First, Rule Him Out

"Marines?"

As soon as Saint Damocles spoke, the other four Five Elders all froze. Then they stared at him in confusion, even disbelief.

"Damocles, what are you suggesting?"

"How could that be possible!"

"They're Celestial Dragons, the World Nobles!"

"..."

They simply couldn't believe the Marines would attack the Celestial Dragons. Not because they lacked the ability, but because they wouldn't dare!

As the largest law enforcement force under the World Government, the Marines relied entirely on the government for their funding. Though they had maintained a relatively independent structure and chain of command since their founding, the government still held no less sway within their ranks.

Forget the restraints of political authority and the belief that "the Celestial Dragons reign supreme." The matter of funding alone was enough for the World Government to keep the Marines firmly under its thumb.

If anyone in these seas dared to attack a Celestial Dragon, the Marines would be the last people anyone suspected!

"Damocles... Are you certain there's a basis for your suspicions? If they prove true, it would change the nature of many things... This is an extremely sensitive subject."

The bald Five Elder, who had been silently polishing the long sword in his hands, suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice.

He sat cross-legged in a samurai's garb, the long sword, wreathed in patterns of purplish-black flame, resting across his knees. Its cold, murderous gleam glinted beneath the lights of the small villa.

A peerless cursed blade.

As he spoke, he raised his head. His arms were as gaunt as sticks, veins standing out beneath the skin as he gently polished the sword. Behind rimless glasses, his murky, sinister eyes fixed on Saint Damocles—his close friend, who had grown up alongside him and received the same elite education.

"My esteemed colleagues, I understand your concerns," Saint Damocles said calmly.

His short frame seemed to radiate an ambition vast enough to swallow the world. His presence rose like a mountain springing from flat ground, growing ever more imposing.

"On the surface, the Marines indeed seem unlikely to have attacked the Celestial Dragons. But... that isn't impossible."

He gave a cold laugh.

"After all, plenty of fools among the Marines still cling to their ridiculous 'justice.'"

"And more importantly, our own people... sometimes do things that provoke the wrath of heaven and earth."

"That is the basis for my suspicion."

At his words, the other Five Elders turned to look at him.

"Damocles! What do you mean by that?!"

"Don't forget that the power and position you hold now were granted to you through the votes of our fellow Celestial Dragons!"

"Mind your tone!"

"..."

Saint Damocles calmly glanced at them before replying, "I mean no insult. I'm merely stating the facts."

"My family is the weakest and least established of the nineteen Celestial Dragon families. I climbed all the way to my current position, so I understand our people better than anyone."

"Do you not agree?"

The others fell silent.

In truth, they knew all too well about the Celestial Dragons' inherent flaws.

People born into immense wealth, supreme power, and status, standing atop the world without ever having to work for it, had no reason to care about effort, character, or ambition.

All they wanted—and all they took pleasure in—was to seek out one amusement after another. Their limits were pushed again and again, until their behavior grew perverse, twisted, and absurd.

Sometimes, the World Nobles' despicable conduct disgusted the Five Elders. But out of consideration for their own people, and under political pressure from the Holy Land, they couldn't openly voice their views. So they turned a blind eye.

"Damocles... There's no problem with investigating the Marines, but we must proceed with caution."

Saint Solomon, one of the Five Elders dressed in samurai garb, rested a hand lightly on the hilt of his sword and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"...And there must be limits."

Seeing his close friend speak up first, Saint Damocles smiled.

He understood perfectly what Saint Solomon meant.

There were two main points:

First, they could investigate, but they had to be careful and do it in secret.

Second, they had to know when to stop. They couldn't push too far, or they would provoke a backlash.

So he replied, "Naturally. Having Sengoku retreat already left Kong quite dissatisfied."

"If the Marines find out we're investigating them now, we'll likely provoke a serious backlash."

"Of course, the investigation may not turn up anything in the end. We're only considering a possibility, and I won't cling to the matter if we find nothing."

The other three Five Elders exchanged glances.

"Then... who should we choose? It would be difficult to use Cipher Pol. They'd draw too much attention."

"If we use Cipher Pol, the Marines will grow wary."

"It would be best to find someone within the Marines... So who would be suitable?"

They discussed it back and forth, until at last all their eyes settled on Saint Damocles.

Among the elite Celestial Dragons of the Holy Land, the name Damocles was a symbol of "cunning."

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

When he saw them turn to him, the newly appointed highest authority of the World Government proudly raised his head, a self-assured smile curling his lips.

"To be suitable, a candidate must meet several conditions."

He began to lay out his reasoning with perfect clarity.

"First, he must be intelligent and cautious, with the necessary skills and ability. Only then can he carry out a covert investigation flawlessly."

The others nodded in agreement.

"Second, he must have a powerful desire for authority... Better yet, he should come from humble beginnings. That way, we'll be able to control him more easily."

The other Five Elders wholeheartedly agreed, clapping their hands with delight.

"Third, he must not have that nauseating air of 'justice' about him."

Saint Damocles spoke at length, his aged eyes gleaming with insight.

"And most importantly, the ideal candidate should be hated by the public and have a terrible reputation. He must grovel before the World Nobles. That way, we can rule him out as a suspect from the start."

"Taking all that into account..."

Looking utterly confident in his judgment, he swiftly picked up a Marine officer's file and flipped through it.

At one moment—

Smack!

Saint Damocles slammed his hand down on a page in the file.

"He's the perfect candidate."

The other Five Elders looked at the page. First they froze, then satisfied smiles appeared on their faces.

"Mm, that's Damocles for you..."

"I approve of this candidate."

"Seconded."

"Agreed."

The page in the file showed a Marine officer with short black hair and a handsome, arrogant face.

Name: Rogers Darren

Position: North Blue Fleet Admiral, Marine Headquarters Colonel

Evaluation: Extremely ambitious, greedy and lecherous, exploits the public, terrible reputation, known as "the Scum of the Marines"

Hearing his colleagues' agreement and approval, Saint Damocles smiled smugly.

He looked at the smiling black-haired Marine in the photograph and felt as if there were some connection between them, as if he knew him somehow.

As he'd said, his family was the weakest of the nineteen Celestial Dragon families.

Even as a child, he had resolved to be different.

So he worked diligently at the finest education, endured the harshest trials, and even took part in one merciless, bloody war after another under an assumed name. He bore more than a hundred wounds, both serious and minor.

He studied books on strategy, thought quickly, and relied on his formidable strength and unmatched cunning among the Celestial Dragons to climb step by step. He won one ruthless power struggle after another.

And now, he had finally taken his place among the Five Elders.

He had to prove himself.

He had to prove he was more capable, wiser, stronger, and more imposing than the other Five Elders!

Only then could he secure his place among the newly appointed Five Elders, without the Council of Elders backing him,

and eventually become the leader of the Five Elders!

To everyone else, this attack on the Celestial Dragons might have been a terrible disaster.

But to him, it was an opportunity.

As he looked at the photograph of the smiling black-haired Marine, Saint Damocles felt as if fate itself were smiling at him.

That's all for now. Thank you so much!

Happy Children's Day, everyone!