On the deck, A-Yang and the little brown bear's "Battle for Honey" had reached a fever pitch. Joy Boy's cheers and Ritter's ongoing "coaching from the sidelines" kept the atmosphere lively and loud.
But the noise didn't last.
Near the bridge, Gales, who had been handling military matters, suddenly grew serious.
A special Den Den Mushi in his hand began to ring.
Blu blu.
This was a highest-priority encrypted call from Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Gales' expression sharpened instantly.
His gaze swept across the deck, lingering briefly on Ritter and Joy Boy. Then, without hesitation, he turned and strode toward a soundproof communications room deep within the warship. He stepped inside and locked the door behind him.
It was the first time he had so deliberately shut everyone out, even his own adjutant.
Inside the room, Gales took a slow breath and answered the call.
The Den Den Mushi mimicked Sengoku's face, but what came through made Gales' frown deepen.
"…Gales, this situation is more complicated than we thought. The Marine officer involved has extensive ties to certain individuals among the World Nobles. This parasite is far more entrenched than expected."
Sengoku's voice carried both frustration and restraint.
"My advice is to continue the investigation, but stop at the right point. Give the civilians an acceptable resolution. Don't dig too deep. It could bring unnecessary trouble. This is for your sake, and for the stability of the Marines. We still have external enemies to deal with…"
Silence filled the room.
Gales' grip tightened around the receiver until his knuckles turned white. He closed his eyes.
Buffon's stubborn, hate-filled gaze flashed in his mind. The bloodstained shoulder insignia. The villagers' desperate cries.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes again.
There was no hesitation left. Only resolve.
His voice was low, steady, and unmistakably firm.
"Fleet Admiral. If what the Marines call 'justice' means bowing to privilege… ignoring the blood of the innocent… covering up crimes under the excuse of 'knowing when to stop'…"
He paused.
"Then I don't need this Admiral position."
The response came immediately, sharp and explosive.
"Gales, you think you're the only one who's angry?"
Sengoku's voice surged, no longer restrained. It was raw, filled with suppressed rage and something deeper.
"You think I don't know what's going on? I know far more than you do! The filth, the deals, the civilians turned into bargaining chips!"
His voice cracked with emotion.
"I wasn't supposed to tell you this. But now you're talking about walking away?"
Gales froze, caught off guard by the outburst.
"Yes, justice requires sacrifice! But it should not be built on the suffering of innocents! And yet that's the reality we're facing!"
"We're not just dealing with a few corrupt officers. We're fighting an entire twisted system. We're pushing against the hidden rules of the World Government itself!"
"We need strength. We need authority. We need people like you in positions that matter!"
"And you want to throw it all away because of impulse? Hand your position to someone who'll gladly wag their tail at the nobles?"
"Tell me, Gales! If you quit, what does your sense of justice accomplish? Become a pirate like those two outside? Yes, they're strong. Yes, they're free. But can they fix the system? Can they protect everyone who needs protecting?"
"No!"
Outside the room, the deck had grown quieter.
At some point, Ritter had stopped talking.
He leaned lazily against the railing, red eyes slightly narrowed, fixed on the closed door of the communications room. A faint smile curved his lips.
"A fully soundproof Den Den Mushi, huh…"
He murmured softly.
"Even an invisible plane isn't truly gone. And we're on the same ship. This close…"
His blood mist spread silently, perception extending like an unseen web.
"You're not giving me much respect, are you, buddy."
There was a hint of amusement in his tone.
"You really think a door and some soundproofing can keep me out?"
For someone at his level, especially one so sensitive to energy and life force, "absolute silence" was never truly absolute.
And Gales' emotions inside, anger, frustration, resolve, were practically shouting.
Come listen.
Ritter chuckled under his breath.
"Not bad. Walking away from the title of Admiral…"
There was a flicker of something different in his eyes. Interest. Maybe even a trace of approval.
"Heh. Internal strife, external threats… that's always the hardest part for someone carrying responsibility."
He glanced at A-Yang, still struggling against the bear cub, then at Buffon calming the beasts nearby.
Finally, his gaze returned to the closed door.
"Looks like this ride is going to be more interesting than I thought…"
He tilted his head slightly, smile widening.
"Or maybe… it's about time to get off."
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