Holy Shield

"Yes, I admit that I altered the mission strategy on my own. Failing to report it beforehand was inappropriate."

Since he had acted first on his own authority, Bred had to offer the corresponding explanation afterward. Not daring to compound one mistake with another, he laid out every change to the "long line to catch a big fish" strategy before his direct superior, Minister Honest. He accepted full responsibility and did not argue against Minister Honest's criticism and reprimand.

Bred's frankness left Minister Honest with nothing to say.

In the end, after holding it in for a long while, Minister Honest snapped irritably, though it sounded more like a complaint than a rebuke. "What a genius! Before you've even officially become a Cipher Pol agent, you've already learned Cipher Pol's tradition of subordinates defying their superiors, huh? You don't learn the good things—you only learn the bad!"

The corners of Bred's lips lifted slightly. He had known he would not be punished.

What Minister Honest said about "Cipher Pol's tradition of subordinates defying their superiors" was true. Cipher Pol really did have such a tradition.

Cipher Pol's structure was vast, complicated, bloated, and chaotic. It had quite a few bizarre regulations and unwritten rules. Thus, even Minister Honest, Cipher Pol's highest-ranking official, was often helpless when faced with his unruly, fiercely independent subordinates.

For example, geniuses possessed privileges—as long as they displayed sufficient potential.

Bred had not known that Cipher Pol had an unwritten rule called "geniuses possess privileges, as long as they display sufficient potential." He had only realized it afterward, connecting it to something else and arriving at a similar conclusion.

It stemmed from something Instructor Gozuki had casually mentioned back at the Cipher Pol Agent Academy: Holy Shield. It was a special force dedicated to safeguarding the Celestial Dragons, serving only them. Its status stood above Cipher Pol's, and even the Celestial Dragons had to show it sufficient respect. It was clearly one of the World Government's hidden trump cards.

Holy Shield had a fixed membership of seven. It had always adhered to the principle of preferring a vacancy to an unworthy candidate, selecting only the elite among elites who possessed overwhelming strength.

Those elite among elites were the finest agents of Cipher Pol-PL, while Cipher Pol-PL consisted of the finest agents from the nine major branches, P1 through P9, and their innumerable operatives.

Yet even the elite among elites did not necessarily possess overwhelming strength. The harsh requirements restricted Holy Shield's numbers, forcing the Celestial Dragons to order Cipher Pol to seek out geniuses who showed sufficient potential and cultivate them through deliberate, nurturing efforts. This in turn gave rise to Cipher Pol's unwritten rule: geniuses possessed privileges, as long as they displayed sufficient potential.

At present, Bred was still far from being a Holy Shield candidate. He had merely begun to stand out, brushed against the edge of the unwritten rule that geniuses possessed privileges if they showed sufficient potential, and attracted a little attention.

Esdeath's situation was much the same as Bred's.

Melard and Kurando Akabane did not qualify.

The truly remarkable one was Tornado, who was almost certain to become one of Holy Shield's future members.

Gozuki had also mentioned Anderson. Anderson had once rejected recruitment by the Celestial Dragons and relinquished the status of a Holy Shield member, reasoning that he needed the time and freedom to spread the Lord's glory. Before that, he had repeatedly refused promotion from P9 to Cipher Pol-PL.

"My apologies, sir," Bred said without the slightest sincerity.

Minister Honest angrily ate meat, wolfing it down so loudly that the chewing coming through the phone receiver was deafening.

"Isn't this a good thing? P9 no longer needs to tie up most of its forces on Ohara Island, and you'll have more troops at your disposal," Bred said with a smile.

Minister Honest spoke vaguely through a mouthful of food. "Can you guarantee that you'll complete the mission splendidly?"

"I guarantee it! I'll send you a document later, sir. Once you read it, you'll know whether I can complete the mission splendidly," Bred said. "Besides, Father Anderson has approved of my plan and even volunteered to stay behind and assist me."

Minister Honest fell silent.

After a long while.

"Find a suitable opportunity to probe how many secrets those criminals researching history have uncovered. You can't just think about 'catching a big fish' without knowing how big the 'fish' has grown," Minister Honest said, letting out a huge yawn. Meaningfully, he added, "That's all! I'm sleepy~ Do a good job, Bred. I'm not someone with a strong desire for control, and I'm happy to create opportunities for young people. I enjoy seeing young people freely display their talents..."

"Beep, beep~~~"

The call ended.

Bred stood by the window, gazing out at the distant evening glow.

"Why is there a baby here?" Anderson asked upon returning from familiarizing himself with his new surroundings.

Bred spread his hands. "Found it. I felt sorry for it."

"This isn't a bad thing, is it?" Anderson smiled warmly and kindly. "Child, kindness is a virtue. It is a noble quality."

Bred changed the subject. He was an atheist. "Father Anderson, can you teach me the Six Powers and Armament Haki?"

"Have you materialized a weapon with your Nen?" Anderson asked.

Bred did not answer. With a turn of his wrist, Gluttony lay quietly in his palm.

"An astonishing talent," Anderson said, slowly nodding as he praised Bred. Then he asked, "What is the reason? Child, I can sense your sorrow. You are always anxious and impatient, living a deeply unhappy life. Perhaps that has also indirectly made you unusually mature. Regardless, I deeply regret that you cannot experience the innocence and joy of childhood."

Bred answered bluntly, "Part of it is because of my family. The other part is the unknown—ignorance. Father Anderson, I fear the unknown, and I fear ignorance! I crave the strength to overcome the unknown, and even more, I crave the strength to shatter ignorance."

"I understand," Anderson said with a sigh. He held his hand above Bred's head and blessed him. "You shall be steadfast and fearless. You shall forget your suffering; even if you remember it, it will be like flowing water. Your days upon this earth shall shine brighter than noon; though darkness may come, it shall still be like morning! A~men~~~"

For a brief moment, both fell silent.

"I can teach you the Six Powers, but I cannot teach you Armament Haki. Your body has not fully developed yet; it would affect your health," Anderson said.

Bred pondered. "What about chakra?"

"I'm sorry, child. I am not omniscient," Anderson said.

Bred's thirst for knowledge surged. "I've always been curious, Father Anderson. How strong are you?"

"Child, I hate violence," Anderson said solemnly.

Bred: "..."

The famous "Executioner," "Decapitating Detective," "Gunblade Priest," and "Dust Maker" hated violence?

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