First, Rule Out His Suspicion

"The Navy?"

As the words of Saint Damocles fell, the other four Five Elders were all taken aback, immediately fixing their gazes upon him with expressions of bewilderment, or perhaps even disbelief.

"Damocles, what exactly are you suspecting?"

"How could that be possible!"

"Those are the Celestial Dragons, the nobility of the world!"

"..."

They simply could not believe that the Navy would take action against the Celestial Dragons; it was not because they lacked the capability, but because they dared not!

As the largest violent enforcement agency under the World Government, the Navy's entire military budget was supported by the World Government. Although the Navy had maintained a relatively independent organizational structure and command authority since its inception, the government held an equally formidable influence within its ranks.

Setting aside the suppression of power and the shackles of the "Celestial Dragons are supreme" ideology, the military budget alone was enough for the World Government to keep the Navy firmly under its thumb.

If there was anyone in this vast ocean who would dare to lay a hand on the Celestial Dragons, the Navy was absolutely the last group one would suspect!

"Damocles... are you certain your suspicions are grounded? Once an investigation is established, the nature of many things will change... this is an extremely sensitive topic."

At this moment, the bald Five Elder, who had been focused on polishing the long sword in his hands, suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice.

He sat cross-legged in a samurai robe, the long sword wreathed in purple-black flame patterns resting across his knees, its blade flickering with a sharp, chilling cold light under the lamps of the small villa.

A peerless cursed blade.

As he spoke, he looked up. His withered, vein-exposed arms continued to gently wipe the cursed blade, and his murky, sinister eyes behind rimless glasses stared straight at Saint Damocles—his close friend, with whom he had grown up and received elite education together.

"My colleagues, I am, of course, aware of your concerns."

Saint Damocles said calmly.

His small stature radiated an aura that seemed to swallow the world, his presence rising continuously like a mountain erupting from flat ground.

"On the surface, it appears that the Navy has no possibility of attacking the Celestial Dragons, but this... is not absolute."

He sneered.

"After all, there are quite a few foolish fellows in the Navy who insist on their ridiculous 'Justice'."

"And the most important point is that our kin... do indeed sometimes commit acts that incite the wrath of both heaven and man."

"That is the basis for my suspicion."

As soon as these words were spoken, the other Five Elders cast sidelong glances at him.

"Damocles!! What do you mean by this!!"

"Do not forget that the power and status you possess now were also elected by the bloodline of our kin!"

"Watch your attitude!!"

"..."

Saint Damocles looked at them with a calm expression and said slowly:

"I do not mean to disparage; I am merely speaking of the facts."

"I was born into the weakest and least established of the nineteen Celestial Dragon families, and I climbed to this position step by step; I understand our kin better than anyone else."

"Do you not agree?"

The others fell silent upon hearing this.

In truth, they were well aware of the inherent flaws of the so-called Celestial Dragons.

A person who possesses immense wealth, supreme power, and status from birth, standing at the pinnacle of the world without needing to exert any effort.

Hard work, character, struggle... these naturally fall outside the scope of their life goals.

What they need to do, and what they are passionate about doing, is to constantly seek out various forms of amusement, pushing their boundaries again and again until it reaches a state of morbidity, distortion, and absurdity.

Sometimes, the Five Elders find the vile conduct of these world nobles intolerable and repulsive, but due to the face of their kin and the political pressure of the Holy Land, they find it difficult to express their stance, choosing instead to turn a blind eye.

"Damocles... there is no problem with investigating the Navy, but the investigation must be cautious."

At this moment, the Five Elder Saint Solomon, dressed in a samurai robe, gently pressed his hand against the hilt of his cursed blade and said in a hoarse voice:

"...And there must be a limit."

Seeing his close friend take the lead, Saint Damocles smiled.

He understood the meaning behind Saint Solomon's words perfectly.

It contained two main points:

First, it can be investigated, but it must be done carefully and in secret.

Second, there must be a limit; it should stop once it reaches a certain point, otherwise, it will invite a backlash.

Thus, he said slowly:

"That goes without saying, as the matter of forcing Sengoku to retreat has already made that fellow Kong quite dissatisfied."

"If we let the Navy know we are investigating them at this juncture, I fear it will provoke a significant backlash."

"Naturally, the investigation may ultimately yield no results; after all, we are merely considering a potential possibility, and this old man will not cling to this matter indefinitely."

The other three Five Elders exchanged glances upon hearing this:

"Then... as for a specific candidate? I fear the CP departments are not suitable to be utilized; they are far too conspicuous."

"Once the CP is deployed, the Navy will inevitably become vigilant."

"It would be best to find a candidate from within the Navy... so, who would be the most suitable choice?"

They discussed it back and forth, and in the end, their gazes all fell upon Saint Damocles.

The name Damocles, among the elite Celestial Dragons of the Holy Land, was a symbol of "wisdom and strategy."

It was precisely because of this reputation that they had ultimately agreed to Saint Damocles' proposal to investigate the Navy.

Seeing everyone's eyes turn toward him, the newly ascended supreme authority of the World Government, Saint Damocles, proudly raised his head, a haughty smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"To speak of a candidate, several conditions must be met."

He began to analyze with clear logic:

"First, this candidate must be sufficiently intelligent, cautious, and possess both the methods and capabilities to pass muster, so that they may perfectly complete the task of a covert investigation."

The others nodded, signaling their agreement.

"Second, this person must possess an extremely strong desire for power... hmm, it would be best if they were of humble origins; only then can we better control them."

The other Five Elders were deeply convinced, clapping their hands in laughter.

"Third, this person must be entirely devoid of that nauseating scent of 'justice'."

Saint Damocles spoke eloquently, his aged eyes gleaming with the light of strategy.

"And most importantly, the ideal state... is for this person to have a terrible reputation among the populace, a vile name, and to be obsequious toward the World Nobles; only then can we first eliminate any suspicion directed at them."

"In summary..."

Looking as though he held the winning hand, he swiftly picked up a file of a Navy officer and began to flip through it rapidly.

At one moment, Slap!

Saint Damocles slammed his hand heavily onto a page of the file.

"He is the best candidate."

The other Five Elders looked over, stunned at first, before satisfied smiles appeared on all their faces.

"Hmm, truly worthy of Damocles..."

"I agree with this candidate."

"Seconded."

"Agreed."

The page in the file.

It was none other than a Navy officer with short black hair and a handsome, arrogant appearance.

Name: Rogers Darren

Rank: North Blue Navy Admiral, Navy Headquarters Colonel

Evaluation: Extremely power-hungry, greedy and lecherous, exploits the populace, terrible reputation, nicknamed "The Scum of the Navy."

Listening to the voices of his colleagues in agreement and approval, Saint Damocles laughed with pride.

He looked at the photo of the black-haired Navy officer in the file, feeling as if there were some mysterious connection between himself and this fellow, a sense of familiarity.

Just as he had said before, his family was the weakest of the 19 Celestial Dragon clans.

From a young age, he had been determined to be different.

Thus, he had diligently received the best education, endured the most brutal tempering, and had even gone incognito to participate in one bloody, ruthless war after another, sustaining over a hundred wounds, both great and small.

He had pored over classics of strategy, possessed an agile mind, and, relying on formidable martial strength and a level of intellect unmatched among the Celestial Dragons, had climbed step by step, winning one merciless war for power after another.

And now, he had finally ascended to the position of one of the Five Elders.

He had to prove himself.

Prove that he was more excellent, more sagacious, more powerful, and more majestic than the other Five Elders!!

Only then could he, who lacked the support of the Council of Elders, sit more securely in his newly ascended seat among the Five Elders, and eventually become the head of the Five Elders!!

And this incident of the Celestial Dragons being attacked, while perhaps a terrifying disaster for others, was his opportunity.

Looking at the photo of the black-haired marine on the file, who was wearing a smile.

Saint Damocles felt as if fate itself were smiling back at him.

Begging for everything, deeply grateful.

Happy Children's Day to all the big bosses out there.