The room was thick with tension as the dark horse—the rising star of the Naval Headquarters' Criminal Investigation Bureau—stood with a stern expression.
"We're investigating possible malfeasance," he said flatly.
Faces turned grim.
How had it come to this?
To question their own comrades, veterans of countless battles...
It felt less like an inquiry and more like interrogating criminals.
Commander-in-Chief Kong looked the most stricken.
These weren't just officers—they were his trusted generals, the symbol of Marine strength, and pillars of justice across the seas.
To even suggest betrayal or cowardice was nearly unbearable.
"Speak."
Sengoku's voice was heavy, low.
"We made a mistake on August 13. That much is true."
The dark horse clarified: "This isn't about assigning guilt outright. It's an incident-specific investigation. But we have credible testimony…"
He looked around the room and continued, unwavering:
"We acknowledge your injuries—Zephyr's lost arm, Garp's wounds. We know you fought hard."
"But there's an accusation… that you didn't fight to the end."
"That in the final moment, the Op-Op Fruit was… willingly handed over to Ayr."
"What?!"
A shockwave of disbelief surged through the conference room.
Eyes snapped to the dark horse in outrage.
"Are you insane?!"
Kong slammed his fist on the table and stood up, fury blazing in his eyes.
"These men nearly died in battle—and you dare accuse them of surrender?!"
The air ignited with hostility.
Even the usually nonchalant Kizaru had narrowed his eyes, while Akainu and Aokiji both had visible veins bulging with restrained fury.
These Admirals had personal ties to the men under fire—they had fought beside Zephyr, been mentored by Garp, and respected Sengoku all their lives.
"Dark horse, you'd better have hard evidence. Don't spit slander in this room!"
Akainu glared coldly, his clenched fists trembling with heat.
"Yeah! Evidence, or shut it!"
Other voices joined in, even from junior Vice-Admirals present in the chamber.
"Forget it…"
Sengoku rose quietly, his eyes dark with weight.
"What he said… is true."
"...Sengoku?"
The room fell still, stunned by the confession.
Disbelief rippled across the ranks. This was Sengoku the Buddha, the embodiment of discipline and unwavering justice.
He—of all people—would never hand over the Op-Op Fruit to a criminal like Ayr.
"Why…?"
The question hung in the air.
Akainu opened his mouth, ready to speak, but Kong's voice thundered before he could.
"SILENCE!"
The Supreme Commander turned to Sengoku, his expression grave.
"Explain it. From start to finish. I need to hear the truth—from your mouth."
He trusted Sengoku.
But such a matter demanded clarity, not sentiment.
Sengoku inhaled deeply.
Then, with the calm of a man facing judgment, he recounted everything:
The battle. The impossible pressure. The unrelenting might of Ayr, whose strength had soared to a level none of them had anticipated.
As the tale unfolded, a quiet dread seeped into the room.
"Ayr… how could he be this powerful?"
Kong muttered, unable to believe it.
"Stronger than the incident at Mariejois..."
But this wasn't a small difference.
It wasn't a leap in power.
It was a transcendence—a total shift in combat class.
Ayr had evolved.
He was no longer merely a threat—he had become a calamity.
Even the hardened veterans felt a chill.
"What happened after?"
The dark horse asked.
His job was to uncover the aftermath, not simply relive the battle.
Sengoku's voice was steady.
"What came next was my decision alone. The others… they followed my orders."
That single sentence froze the room.
Crane, who had remained silent until now, suddenly looked up in shock.
"Sengoku…"
Across the table, Zephyr extended a hand, lightly tugging her sleeve.
He shook his head.
Crane immediately understood.
Sengoku was taking the fall—absorbing all responsibility to protect them.
If she spoke now, it would render Sengoku's sacrifice meaningless.
So she held her tongue.
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