Chapter 79: A Clash of Wills
The rhythmic, thunderous sound of marching boots echoed through Grove 15, shattering the tense silence. Before Saint Charlos could pull the trigger, the source of the noise revealed itself: rows of Marines in crisp blue-and-white uniforms, moving with disciplined precision. They swiftly formed a human wall, separating the kneeling civilians from the Celestial Dragon's procession.
The sudden arrival of naval forces cast a new tension over the scene. The sun glinted off their uniform buttons, a stark contrast to the fear that had gripped the street moments before.
"Eh? Navy?" Saint Charlos's face twisted in confusion and irritation, his brows knitting together beneath his bubble helmet. "How dare these damn guys run around in front of me?"
The CP0 bodyguards immediately closed ranks around their master, weapons at the ready. The lead bodyguard, his composure cracked, glared at the naval formation. "What are you doing, you idiots?" he shouted, his voice sharp with authority. "Don't you know that Saint Charlos is here? How dare you move so recklessly? Who gave you the power?"
On any ordinary day, naval officers would show the utmost deference to a Celestial Dragon. The sheer audacity of this display was unprecedented.
"I gave you the power!" a voice, calm yet carrying immense authority, rang out from the end of the street. "Any questions?"
Major General Jock Ian stepped into view, his navy coat draped over his shoulders. His expression was unreadable, his gaze steady. Behind him, his four core cadres—Peacock, T-Bone, Skylark, and Nami—stood firm, their own resolve mirroring his.
"It's Major General Ian! The island's patron saint, Lord Sea King Jock Ian!" whispers rippled through the crowd of civilians, a wave of hope washing over their frightened faces. On this island, Ian's presence had become synonymous with security.
"Who is he?" Saint Charlos pointed a stubby finger at Ian, his annoyance growing. "Why does he look so irritating?"
"Saint Charlos," the CP0 captain replied, his voice low, "he is a Rear Admiral. The new rising star of the Marine Headquarters, the 'Sea King'... Jock Ian. He is also the current base commander of this island."
"That's Jock Ian?" Saint Charlos mumbled, his petulance rising. "What is he doing here? It's so annoying! You don't respect us, the descendants of the Creator... Even if it's the Navy..." He put away his ornate pistol and retrieved a larger, more formidable-looking musket, aiming it vaguely in Ian's direction as he approached. "No one will blame me for shooting him, right?"
Ian heard the muttered threat clearly. The disdain these "gods" held for the very forces that protected them was palpable. Anyone who points a weapon at me... he thought coldly, has signed their own death warrant.
"Saint Charlos," Ian announced, his voice formal and projecting across the square. "I am Jock Ian, commander of the Sabaody Archipelago Naval Base. We have just received intelligence that pirates from the New World have infiltrated the civilian population. They are plotting to assassinate a descendant of the great Creator. The audacity is unprecedented. I have come here with my men specifically to personally ensure your safety, Saint Charlos."
He had crafted his excuse before even arriving. To deal with the Celestial Dragons, one needed the right methods and precise technique.
"Eh? Protect me?" Saint Charlos blinked, his limited intellect struggling to process this. "Pirates from the New World want to assassinate me? How could there be such a stupid pirate? Aren't they afraid of death?" He looked to the CP0 captain for confirmation.
The CP0 captain adjusted his glasses, his gaze suspicious. "Major General Jock Ian, where did you obtain this intelligence? Why has our CP0 agency received no such report? How can you prove what you say is true? This island is frequently visited by Celestial Dragons; there has never been an assassination attempt. I must insist you withdraw your forces immediately. Otherwise, I will be forced to file a report with Marine Headquarters stating that you led your men to disobey protocol and disrupt Saint Charlos's procession!"
Riding on the coattails of his master's authority, the CP0 captain was arrogant, not deigning to take the base commander seriously. His words were designed solely to curry favor with Saint Charlos.
Crack!
In the next second, the sharp sound of a slap echoed through the grove. Ian's hand moved faster than the eye could follow, striking the CP0 captain squarely across the face. The force wasn't full strength, but it was enough to send the man stumbling back several meters, landing hard on the ground.
Saint Charlos and the other CP0 agents stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded.
Before Saint Charlos could muster his fury, Ian spoke first, his voice booming with righteous indignation. "You bastard! What are your intentions? I have just informed you that someone intends to assassinate our great descendant of the Creator, and your response is to order our retreat? Is the very existence of our Marines not to protect the Celestial Dragons? If we withdraw and an incident occurs, can you bear that responsibility? Are you worthy of the trust Saint Charlos has placed in you?"
His words were fierce, his momentum overwhelming. Behind him, his four subordinates struggled to suppress their laughter. The first rule of an argument, Ian demonstrated, is to be louder and more righteous than your opponent.
Saint Charlos felt his head spin. "Uh..." Something felt wrong, but he couldn't pinpoint what. Was Jock Ian... really here to protect him?
The CP0 captain, clutching his reddened cheek, scrambled back to his feet. "Hiss... you! How dare you—!"
"What do you mean, 'you'?" Ian cut him off, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Let me ask you directly: are you in league with the pirates? Do you seek the death of our Saint Charlos?"
The second essential in an argument: seize your opponent's weakness and throw the accusation right back at them.
The color drained from the CP0 captain's face. He was acutely aware of Saint Charlos's intellectual limitations. If he didn't defend himself immediately, even the most absurd lie could be taken as truth. The Celestial Dragons didn't conduct investigations; they simply eliminated anyone who aroused suspicion.
"He is slandering me! He is slandering me, Saint Charlos!" the captain cried out, crawling on his knees toward his master, all pretenses of dignity gone.
In the crowd, amidst the kneeling civilians, Doc Q leaned weakly against his horse and whispered to his captain, "Captain... this Jock Ian... the pirates he's talking about... it couldn't be us, could it?"