The next day.
Batia Island, City Hall meeting room.
After a full day of intelligence gathering and investigation, the final meeting on the Celestial Dragon attack officially began.
Everyone took their seats.
The room was so quiet, a pin could drop. The only sound came from Sengoku flipping through the intel files.
No one spoke. Everyone waited in silence.
After a few minutes, Sengoku closed the file, looked up, and swept his gaze across the room.
"Let's hear your thoughts."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Everyone exchanged glances. In the end, it was Borsalino who spoke up first.
With a smile, he said,
"My stance hasn't changed. Judging from the surveillance footage, this incident was most likely just an accident."
"The odds of a Sea King attack aren't high—but not impossible either."
Sengoku rolled his eyes and didn't even bother responding to the lazy remark. He turned instead to the top officer of the North Blue Marines.
"Daren, what's your take?"
Daren considered his words, then spoke in a steady tone.
"Admiral Sengoku, I agree with Rear Admiral Borsalino's assessment."
"There's a saying from my hometown... 'Once you've ruled out all the impossible, whatever remains—no matter how improbable—must be the truth.'"
"In truth, there's no one in the North Blue capable of instantly destroying a World Government vessel. We've already ruled out every other possibility. So the only logical conclusion... is that this was indeed an attack by a Sea King."
Sengoku frowned slightly.
Just then, Daren turned to look at Gion and Tokikake.
"Perhaps Lieutenant Commanders Gion and Tokikake have a different view?"
Both Gion and Tokikake flinched at the sudden question. Under Daren's calm gaze, a sense of unease crept in.
"You two have something else in mind?"
Sengoku turned to them as well.
"I..."
Tokikake opened his mouth, but in his mind, he saw the image of the little girl's father on his knees, sobbing in despair.
"I agree with Captain Daren," Gion suddenly said, voice cold.
Her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles had turned pale.
Tokikake turned to her in shock, caught completely off guard.
Sengoku noticed the odd reaction between the two and was briefly puzzled—then quietly sighed in realization.
To see civilians, the people they were sworn to protect, seized by a Celestial Dragon and turned into "slaves"... yet be powerless to stop it—
For people who believed in justice, that must have been a crushing blow.
Sengoku shook his head.
So in the end... is the truth really what Borsalino claimed?
That thought lingered in his mind as he turned to glance at Borsalino, who sat looking completely zoned out. A strange expression crept onto Sengoku's face.
Something about this didn't sit right. But he couldn't put his finger on it.
Was it really... a Sea King?
...
Temporary office.
"So, this is your conclusion, Sengoku?"
"...A Sea King attack?"
Across from Sengoku sat a CP0 agent clad in white silk robes. His voice was cold, and the lifeless eyes behind his eerie mask stared directly at him.
"You're not joking, are you? The higher-ups won't accept that."
Under the weight of CP0's stare, Sengoku felt a bit uncomfortable. He cleared his throat.
"Yes."
As if trying to add weight to his words, he paused and then added,
"There's a saying from my hometown... 'Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains—no matter how improbable—must be the truth.'"
CP0 replied icily,
"Sengoku, do you really think the higher-ups will buy that?"
Sengoku fell silent.
The CP0 paused for a moment, then suddenly said,
"What about the little girl's father? I believe he should be interrogated. After all, he had a motive."
Hearing that, a surge of anger rose in Sengoku's chest. He gritted his teeth.
"I don't believe there's anything suspicious about that man. He's just a civilian."
He had already visited the little girl's father in secret.
Gaunt, hollow-eyed, like a man who had lost his soul—just a shell, wandering through life.
Exactly how a man who'd lost his beloved daughter would look.
What was there to suspect?
As for motive?
Of course he had one.
Saint Xildes had dragged the girl away by force. If he hadn't been a Celestial Dragon, guarded on all sides, the man wouldn't have hesitated to tear him apart the first chance he got.
But the CP0 remained unmoved, replying coldly,
"This case involves the World Nobles. No level of caution is too much."
"Sengoku... don't forget, this is a direct order from the government. As a Marine Admiral, you are expected to comply—without question."
"I am complying with the government's orders!"
Sengoku cut him off sharply.
He planted both hands on the desk and slowly rose to his feet. Leaning forward, he radiated an overwhelming pressure as he stared down at the CP0 agent.
His voice was hoarse and forceful.
"By your logic, everyone on Batia Island had a motive. What now—are we going to arrest the entire island and torture them all for answers!?"
"If necessary," CP0 said flatly.
Sengoku stared at him... and suddenly let out a bitter, almost ridiculous laugh.
"Sorry. I can't do that."
"The Sea King attack... that's the conclusion I reached from the investigation."
"As for that man who lost his daughter—he's just a broken, grieving father. Nothing more."
"Report it to the Five Elders."
CP0 stared at Sengoku, who stood firm and unwavering, then fell silent for a few seconds.
"Understood."
...
Holy Land Mary Geoise.
World Government Headquarters, small Western-style villa.
Steam rose from boiling green tea.
The Five Elders—the highest authority in the World Government—stood or sat, expressions grim. The air was heavy with tension.
"Honorable Elders, this is the report from Sengoku,"
The CP0's raspy voice came through the military Den Den Mushi.
"We've received it. Remain on standby," said the blond Five Elders expressionlessly.
"Yes, my lord."
The line went dead.
"What nonsense," Topman Warcury sneered suddenly.
"Actually, it's not entirely impossible," the blond Elder remarked out of nowhere.
"I'm well aware of that," Topman Warcury said, shaking his head. "But the Xildes family won't accept this explanation."
At that, the other Elders fell silent.
They represented the interests of the Celestial Dragons—but in truth, the death of a useless, gluttonous noble didn't concern them.
What did concern them... was calming the fury of the powerful families back in the Holy Land.
Saint Xildes may have been worthless, but his family wielded considerable influence in Mary Geoise.
"Finding the truth," in essence, was just a way to appease them.
"Perhaps... we need to broaden the scope of the investigation."
The moment Topman Warcury said that, the others all frowned.
A cold gleam flickered in his aged eyes.
"In my life, I've seen countless wars. And I've come to one conclusion—"
"...There are no such things as 'accidents' in this world."
The other Four Elders raised their brows.
"What are you implying?"
Topman Warcury let out a cold laugh.
"Sengoku's conclusion is absurd, yes. But he did say one thing that rang true—
'Once you've ruled out the impossible, whatever remains—no matter how improbable—must be the truth.'"
"We've ruled out pirates. We've ruled out civilians. That leaves us with only one possibility."
The others froze.
"You don't mean..."
"That's right. I suspect—though of course, it's only a possibility..."
Topman Warcury narrowed his eyes.
"The one responsible... could it have been..."
He slowly uttered a word that made the rest of the Five Elders shift slightly in their seats.
"...the Marines?"
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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