Scared Now?
The two CP Agents exchanged a glance and finally stopped insisting on taking over the scene.
"We'll report what happened to Lucci to our superiors."
"That's more like it."
Ron lowered his hand.
"But we're not done with the five hundred soldiers."
"The scene has been documented."
Ron looked at the two CP Agents.
"When will your people deliver the mission report?"
"We need to wait for approval from our superiors."
"Then tell them to hurry up."
"Don't keep me waiting too long."
The two agents exchanged a glance. Neither dared put on airs anymore.
"Understood."
The king, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"Major Ron."
"The compensation can wait."
The old king looked at the bodies outside the warehouse.
"But those children's parents are still waiting for them to come home."
"Tell me... how am I supposed to break the news?"
"Start by sending their names and personal effects home."
Ron looked at the old king.
"Tell their families that these men didn't defect to the enemy or betray their country."
The king's lips moved.
"But that's the World Government..."
"I know."
Ron cut him off.
"That's all the more reason we can't let them be branded traitors after they're dead."
The old king was silent for a long time.
"Someone!"
"As soon as a name is verified, send someone to notify the family."
"The royal family will pay to see that they're provided for."
The commander crouched beside the bodies and turned up a soldier's collar.
"Third battalion, Āren."
The officer beside him, pen in hand, suddenly paused.
"General, he was only nineteen."
"I know."
The commander straightened the collar again.
"Write it down."
"Next."
"..."
Lucci leaned against the wall, listening as the commander read out the names of the dead, one by one.
He didn't look up.
"Still not done?"
The commander paused in his reading.
Ron glanced at him.
"Keep reading. Ignore him."
The commander continued reading.
Lucci's expression was cold, but he said nothing more.
Once the bodies had been counted, the Kingdom Army made temporary arrangements for them. The wounded and Lucci were sent separately for treatment.
Ron didn't rush to leave. Instead, he accompanied the king to the royal palace.
Two hours later.
In the palace study, the Den Den Mushi hadn't stopped ringing.
The Marines reported to headquarters, while the Kingdom Army verified the list of the fallen.
The two CP Agents, meanwhile, were repeatedly summoned by the government for questioning.
Ron sat nearby and unwrapped the bread brought from the palace kitchen.
An officer came in from outside, carrying the newly verified list of the fallen and several reports from the scene.
"Yes! Lucci has been incapacitated!"
"No, the Marines didn't attack first. Lucci made the first move!"
"What? We have to rewrite it?"
The agent was about to argue when he caught sight of Ron out of the corner of his eye.
"Understood. We'll revise it."
An officer came in from outside, carrying the newly verified list of the fallen and several reports from the scene.
Ron glanced at them, then pushed the list and the handover form in front of the two Cipher Pol agents.
"Sign for them."
One agent flipped through the papers.
"Major, this is only the first batch."
"I know."
Ron pointed at the handover form.
"It says first batch right there. You'll have to sign for the rest of the names as they're verified, too."
"You're only signing for them. What are you afraid of?"
He pushed the pen over.
"That way, you can't turn around later and say you never saw them."
The two agents had no choice but to sign their names.
One agent was halfway through writing his report when he suddenly put down his pen.
"Major Ron, about you injuring Lucci..."
"What about it?"
"Our superiors want us to make it clear."
"Then write it down."
Ron took a bite of bread.
"He made the first move. I was just defending myself."
"Then why didn't you kill him?"
Ron looked at him.
"We still haven't gotten to the bottom of those five hundred deaths. If I killed him, who would we ask?"
"..."
Another half hour passed before the Den Den Mushi suddenly opened its eyes.
"Major Ron."
An icy voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
"We've heard about what happened in the Kingdom of Belo."
"Oh."
"So?"
"The identities of the deceased have been verified by the Kingdom of Belo."
"Until the investigation is complete, the government will not list them as traitors or revoke their status as members of the Kingdom Army."
"As for who bears responsibility, further verification is required."
Ron stopped chewing.
"An investigation?"
"Yes."
"Five hundred people are dead. You still don't know who did it?"
"Another investigation? What is there to investigate?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
"Major Ron, watch your attitude."
"My attitude's been pretty good all along."
Ron put down his bread.
"If it had been someone else, Lucci would be dead by now."
"..."
"I'll ask you one thing."
Ron tapped the register on the table.
"How are you going to record these five hundred people?"
There were several seconds of silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Based on the information provided by the Kingdom of Belo, they will be provisionally registered as Kingdom Army personnel killed in action."
"And who's responsible?"
"That still requires further investigation."
"Fine."
Ron closed the register.
"Put that in the official response."
The king's grip on the back of his chair finally loosened a little.
"What about compensation?"
"That will be handled by the department for Affiliated Nation affairs."
"Fine."
"I hope you get it done quickly. I'm not a patient man."
Ron closed the register and handed it back to the commander.
"Keep it safe."
The commander took the register and gripped it tightly.
"Major Ron, I won't forget what you did for us today."
"None of that."
Ron stood up.
"Get your men home first. Their families are waiting."
Ron walked out of the study.
At the other end of the corridor, two Cipher Pol agents were carrying a stretcher out.
Lucci lay on the stretcher.
When Ron passed by, Lucci's gaze followed his retreating figure.
Ron didn't stop. He raised a hand, opened an Air Door, and walked straight through.
On the deck of the warship.
The door opened with a click, and Ron stepped back onto the deck.
After hearing what had happened, the adjutant was dumbfounded.
"Wait, Major..."
"You beat up a Cipher Pol agent?"
"Yeah."
"And it was that so-called genius Lucci?"
"Yeah."
"And you forced the government to give you an answer?"
"Like hell I did."
"Those guys are slippery. All they'd admit was that the five hundred men weren't traitors."
"We'll have to keep an eye on the compensation."
The adjutant struggled for words for a long time.
"When we get back, won't the Fleet Admiral tear us to pieces?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Ron leaned against the ship's rail.
"If he tears into anyone, it'll be me."
The adjutant thought for a moment.
"That's true."
Just then, a communications soldier came running over in a hurry, carrying a Den Den Mushi.
"Major Ron! A call from headquarters!"
"Who is it?"
"The Fleet Admiral's Office!"
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"What does that old man Sengoku want with me?"
The Den Den Mushi connected, and a familiar voice came from the other end.
"Major Ron, the Fleet Admiral has ordered you to return to headquarters immediately."
"What's the reason?"
"Well..."
The liaison officer cleared his throat twice, then roared in imitation of Sengoku: "Tell that bastard to get his ass back here! He has to write the report himself! He's not to leave out a single word!"
Ron: "..."