Chapter 186: A Strange Competition
Water 7 had always been lively.
Its residents were warm, loud, and never short of something to talk about. Now, with the city already bustling from morning to night, a fresh piece of gossip had thrown another splash of oil onto the fire.
The Marines from Enies Lobby and the Marines from San Faldo were going to hold a competition here.
"Have you heard? The San Faldo are going to compete against the Marines from Enies Lobby."
"San Faldo? Isn't that the nearby island? They have Marines?"
"They do. They're just not famous. Compared with Enies Lobby, there's no contest. I'd bet on Enies Lobby."
"That's not guaranteed. I heard the two sides held a drill a few days ago, and somehow the unknown San Faldo troops won."
"Huh? Where did you hear that?"
"I went to San Faldo to buy iron materials. The islanders said the fighting that day was fierce. They could hear whistling sounds from far away. Afterward, there were victory cheers coming from the Marine base."
"Even the obscure San Faldo Marines won? No wonder there are so many pirates lately."
"Then what exactly are they competing in this time?"
"You must be joking. I'm not a Marine. How would I know?"
Only two days had passed since the meeting, but the news had already spread through Water 7. By now, almost everyone in the city knew something was happening.
And while the people were still discussing it with great enthusiasm, the competition itself had already begun quietly.
...
Location: Water 7.
Rules: both sides would hide an item somewhere in Water 7 and provide clues. The side that found the other's hidden item first would win. Afterward, the clues would be verified. If the item could not be located using the clues alone, then the side that created those clues would lose.
It was a search competition.
Neither side had expected that.
This was not a straightforward contest of strength. It was a contest of observation, deduction, and patience. There were possible loopholes, of course. For instance, one side could make the clues so simple that they practically handed victory to the opponent.
But no one objected.
If you set a foolish question and someone solved it, could you really blame anyone else?
Besides, searching was an essential skill for Marines. The sea held countless islands, and every island had its own terrain, weather, and hazards. If pirates fled into such an environment during a pursuit, good search skills could determine whether Marine soldiers survived and whether the enemy was captured.
More importantly, as long as the location was not Enies Lobby, the other side had been willing to accept nearly any condition.
As for Water 7, all they had to do was notify the mayor in advance. With the authority of the Marines and the World Government, that was more than enough to move freely through the city.
Still, in order not to disturb the public, all participating soldiers were required to wear civilian clothes. Each side was limited to ten participants.
At that moment, a group of Enies Lobby Marines disguised as civilians were standing in Water 7, staring at the clue in their hands as if it had personally insulted their ancestors.
[Hidden beneath the haze, in a place where you cannot see your hand in front of your face.
Appearing and vanishing between the ebb and flow of the tides.
A shape as brilliant as a meteor, yet also a common object.
Everything will have an answer when Aqua Laguna appears.]
The group fell into silence.
What were they supposed to do with this?
Every Enies Lobby Marine, including the ones experienced in investigation, felt a giant question mark hovering over their heads.
They could not even tell whether the clue referred to an object, a person, or a place.
What did it mean?
It did not specify a target. It did not specify a direction. It gave only vague hints: something hidden in shadow, related to the sea, common yet meteor-like, and connected to Aqua Laguna.
That narrowed it down to... practically everything and nothing.
"If not for the rule that the clue must be solvable, I'd think this was nonsense," one Marine muttered.
"I believe the item exists," Captain T-Bone said solemnly. "A man capable of producing such sword energy would not be a cowardly villain. He must be someone who acts uprightly."
Although T-Bone was dressed in civilian clothes, his gaunt, corpse-like face was far too conspicuous. As he walked through the streets, he drew more than a few uneasy glances. If he had not usually avoided appearing before the public, someone might have recognized him already.
Among the ten members in the group, nine were Enies Lobby Marines.
The final participant was an exception.
Spandam.
Why?
Why do I have to come here too?
Spandam screamed inwardly, but he had no choice.
It was an order from the World Government, and he had to obey. When Axel proposed this strange competition with Enies Lobby, the World Government had immediately reacted. Spandam had been ordered to monitor every movement and report back at any time.
Because of that, he had no choice but to follow the Marines to Water 7.
Hearing Captain T-Bone praise Axel so openly, Spandam immediately felt displeased.
"That brat? Upright?" Spandam looked genuinely astonished, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "You must be kidding."
Normally, he would have already been furious. But today, his anger was wrapped in resentment instead.
He thought back to every time Axel had ruined his plans, schemed against him, and made him suffer one loss after another.
"It would be wonderful if he were upright. If he were, I wouldn't have had so many plans ruined by him. That kid is treacherous. Cunning!"
If Axel were truly someone honest and straightforward, Spandam would not have suffered so many setbacks. He would have already boarded the express ship of promotion and risen step by step.
Unfortunately, that brat was a villain just like him.
No.
A worse villain.
One who calculated every scheme in advance.
That was Spandam's deepest impression of Axel: treacherous, cunning, and hidden far too deeply. Otherwise, his plans would not have failed again and again. Only after listening to his subordinates analyze the matter and looking back at everything that had happened did Spandam realize he had been played at nearly every turn.
It was also precisely because the World Government recognized that Axel was not simple that they had ordered him monitored closely. They feared there might be other motives hidden beneath the surface.
Captain T-Bone did not believe Spandam's words.
If anything, he felt disgust.
He disliked people who slandered others behind their backs. If Spandam had been one of his own subordinates, T-Bone would have punched him already.
Unfortunately, Spandam was not.
He was from the World Government.
Before they departed, the Chief Judge had specifically instructed them not to interfere with Spandam unless necessary. He had also explained what could be explained, including Spandam's position as the Director of CP5.
T-Bone was displeased, but there was nothing he could do. They belonged to different agencies, and in terms of status, the Director of CP5 stood far above a Marine captain.
Still, that did not mean T-Bone had to listen.
He turned his back and walked away.
His action set the example. The other Marines immediately followed.
Spandam was left standing there in a daze.
He pointed at himself, his face full of disbelief.
Aside from CP9, this was the first time anyone had treated him like this.
"Bastards," Spandam cursed under his breath.
Even so, his feet hurried after them.
Right now, this might all be part of that brat's plan. Acting alone was too dangerous.
No matter how angry Spandam was, these Marines were still ready-made bodyguards.
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
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