The Ark Maxim.
On the deck, the ram-headed guards bustled about carrying supplies—some shouldered spears wrapped in oilcloth, others hauled barrels of fresh water. Their iron boots thudded dully against the wooden planks.
The ship had been fully repaired overnight, and now everyone was making final preparations before departure.
Laki leaned against the railing, her white wings drooping listlessly behind her, the feather tips trembling slightly in the sea breeze. She gazed toward God's Island, the wind lifting her bangs to reveal faint dark circles under her eyes—evidence of a sleepless night.
Suddenly, a hand slid from the nape of her neck to her shoulder, fingers lightly swirling through the downy feathers at the base of her wings. Bahr's voice, laced with lazy amusement, whispered by her ear: "What's this? Reluctant to leave?"
Laki hunched her shoulders but didn't lift her eyelids. "I gave you my word. I won't go back on it."
Last night, she'd exhausted every trick to satisfy Bahr, and he'd kept his promise—returning the Golden Bell to the Shandians. Now she belonged entirely to this man, destined to follow him to distant lands.
Bahr tilted his head, observing Laki's wilted demeanor. The sea breeze tugged at her collar, revealing faint pink bite marks on her collarbone. He twirled a stray lock of her hair around his finger before leaning in again. "If you're so reluctant, why not say a proper goodbye?"
Laki stiffened but didn't pull away, muttering, "There's no need. This is fine."
"Oh?" Bahr turned his face to study her shadowed eyes, deliberately teasing. "But I get the feeling you're afraid you won't be able to leave once you see them. Or maybe you're worried those hotheaded Shandians will cause trouble?"
His words stabbed straight into Laki's heart. Her wings snapped shut, every feather standing on end.
He was right. She was terrified—terrified she'd break down in tears upon seeing her people, and even more terrified they'd act rashly and bring disaster upon themselves.
"When do we depart?" Laki bit her lower lip and forced out the question.
No sooner had she spoken than Bahr pinched the tip of her wing between his fingers.
The touch sent an electric jolt through her. Her entire arm trembled, her cheeks flushing crimson from earlobes to neck like a boiled shrimp.
"No need to rush." Bahr chuckled at her reddened ears, his fingers stroking along the feather patterns. "Rest assured, I've no interest in those Shandian brutes."
Watching Laki's wings quiver like autumn leaves, his grin widened. "But these wingtips of yours—they tremble at the slightest touch. You'll have plenty of opportunities to shake those wings aboard this ship."
Laki's face burned. Her gaze flickered toward God's Island's silhouette, but Bahr tightened his grip on her wing. The heat of his palm seeped through her feathers, setting her heart racing—yet she dared not pull away.
This man held far more than just her wings in his grasp.
Within God's Island's ruins...
Wyper arrived panting in the clearing to find his tribesmen gathered around a stone platform. At its center, the Golden Bell gleamed so brightly in the sunlight it hurt to look at.
"The sacred relic... It's truly returned?" Wyper's voice shook as he approached, turning to the Old Chief. "Chief, what happened?"
The Old Chief sighed. "Laki brought it back."
"Laki?" Wyper blinked, scanning the crowd for the white-winged girl. Frowning, he pressed, "Where is she? Where'd she go?"
After a long silence, the Old Chief murmured, "She said she wanted to explore the Blue Sea. She left with those Blue Sea people."
"Impossible!" Wyper's eyes bulged, his face darkening. "Those outsiders must've done something! I'll make them pay!"
As her tribesman, he knew Laki too well—she'd never willingly leave. The only explanation was that the outsiders had forced her hand. Why else would she return with the Golden Bell?
"Wyper, don't be rash!" The Old Chief grabbed his arm. "This was Laki's choice."
He saw the situation clearly—there was certainly foul play involved. But what could they do? These Blue Sea people had even defeated "God" Enel. The Shandians charging in would be like eggs thrown at stone.
"Choice my ass!" Wyper's grip on his spear turned his knuckles white, the tip sparking against the ground. "I won't let those outsiders get away with this!"
Shaking off the Old Chief, he spun toward the shore.
"Wyper, stop!" The Old Chief stamped his foot, shouting to the younger tribesmen. "Restrain him!"
Spear-carrying warriors swarmed Wyper, grabbing his waist and legs, pinning him against the stone platform.
Wyper thrashed like a bound wild bull. "Let me go! I'll kill those Blue Sea bastards!"
Amid the chaos, a white-winged figure emerged from the ruins' shadows—Laki stepped forward clutching a seashell, her skirt hem still damp with sand.
She blinked at the struggling Wyper. "What are you all doing?"
The crowd froze, spears clattering. The Old Chief rubbed his eyes. "Laki? You... didn't you leave with the outsiders?"
Laki glanced skyward where the Ark Maxim had shrunk to a speck. The sea breeze plastered her bangs across her face as she smiled faintly. "I didn't go after all..."
On the Ark Maxim's deck...
Nico Robin approached Bahr where he leaned against the railing, her tone laced with amusement. "You just let her go?"
"If her heart's not here, what's the point in keeping her?" Bahr turned, bracing his back against the railing with a shrug. "We had our good times. That's enough."
Clearly, she couldn't bring herself to leave.
As a qualified "Clam Hunter," he knew when to reel in his catch and when to let the bait go. Once you've pried open the shell and tasted its sweetness, sometimes you must let the clam crawl back to its reef.
What use is an empty shell?
"The Boss is remarkably... detached." Robin's lips curved slightly.
Bahr shot her a sidelong glance, teasing, "You're free to leave anytime too, Robin-chan."
Nico Robin paused, then smiled faintly. "I appreciate the Boss's consideration. Though... I've no plans to depart just yet."
She knew better—with leads on the Historical Text finally surfacing, she stood closer to her dream than ever. How could she leave? Still, the man's actions surprised her.
Though undoubtedly a beast, he wasn't entirely without principles.
Bahr smirked, seizing the moment to snake an arm around Robin's waist, fingers skimming the skin beneath her linen shirt. "If you're staying, you'll follow the rules. Do your duty."
Robin rolled her eyes, her tone casual as discussing weather. "I understand my responsibilities."
Her calm words belied the mental tirade cursing Bahr.
"Duty"—as if it wasn't just code for sleeping with him? She'd almost thought him decent for releasing Laki, but no—he remained a beast through and through.
Bahr chuckled darkly, fingers trailing downward. "Good girl."
Meeting his blatantly mocking gaze, Robin subtly clenched her skirt, swallowing her fury. For now, she had no choice but to endure.
She needed him.
Delighting in Robin's tense facade, Bahr steered her toward the cabins, murmuring, "I neglected you last night. Let me make it up to you... We'll have a proper discussion about 'boundaries.'"
Nico Robin's spine stiffened, the touch at her lower back bringing a flush to her cheeks despite her forced composure. "After keeping me up past midnight, the Boss still isn't satisfied?"
She'd hoped to use Laki as a shield, but this bastard held grudges—determined to take his pound of flesh from her instead.
"Not even close." Bahr guided her toward the cabins, grinning. "We're just getting started. Can't handle it? You're free to disembark."
He saw right through her—yet her evasiveness only fueled his appetite.
"If it's my duty, I'll ensure the Boss's satisfaction." Robin closed her eyes briefly, reopening them with feigned calm while silently seething.