Smart, but Not That Smart

"So... what are you going to do? Are you really going to investigate the Marines?"

Momonga furrowed his brows into a deep frown. He instinctively lit a cigar, looking at the Marine Captain in front of him with some concern.

Although the order had come directly from the World Government's highest authority, the people under investigation were fellow Marines. No matter how you looked at it, Momonga felt some resistance toward this so-called order.

"Investigate? Why wouldn't we?"

Darren casually lifted his glass to his lips and took a sip, then gave a mocking smile.

"The Five Elders themselves issued the order. Of course we'll make sure it's carried out to perfection."

"But since the investigation into this 'Celestial Dragon attack' has landed in my hands, we can take the initiative."

Momonga glanced at him, unable to help finding it amusing.

There was no denying that Saint Damocles, who was hailed as "the greatest strategist in a century," had shown extraordinary insight by detecting something suspicious about the attack.

But not much else.

Sending the culprit to catch the culprit... Momonga's mouth twitched.

"But we shouldn't drag this out any longer. We need to close the case as soon as possible."

Darren took a long drag on his cigar, his deep eyes glinting.

"As long as this case remains open, CP0 and the investigation team won't leave the North Blue. I don't like being watched."

Momonga nodded in complete agreement.

With the investigation team's arrival, many of their recent operations had come to a halt.

After all, with Sengoku, a Marine Admiral, here, they couldn't afford to do anything too conspicuous.

The next day.

Batia Island Government Office.

Conference Room.

"What!? The Celestial Dragon attack case is being handed over to Darren in its entirety!?"

Sengoku stared at the government order CP0 had presented, his face full of disbelief. He couldn't help blurting out the words.

Gion and Gion's partner looked as though they'd just heard something absurd. They gaped at Darren.

Wearing a mask and a white silk robe, the CP0 agent read out the government's order in an indifferent voice:

"In view of Marine Admiral Sengoku's heavy workload and the urgent pursuit of the great pirate Byrnndi World, the investigation into the 'Celestial Dragon attack' is hereby entrusted entirely to Rogers Darren, the highest-ranking Marine officer in the North Blue. Effective immediately."

After reading the order, the CP0 agent gave Darren a cold look.

"This mission is urgent. Captain Darren, begin your investigation as soon as possible."

Darren smiled and nodded.

"Understood."

CP0 nodded and was about to leave.

But Sengoku suddenly voiced his dissatisfaction.

"I've already submitted my findings, haven't I? The whole incident was an accident. The Sea Kings were the ones who attacked Saint Childers—"

His voice trailed off, turning hesitant and halting.

CP0 was staring at him coldly with an expression that said, "What an idiot."

Sengoku awkwardly sat back down. Without another word, the CP0 agent's body gradually faded away and vanished.

Only the Marines remained in the conference room.

Silence fell. Not a sound could be heard.

Gion and Gion's partner exchanged discreet glances.

"Why did the investigation fall into Darren's hands?" Gion's partner stared wide-eyed.

"How should I know? The order came straight from the Government." Gion knitted her brows.

Gion's partner raised an eyebrow. "Could it really be that he didn't kill Saint Childers?"

"I have a feeling there's more to this than meets the eye." Gion narrowed her eyes.

"..." Gion's partner.

"Hey, what are you two making those weird faces for?" Sengoku asked irritably.

Gion and Gion's partner immediately sat up straight.

"Perhaps Rear Admiral Gion and Rear Admiral Gion's partner have some new insights into the attack?"

At his words, the two shuddered and looked up. The North Blue Admiral was smoking a cigar and watching them with an amused, knowing look. For some reason, they felt a little uneasy.

"Um... no, nothing."

Gion's partner gave an awkward smile.

After putting the two troublemakers in their place, Darren smiled and looked away.

"Darren, what do you think about this? Why would the Government hand the investigation over to you?"

Sengoku fixed Darren with a stern gaze and asked in a grave voice.

Darren pondered for a moment before answering slowly:

"Admiral Sengoku, I think the Government made the right decision."

"Oh?" Sengoku frowned.

Darren continued:

"The investigation into the Celestial Dragon attack has already dragged on for too long. As a Marine Admiral, you have a heavy workload, so it doesn't make sense for you to keep leading the investigation and wasting your time."

Sengoku massaged his temples and sighed.

"If that's the case, they should've accepted my findings and closed the case early."

He eyed Darren suspiciously.

"Or have you gotten hold of some new information or clues?"

Darren raised both hands in surrender.

"Of course not. Personally, I still agree with Rear Admiral Borsalino's assessment."

He smiled and nodded at Borsalino.

"The Celestial Dragon attack was essentially an accident."

Sengoku narrowed his eyes, a trace of confusion flickering deep in them. He murmured almost to himself:

"If there aren't any new leads, the Government has no reason to take the investigation away from me..."

"Lucky me. This saves me a lot of trouble..." Borsalino, who was clipping his nails with a nail clipper, suddenly murmured with a smile.

The speaker might have meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.

Sengoku's eyes suddenly lit up.

Right!

This was a good thing!

He hadn't wanted to get involved in this mess in the first place. It was a thankless job!

Now that Darren was handling the investigation, couldn't he, the Marine Admiral, get back to his own work?

Whether it was returning to Marine Headquarters in Marineford or continuing his pursuit of Byrnndi World, either would be much better than staying here and fussing over a dead Celestial Dragon!

At the thought, Sengoku smiled with satisfaction.

He looked up, cleared his throat, and addressed Darren in a solemn, fatherly tone:

"Well, since the Government has placed so much faith in you, Darren, make sure you do a good job. Don't let them down."

Darren smiled humbly.

"I'll still need plenty of guidance from you, Admiral Sengoku."

Sengoku's smile grew wider. He stood and patted Darren on the shoulder.

"Then I'll leave this matter to you."

That evening.

After finishing his daily training at the training grounds, Darren headed toward his private residence on Batia Island, drenched in sweat.

The sun was setting.

Darren's uniform was already in tatters, hanging from his body like rags.

His muscles were sharply defined, as if carved from stone. Shallow bullet craters and blackened grime marked his sweat-slicked skin—the traces of direct hits from bullets and cannon fire.

"You really haven't changed at all..."

A languid voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Darren stopped. A smile tugged at his lips as he turned around.

A tall figure stood in the slanting rays of the setting sun, arms crossed and leaning against a wall. His broad cape glowed a deep red in the evening light.

He looked at Darren's bloodstained, scarred body, his eyes glinting with a strange smile beneath his sunglasses.

"Living like a beast every day... don't you ever get tired of it?"

Darren tossed him a cigar, lit one for himself, and smiled.

"Not everyone's blessed with a monster's talent like you, Rear Admiral Borsalino."