Chapter 279: Emporio Ivankov
What truly frightened the Marines was not what had happened to the tavern owner.
It was the appearance of the black-clad men who represented the authority of the Celestial Dragons.
Did that mean that if they continued lingering here and causing trouble, they might provoke the Celestial Dragons themselves?
None of them believed they would survive such an outcome.
The Celestial Dragons were lunatics who acted without considering the consequences. Even if their target was a Marine, they might pull out a gun and shoot without hesitation.
That was the image most ordinary Marines had of them.
Although the Marines did not understand why the tavern owner's smile had vanished, there was no doubt that everything had changed after Axel spoke.
Because of that, they felt somewhat grateful to him.
Just as they were about to thank him, a sharp and oppressive gaze swept across them.
"I said you could patrol freely."
Axel's voice was calm.
"I never said you could abandon your posts and go drinking in a tavern."
The pressure behind his gaze struck them like a dragon staring down at prey.
For the first time, the Marines truly felt the authority of the young Rear Admiral.
The air seemed to thicken around them, making it difficult to breathe. An invisible boundary between life and death appeared beneath their feet, and for one terrifying instant, they felt that they might never draw another breath.
Then the sensation disappeared.
It left as abruptly as it had arrived.
The crushing pressure vanished, leaving the Marines wondering whether they had imagined the entire thing.
"Well, I'm going back to sleep too," Axel said.
"Theoretically, if the superior refuses to follow the rules, there is no reason to be overly harsh with the subordinates."
The Marines stood frozen in place, unsure how to respond.
Were they fortunate or unfortunate?
Fortunately, Axel seemed willing to let the matter pass.
Unfortunately, could a superior like this truly be trusted?
Axel continued, "Did you find anything related to the task I assigned you?"
"You mean the strange-looking man with fluffy hair, makeup on his face, bizarre clothing, and an appearance that makes people uncomfortable at first glance?"
One of the Marines hesitated.
"An okama?"
They had admittedly neglected their duties and had not searched very carefully.
But surely someone that conspicuous would be discovered even without a proper investigation.
Did such a person truly exist?
"Rear Admiral Axel, we've already been here for half a month," another Marine said carefully. "If someone like that were really in town, the residents wouldn't still be this quiet. So perhaps..."
He stopped before finishing.
Perhaps you were mistaken.
The Marine swallowed those words after remembering the pressure Axel had released moments ago.
Axel showed no reaction to the doubt.
"Is that so?"
There was no uncertainty in his voice.
His memories clearly told him that such a person existed.
Therefore, the Marines' conclusion had to be wrong.
"I believe Emporio Ivankov truly exists."
The only uncertainty was whether Ivankov would come here.
Axel trusted his own analysis far more than the speculation of others.
Ivankov would appear.
As the final traces of his words faded, a figure stepped into view.
It was almost as though the person had appeared merely to prove him right.
The Okama King, Emporio Ivankov.
"Girls, were you looking for me?"
Although Ivankov had mistaken his gender, Axel did not bother correcting him.
It was irrelevant.
He looked calmly at the newcomer.
"You came."
The Marines turned toward Ivankov.
The person before them matched Axel's description almost perfectly.
There really was someone like that.
"Of course I came."
Ivankov studied Axel with obvious interest, though there was a deeper meaning behind his gaze.
"I was very curious about the person searching for me."
It was this harmless-looking child who had deciphered the Revolutionary Army's code and inserted a message into their communications.
[I know that you, Emporio Ivankov, belong to the Revolutionary Army.]
[Bartholomew Kuma, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, is also a member of the Revolutionary Army.]
[If you want that information to remain secret, have Ivankov come and meet me.]
Those few sentences had alarmed the Revolutionary Army enough that they could not ignore them.
Ivankov had no choice but to come.
His own identity was not especially important. At worst, he would be forced to abandon his public activities and operate entirely from the shadows.
Kuma was different.
He was an important figure planted by the Revolutionary Army.
If his allegiance were exposed now, their entire plan would be ruined.
More importantly, no one knew what else Axel might know.
The Revolutionary Army's headquarters.
Its strategies.
The identities of its officers.
Any of that information falling into the wrong hands could be disastrous.
For those reasons, Ivankov had to meet him in person.
"I have no interest," Axel said.
Ivankov did not believe him.
He refused to believe that the arrangements had truly been made by the child standing before him.
Nor did he believe that Axel had no interest in the Revolutionary Army.
If that were true, why would he go through so much effort to summon Ivankov?
What Ivankov did not know was that Axel was telling the truth.
Without his emotions, Axel could have a reason for acting without feeling any interest in what he was doing.
"Can you tell me your reason now?" Ivankov asked.
"Talking to a cutie like you is certainly enjoyable, but I have other important matters to deal with."
Ivankov did not elaborate.
He still had reservations about Axel and about the unknown source that had somehow uncovered the Revolutionary Army's secrets.
Axel turned toward the Marines.
"You can leave."
Although they were curious, none of the Marines objected.
They had endured enough stress for one day, and being allowed to leave was a relief.
They wanted to know who Ivankov was, but they also understood that some matters were better left unexplored.
Especially after witnessing Axel's terrifying presence.
The pressure he had displayed was far more memorable than the physical strength they had seen from him before.
It made the difference between them painfully clear.
They had felt like field mice staring up at a dragon at the top of the food chain.
They did not understand why such a creature would bother looking at them.
They only knew that the feeling was far more terrifying than facing an ordinary predator.
Once the Marines had left, Ivankov spoke again.
"Now then, girl, can you finally tell me what this is about?"
His tone sharpened slightly.
"Otherwise, I'm afraid I may have to act, even if I would rather not hurt someone as cute as you."
.....
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