Chapter 100: The Parent-Teacher Conference
Ian tried to probe the mysterious black zone from every conceivable angle, but it was futile. Like the energy surrounding Imu, the space was a sealed vault, impervious to any form of sensory intrusion. It seemed the only way to uncover its secrets was to find an opportunity to see it in person.
…
After a half-hour wait in the opulent conference room, all participants of the "inquiry meeting" had finally assembled.
Celestial Dragon Faction: The Five Elders, Figarland Garling.
Naval Jury: Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Chief of Staff Tsuru, Admiral Aokiji, and a single, active Den Den Mushi.
The Accused: Jock Ian and his four cadres.
Ian had learned that the CP0 agents present at the incident had been thrown directly into prison, awaiting execution. Their fate was sealed, regardless of the meeting's outcome.
Before the proceedings began, Ian quietly asked Garp about the Den Den Mushi. Was someone really attending such a confidential internal meeting remotely? Was the World Government that advanced?
Garp explained it was Admiral Akainu, currently deployed in the New World. Upon hearing of the incident, he had insisted on participating. Surprisingly, the typically cautious Five Elders had granted his request.
Surveying the "jury," Ian felt no panic. He began mentally preparing his defense. Why should he be nervous? The naval leadership consisted of his mentor, his senior brother, and Peacock's grandmother. It was essentially a parent-teacher meeting. What was there to fear?
Ian recounted the events clearly and methodically. He described receiving a report of a ship hijacking at the port, suspecting New World pirates. He detailed his encounter with Saint Charlos, his successful persuasion for the Celestial Dragon to leave, and his subsequent pursuit of Blackbeard Teach. He explained how Saint Charlos had foolishly returned to the active combat zone against advice, where he was subsequently killed by the fleeing Teach, who was then eliminated by Ian.
The narrative was complete. Ian's team bore no responsibility. They had acted outside their jurisdiction to offer protection and had given well-intentioned warnings. What more could they have done? Become his personal bodyguards?
Ian embellished his subordinates' fierce battle with the Blackbeard Pirates, painting a picture of a brave Marine force fearlessly eradicating pirates.
After his report, the details were cross-referenced with the latest interrogations of the CP0 agents and the on-site investigation reports sent by other CP departments. All three sources aligned perfectly with Ian's account.
Of course they did, Ian thought. He had listened in on the CP0 interrogations himself. He had been the first to hear the field agent's report transmitted to Mary Geoise. How could there be any discrepancies?
With the first phase complete, Saint Saturn of the Five Elders was the first to speak. "Jock Ian, based on the investigative results and your report, your account of Saint Charlos's murder is largely truthful. The Navy's responsibility is minimal. However..." His gaze sharpened. "The matter of your initiating an attack against Commander Garling remains. This is your most significant transgression in this entire incident. You—"
Garling sat beside the table, his arrogant demeanor radiating a sense of invulnerability. He had known this would come up.
"Elder Saint Saturn!" Ian interrupted, stepping forward towards the Naval jury. "The reason I took action is due to my Observation Haki. It allows me to perceive the future." He infused his voice with gravity. "I saw a scene in my mind. My cadres... Colonel Peacock, her arm shattered. Colonel T-Bone, slashed open, his life hanging by a thread! Commander Skylark, crushed by the pressure! Sergeant Nami, dying tragically in the rubble! Over a hundred Marines under my command... slaughtered! All of them!" He pointed a steady finger at Garling. "And it was all the work of Commander Garling! Such... masterful application of Conqueror's Haki."
He paused, letting the image sink in. "Regarding this ability to perceive the future, I imagine your next words, Lord Saturn, are: 'As a Rear Admiral, you have no authority or right to attack a Commander of the God's Knights.' Am I correct?" Ian's voice rose, filled with righteous conviction. "Elder Saint Saturn, tell me... as their commanding officer, why did I not have the right to act?"
He had laid out his defense masterfully, leveraging the unpredictable nature of Observation Haki premonitions. Since the foreseen event hadn't actually occurred, he held the narrative power.
Saint Saturn: "..."
Figarland Garling: "..."
Silence fell over the Celestial Dragon faction. Saint Saturn, in particular, was stunned. Ian had recited his intended rebuttal verbatim. It demonstrated the terrifying potential of advanced Observation Haki, making it impossible to dismiss Ian's claim as a fabrication.
The crucial point was, Ian's words had an immediate and visceral effect on the Naval jury.
Behind the long conference table, the reactions were instantaneous.
Peacock: "!!!"
T-Bone: "!!!"
Skylark: "!!!"
Nami: "!!!"
The four cadres were stunned. In that moment, they understood. Why had their Major General Ian rushed in and attacked a World Government official without hesitation? It was all to protect them! The feeling of being shielded so fiercely, combined with their rising fury at Garling's callous disregard for their lives, set their nerves on fire.
They had served on Sabaody long enough to know the true value of their work and Ian's leadership. Yet, in the eyes of the Celestial Dragons, it all meant nothing compared to the tangential responsibility for the death of a lecherous waste of a man. No trial. Immediate execution.
Slam!
Sengoku slammed his hand on the table, standing up so forcefully the documents under his right hand crumpled. "Garling!" his voice boomed through the chamber. "What do you take the officers and Marines of my Headquarters for? This is a farce! If Ian had failed to stop you, how exactly did you intend to explain yourself to me and the entire Marine Headquarters?"
The Warring States Period, often perceived as diplomatic and sometimes yielding, now showed a spine of steel. His first demand was for Garling to account for his actions. He didn't doubt Ian's words for a second. The subtle, unspoken confirmation in the expressions of Garling and Saturn was all the proof he needed.
As the Commander of the God's Knights, basking in glory and power, Garling considered lying beneath him. It had been a long time since he had last personally acted on the Knights' behalf. He never expected that a simple, routine display of authority would be met with such fierce resistance. In his mind, the Marine Headquarters was still the "obedient branch," a department that followed orders without question. Today, that illusion was shattered.
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