Survival, or Destruction? That Is the Question!

Orbia was indeed skeptical; she strongly suspected that Bane Ortolan was bluffing!

We've made so many meticulous plans, taken so many risks, made so many sacrifices, and accumulated so much experience to fight against your world government. And yet you say you know everything, and that we've been playing a monkey show all along, right?

No one would believe that!

Seeing Orbia's suspicious gaze, Ortolan laughed. This might have been considered a hoax by others, but for him, it was a whole different story.

"Let me briefly mention a few key elements," Ortolan put down his juice and said, "For example, Nicole Orbia, you're involved in an illegal research project led by Professor Clover, whose main research focus is on the hundred-year history of ancient script and the void?"

Orbia didn't speak. This can't be considered a factor. If anyone has doubts about Ohara, then anyone can make up a bunch of nonsense based on this kind of reverse reasoning.

Seeing that Orbia remained unmoved, Ortolan continued, "For example, you have a child named Nicole Robin, who is currently being fostered by her aunt, and you haven't seen her for a long time..."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Orbia's eyes, but in the end she remained silent. It was merely a personal matter and didn't prove anything.

But looking at Ortolan's relaxed, smiling face, and recalling those two sentences, she felt there was a sense of progression in the meaning.

As expected, seeing that she didn't speak, Ortolan said softly, "Okay, for example, under the Omniscient Tree of Ohara, in the underground research room that you excavated, what is the historical document displayed?"

The precise location, coupled with the escalating feeling beforehand, instantly shattered Orbia's last bit of defense. She looked at Ortolan with disbelief, her lips moved, and she said stiffly, "You... you really... knew everything?"

"Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Bane Ortolan, Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral, a direct subordinate of Admiral Sengoku. The world government attaches great importance to the century-old historical event concerning the secret research of the Ohara Academy, and has entrusted our Marine Headquarters and the CP Agency to investigate it together. I am the Marines's person in charge of this mission," Ortolan said, looking at Orbia.

After a brief pause, Ortolan continued, "Regarding what I just said, only our Marines knows about it at the moment. The CP Agency has not yet investigated these crimes and evidence against you, Ohara."

Orbia paused for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "When did your Marines begin investigating this matter?"

Ortolan stroked his chin and said, "I received the mission a long time ago, but to be honest, I've only been involved for a little over two months."

Orbia's lips twitched slightly, then she slammed her hand on the table and said, "Compared to your Marines, the CP Agency is utterly useless. They've given us a huge misunderstanding of your Marines's investigative capabilities!"

Isn't the CP Agency supposed to be the best in intelligence gathering? Isn't it the strongest intelligence agency under the CTG government?

After investigating us for so long, they still couldn't find anything. The Marines, on the other hand, figured out our situation in just two months. You still say you're not useless?

If it weren't for a bunch of useless trash like you as a benchmark, how could we have been so careless with the Marines?

Seeing Orbia's near-collapse, Ortolan calmly ate a bite of food and then said, "The CP Agency is a weapon that upholds dark justice, ruthless and merciless. Our Marines, on the other hand, is relatively more upright and compassionate. Regarding the matter of Ohara, our Marines also has some... how should I put it, rather complicated feelings towards you. After all, you did commit a serious crime that is strictly prohibited. Don't tell me that you scholars don't know that the true history contains information about Ancient Weapon that could bring devastating disaster to the entire world?"

"We are not interested in those weapons. As historians, we are only interested in..." Orbia said in a deep voice.

"Arrogance!" Ortolan interrupted her directly, staring at Orbia and saying, "Just as you naively believe that these actions can be concealed from our Marines and the World Government, you have no right to use your arrogance, which comes from who-knows-where, to think that you can hide information about the Ancient Weapon?"

Faced with the facts, Orbia was momentarily unable to refute Ortolan's words.

At this moment, Ortolan's tone softened, "But we also want to believe that you, Ohara, are doing this with a learning mindset, and not intentionally trying to access Ancient Weapon or anything like that. This is also what our Marines is currently struggling with. If we report information about Ohara to Mary Geoise, I'm afraid all of you, including everyone on Ohara, will be executed. But letting you go unchecked could very well open Pandora's box that destroys the world..."

After a moment of silence, Orbia looked at Ortolan and said, "So what exactly are you trying to tell me by telling me all this?"

Ortolan raised an eyebrow and said, "Let me tell you, Ohara now only has two choices. First, you continue to resist stubbornly, insisting on using everything in Ohara to oppose the World Government. In that case, our Marines will no longer have any expectations of you. I will arrest you here immediately and seize all ships in the port of Hishikurisu Island and the surrounding waters. I will screen out your accomplices one by one. Don't think I'm exaggerating. For this mission, I have the authority to mobilize all the military forces of the South Blue branch Marines. I can do this completely. Afterwards, I will report this intelligence in detail to the World Government and carry out an eradication operation against Ohara."

"This is a crime against history!" Orbia shouted angrily.

"You are committing a crime against the people of the world!" Ortolan responded calmly.

Then, still speaking calmly, he said, "The first option, according to our investigation, is that Ohara has not yet come into contact with any information related to the Void Century... or Ancient Weapon. This Poneglyph and investigation into the Poneglyphs has been extremely arduous and progressed relatively slowly. Before we have achieved any significant results, our Marines has already discovered Ohara's plan and obtained corresponding findings. Ohara has confessed to its crimes, admitting that the students involved in the plan acted on impulse and embarked on an illegal path, and they have a strong sense of remorse and hope that the World Government can grant them leniency."

Orbia was dumbfounded by these words. Ortolan was essentially labeling them directly, making things up like the "blank year" and the lack of progress in obtaining information on Ancient Weapon. He just made these up off the cuff!

In fact, although no progress was made in the blank year, some progress was made in Ancient Weapon.

Even though Ortolan clearly knew their situation from his words just now, he can still say this now... Looking into Ortolan's eyes, Orbia quickly realized that this was his goodwill, or... the Marines's goodwill.

"To be or not to be, that is the question, and the choice," Ortolan said softly.

"If we succumb to the power of the World Government and abandon this research, ignoring that one-year history, then... are we still worthy of being called historians?" Orbia looked at Ortolan and suddenly asked.

"Because of their so-called academic arrogance, they refused to bow their heads, causing the continuation of the torch to be interrupted. The blank year of history was completely covered by the truth of history, turned into dust, and no one knows about it anymore... If you think such a person is fit to be a historian, then I have nothing to say." Ortolan shrugged.

"Should we set aside our pride and honor as scholars, endure humiliation and hardship, and continue to pass on this torch of knowledge?" A look of struggle and pain flashed in Orbia's eyes, as if she was finding it difficult to make a decision.

Of course, this wasn't a decision she could make alone, but in Ortolan's view, she was indeed suitable to be the breakthrough point.

"If we choose option #1, what situation will we, Ohara, end up in?" Orbia suddenly looked up and stared directly into Ortolan's eyes as she asked.

"To be honest, I believe the World Government also covets the ability to decipher Ancient Script. You are all exceptionally talented individuals, and the World Government will likely not relinquish your abilities. In fact, there's a high probability you'll be Ohara. Our Marines recently established a research department called the Science Unit. The World Government intends to use this department to achieve technological breakthroughs in Ancient Weapon. Therefore, there's a certain probability that you will be forcibly incorporated into our Marines's Science Unit, right?" Ortolan stroked his chin, stating his analysis.

After a brief pause, Ortolan continued, "Of course, all of the above are just my personal speculations, and it's quite possible that even if you make the third choice, the World Government will not accept these claims, and your Ohara will still be eradicated... But, at least this choice offers some hope."