Chapter 127 – Suspicions

There was indeed the presence of people in the room—three individuals. Just as expected, it had to be Commander Noboru and the two unfortunate commanders.

There was killing intent. Not the scent of blood, but a lingering hostility. Perhaps the mastermind had the skill to completely erase all traces of battle, but killing intent cannot be wiped away. No matter how clever the culprit, they'd never expect someone could sense that residual intent.

The killing intent was faint, only enough to confirm that Noboru had likely faced the mastermind directly—and realized the other party meant him harm.

But it didn't necessarily mean a fight occurred. Killing intent alone wasn't proof enough for Hikaru to identify the culprit.

At the very least, it ruled out the possibility that Noboru had staged the whole thing himself.

Hikaru shifted into an overhead view, slowly surveying the cabin from above.

He glanced toward the door. Neither Heizou, nor the others had any trace of killing intent clinging to them. At the very least, they couldn't have been the murderers.

Nor did they seem to possess that kind of power.

Then he looked toward Fleet Admiral Gorou. The old lion was shrouded in fog. When Hikaru's gaze passed over him, Gorou seemed to notice—he looked directly at the patch of empty air where Hikaru's presence was focused.

Even knowing full well Gorou couldn't actually see him, Hikaru still felt a chill in his heart.

Gorou's strength was even more unfathomable than expected.

Turning his gaze away, Hikaru locked onto the one thing in the room that had bothered him all along.

The ring on the table.

The diamond ring now lay at an angle on the tabletop, gleaming faintly.

If rings had souls, Hikaru wondered, what would this one think of the possibility that both of its owners had met their end?

But Hikaru saw much more than that.

In his special view, a dense gray mist clung to the ring—mist that wasn't mere vapor. Just one glance at it evoked thoughts of death, corruption... and misfortune.

Interesting.

Withdrawing from his overhead vision, Hikaru clutched his chest and gasped for breath, his face pale.

The state he'd just entered had been extremely taxing. It left him drained and deeply uncomfortable.

But it had been worth it.

He picked up the ring from the table and examined it carefully.

Normally, there would be a single engagement ring, and then a pair of matching wedding bands—simple for daily wear, while the engagement ring was more ornate.

As the marriage ship of Noboru, South Dakota would have had two rings. Those were likely vaporized in battle.

The ring left behind in this room was Noboru's own wedding band.

But here's the issue—why had Noboru not kept it on his person? Why wasn't it stored properly in a jewelry case? Why had it been casually left on the table?

That wasn't something a man who mourned his beloved wife would do.

No wonder Hikaru had picked it up the moment he entered. His instincts had told him something about it felt wrong.

And now he knew. That gray mist on the ring wasn't natural—it hinted at some kind of corruption, some change. Something had happened to this ring.

Maybe… the ring had "seen" the mastermind.

Watching Hikaru silently holding the ring, Shun grew impatient and barked, "Fleet Admiral, what are we waiting for? He clearly hasn't found anything and is just stalling for time."

Gorou gave a slight nod and looked at Hikaru. "Well? Have you found anything?"

"A little," Hikaru replied, holding up the ring. "But it's too early to say. I want to take this with me."

"No way," Shun stepped forward. "If that's an important clue, it should be turned over to us. You're the prime suspect—how can we let you keep it?"

It was a fair point. Even Hikaru had no rebuttal.

But he didn't need one. He tightened his grip on the ring and said bluntly, "Too bad. I already have it in my hand. Try and take it from me."

"You bastard!"

Shun's finger trembled with rage as he pointed at Hikaru, rendered speechless by the sheer shamelessness.

"Let him have it," Gorou waved it off. "What difference does it make?" Then he looked to Hikaru. "Is your investigation complete?"

Hikaru nodded. "For now. Let's go back up."

Marshal He stepped forward, his face twitching with hostility. "I'm afraid we don't quite agree."

He made a hand signal.

Several powerful officers at the rank of Mid-Marshal stormed into the cabin, weapons drawn, surrounding Hikaru.

Hikaru's eyes rose past the muzzles crackling with thunder and flame, fixing on Gorou's face.

"So… is this your decision too?" he asked.

[End of Chapter]

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