Chapter 187: Clues
The Enies Lobby Marines searched for half a day and came up with nothing.
Not a lead.
Not a hint.
Not even a suspicious-looking brick.
At this point, it hardly felt like an investigation anymore. It was more like guessing a riddle written by someone who hated people.
Spandam, who had followed them for more than half the route, finally lost his patience.
"You still haven't found a clue?"
The problem was not only that he was tired. He also had to report intelligence back to the World Government. If his report said they had made no progress whatsoever, would that not make him look incompetent?
"No," one of the Marines answered patiently. "The clues are too vague. But since the other side said the location can be found through them, we must be overlooking something."
The explanation was given kindly.
Spandam did not appreciate it.
"Still nothing? We've searched the seaside, the garbage piles, the coast... Where else are we supposed to look?"
His tone was full of disdain.
In the past, Spandam had always despised the work ethic of his own subordinates. Now, compared with this group, even his useless men seemed slightly more useful.
His attitude made several Marines even more displeased.
"Well then," one of them asked, "what clues do you have?"
Spandam sneered.
"Isn't it simple?"
He casually stopped a passerby, shoved the paper with the four strange lines in front of him, and asked, "Do you have any clues about this?"
The passerby looked at the sentences and was just as confused as the rest of them. Still, there was one thing he recognized.
"Aqua Laguna refers to the Water Gods of Water 7. It happens once every year. As for the rest, I'm not sure. Are you looking for something?"
The hospitality of Water 7 showed itself once again. Seeing that they seemed troubled, the passerby even tried to ask a follow-up question.
Spandam was about to speak, but Captain T-Bone stepped forward and cut him off.
"No. We are merely solving a puzzle."
T-Bone's voice was calm.
Unfortunately, his face was terrifying.
To someone who had never seen him before, that gaunt, mummified face was enough to make the soul briefly consider leaving the body.
The passerby tremblingly handed the note back to Spandam, then hurried away.
Spandam watched the man leave, frustrated that a potential lead had been interrupted. He was about to blame T-Bone, but T-Bone spoke first.
"Spandam, what were you thinking? We are on a covert mission. If the residents find out what we are doing, we have already lost. That rule was established beforehand. Besides, we discussed the Water Gods earlier."
They had not come to Water 7 completely unprepared. During their earlier discussion, they had already confirmed that Aqua Laguna referred to the Water Gods.
In other words, Spandam had not been listening at all, which was why he had looked so delighted when the passerby mentioned it.
Spandam blinked.
"Was... was that mentioned?"
He had been too busy imagining what poisonous scheme that brat might use against him. Naturally, he had not paid attention while the Marines were talking.
"By the way, what exactly are the Water Gods?"
"A giant tsunami."
"A giant tsunami?" Spandam suddenly became interested. "How big? Surely it can't cover the entire island."
"It is enough to flood the city. The only safe place is the Inner City at the very top of Water 7."
"..."
Spandam suddenly remembered the final line written on the paper.
[Everything will have an answer when Aqua Laguna appears.]
When the giant tsunami appeared, everything would have an answer?
Did that mean they would become the answer?
As in, dead?
A chill went through Spandam.
The peaceful city before him suddenly looked unbelievably dangerous.
"We should search the upper levels," Spandam said at once. "I don't think what we're looking for is in the lower town."
"Why do you say that?"
Spandam's brain spun rapidly. Then, with a sudden flash of inspiration, he twisted the logic into something that sounded almost reasonable.
"Look at the clue. It says, 'Everything will have an answer when Aqua Laguna appears.' Couldn't that mean the tsunami will make something surface? If we think of it that way, only from a high vantage point can we look down and possibly discover it."
"We considered that," one Marine said, frowning. "But it does not match 'hidden beneath the haze.' There does not seem to be anywhere to hide at high elevation. And when the tsunami arrives, what exactly would be revealed? Something that floats and is common... I thought it might be a ship at first, but that is impossible. In a tsunami of that scale, a ship would sink. How could it become an 'answer'?"
For the sake of his own life, Spandam's mind became unusually nimble again.
"Could the items be hidden in Water 7's canals? Then when the tsunami arrives and the water level rises, they might be washed toward the Inner City."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
They truly had not considered that.
Inside Water 7.
Inside Water 7.
Their thoughts had been trapped by those words. But if something was hidden underwater, it would still count as being inside Water 7. And deep beneath the canals, especially where the city blocked the sunlight, it would indeed be dark enough that one could not see one's hand in front of one's face.
Captain T-Bone even turned to Spandam and bowed his head.
"I am truly sorry. I thought you were merely a useless person earlier, and my tone was unkind. Please forgive me."
His personality was too straightforward. Even his apology sounded painfully honest.
Spandam froze.
Who apologized like that?
And what did he mean by useless person?
Spandam cleared his throat, forced himself to look magnanimous, and said, "Well, everything was within my expectations. You only need to follow my orders and search."
This time, no one argued.
In the Marine hierarchy, positions were meant for the capable. If Spandam could actually help the team, they did not mind his attitude being a little worse.
Orders were quickly issued.
The ten participants were split into five pairs. Spandam and Captain T-Bone would head toward the Inner City, while the others would first conduct underwater searches in the four cardinal directions of Water 7.
Before entering the water, they had to confirm that no civilians were nearby. One person also had to remain ready to perform a rescue at any moment to ensure safety.
Spandam glanced at the terrifying-looking Captain T-Bone beside him and remembered the arrangement.
"Let me make one thing clear. I can't swim."
That was naturally a lie.
In the Great Pirate Era, where anyone could be sent on missions across the sea, Spandam obviously knew how to swim.
He simply did not want to get wet.
Captain T-Bone glanced at him without suspicion.
"Do not worry. I will be the one to go down and investigate. A little seawater will not trouble me."
As a Marine, T-Bone had naturally trained his swimming ability. Holding his breath underwater for some time was no problem. His muscles were also well-conditioned, so he did not have to worry about sudden cramps.
"That's good."
Spandam turned his head away.
Ever since he became convinced that Axel was plotting against him, every corner of Water 7 seemed to hide ghosts and monsters.
He only hoped he was overthinking things.
He wanted to end this bizarre competition as quickly as possible and return to his warm, safe bedroom.
.....
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