"How is the investigation into Cyrik going?"
"You should have looked into him discreetly by now, Tsuru."
Sengoku's expression grew complicated as he spoke the name of this man who was now a key figure in the Navy.
Even Tsuru's hand paused around her teacup.
She set the cup on the table with a crisp clink.
"Ah..."
Tsuru sighed.
"Unless we're mistaken, Cyrik is the founder of the Dark Sun Order in the North Blue..."
"Mistral and Harken are both his people."
When Sengoku asked Tsuru to investigate Cyrik, what he really wanted was to uncover the connection between Cyrik and the Dark Sun Order.
It had actually started by chance. The Dark Sun Order's unnaturally rapid expansion had drawn the Navy's attention.
Tracing the Dark Sun Order's growth had unexpectedly revealed signs of Cyrik's involvement.
Back then, Cyrik had not yet joined the Navy.
Many traces could not be erased.
Especially during the Dark Sun Order's early development, its founder, Cyrik, could not possibly have stayed hidden in the shadows.
Its core members had only moved behind the scenes after the Dark Sun Order had established itself.
Then Sengoku recalled the brainwashing properties of Cyrik's fruit ability, leading him to suspect that Cyrik might be connected to the Dark Sun Order.
Both he and Tsuru, who had learned of his suspicions from him, were deeply shocked.
After all, the Dark Sun Order had now become an undisputed behemoth in the North Blue, with bases established on thousands of islands.
Its immense influence extended across more than half the North Blue.
Such influence was terrifying, and its vast numbers of followers were a force that could not be ignored.
If Cyrik was the founder behind the Dark Sun Order, that news would be enough to shock the entire world.
After