One Piece: So What If I Sin, Lie, and Lust? I'm Still a Good Marine Chapter 45: Gotta Pay More

North Blue, Batia Island.

A private estate.

"This way, please. Captain Daren is waiting for you in the parlor."

Momonga looked at the CP0 agent who had co to the door and gestured politely.

The estate was massive, spanning over 2,000 square ters, with rock gardens, landscaped courtyards, fountains, and even a training ground—fully equipped with all manner of facilities.

As he led the CP0 agent through the lush garden, cold sweat began to seep into the palms beneath his leather gloves.

CP0 had co personally, asking to et Daren by na... Had the governnt sensed sothing?

Momonga forced himself to stay calm, instinctively quickening his pace until they reached the parlor doors.

"Captain Daren."

He raised his hand in salute.

Inside, Daren sat with his legs crossed, leisurely smoking a cigar. Smiling, he stood and walked over warmly.

"A guest of your stature—I apologize for not greeting you at the door."

The eerie mask hid the CP0 agent's expression, but a cold, emotionless voice ca from beneath it.

"Captain Daren, I co on behalf of one of the highest authorities in the World Governnt... Lord Topman Warcury."

"Oh?" Daren raised an eyebrow, motioned for the agent to sit, then walked over to the bar and poured two glasses of whiskey, dropping a few ice cubes in each.

He'd heard of the man.

A newly appointed mber of the Five Elders from a minor Celestial Dragon family, who had managed—through sheer strength and cunning—to secure the majority vote in the Holy Land's council. In one stroke, he rose to the top ranks of the World Governnt.

It was, no doubt, a story worth telling.

Still, that na... it carried a certain unease.

It was said to symbolize imnse power—yet it was unstable, easily seized by others.

In other words, a lingering fear of catastrophe.

"I wonder what orders Lord Topman Warcury has for ?"

Daren handed a glass of whiskey to CP0, then sat down and casually took a sip.

CP0 didn't touch the drink. He simply set the glass down and glanced expressionlessly at Momonga.

Momonga gave another salute, turned, and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

Only then did CP0 retrieve a top-secret military Den Den Mushi from his coat and place it on the polished table, dialing a signal.

"Blub blub..."

The Den Den Mushi let out a steady ring.

Daren narrowed his eyes at the sight.

To require a direct call with the Five Elders... just how classified was this?

If he weren't absolutely sure he hadn't left behind any evidence or traces, he'd be thinking the governnt was preparing to take him out.

The call connected.

Shff—

A projection bead out from the Den Den Mushi.

Inside a refined yet imposing western-style room, five elderly figures stood or sat, their eyes filled with a strange gleam as they studied the Marine Captain.

Upon seeing this, Daren imdiately set down his glass with respectful caution, stood up, and gave a slight bow.

"Rogers Daren, Captain of Marine Headquarters and Admiral of the North Blue, greets the Five Elders."

The Five Elders sneered in unison at his display.

"Enough with the theatrics."

"We all know exactly what kind of man you are."

"The infamous 'scum' of the Marines..."

...

Daren smiled faintly.

"You flatter , my lords."

The Five Elders: ...

Daren chuckled.

"So, may I ask what business requires the Five Elders to contact a subordinate directly?"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is also on Batia Island. You could've reached out to him anyti..."

"No need," Topman Warcury interrupted with a wave of his hand. "This matter is not for Sengoku to know."

His gaze sharpened as he looked directly at Daren.

"Regarding the recent attack on the Celestial Dragons in the North Blue, we hold a different view."

Daren frowned, cautiously probing.

"What exactly do you an, my lord?"

Topman Warcury let out a cold snort.

"We're ordering you to begin a covert investigation—look into the movent of Marine warships at the ti of the incident, and all personnel with flight or flight-like abilities."

"You're the highest-ranking officer in the North Blue. This shouldn't be difficult for you."

Daren's eyes widened in shock.

"You suspect... what exactly?"

Topman Warcury replied indifferently.

"You know very well what we suspect. If you want to remain Admiral of the North Blue, then follow orders."

Daren's face darkened.

"You want to investigate my fellow officers!?"

"I'm a Marine. You're asking to investigate my own comrades!?"

"You want to betray the trust of those who serve alongside !?"

The Five Elders all furrowed their brows.

"So, are you saying you intend to defy the orders of the governnt?"

Daren took a deep breath and replied in a low, steady voice.

"No. What I'm saying is..."

He clenched his fists and spoke with force.

"The rank of Captain is too low."

The Five Elders stared in stunned disbelief, as though they'd just heard sothing utterly absurd.

This brat... was he seriously asking for a promotion? In front of them?

A re Marine Captain, demanding authority from the Five Elders—the highest echelon of the World Governnt?

"Hahahaha!"

Topman Warcury suddenly burst out laughing, his eyes gleaming with approval as he looked at Daren.

"Very good. I knew I wasn't wrong about you."

To the World Governnt, the Marines are their face—the dogs of the Celestial Dragons.

And the more ambitious and greedy the dog, the easier it is to control.

What truly troubled the Five Elders were the stubborn ones loyal to their own ideals—immune to pressure and bribery.

"Do your job well, Daren."

"With your talent, staying a re Captain really would be a waste."

Topman Warcury gave Daren a aningful look before cutting off the Den Den Mushi call.

The image faded out.

The CP0agent silently packed away the Den Den Mushi and stood up.

"Not staying for a drink?"

Daren grinned.

"After all, we'll be working together under the sa lords from now on."

The CP0 hesitated, took a sip from the glass, then vanished on the spot—his figure flickering away like a ghost.

Once CP0 was gone, Daren's smile slowly faded.

A faint arc of purplish-blue electricity sparked between his fingers. An invisible magnetic pulse rippled outward.

Hmm. No sign of CP0's life signature.

Satisfied, he tapped the table lightly.

Momonga stepped in briskly from outside.

"What happened?"

Lighting a cigar, Daren spoke calmly.

"The World Governnt's starting to suspect that the Marines might've been involved in the Celestial Dragon incident."

"One of the Five Elders contacted directly. It's that new one—Topman Warcury."

Momonga's pupils shrank.

Topman Warcury, the newest of the Five Elders, known for his intellect.

At his recent inauguration, the master of ceremonies had read out the aning behind the na given to him by his father:

"A symbol of the supre blade of judgnt, suspended above the world, commanding all to submit—representing the ultimate divine authority over power and privilege!"

"Could they really have uncovered sothing—"

Daren cut him off with a smile and a shake of his head.

"No need to panic. They're only suspicious for now."

"They've ordered to begin a secret investigation targeting all Marines."

"This is bad... damn it!"

Momonga swore instinctively, then paused, realizing sothing was off.

"Wait!!"

He stared at the smiling Daren in disbelief.

"You an... they told you to investigate!?"

Daren exhaled a stream of smoke like a dragon and grinned broadly.

"That's right. They asked to investigate."

He heavily emphasized "."

"A truly wise decision."

Daren winked.

"After all, a notorious, shaless, bootlicking, power-worshipping Marine 'scum' like would never dare attack the Celestial Dragons, right?"

Momonga's face flushed crimson, his expression twisted into sothing hard to describe.

What was this supposed to be?

Did he just... eliminate the real culprit by default?

(40 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake