One Piece : Admiral Falcon is Pissed off again today!

Chapter 578 578

Former Empty Throne Palace, now the Supreme Government Office of the Angel Republic.

Amidst a sea of documents, Nerona Imu, Director of the Supreme Government Office of the Angel Republic, looked up with dark circles under her eyes.

"Uh, where did you carry these two drunks back from?"

Seeing Cobra and Michael being carried into the office by a series of hands, along with the smell of alcohol on them... Imu waved a hand in front of her nose.

Just the smell alone was enough to make her feel a bit tipsy...

How much did they drink?

"On the rooftop... These two were drinking while hugging each other and crying..." Nico Robin's face showed a hint of disdain.

"Tsk, what should I say? These two really are birds of a feather? Even slacking off together?"

"After all, based on what Michael told me about his experiences... Nefertari Cobra was one of the earliest to firmly stand by his side." Imu stretched lazily, finally putting down her pen and standing up from behind the desk.

"Men... creatures like that—if they have biological brothers, they'll often fight like dogs over scraps... But when they don't have biological brothers, they always find someone who feels like a brother... and then fight like dogs over scraps again."

"Whatever, I might never understand men in this lifetime." Nico Robin pursed her lips. "Compared to men... I'm still more interested in work."

"Wow, you really are... born to be a workhorse." Imu said with a smile.

Although Michael became the first supreme leader of the Angel Republic under the expectations of the masses, in reality, the vast majority of decisions and management were made by Imu, the office director, on his behalf.

Even though he led the entire world in a grand revolution, after its success, he chose to truly step back from the front lines...

After all, managing a special squad or even an entire army might still be something he could barely handle.

But managing a government that supervises, restrains, and serves the entire world...

That's a bit of a pipe dream.

This kind of thing is a completely different talent direction from combat.

So, Imu, the office director—the woman Michael initially wanted to push into the position of supreme leader—became the one truly making decisions by his side.

Michael was actually only responsible for steering the overall direction, ensuring the Angel Republic did not veer into problematic paths.

Although Imu was an excellent queen, as the decision-maker of the Angel Republic, her mindset could not remain stuck in the era over eight hundred years ago, when she ruled the newly liberated Great Kingdom.

Thus, Michael had been helping Imu steer the course.

But it turned out that Imu's political intelligence allowed her to grasp what Michael intended to convey at an astonishing speed and even extrapolate further.

A born leader.

If Imu had truly become the queen of the newly formed World Government back then… while it's hard to say whether her descendants might have deteriorated, at least for two hundred years, something as absurd as the Celestial Dragons would not have emerged.

So overall… Imu was a more suitable choice than Michael.

However, as the theoretical ancestor of the Celestial Dragons and lacking authority due to her youth, Michael's presence remained essential.

At least during his five-year tenure, he could help Imu establish her authority while also allowing himself to happily slack off…

Killing two birds with one stone.

"Alright, I've brought these two drunkards back, so I'll leave the rest to you." Robin shrugged. "I need to inspect the renovations at Pangaea Castle… and the residential area for families in Mary Geoise is already on the work agenda."

With that, she turned and left the office.

The overwhelming volume of paperwork, even for Robin—who was accustomed to similar work on Sabaody Archipelago and had the Flower-Flower Fruit to boost efficiency—made her scalp tingle.

She found an excuse and made her escape.

Watching Robin's retreating figure disappear beyond the door, Imu sighed and then crouched down in front of Michael.

She reached out and poked his cheek.

"So… how long are you going to keep pretending to be asleep?"

"…"

"If you don't want photos of you and Cobra cuddling in your sleep ending up in Princess Didi's hands, you'd better open your eyes now."

"Ah! That was such a refreshing nap!"

Michael abruptly stood up, stretching as if to praise the sun.

Imu looked at him…

Then buried her face in his chest.

"Hey, hey, what's this about… the untold story of the supreme leader and the office director?" Michael's lips twitched.

"Even if you're acting spoiled, at least wait until after work hours, right? Or at the very least… find another place to hug?"

"Hmph! Do you think there'll be just the two of us at any other time?" Imu lifted her head, her small face tinged with annoyance.

"When you go to the Angel Republic military base, Gion follows you… when you run off to Wano Country, that Crocodile overseeing the excavation and opening of the country follows you… and on top of that, there's Stella, the Minister of Security, who could pop up beside you anytime, anywhere… Do you think what I'm doing now is too much?"

Michael smacked his lips…

This was not the time to reason with a woman.

If you tried to reason now, she'd resort to the truth that convinces through virtue.

Michael glanced at the "truth" Imu had placed beside the desk…

It was an exquisitely crafted ceremonial spear.

But internally, it was a piece of black technology personally modified by Vegapunk... even capable of directly piercing through less powerful Armament Haki.

Originally, Michael had wanted Vegapunk to research it and mass-produce the thing.

However, because its core was powered by a miniature Mother Flame, Michael and Vegapunk ultimately abandoned the idea.

After all, mass production would make it easier for others to uncover the secrets of the Mother Flame...

This thing really wasn't suitable for civilian hands.

"Alright, just for a little while..."

Michael also reached out, gently embracing Imu and patting her back.

This gesture from Michael left Imu momentarily stunned, followed by overwhelming joy.

Had the block of wood finally opened up!?

Had the iron tree finally bloomed!?

"Alright, tell me, what's been happening these past few days?"

"These past few days? Everything's still in the rebuilding phase..." Imu sighed, "The newly established Angel Republic, while theoretically a new World Government, has a rather weak grip on various regions. But with the existing public foundation from the Angel Alliance, I believe we'll quickly get through this stage... Oh, come to think of it, there really is one thing..."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"It's actually not a big deal."

Imu nuzzled her head against Michael's chest and continued:

"That guy Luffy ran off with some of the former Youth Class members."