Consensus

Batia Island.

Government Office, conference room.

The others had tactfully cleared out of the room, leaving only Darren, Momonga, Gion, Sengoku, and Borsalino seated.

This was an internal meeting of the North Blue Navy.

Darren lit a cigar, glanced at Borsalino, who was wearing his toad-like sunglasses, then turned to Sengoku and smiled.

"I wonder how the operation to subjugate Byrnndi World went, Admiral Sengoku?"

Looking at the frustrated expression on the Admiral's face, Darren found it somewhat amusing.

With two of the three Admiral positions at Navy Headquarters vacant, Zephyr devoted entirely to teaching, and Garp refusing promotion, almost all the trivial, messy, and troublesome tasks fell squarely on Sengoku's shoulders.

A pure, unadulterated scapegoat.

Sengoku shook his head and said:

"Something happened along the way, and the mission was aborted."

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip, his deep gaze sweeping across the faces of everyone present, his expression gradually turning serious and stern.

"The reason I came here this time is precisely because of this matter."

Sensing the gravity in Sengoku's tone, Gion and the others straightened their postures, their expressions becoming solemn.

After a second's pause, Sengoku said slowly:

"One day ago, an incident occurred in the North Blue that has shaken the World Government."

"Saint Childers, a Celestial Dragon who had recently departed Batia Island to return to the Holy Land Mary Geoise, was attacked on his way back... and died on the spot."

The moment the words fell, Darren's face changed drastically, and he stood up abruptly.

"What? How is that possible!?"

A look of appropriate shock appeared on Momonga's face, his expression one of utter disbelief.

Gion and Gion's partner both shuddered.

They didn't know what they were thinking, but their eyes subconsciously flicked toward Darren; however, when they saw the "astonishment" on his face, they both froze.

Sengoku, who was already overwhelmed by this affair, didn't notice their subtle micro-expressions and merely rubbed his temples in a headache.

Only Borsalino seemed to have sensed something, the smile on his lips suddenly becoming deeply meaningful.

"This attack on the Celestial Dragon is still being kept confidential, but I have already received orders from the Government to conduct a thorough investigation."

Sengoku sighed.

"But according to the footage from the Den Den Mushi surveillance on the official ship, we haven't been able to find any clues yet."

"However, it can be inferred that the attacker's strength was incredibly terrifying... the World Government's guards didn't even have time to react before the ship was directly sunk."

"This is the relevant intelligence."

As he spoke, Sengoku took out a file and handed it to Darren.

Darren took it, scanned it quickly, and couldn't help but mutter:

"Destroying an official ship in an instant... even in the Grand Line, you wouldn't find many people capable of such a feat, let alone in a backwater like the North Blue."

He passed the file to Momonga and the others in turn.

Momonga also read through it quickly; although he had already anticipated it, he was still shocked to his core.

The intelligence described in the file, and the direction of Admiral Sengoku's investigation, were exactly the same as what Darren had analyzed!

"Admiral Sengoku... have you identified any suspects on your end?"

Darren asked in a deep voice.

"Since this happened in the North Blue, this humble one must also bear some responsibility... I and the North Blue Navy are willing to cooperate with your work unconditionally."

Sengoku was very satisfied with Darren's attitude and nodded.

"Hmm, choosing to entrust the North Blue Navy to you was indeed a wise decision."

"However, I have already screened all suspects with such capability, but I have yet to make any progress."

"My visit to Batia Island this time is also to further the investigation, as, considering the sequence of events, Saint Childers himself departed from Batia Island to return to the Holy Land Mary Geoise."

"...I see." Darren realized, nodding in deep agreement.

"You were responsible for the security of Saint Childers himself while he was on Batia Island..."

Sengoku tapped his fingers lightly on the conference table.

"Before Saint Childers set sail, did you notice him encountering any strangers or anything strange on the island?"

As he spoke, Sengoku saw the expressions of Gion and Gion's partner shift, looking as if they had something to say but were holding back.

"To be honest, Admiral Sengoku..."

Darren spoke slowly, his expression exceptionally complex.

"Before Saint Childers set sail, something did indeed happen."

"Oh?" Sengoku raised his eyebrows. "What was it?"

Gion and Gion's partner both turned their heads abruptly, looking at Darren with stunned expressions.

The Marine Captain sighed.

"It was a very unfortunate matter."

He weighed his tone carefully and slowly recounted the incident involving the flower-selling father and daughter on Batia Island.

BANG!

A massive fist slammed down, and the conference table in front of Sengoku shattered, splintering into pieces.

"Damn it!!!"

He stood up abruptly, his fists clenched so tightly that they were visibly trembling.

It was unclear who exactly that "damn it" was directed at.

In his mind, the image of a frail little girl being roughly dragged into a cabin, shivering and curled up in a dark corner, flashed by.

Gion and the others watched the Admiral's furious expression, not daring to speak.

After a long while, Sengoku forced himself to suppress the rage in his heart.

"Let's end the meeting here; I am a bit tired."

After a moment of silence, he dropped these words in a hoarse voice and turned to leave without another word.

Gion and the others hurried to follow him.

In the large conference room, only Darren and Borsalino remained.

Both of their faces wore a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Long time no see, Rear Admiral Borsalino."

Darren suddenly laughed, breaking the silence, and tossed a gold-embossed cigar toward Borsalino.

Borsalino caught it, sniffed it under his nose, and said with a grin:

"Haven't seen you in years, yet you're still as fond of enjoying life as ever, Darren."

Darren lit a cigar for himself and shrugged.

"Being a Marine is hard enough as it is; there's no need to make things difficult for oneself, is there?"

Borsalino gave him a deep look, then suddenly grinned:

"I can tell you've been doing quite well in the North Blue."

He paused, his tone filled with hidden meaning.

"Darren, this is just the beginning, isn't it?"

Darren smiled calmly: "Who knows? I don't like trouble either... well, I actually learned that trait from you."

Borsalino scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled:

"That is indeed true; trouble is never a good thing."

"But trouble always finds a way to knock on the door," Darren said.

"Just don't drag me into it..." Borsalino stretched lazily, stood up from his seat, and walked toward the door.

"Thanks for the cigar."

He waved his hand with his back to Darren.

Just as he stepped out of the conference room door, his footsteps suddenly paused. He turned back and smiled at Darren:

"By the way, I have a feeling that the truth behind this attack on the Celestial Dragons isn't actually that complicated."

"Oh? And what is Rear Admiral Borsalino's opinion?" Darren flicked the ash from his cigar.

Borsalino's sunglasses glinted with a strange light.

"I think it's very likely that they simply encountered an attack by a Sea King."

"After all, such a massive ship is quite conspicuous..."

"It was an accident, don't you think, Darren?"

Silence.

A deathly silence.

Borsalino stared at the Marine Captain sitting there smoking, as if trying to discern something from his face.

However, Darren merely said indifferently:

"Rear Admiral Borsalino's insight is brilliant; I think so too."

The two stared at each other for a long time.

Then, they both began to laugh at the same time.

Like two cunning foxes.

···

···

···

···