"Shepherd, I have a question for you."
Aokiji slightly opened his eyes and directed his gaze towards the bald Colonel Shepherd.
"Yes!"
Shepherd quickly stood up, his body tensing.
"Admiral Aokiji, please go ahead."
Aokiji was the highest combat power of the government, a Marine Admiral with great achievements, and not someone Shepherd could match with mere accolades.
Shepherd was well aware that his own strength was insufficient; unless he had someone backing him, he had to tread carefully even in a high position.
"You said you captured Jason on Baterilla Island. Surely you must have investigated his background, right?"
"This… Naturally!"
Shepherd's mind raced, stubbornly sticking to his stance.
"Lies!"
Bang!
A gust of cold wind swept through, and Aokiji's eyes fully opened. His authoritative presence, honed through months of battles with the Big Mom Pirates, surged forth, making Shepherd feel as if he were facing a collapsing snow mountain— powerless, insignificant, and gasping for breath.
Aokiji stared intently, pulling out a document from his chest and slamming it onto the table: "Then why does your entire report only mention in passing that Gol D. Jason's alias is actually Anthony Jason?"
"Do you know that Anthony Jason is a notorious thug and orphan from Baterilla Island, with parents who were lumberjacks?"
"Speak!"
"Why is there no real evidence to support the claim that he is the son of the Pirate King?"
"I…"
In an instant, Shepherd's face turned pale.
How could this be?!
An Admiral personally investigated this?
If Aokiji's earlier questioning was merely to doubt Jason's identity, the final statement had completely overturned Shepherd's report.
Sengoku was startled, his brows furrowing.
"Rowen, what does the Assassination Force have to say?"
Sengoku was preparing for all contingencies. He held one hand with the historical information submitted by Shepherd and the troops stationed on Baterilla island, and the other hand with the information provided by the Assassination Force. He compared the two to finally be at ease.
After all, in his mind, Kuma, who had undergone significant modification, had no preconditions for betrayal.
Therefore, the alias "Anthony Jason" had not caught his attention.
"Please wait a moment, Fleet Admiral."
Rowen knew that this was a critical moment, and he could not allow Aokiji to expose Shepherd's truth, at least not now.
In front of everyone, Rowen took out a silver-white Den Den Mushi.
Unlike the milk-white Tiger Tally held by the G-10 Base Head, this Den Den Mushi appeared to be made of metal, emanating an aura of steel and killing intent.
Concealing the number being broadcast, Rowen said slowly: "Oye, I am currently in the Fleet Admiral's office at Headquarters. Please explain the information you have gathered about Anthony Jason on Baterilla island clearly and concisely."
"Especially about Anthony Jason."
"Anthony Jason…"
Under the eager gazes of the crowd, a middle-aged man's ordinary voice came from the Den Den Mushi. The voice was so forgettable that one could easily forget it after hearing it.
After a moment of silence, the sound of papers being shuffled could be heard from the other side.
After a while, the Den Den Mushi spoke slowly: "Anthony Jason, 20 years old, is the son of a lumberjack couple from Baterilla Island. His parents passed away from illness ten years ago. He has since been living aimlessly, idle, and waiting to die."
"Hmm, we already know this. Is there any additional information to report?"
Rowen calmly nodded at Aokiji, seemingly ignoring Shepherd's near-desperate gaze.
"Sorry, senior official. Over a decade ago, the Assassination Force was disbanded, and our information network was dismantled soon after. Therefore, there is no further data on this individual."
Everyone: "…"
Damn it!
Almost forgot about that!
After the disbandment of the Assassination Force, only a few members stayed at Headquarters, such as Chaton, while most were absorbed by Cipher Pol.
The remaining records were unstable and weather-beaten.
To leave a description of a common person and preserve it for several years amidst the chaos was already the limit of the Information Department's capabilities at the time.
Rowen frowned slightly and asked: "So how did you investigate Anthony Jason?"
"Most of the information came from the Marine Station on Baterilla island. Inside…"
The middle-aged man with the codename "Xiao" was silent for a while, seemingly hesitating. But after a long wait without hearing Rowen speak, he had no choice but to speak frankly: "After all, even before the station was established, we had already placed our own spies there."
Everyone: "…"
Fuck!!!
Almost forgot again. During the peak of the Assassination Force, they were a giant so formidable that even the Bull Ghost would retreat upon hearing their name!
Their information-gathering capabilities were so feared that even the Marine was intimidated.
One of the reasons for their forced disbandment was their placement of spies even in the Holy Land, controlling every bit of movement.
Is it possible that the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) didn't know about this?
"They naturally know."
But when it's brought up, it becomes the Assassination Force's problem.
Chaton, with a cigarette in his mouth and a sly smile, said, "Ah, yes… back then, even if I were to assassinate the king of a small country, I would know what underwear he was wearing today and who his queen and several nobles were involved with."
Sengoku shot him a ruthless glare.
If you can't speak properly, then keep quiet!
"Due to the time constraints, our direct approach was to investigate the personnel Jason came into contact with after setting sail through the Anthony Jason lead. Other information was provided by the information personnel stationed at the site."
"I am certain that this historical segment was described in the final report."
Rowen glanced at Sengoku, who had a dark expression.
Indeed, the Assassination Force's information did include this segment.
But at the time, he only focused on comparing the differences between the two sets of information to verify their accuracy.
The Assassination Force focused on investigating Jason's experiences after setting sail, which was not covered in Shepherd's report. Shepherd's report was about confirming Jason's identity, a point not included in the Assassination Force's report.
Upon discovering that the information about the island didn't differ much, Sengoku quickly dismissed it.
Now it seemed…
This was the crucial point!
Sengoku's authoritative gaze swept over Shepherd as he said, "Do you have anything to say, Colonel Shepherd?"
"This… what does it prove?"
In a critical moment, Shepherd's desperation surged, and he shouted frantically, "The Anthony couple lived in the forest for a long time, disconnected from the outside world. Aokiji Admiral, do you have any evidence that Anthony Jason is their child?"
"Moreover, their deaths were extremely suspicious. Lumberjacks are physically resilient. How could they both have died of illness simultaneously?"
Aokiji was momentarily taken aback, his face darkening.
"None!"
"Do you have any?"
"I don't! But it's a fact that Kuma was injured. The enemy came to save him."
Colonel Shepherd's eyes gleamed with madness. Despite facing an Admiral, he remained defiant: "Given the strange circumstances of his background, Baterilla island's unique location, and the sudden death of his parents, if he's not Roger's illegitimate child, who could be?"
Too many coincidences turn into certainty.
The most crucial point was that Kuma was seriously injured!
According to him, there were five enemies, all unfamiliar pirates. In the ensuing battle, he heavily injured two and was forced to flee, barely escaping due to his speed.
To heavily injure a Shichibukai like "Tyrant" Kuma, if it was merely to frame someone, the cost would be too high.
After all, if Anthony Jason was truly insignificant, what's the point of having him executed?
Just to frame Shepherd?
Is that all?
Hmm, it's very possible…
Rowen's face was heavy, but internally, he was delighted.
Aokiji, OUT!
Now it's up to this person…
Garp turned sideways, making his face unclear. His arms were crossed in front of him, rising and falling with his breathing.
Pop!
A crisp crack echoed as Garp shook his head. Seeing no one watching him, he lowered his head again, pretending to listen intently.
Seeing this, Rowen was exasperated.
Alright, I won't rely on you.
The next lesson is math; you can continue sleeping!
Suddenly, Sengoku slammed the table and stood up.
"Enough, stop making a fuss, Aokiji!"
The unexpected reprimand stunned Aokiji. He seemed to recall something, lowered his head, and saluted.
"Anthony Jason must be Gol D. Jason. I hope everyone understands this!"
Sengoku practically spat out these words between clenched teeth, bringing the matter to a conclusive end.
Shepherd, about to gloat, found that all the generals in the conference room were staring at him with murderous eyes.
Gulp…
Rowen cast a sympathetic glance at him.
He probably forgot that his earlier statement confirmed that he had not properly investigated and was spreading the fact that Jason was Roger's illegitimate child.
So.
When he returns today, he should enjoy some good food.
So!
Rowen felt that the Sea had been quite unjust in its rumors against him. Kuma probably didn't foresee that a careless lie to shirk responsibility would lead to such severe consequences.
To avoid wasting the opportunity, he had constructed this plan.
You all made the first move!
I'm just defending myself!
(End of Chapter)
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