"What a shame."
Looking at the two people he had kicked, Vergo pushed his glasses up.
The gentleness he usually wore vanished in that moment, replaced by a calm and cold expression. "You could've just left quietly. Why did you have to do these meaningless things?"
"You suspected us from the beginning?"
Hearing Vergo's words, Ain frowned as she stood up. "Was it our investigation last night?"
"From the moment you entered the G-5 branch, everything you do has been under my watch."
Vergo didn't seem to mind Ain's questions and continued calmly: "Even that other investigator who was hiding in the shadows, I found him too. I have already given you my explanation. Now you can give me yours. How did you find out?"
As he said that, his tone even carried a hint of curiosity. "Ain, Binz, the survivors of the new elite recruit. According to my research, Marine Headquarters should have sent the Hero of the Marines, Vice-Admiral Garp."
"Why did they send you two? And who was that guy pretending to be a bartender in the bar? Why can't I get any information about him from headquarters?"
Ain: "..."
Binz: "..."
Because that man wasn't a marine from headquarters at all, and right now, he wasn't even a marine anymore.
Hearing Vergo's string of questions, Ain and Binz raised their eyebrows, but kept silent.
Instead, they stared at Vergo warily.
At the same time, they both realized something from his words... This so-called pirate raid today was deliberately staged.
The moment he discovered their investigation, this man never intended to let them leave easily and…
"It seems you haven't completely taken control of the G-5 branch yet!"
"What a clever girl!"
Vergo clapped his hands in appreciation while looking at Ain before him. "If your companion hadn't made such a scene in the bar, I might not have noticed it at all."
"I..."
At these words, Binz, who had been wary, froze in place, then lowered his head with regret.
"Sorry, Ain. I should have trusted Ian like you did!"
As he spoke, he seemed to have made a decision; he gritted his teeth and said firmly, "I'll hold him off. You go find Ian and get out of here. Report what's happening here to Marine Headquarters!"
"Don't listen to this guy's nonsense."
Despite Binz's resolve, Ain remained calm. "This guy probably realized something was off back when we started investigating."
"Seems my plan failed. You're right."
Vergo didn't bother denying it. He nodded slightly, his calm face twisting into a faint smile.
"Now, can you tell me who that bartender was and when the Marine Headquarters began to suspect me."
"Marine Headquarters has suspected you for a long time."
Ain raised an eyebrow, her eyes fixed on Vergo. "If you surrender now, perhaps the Marine Headquarters will show you leniency, Rear-Admiral Vergo!"
Her tone was flat, but the tight grip she had on her two swords made it clear she was far from calm.
As expected, Vergo's brow furrowed as she finished speaking, but his expression remained unfazed.
He looked at Ain, as if he already knew the answer. "It seems Marine Headquarters doesn't suspect me."
Ain: "..."
He had already guessed it.
"I was just a little unsure. If headquarters really suspected me, that Naval Hero's warship would've appeared at G-5's docks long ago!"
Seeing Ain and Binz's gloomy faces, Vergo immediately realized his suspicions were correct and said with interest: "If it wasn't Marine Headquarters, then where exactly did you get your intel on me? And how much have you uncovered? Care to tell me?"
"Keep dreaming, bastard!"
Binz said grimly while looking at Vergo. "We won't tell you anything."
"It's okay. I have plenty of time to question you."
Vergo seemed unconcerned by Binz's words. He pushed his glasses and said: "I hope the situation isn't as bad as I thought."
The moment his words fell, in the blink of an eye, Vergo's figure vanished before Ain and Binz's eyes.
Shave!
This sudden change made Ain and Binz's expressions change. Without hesitation, they raised their weapons; their senses were tense and alert.
But before they could react…
"I'm sure you'll be more willing to talk soon enough."
Behind them!
A voice came from directly behind.
Just as they began to turn, they felt something slam into their backs, a heavy, brutal impact.
It was Vergo's kick!
In an instant, both of them were sent flying!
With a loud boom, the two crashed into a large tree, breaking it cleanly under the force.
"Now, I'll ask again. Can you tell me how you found out?"
"Keep dreaming! Cough, cough!"
Binz, lying under the fallen tree, spat out blood, wiped it away with the back of his hand, and glared fiercely at Vergo. "You spy!"
At those words, Vergo's calm expression instantly darkened. "Spy?"
Behind his sunglasses, Vergo's eyes gleamed dangerously as he stared at Binz. "Seems you know more than I expected. Where did you get your intel?"
"You want to know?"
Binz grinned while beckoning him with a hand. "Then come here, and I'll tell you!"
The moment he finished speaking, Vergo vanished again. Seeing that, Binz's expression shifted for a moment, but then, as if sensing something, a smirk crossed his face.
Without hesitation, he threw his arms forward.
He really did come from the front!
"Ain, run! Go find Ian!"
Right after Binz shouted that…. A heavy kick slammed into his face, sending him crashing backward.
But even as he flew back, Binz clung tightly to Vergo.
Yet, Vergo, having already anticipated this, didn't seem to care. Feeling Binz's grip around his leg, he only looked down in disdain at the bruised and bloodied Binz.
"Such boring tricks. In the face of absolute power, do you really think you can escape? Or do you believe that guy named Ian can protect you?"
"I don't know, but I do know that if word gets out about this place, you will be in a worse situation than me!"
Clutching tightly at Vergo's leg, Binz's bloody face from the kick twisted into an ugly grin.
"Even your master behind the scenes will be dragged down with you, you damn spy!"
However, at Binz's words, Vergo only fell silent for a moment and just pushed his glasses up slightly.
"Do you think you still have a chance to leak the news? But you did get one thing right."
As Vergo finished speaking…
Binz, clinging to his feet, was sent flying. "If word gets out, the young master will be in trouble!"
Right after Binz's body flew off with his eyes rolled back, Vergo vanished from sight.
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Ain, who was gritting her teeth and running toward the town.
Sensing something, Ain's expression changed. Without hesitation, she spun around and raised her two swords, but she was already a step too late.
Vergo calmly extended a finger toward Ain's back, as if intending to pierce right through her.
Finger Gun!
In an instant, it pierced through her lower back.
Blood spurted from the wound as Ain's body was sent flying.
Vergo adjusted his sunglasses with a cold expression. "Now, there's only one left."
But just as he finished speaking...
"It looks like you two have been badly beaten!"
A calm voice came from nearby, instantly making Vergo's cold expression flicker with surprise.
Just as he was about to lift his head, Ain, who had been struck and sent flying, called out with excitement and tension: "Ian!"