It'll Cost Extra

North Blue, Batia Island.

A private estate.

"Right this way, Colonel Darren is waiting for you in the reception room."

Momonga gestured invitingly toward the CP0 agent who had come to see him.

The estate was vast, covering more than two thousand square meters. It had everything from artificial hills, gardens, and fountains to a training ground.

As Momonga led the CP0 agent through the lush garden, his palms began to sweat inside his leather gloves.

CP0 had come in person, asking specifically to meet Darren... Had the government noticed something?

Momonga forced himself to stay calm and unconsciously quickened his pace. Soon, they arrived outside the reception room.

"Colonel Darren."

Momonga raised his hand in salute.

Inside the reception room, Darren was sitting with one leg crossed over the other, smoking a cigar. He rose with a broad smile and walked over to greet them warmly.

"An honored guest has arrived, and I failed to welcome you sooner."

The mask with its strange patterns concealed the CP0 agent's expression. A cold voice came from beneath it.

"Colonel Darren, I'm here on behalf of one of the World Government's highest authorities... Saint Damocles."

"Oh?" Darren raised an eyebrow and gestured for the CP0 agent to sit. Then he went to the bar, poured two glasses of whiskey, and added a few ice cubes to each.

He had heard of this man.

The newly appointed Five Elder came from a Celestial Dragon family with little influence, yet through his own formidable strength and shrewdness, he had secured most of the votes at the Celestial Dragon conference in the Holy Land and risen to become one of the World Government's highest authorities.

It was, without a doubt, a legend worthy of praise.

Though that name did sound a little ominous.

According to legend, the Sword of Damocles represented great power that was never secure and could easily be taken away.

Or, put simply, the fear of doomsday.

"I wonder what Saint Damocles would like me to do?"

Darren handed the CP0 agent a glass of whiskey, then sat down himself and took a sip, speaking as if he couldn't care less.

The CP0 agent didn't drink. He simply set the glass down and gave Momonga a look without changing expression.

Momonga saluted again, then turned and left the reception room, closing the door behind him.

Only then did the CP0 agent take a military Den Den Mushi of the highest security classification from his coat, set it on the polished table, and dial a number.

"Brrr brrr..."

The military Den Den Mushi rang out repeatedly.

Darren narrowed his eyes at the sight.

Was this classified enough to warrant a direct call with one of the Five Elders?

If he weren't one hundred percent certain he had left no evidence or traces behind, he might have started to suspect the government was after him.

The call connected shortly after.

Whoosh—

An image was projected from the Den Den Mushi.

Inside an elegant yet imposing Western-style mansion, five elderly figures stood or sat, scrutinizing the Marine Captain with strange expressions.

At once, Darren set down his glass with an air of trepidation, rose from his seat, and bowed slightly.

"Rogers Darren, Marine Headquarters Colonel and North Blue Admiral, pays his respects to the Five Elders."

The Five Elders saw Darren's gesture and all sneered in unison.

"Enough. Don't put on an act."

"We all know what kind of man you are."

"The Marines' notorious 'scoundrel'..."

"..."

Darren smiled faintly.

"You're too kind, my lords."

The Five Elders: ...

Darren smiled and said, "May I ask why the Five Elders have personally contacted one of their subordinates?"

"Admiral Sengoku is also on Batia Island. I can find him anytime..."

"No need." Saint Damocles waved a hand, cutting Darren off. "Sengoku shouldn't know about this."

He looked sternly at the Marine Captain.

"We have a different theory about the attack on the Celestial Dragons in North Blue."

Darren furrowed his brow and ventured, "You mean...?"

Saint Damocles sneered.

"We order you to begin a secret investigation, effective immediately, into the Marine vessels that set sail around the time of the incident... and the movements of every Marine with flight or similar abilities."

"As the highest-ranking officer in North Blue, you shouldn't have trouble uncovering that information."

Darren's eyes widened, his face full of astonishment. "What are you suggesting, my lords?"

Saint Damocles replied coolly, "You know very well what we suspect. If you want to remain North Blue Admiral, then obey our orders."

Darren's expression darkened.

"You want me to investigate my fellow Marines!?"

"I'm a Marine myself. You want me to investigate my comrades!?"

"You want me to betray my friends and let down the people who trust me!?"

The Five Elders all frowned.

"So you intend to disobey the government's orders?"

Darren took a deep breath and said solemnly, "No. What I mean is..."

He clenched his fist and said forcefully, "The rank of Marine Headquarters Colonel is too low."

The Five Elders all froze, their faces full of astonishment, as if they'd heard something absurd.

This kid... Was he asking them for power right to their faces?

A mere Marine Captain dared to brazenly ask the Five Elders, the World Government's highest authority, for power!?

"Ha ha ha ha ha..."

Saint Damocles suddenly burst into laughter, gazing at Darren with open admiration.

"Excellent. I knew I was right about you."

The Marines were the public face of the World Government—the Celestial Dragons' dogs.

To them, the more ambitious and insatiable the dog, the easier it was to control.

The ones who gave the Five Elders the most trouble were those stubborn mules who wouldn't be swayed and stayed loyal to their own "beliefs."

"Work hard, young Darren."

"With your abilities, the rank of Marine Headquarters Colonel really is beneath you."

After saying this, Saint Damocles gave Darren a meaningful look, then hung up the call.

The image vanished.

The CP0 agent put away the Den Den Mushi and stood up.

"Won't you have a drink?"

Darren said with a smile.

"After all, we'll be colleagues working for our lords from now on."

The CP0 agent hesitated, then picked up his glass and took a sip. After that, he vanished from the spot without a sound, his figure like a ghost.

Once the CP0 agent was gone, the smile gradually faded from Darren's face.

A violet-blue arc of electricity suddenly leaped between his fingers, and invisible magnetic waves spread out at once.

Hmm, the CP0 agent's life magnetic field was gone.

After confirming the agent had left, Darren tapped lightly on the table.

Momonga strode in from outside.

"What happened?"

Darren lit a cigar and replied calmly, "The World Government is starting to suspect that the Marines were behind the attack on the Celestial Dragons."

"The Five Elders spoke to me in person just now. The one who raised the suspicion was probably their newest member... Saint Damocles."

Momonga's pupils contracted.

Saint Damocles, one of the World Government's highest authorities, was renowned for his "wisdom."

At the recent ceremony where the new Five Elder was formally inducted, the emcee had publicly announced the meaning behind the name his father had given him:

"A supreme sword of judgment, suspended above the world, forcing all to submit. It symbolizes the ultimate divine authority over all power and wealth!"

"Could they really have found something—"

Darren chuckled and cut him off with a shake of his head.

"Don't worry. They only suspect it."

"They've ordered me to secretly investigate every Marine."

"This is a problem... Damn it!"

Momonga swore without thinking, then realized something was off as soon as the words left his mouth.

"Wait!!"

He stared at Darren, who was smiling broadly, in utter disbelief.

"You said... they ordered you to investigate!?"

Darren exhaled a stream of smoke like a dragon, still grinning.

"That's right. They asked 'me' to investigate."

He put heavy emphasis on "me."

"What a wise decision."

Darren blinked.

"After all, a notorious Marine 'scoundrel' with a long list of misdeeds, who curries favor with his superiors and worships power, could never have attacked a Celestial Dragon, right?"

Momonga's face flushed red, his expression turning utterly peculiar.

What was this?

They'd eliminated the correct answer outright?