Has Wisdom, But Not Much

"So... what do you intend to do? Are you really going to investigate the Navy?"

Momonga's brows knitted into a deep furrow. He subconsciously lit a cigar, his eyes filled with worry as he looked at the Marine Captain before him.

Although this was a direct order from the highest authority of the World Government, the target of the investigation was, after all, the Navy—their own people. No matter how one looked at it, Momonga felt a certain level of resistance toward this so-called order.

"Investigate? Why wouldn't I?"

Darren lifted his wine glass to his lips with a relaxed demeanor, took a light sip, and smiled with a hint of mockery:

"That is a direct order from the great and venerable Five Elders. Naturally, we must handle it beautifully for them."

"It's just that now that the investigation into this 'Celestial Dragon Attack Incident' has fallen into my hands, we can seize the initiative."

Momonga glanced at him, unable to help but feel a sense of absurdity.

It had to be said that Saint Damocles, who was hailed as the "greatest strategist in a century," possessed extraordinary wisdom to be able to keenly detect the clues behind this attack.

But not by much.

Letting the culprit catch the culprit... Momonga's mouth twitched.

"However, this matter should not be dragged out any longer. This investigation needs to be closed as soon as possible."

Darren took a deep drag of his cigar, his deep eyes flashing with light.

"After all, as long as this case remains open, CP0 and the investigation team will not leave the North Blue. I don't particularly enjoy the feeling of being watched."

Momonga nodded in deep agreement.

Because of the arrival of the investigation team, many of their recent operations had come to a standstill.

After all, with Admiral Sengoku present, it was difficult to do anything too far out of line.

The next day.

Batia Island Government Office.

Conference room.

"What!? The investigation into the Celestial Dragon attack is being handed over entirely to Darren!?"

Sengoku looked at the government order document produced by the CP0 agent, his face full of astonishment as he couldn't help but exclaim.

Gion and her partner stared at Darren, their eyes wide with shock, as if they had heard something preposterous.

The CP0 agent, wearing a mask and draped in white silk robes, read the government order in an indifferent tone:

"In view of the heavy military duties of Admiral Sengoku of the Marine Headquarters, and the imminent operation to capture the great pirate Byrnndi World, the investigation into the 'Celestial Dragon Attack Incident' shall be transferred entirely to the highest authority of the North Blue Navy, North Blue Admiral Rogers Darren, effective immediately."

After finishing the document, the CP0 agent gave Darren a cold look.

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

Darren nodded with a smile.

"Rest assured."

The CP0 agent nodded, about to leave.

Sengoku, however, suddenly voiced his dissatisfaction:

"Hasn't my investigation report already been submitted? This incident was entirely an accident; the one who attacked Saint Childers was a Sea King..."

His voice gradually trailed off, becoming hesitant.

This was because the CP0 agent was staring at him coldly with a look that said, "I'm looking at an idiot."

Seeing Sengoku sit back down sheepishly, the CP0 agent said nothing, his figure gradually fading into nothingness and disappearing from the spot.

In the conference room, only the group of Navy officers remained.

It was silent, not a sound to be heard.

Gion and her partner exchanged subtle glances.

"Why did the investigative authority fall into Darren's hands?" Her partner's eyes were wide as saucers.

"How would I know? This is an order directly from the government." Gion's willow brows were tightly knit.

Her partner raised an eyebrow: "Could it be that the murder of the Celestial Dragon Saint Childers really wasn't his doing?"

"I always feel that things aren't that simple." Gion narrowed her eyes.

"..." Her partner.

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you two making such strange, baring-your-teeth expressions for?" Sengoku spoke up, sounding annoyed.

Gion and her partner immediately sat up straight.

"Perhaps Major Gion and Major Gion's partner have some new insights regarding the investigation of the attack?"

Upon hearing this, the two felt a shiver run down their spines. They looked up to see the North Blue Admiral, cigar in hand, staring at them with a look that was neither quite a smile nor a frown, and they felt an inexplicable sense of panic.

"That... no, not at all."

Gion's partner gave a sheepish laugh.

After putting these two troublemakers in their place, Darren smiled and withdrew his gaze.

"Darren, what is your take on this matter? Why would the government hand the investigative authority over to you?"

Sengoku stared at Darren with a solemn expression, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone.

Darren pondered for a moment before speaking slowly:

"Admiral Sengoku, I believe the government's decision is quite reasonable."

"Oh?" Sengoku frowned.

Darren continued:

"The investigation into this Celestial Dragons attack has dragged on for far too long. As an Admiral of Marine Headquarters, you have heavy military duties; naturally, it is not suitable for you to continue leading the investigation and wasting your time."

Sengoku rubbed his temples and sighed:

"If that is the case, they should have accepted my investigative findings, which would have allowed us to close the case earlier."

He suddenly cast a suspicious glance at Darren.

"Or is it that you, kid, have obtained some brand-new intelligence or leads?"

Darren raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Of course not. Personally, I still agree with the viewpoint of Rear Admiral Borsalino."

He nodded at Borsalino with a smile.

"The attack on the Celestial Dragons is, in essence, an accident."

Sengoku narrowed his eyes, a flicker of doubt deep within his gaze, and muttered as if to himself:

"Since there are no new leads, the government has no reason to strip the investigative authority from me..."

"How nice, this saves quite a bit of trouble..." Borsalino, who was picking his nails with a clipper nearby, suddenly murmured with a grin.

The speaker seemed to have no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Upon hearing this, Sengoku's eyes suddenly lit up.

That's right!

This is a good thing!

He hadn't wanted to wade into these muddy waters in the first place; it was a thankless task!

Now that Darren was handling the investigation in full, couldn't he, as a Marine Admiral, go back to minding his own business?

Whether it was returning to Marineford or continuing the pursuit of Byrnndi World, wouldn't that be far better than staying here and busy-working over a dead Celestial Dragon!?

Thinking of this, Sengoku smiled with satisfaction.

He raised his head, gave a light cough, and said to Darren in an earnest, fatherly tone:

"Hmm, since the government relies on you so heavily, Darren, you must perform well and not let down the trust they have placed in you."

Darren smiled modestly:

"I will still need plenty of guidance from Admiral Sengoku."

The smile on Sengoku's face grew even broader as he stood up and patted Darren on the shoulder.

"Then I will leave this matter to you."

That evening.

Having finished his daily training at the grounds, Darren walked toward his private residence on Batia Island, drenched in sweat.

The sun was setting.

The military uniform on Darren's body was tattered, hanging off him like rags.

His chiseled, muscular frame was covered in sweat, with numerous shallow bullet craters and charred grime remaining on his skin—the marks of direct hits from bullets and artillery shells.

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

A slow, deliberate voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

Darren paused his steps, the corners of his mouth curling up as he turned around.

A tall figure stood in the slanting sunlight, arms crossed, leaning against a wall. His oversized cape was illuminated a blood-red by the sunset.

He looked at Darren's blood-stained, scar-covered body, a strange smile flickering in the eyes behind his sunglasses.

"Living like a wild beast every single day, aren't you tired?"

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

"Not everyone possesses monstrous talent like you do, Rear Admiral Borsalino."

Requesting everything, deeply grateful.