Super Soldier in the City

After a night, after the saintess had breakfast, someone came to report that the elder was inviting her over.

Upon entering the grand hall from yesterday, the saintess saw many had already arrived. Elders like Mus nodded at her and said, "Saintess, has your health improved a little?"

"Much better, thank you, Elder Mus!" The saintess slightly bowed and answered.

"No need to thank me, haha!" Mus replied with a hearty laugh.

The saintess saw Babua; he seemed not to have rested well, the spirited face he had yesterday was gone, replaced by a listless expression. When he saw the saintess looking over, he didn’t seem as hostile as yesterday, and instead just glanced back then looked away.

Did something happen? The saintess pondered internally, seated herself, and saw Elder Andisto stand up, gaze around, and ask Mus and Andrew, "Two elders, what have you investigated from yesterday to now?"

Everyone in the hall looked over, Babua’s eyelids trembled, he didn’t know what exactly had been uncovered, just that people’s attitudes towards him had changed, leaving him worried. That’s also why when the saintess looked at him, he appeared so defeated.

Andrew snorted, stood up, and said, "Everyone, the investigation is still ongoing, but we have gathered some information. We sent people to the site of the reef, and a violent explosion did occur there. There is even a crater over thirty meters in diameter, blasted into a depth of four or five meters, filled now with a lot of water. Our people are still searching there, but have not found Golden Eagle’s body."

Andrew then turned to the saintess and questioned, "Saintess, may I ask where Golden Eagle’s body is?"

"The body has sunk into the sea. We were buried below for many days and emerged, then convalesced on a yacht for a few days. His corpse was already decomposed and foul, so we had no choice but to throw it into the ocean." The saintess replied.

"In that case... it’s indeed hard to find, but we discovered some blood within the explosion site, clearly indicating it belonged to two people, presumably one of whom was you, Saintess, and the other Golden Eagle."

The saintess nodded, "Correct."

"Good, having discussed this matter, I wish to address another issue." Andrew finished speaking and walked to Babua, stating, "As I have mentioned, while the investigation is not complete, we have discovered certain things, such as the drone. There was indeed a drone patrolling within that area carrying lightweight missiles."

Babua’s face changed, "What does that have to do with me? I didn’t have anyone do such a thing!"

"Babua, don’t you know the saintess was there for a decisive battle with Golden Eagle?"

"I... knew, otherwise I wouldn’t have locked her people in a room to prevent any leaks that might lead to unfavorable incidents." Babua defended.

Mus spoke then, his tone angry, "Babua, even at this time you refuse to speak the truth, you traitor! Since our Holy War Organization was established, no one has dared to assassinate the saintess, but you committed such an act, I... I just wish I could kill you now!"

"Bah, you’re the one who killed the saintess, wasn’t it right for me to protect her privacy?" Babua shouted angrily.

Elder Mus, however, coldly chuckled and said, "Alright, since you still stubbornly deny, I’ll disclose what we’ve uncovered. Elder Andisto, fellow elders, saintess, we have traced the drone ownership to the Fifth Fleet Naval Base in Angelica, an advanced model. On the day of the saintess and Golden Eagle’s battle, Angelica’s naval base received sudden orders from superiors to dispatch drones with missiles to attack a target. As the orders were from a higher-level command, the base personnel didn’t question much, locked on to the target, and sent out the drone. It entered the attack range during the final stages of the saintess and Golden Eagle’s battle, and fired missiles—resulting in this attack incident!"

After Elder Mus’s words, discussions erupted in the hall; members of the Holy War Organization came from various walks of life, but included several politicians, among them military officers. This is why the Holy War Organization is deeply rooted in the United States, stronger than Japan’s Yamaguchi Group, the latter being modeled after the former.

Those able to issue such orders certainly hold high ranks, so...

Mus continued, "After investigating, it was found that the superior was a general, and that general is one of our organization’s members!"

"What? It’s really one of our people who did it?" Someone exclaimed in shock.

Mus nodded, "Indeed, it was done by one of ours. We went to the general’s residence overnight but discovered he’s gone missing!"

"Missing? Is he on travel, or...?"

"He’s vanished. But just this morning, we received reports that his corpse was found in another city, although his head was severed, he carried identifying items!" Mus said chillingly, turning back to Babua, "Babua, do you have anything to say?"

Babua’s eyes bulged with anger as he said, "Say what? You’ve already pinpointed the murderer, questioning me for what? Was it me who instructed him?"

"True, Elder Mus, your findings seem to prove Elder Babua’s innocence..." someone asked.

Mus sneered, "Quite contrary, our investigation actually confirms one thing—that the general’s order was given under directives from Babua, hence the drone appeared over the reef with missiles, firing them when the saintess and Golden Eagle were depleted and vulnerable." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"What?" Many exclaimed in alarm, even Babua seemed stunned, his previous expression frozen on his face, while Elder Andisto, who had decent relations with Babua, was unsettled by the investigation directly implicating Babua.

"Impossible, I didn’t do it. Mus, you and I have been at odds, everyone knows it, you’re speaking falsely and kicking me when I’m down!" Babua cried out.

"Hehe, Babua, if you wish to keep things secret, don’t do it in the first place. Now that it’s done, don’t fear it being exposed!"

"You’re slandering me, Andisto, everyone, Mus is fabricating things against me, don’t listen to him!"

Andisto signaled Mus to sit and addressed Andrew, "Andrew, you speak."

Andrew showed a pained expression, looked at Babua, shook his head, "I wish not to believe this truth, but... Babua, you’ve deeply disappointed me. I didn’t expect this was indeed done by you."

"Andrew, you’re talking nonsense, I haven’t done it!" Babua cursed, angrily saying, "Fine, then tell me how I allegedly instructed that damn general."

Andrew raised an eyebrow, "Alright, let me proceed."

The saintess, sitting by, felt internal ripples, pondered if it was truly Babua’s doing, so she kept silent, awaiting Andrew’s continuation.

Andrew said directly, "Babua, before explaining further, I have a question. Owen is your disciple, correct? And Owen is probably your most important disciple, this you can’t deny!"

"Yes, Owen is my disciple..." Babua admitted.

"Owen and that general are close friends, or rather, the general entered the organization through Owen’s introduction! These two share hidden secrets. So, Babua, how can you claim no involvement in the attack on the saintess?"

"I..." Babua’s face went pale, unexpecting his disciple Owen to be entangled, hurriedly protested, "Andrew, even if they are close, that proves nothing, did Owen instruct him?"

"Indeed, Owen did instruct the order." Andrew sneered, Babua’s face changed again, looking more unpleasant as he pointed at Andrew, voice trembling, "Andrew, I bear you no grudge, why frame me?"

"Contrary, I’m saddened now, we were well connected, widely known by the organization. This pains me profoundly because you did such an act. I’ll directly inform you, we’ve discovered it came from Owen, but neither he nor the saintess held any enmity, nor could he do such deeds!"

"Nonsense! Even if Owen acted, what does that have to do with me, I’m not his parent, are you going to blame everything on me!" Babua fumed, appearing ferocious.

The saintess smirked coldly while Andrew grimaced, "Indeed, initially this shouldn’t be forced upon you, but I ask now—where is Owen?"

"Owen? Didn’t I already say, I don’t know his whereabouts, you’ve investigated as well, I’m restricted by you, so how could I know where Owen is!" Babua responded.