An Understanding

Batia Island.

The city government office, conference room.

Everyone else had already sensibly left the conference room. Only Darren, Momonga, Gion, Sengoku, and Borsalino remained seated.

This was an internal meeting of the North Blue Navy.

Darren lit a cigar, glanced at Borsalino, who wore frog-shaped sunglasses, then turned to Sengoku with a smile.

"I wonder how the operation to hunt down Byrnndi World is going, Admiral Sengoku?"

Looking at the Navy admiral sitting before him with a thoroughly put-upon expression, Darren couldn't help finding it amusing.

Two of the Three Admirals at Marine Headquarters were unavailable. Zephyr had devoted himself to teaching, while Garp had refused promotion, so practically every tedious chore and troublesome matter had landed on Sengoku's shoulders alone.

What a poor sap.

Sengoku shook his head.

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

He lifted his teacup and took a small sip. His deep gaze swept across everyone present, and his expression gradually turned grave.

"That's why I came here this time."

Sensing the gravity in Sengoku's voice, Gion and the others straightened in their seats, their expressions turning solemn.

After a brief pause, Sengoku continued slowly.

"One day ago, something happened in the North Blue that shook the World Government."

"Saint Childers, a Celestial Dragon who was returning to the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, from Batia Island, was attacked on the way back... He died on the spot."

The instant he finished speaking, Darren's expression changed dramatically. He shot to his feet.

"What? How is that possible?!"

Shock appeared on Momonga's face as well, and he looked utterly incredulous.

Gion and Gion's partner both jolted.

As if they had thought of something, their eyes instinctively flicked toward Darren. But when they saw the "astonished" look on his face, they both froze.

Sengoku, whose hands were full dealing with the incident, didn't notice their subtle expressions. He only rubbed his temples, head aching.

Only Borsalino seemed to have noticed something. The smile at the corner of his mouth suddenly took on a knowing edge.

"The attack on the Celestial Dragon is still classified, but I've already received orders from the government to investigate it thoroughly."

Sengoku sighed.

"But the surveillance footage from the Den Den Mushi aboard the government vessel hasn't revealed any clues so far."

"What we can infer is that the attacker was astonishingly powerful... The World Government's guards didn't even have time to react before the vessel was sunk outright."

"Here's the relevant intelligence."

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

Darren took it and skimmed through it quickly, murmuring,

"To destroy the government vessel in an instant... There can't be many people in the Grand Line capable of that, let alone in a backwater like the North Blue."

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

Momonga quickly read through it too. Though he had already suspected as much, he was still shaken.

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

"Admiral Sengoku... Have you identified any suspects?"

Darren spoke in a low voice.

"Since this happened in the North Blue, I must bear some responsibility as well... I and the North Blue Navy will cooperate with your investigation unconditionally."

Sengoku nodded, pleased with Darren's attitude.

"Good. Handing the North Blue Navy over to you was indeed a wise decision."

"However, I've already investigated the suspects who might have the ability to do this, but haven't found anything yet."

"I came to Batia Island this time to investigate further. After all, considering the circumstances, Saint Childers set out from Batia Island on his return to the Holy Land, Mary Geoise."

"...I see." Darren nodded in understanding.

"You were responsible for guarding Saint Childers during his stay on Batia Island..."

Sengoku tapped the conference table lightly with his fingers.

"Before Saint Childers set sail, did you notice him meeting any strangers on the island, or anything unusual happening?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sengoku noticed Gion and Gion's partner's expressions shift. They looked as though they wanted to say something but couldn't.

"To be honest, Admiral Sengoku..."

Darren spoke slowly, his expression unusually complex.

"Something did happen before Saint Childers set sail."

"Oh?" Sengoku raised his brows. "What happened?"

Gion and Gion's partner turned toward Darren in surprise.

The Marine Captain sighed.

"It was a tragic incident."

He considered his words, then slowly told them about the father and daughter who had been selling flowers on Batia Island.

Bang!

A massive fist slammed down, shattering the conference table in front of Sengoku.

"Damn it!!!"

He shot to his feet, both fists clenched tightly. His whole body trembled visibly.

It was unclear who he was cursing with that "damn it."

In his mind, an image flashed by: a frail little girl being dragged roughly into the ship's cabin, trembling as she curled up in a dark corner.

Gion and the others saw the anger on Admiral Sengoku's face and didn't dare speak.

After a long while, Sengoku finally forced down the fury in his heart.

"That's enough for this meeting. I'm a little tired."

He fell silent for a moment, then rasped out the words and left without another sound.

Gion and the others hurried after him.

The spacious conference room was left with only Darren and Borsalino.

Both wore faint, knowing smiles.

"Long time no see, Rear Admiral Borsalino."

Darren suddenly laughed, breaking the silence. He took out a cigar with gold-foil patterns and tossed it to Borsalino.

Borsalino caught it, held it beneath his nose, and sniffed. Smiling, he said,

"After all these years, you still enjoy the good things in life, 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 harder for yourself, right?"

Borsalino looked him over, then suddenly grinned.

"I can tell you're doing very well in the North Blue."

He paused, his tone laden with meaning.

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

Darren smiled calmly. "Who knows? I don't like trouble either... I learned that virtue from you, after all."

Borsalino scratched his head, looking a little troubled.

"That's true. Trouble is never a good thing."

"But trouble always comes looking for you," Darren said.

"Just as long as it doesn't involve me..." Borsalino stretched languidly and rose from his seat, heading for the door.

"Thanks for the cigar."

He waved a hand at Darren without turning around.

Just as he stepped through the conference room door, he paused and looked back at Darren with a smile.

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

"Oh? What's your opinion, Rear Admiral Borsalino?" Darren flicked away his ash.

An eerie glint flashed across Borsalino's sunglasses.

"I think it's quite possible they were simply attacked by a Sea King."

"After all, a ship that huge would be pretty conspicuous..."

"It was an accident. What do you think, Darren?"

Silence.

A deathly silence.

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

But Darren merely said,

"An excellent point, Rear Admiral Borsalino. That's what I think too."

They looked at each other for a long moment.

Then they both laughed.

—Like two cunning foxes.