Future chapters (15+) at patreon.com/FFAddict.
Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. Go look, if you wish!
Chapter 43: Eliminating All Possibilities
The next day on Badia Island, in the city hall conference room, the final investigation meeting on the attack on the Celestial Dragons officially began after a day of intelligence gathering and investigation. Everyone quietly took their seats, and the room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. The only sound was Sengoku flipping through intelligence documents. After a few minutes, he closed the document, raised his head, and looked around at everyone. "Tell me your opinions," he said, pinching his temples.
People exchanged glances, but it was Borsolino who spoke first with a smile: "I still hold the same view. Based on the surveillance video, this incident is most likely just an accident. Although the probability of a Sea King biological attack isn't high, it's not impossible either."
Sengoku rolled his eyes when he heard this, decided to ignore Borsolino's words, and turned to look at the top officer of the North Blue Marine. "Darren, what do you think?" he asked.
Darren spoke in a deep voice, "Sengoku, I agree with Rear Admiral Borsolino's perspective. There's a saying in my hometown: 'When you eliminate all impossible situations, the rest—no matter how unbelievable—is the truth.' In North Blue, there's no one strong enough to destroy the World Government's official ship in an instant. Since we have ruled out other potential characters, the only reasonable answer is indeed an attack by the Sea King creatures."
Sengoku frowned at this. Darren suddenly looked at Gion and Kaki. "Maybe Major Gion and Major Kaki have other ideas?" The question caused Gion and Kaki's hearts to skip a beat, and as they met Darren's calm gaze they felt uneasy.
"What do you two think?" Sengoku asked, turning his gaze to them.
"I…" Kaki began, but was interrupted by his own flashbacks of a little girl's father, kneeling on the ground, crying in despair. "I agree with Rear Admiral Darren," Gion interjected coldly, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Kaki turned his head, looking at Gion in astonishment, unable to respond. Sengoku noticed their unusual reaction, and although surprised, he soon understood and sighed inwardly. Watching the civilians, who should be protected, become "slaves" to the Celestial Dragons was a harsh reality for those who upheld justice. He shook his head in resignation. Was the truth really as Borsolino had said?
In his temporary office, Sengoku faced CP0, who was sitting across from him in a white silk robe, a strange mask hiding his eyes. "So, is this what you found out, Sengoku? An attack by Sea King creatures?" The tone was cold and skeptical.
Sengoku felt uncomfortable under CP0's piercing gaze and responded, "Yes." Trying to bolster his credibility, he paused before adding, "There's a saying in my hometown: 'When you eliminate all impossible situations, the rest—no matter how unbelievable—is the truth.'"
CP0 said coldly, "Sengoku, do you think adults will accept this conclusion?" Sengoku fell silent under the weight of the question. After a moment, CP0 asked, "Where is the father of the little girl? I think he needs to be interrogated. After all, he does have a motive for committing the crime."
A senseless anger surged in Sengoku's heart at these words. Clenching his teeth, he said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with that man; he's just a civilian." He had secretly visited the little girl's father, confirming his belief.
His face was thin and his eyes hollow, as if he had lost his soul, resembling a zombie. This is the expected appearance of a middle-aged man mourning his beloved daughter. What could be suspicious about that? And as for a motive—of course they had one! Shields Saint had taken his daughter. Were it not for the fact that the former were heavily protected Celestial Dragons, that man would undoubtedly have torn Shields Saint to pieces given the chance.
However, CP0 remained unmoved, stating coldly, "This incident involves the world's nobles, so we cannot be too cautious. Sengoku, don't forget this is a government order. As Marine Admiral, you should follow it without question."
"This old man is carrying out the government's order," Sengoku interrupted CP0 without ceremony. Leaning forward with both hands on the desk, he stood up from his seat, radiating a commanding presence. Looking down at CP0, he spoke in a firm and raspy voice, "According to your logic, everyone on Bhatia Island has a motive for crime. Should we arrest the entire island's population and torture confessions out of them?"
"If necessary," CP0 replied coldly.
Sengoku, looking at CP0, suddenly let out a smile tinged with absurdity. "I'm sorry, I can't do that. The Sea Kings' attack... that is the conclusion of my investigation. The man who lost his daughter is simply grieving."
"Report to the Five Elders."
CP0 fell silent for a moment before responding, "Understood."
At the Holy Land Mariejois, within the small western building that serves as the World Government headquarters, the air was thick with tension. The Five Elders stood or sat with stern expressions as the tea boiled beside them.
"My lords, Sengoku has provided his answer," CP0's hoarse voice spoke through the military phone bug.
"We understand. Continue to await further news," replied the blond of the Five Elders.
"Yes, my lord." The communication then ended.
"How ridiculous," Damocles sneered suddenly.
"It's not entirely impossible," the blond of the Five Elders countered unexpectedly.
"Of course, this old man realizes there's a possibility, but the Shields Saint family won't accept this outcome," Saint Damocles remarked, shaking his head. The others fell silent.
While the Five Elders stood for the noble Celestial Dragons' interests, they were more concerned about appeasing the Celestial Dragons' families in the Holy Land than about the privileged ones who lived idly. Although Shields Saint was considered useless, his family held significant influence in Mariejois. In essence, the search for truth was about providing them an explanation.
"Perhaps we should widen the investigation," Saint Damocles suddenly suggested, causing the others to frown.
Saint Damocles' old eyes glinted with intensity. "I've learned from the countless wars I've been through that there are no 'accidents' in this world."
The other elders raised their eyebrows in question.
Saint Damocles let out a sneer. "Sengoku's findings may seem absurd, but he did say something that makes sense: 'When you eliminate the impossible, what remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.' If we've ruled out pirates and civilians, only one possibility remains."
The other Four Elders looked startled.
"Could it be..."
"Yes, it's just a suspicion, of course," Saint Damocles said, narrowing his eyes.
"The person responsible could be...?" he uttered a word that made the rest of the Five Elders turn slightly pale.
"... A Marine?"