One Piece: The True Codex

"The dead royal guards all have small puncture wounds in vital areas of their bodies. My preliminary assessment is that these were caused by throwing knives. The user was highly skilled—not only precise but also strong enough to penetrate even skulls with ease. Additionally, I suspect the assailant was not very tall..."

Dennis interrupted Thomason, frowning. "Why do you think they weren't tall?"

"The longsword wound on the back of Captain Andre aligns with the direction of the throwing knife wounds. The longsword wound slopes upward, indicating that the attacker struck from below with significant force at an awkward angle. Furthermore, there's a deep footprint behind Andre's body, likely left when the assailant jumped to attack. Even though Andre was tall, nearly three meters, it's unlikely that someone of average height could reach his chest—even after he was forced to kneel—without jumping," Thomason explained, his speech slow as he organized his thoughts.

"Kneeling?" Dennis frowned, glancing at Andre's corpse.

Thomason seemed to anticipate his thoughts. "Andre's legs were severed first. The cuts don't match the direction of the throwing knife wounds, and they were made from the front. It's unlikely someone would bother to lift the legs of a fallen man just to cut them off after he'd already been stabbed."

Pressing his lips together, Thomason continued, "Fortunately, the poor road conditions left plenty of footprints behind. This group is terrifying. Judging by the heavy impressions left by their movements, there couldn't have been more than three attackers. The one using the throwing knives likely took out the guards almost instantly and even managed to injure Andre."

"Andre tried to escape but was blocked by someone behind him. That person sacrificed themselves to hold him back and severely injure him. Then the knife-thrower closed in and delivered the fatal blow. Finally, the attackers, enraged by the loss of their comrade, decapitated Andre in a fit of fury."

Thomason exhaled deeply after recounting his deductions. "Three people wiped out the so-called 'Kingdom's Strongest Warrior' and his guards. The soldiers didn't even have time to draw their swords. These individuals are not only immensely powerful but also utterly ruthless. We can't afford to provoke them. If we fail to solve the case, the worst that could happen is a demotion or a fine. But these killers—they could easily take our lives."

"And another thing..." Thomason glanced around cautiously before leaning closer to Dennis and lowering his voice. "On the surface, this looks like a straightforward robbery. All the valuables have been taken. But something feels off. No matter how confident they were in their abilities, why would they choose such an obviously challenging target? Andre was nearly three meters tall, and the other guards were all robust. It doesn't make sense. And why would they leave their comrade's body at the scene? Aren't they afraid we'll trace it back to them?"

"Yes, why indeed?" Dennis muttered to himself.

"I don't know, but there's definitely a conspiracy here," Thomason said firmly. "That body most likely came from the slums—a chaotic and lawless place filled with all kinds of people. We'd do well not to dig too deep into this case."

"Most of what you've said is speculation. And let's not forget, the victim here is Andre," Dennis sighed. "Andre wasn't just anyone—he was a viscount and the captain of the King's royal guard, someone highly trusted by His Majesty. If the higher-ups order me to investigate thoroughly, how am I supposed to respond?"

"It's speculation, yes, but it's based on the evidence at the scene," Thomason replied earnestly. He then suggested, "If they really push for a full investigation, just claim the perpetrators are likely from the slums. Say the slums are too chaotic and that we lack the manpower to handle it."

"I'll give it a try," Dennis said, waving his hand in frustration.

He stood in silence for a long time before suddenly slapping his forehead, as if remembering something. "I just remembered—I have a meeting scheduled, and I'm supposed to grab a meal as well. I need to go."

With that, Dennis hurriedly jogged away from the crime scene, leaving Thomason behind, who stared after him with a sour expression.

...

In a private room of a restaurant owned by Dampier, William leaned back in his chair and asked the man across from him, "What kind of person is this Sheriff Dennis?"

"A true gambler," Dampier replied with a chuckle. "A coward in ordinary times, but utterly fearless when placing a bet."

Dampier, having established both a restaurant and an underground bar in Kalmar City, naturally had some connections.

Currently, William and Dampier were more like allies. Their frequent interactions were driven by mutual respect for each other's abilities and their shared interest in the arms trade. However, their relationship was not as close as William's bond with figures like Sherlock or Harden.

For instance, Dampier was unaware of the ambush on Andre.

The two chatted idly for a while until a knock came from the door. A man, dressed neatly and exuding a noble air, entered the room under the guidance of the restaurant manager.

Dampier smiled upon seeing the newcomer. "Dennis, you're actually on time today. That's rare."

Dennis chuckled sheepishly. If not for his desire to escape the headache-inducing case, he wouldn't have arrived so early.

Dampier then gestured toward William and introduced him to Dennis. "This is Stolt, the newly appointed captain of the militia."

"I've heard of you," Dennis said with a polite smile as he shook William's extended hand. His grip was firm but not overly enthusiastic. "Word is you defeated Captain Andre of the royal guard during the tournament in front of the palace."

William responded modestly, "It was pure luck. If we were to fight again, the outcome might be very different."

After Dennis took his seat, Dampier sighed at William's remark. "I'm afraid there won't be another chance."

Feigning confusion, William furrowed his brows and looked at Dennis.

"This morning, a murder was discovered in the slums. Andre and several royal guards were killed," Dennis explained.

William's expression turned grave. "Do you know who the culprits are?"

"We're not sure yet. The investigation is ongoing," Dennis replied, recalling Thomason's suggestion. "But our initial assessment points to criminals from the slums."

Dennis then turned to Dampier with a word of caution. "Regardless of whether the culprits are from the slums, the area's lawlessness is undeniable. The people there are utterly reckless. You should be careful—there's no telling what they might do."

Dampier laughed. "Well, it seems this meeting was perfectly timed. Stolt here is the captain of the militia, tasked with assisting local law enforcement. If you plan to address the chaos in the slums, you'll definitely need his help."

Dennis glanced at William, who offered him a friendly smile. "I'll do my best to assist when the time comes."

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