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**Holy Land, Mary Geoise.**
"Is the report from Zero accurate, Sengoku?" The long-mustached Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) with a serious expression asked while holding a receiver in his hand.
"It is completely accurate, sir!" Sengoku's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, adding, "I also trust Rowen's judgment. I've already ordered the Assassination Force to fully investigate the current status of the Shichibukai!"
"Good!"
"Increase the efforts. If you lack manpower, we will send reinforcements. Report any findings immediately! Understood?"
"Understood!"
*Click...*
Placing the Den Den Mushi back in its holder, the long-mustached Gorōsei glanced at Nebber Dragon and Ferrick before addressing the others. "Do you believe that there's a Revolutionary Army mole within the Shichibukai and that this mole killed Charlos?"
"It's possible..." The balding Gorōsei replied remaining uncharacteristically calm and analyzed the situation carefully. "Dragon has always held such views against the government. The Revolutionary Army, under his influence, harbors an undying hatred towards the Celestial Dragons. If they were responsible, the motive fits perfectly!"
"Moreover, the Revolutionary Army has remained dormant throughout the public execution. The likelihood of a high-level mole is very high."
"Then let's proceed with this line of investigation. Let's vote."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Seconded."
"I..." Ferrick hesitated before finally saying, "Agreed."
---
Near the G-10 branch sea, when the Qilin ship arrived, a massive force of five War Behemoths and a fully assembled Aircraft Force had already been stationed there for some time.
As they approached, Dante, who was responsible for the security of the area, drew his sword and shouted angrily, "Everyone disembark and prepare for an inspection!"
"How dare you! Do you know who we are? I..." A white-suited agent behind Zero was enraged, ready to dismiss Dante. As part of CP0, directly under the Celestial Dragons, they were accustomed to privilege and looking down on Marines and other colleagues.
To this agent, being stopped for inspection was nothing short of an insult!
But Zero stopped him because he noticed that all the surrounding cannons, including Plasma Cannons, were aimed directly at them.
If anything suspicious happened, Zero had no doubt they would fire without hesitation!
"Stop making a fool of yourself and stand down!"
"Yes, sir!"
After reprimanding his subordinate, Zero glanced inscrutably at Rowen and said, "Vice Admiral Soryu, your troops are exceptionally well-trained."
While handing over his identification for inspection, Rowen chuckled and replied, "We have to be cautious, especially with unpredictable powers like the Clone-Clone Fruit out there."
He then turned to Dante, who had finished checking the credentials saluted, and pointed to Zero. "These individuals are part of the government investigation team. They don't have identification, but I guarantee their identity."
"Understood, Vice Admiral!"
Dante nodded, adding, "However, we still need to register the number of people and their belongings as a precaution. This is Fleet Admiral's order."
"Thank you for your efforts!"
Zero didn't argue and led the CP0 agents off the deck to complete the registration.
After the brief commotion settled, the group was finally allowed to pass. Rowen walked onto the deck of a severely damaged battleship, covering his nose with a handkerchief.
"The stench is awful!"
Almost three days had passed since the deaths, and under the scorching sun, many of the corpses had swollen, emitting a nauseating odor due to microbial growth.
"Let's finish this quickly! You, check over there."
Standing on a deck littered with bodies, Zero couldn't bear the smell either and swiftly gave orders.
This was the primary crime scene. Apart from the reporting patrol squad, no one had stepped onto the deck. It had been preserved as it was, awaiting their arrival.
"Was Saint Charlos' body found there?" Rowen suddenly pointed to an empty area and asked.
There was a bloodstain there, with a thumb-sized deep dent in the wooden plank and a humanoid outline drawn with white paint around it.
"Yes, the Gorōsei immediately requested that his body be taken back, so it's no longer here," Dante replied, pulling out a report to brief them.
"The murderer used an awl to pierce through Charlos, with the remaining force driving through the wooden board, pinning him in place. He watched as Charlos screamed and struggled while his blood drained away, growing weaker and weaker until he finally died."
This was cruel and merciless.
With such a method, who wouldn't believe it was a vendetta?
Even killing should be done efficiently, right?
"The Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) has given me strict orders— we must find the culprit…"
Zero suddenly squatted down, placing his hand on the deck.
"Sir!"
Lucci hurried over after inspecting the crime scene and confirmed, "The method used by the culprit is quite complex. The fatal injuries on the bodies include slashes from blades, punctures from sharp objects, and even bullet wounds. It seems there might be more than one person involved."
"No, it was just one," Zero suddenly spoke, closing his eyes. His palm moved almost imperceptibly as if he could see the events of that day unfold.
"He is very strong. The ordinary guards were killed without putting up any resistance. It wasn't until the personal bodyguards intervened that he was forced into a difficult battle."
Rowen slightly frowned.
He wanted to ask, *Can you really deduce so much just from a footprint? Are you making this up?*
Of course, that wasn't the case.
Rowen knew well that this was a demonstration of extremely keen observation.
Only when one's insight reaches an inhuman level, or when one has an in-depth understanding of a particular object, can one glean the information hidden behind it.
To the average person, this deck was just a deck, but to Zero, every groove in the wood told a different story.
Just as in front of Rowen, a Thunder-Lightning Human, no electrical signals or metals could hide themselves, similarly, to Zero, these wooden boards held no secrets.
Rowen achieved these feats thanks to the inherent advantages of being a Thunder-Lightning Human, whereas Zero did it solely through the natural five senses of a human!
A man who had mastered perfect martial arts!
Being given such a title, Zero's terrifying abilities weren't limited to just combat.
"Will Tesoro be implicated?" Rowen wondered. With Bald Zero involved, could Tesoro avoid suspicion?
"But for now, there isn't enough evidence to pinpoint the real culprit."
Even acute observation has its limits. Zero opened his eyes and stood up.
"There are currently two possibilities: First, a male, around 2 to 3 meters tall, weighing about 200 kilograms, possessing some form of long-range attack."
"Second, a male of unknown height and weight, possessing a Devil Fruit ability that allows him to change his body size."
"For now... that's all I can determine."
*Clap Clap Clap!*
"Impressive!" Rowen clapped his hands. "With this clear direction, finding the suspect will undoubtedly become much easier."
Rowen was genuinely impressed.
Based solely on the battle's traces, Bald Zero had uncovered the truth and gotten incredibly close to solving the case.
A male around 2 to 3 meters tall?
Tesoro fits.
A Devil Fruit user capable of changing his body size?
Tesoro fits as well.
His Gold-Gold Fruit can form a giant made of gold, so naturally, it can do much more.
Perhaps… Rowen couldn't help but speculate.
At this moment, Tesoro might already be on the suspect list, but Zero, mindful of the Gold Emperor's influence in high society, had chosen not to mention it.
---
(End of Chapter)