Seas and Paradise—all to make the world a better place... And when the world actually started improving, he vanished... Time travel? I believe it, but it still sounds like something out of a fairy tale."
Two grown men stood there, grumbling about the same person.
But after just a few words, a long silence followed.
They had both held on for too long...
Just like Michael, who had barely returned before launching an all-out attack...
The time had come.
Years of groundwork were enough to deliver a fatal blow.
Even the deadliest weapon, Uranus, had revealed its true form seven years ago.
"Fleet Admiral! Supreme Commander!"
"The fleet from Elbaf has arrived!"
A messenger struggled up the hill, panting as he delivered the news to the two highest-ranking commanders who had sneaked out for some leisure.
"Elbaf's army is here too?"
"Correct! And there are two pirate crews mixed in with their ships!"
"Pirate crews?"
"Yes! One of them is the Red Hair Pirates!"
"Red Hair... That's no surprise." Sakazuki nodded.
Though he still disliked pirates, he had to admit the Red Hair Pirates were indeed their allies, and the man's character was trustworthy.
"What about the other pirate crew?"
"It's... the Old Geezers Pirates."
The Old Geezers Pirates!
The name instantly struck a nerve in Sakazuki.
The firefighting team left in Paradise to deal with the Blackbeard Pirates had inexplicably become combatants for this very crew!
Later, they even killed Shu and T-Bone!
And now, this pirate crew had the audacity to follow Elbaf's fleet to G-1!?
Trying to take advantage of the chaos to ally with the Angel Alliance and absolve themselves of their crimes!?
Delusional!
In an instant, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki of the Angel Alliance reverted to his old self—the hot-tempered, bloodthirsty Akainu Sakazuki.
Before the messenger could finish, he erupted like a volcano, transforming into molten lava and streaking toward the cliff below like a meteor.
"F-Fleet Admiral!" The messenger reached out, his face contorted in panic, nostrils flaring. "I wasn't done yet!"
"Hahaha, Sakazuki will always be Sakazuki." Dragon cracked a smile, though his fearsome, tattooed face made it look menacing.
"What else did you have to say?"
"I wanted to report to both of you that, aside from the original members of the youth division, the Old Geezers Pirates' ship also carries Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Rocks, and Kuzan!"
"What the hell!?" Dragon wiped his face, suddenly recalling the bounty posters for the Old Geezers Pirates...
"Tch!" After sucking in a sharp breath, Dragon immediately pressed, "Anything else? Spit it out!"
"Sir!" The messenger snapped a salute. "Also on board were Vice Admirals Shu and T-Bone... and they were following someone wrapped in a fox fur scarf, addressing him as—"
"Addressing him as?"
"Michael."
Dragon, who had already guessed as much, let out a long exhale upon hearing the confirmation.
He shook his head in disbelief.
Of course.
That explains everything.
Who else but Michael could get these retired veterans from the frontlines and the prodigies from the youth squad to follow him in such mischief!
Shu and T-Bone probably recognized Michael's identity too, which is why they joined in the chaos!
But no matter what, he's back...
And that's what matters.
Monkey D. Dragon sighed inwardly.
Yet three seconds later, he suddenly slapped his thigh and barked at the messenger:
"Dispatch the medical team to the harbor immediately!"
"Our Fleet Admiral is probably going to get his ass kicked today!"
With that, Dragon strode down toward the cliffside.
Though his orders were laced with concern, his face betrayed an irrepressible grin.
...
"Whoa! You guys turned G-1 into something this terrifying? Is this still a Marine Branch? This is practically a full-blown maritime fortress!" Michael marveled as he disembarked from the Maria, clicking his tongue at G-1 Branch's impregnable coastal defenses.
"Seems the Celestial Dragons have been putting quite the pressure on you all these years."
"Still, we held the line," said Boa Hancock, now an Admiral, walking beside Michael with a smile.
"We've been maintaining stability because we knew that engaging the Celestial Dragons before your return would only lead to mutual destruction... Their immortality, derived from Imu's Devil Fruit, becomes exponentially more oppressive on the battlefield. Not everyone possesses Armament Haki on the same level as Gaban."
"Haven't I explained this countless times on the ship? The one ruling the so-called 'Celestial Dragons' is Lily—Nefertari Lily! Not me, Imu!" Imu grumbled, crossing her arms in frustration.
"That girl... really pulled off something that gave everyone a massive headache."
"Don't forget, Lily was also Imu II of the Nerona Family before reclaiming her name," Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Calling her Imu isn't entirely wrong."
Just as Michael spoke, a flaming meteor streaked across the sky, hurtling straight toward them.
"Golden Thief! Die, pirate!"
"Great Eruption: Meteor!"