The sea changed without warning.
One moment, Ripple was tearing through freezing currents, mist clinging to his scales and ice drifting past like silent ghosts—
—and the next, warmth.
Not gentle warmth.
Not natural warmth.
The ocean around us boiled softly, steam rising in lazy spirals as if the sea itself had decided to breathe. The cold vanished instantly, replaced by something artificial… controlled.
Ripple slowed, confused.
"…Warm Eddy," I muttered.
"Yeah. We're here."
Egghead.
Spruce squinted ahead, ears twitching. "The water feels wrong—resu."
"It is," I replied. "That's science."
Ripple let out a low sound, uneasy, but kept moving forward.
Then—
The sea split.
Not with violence.
Not with sound.
It parted like it recognized something.
Metal breached the surface first, water sliding cleanly off chrome-plated armor. Then rows of reinforced muscle, stitched with machinery. Finally—
A massive head rose fully into view.
A Sea Beast Weapon.
Its body resembled a colossal shark, but nothing about it was natural. Its hide was a patchwork of sleek chrome and hardened flesh, joints glowing faintly with blue energy. Along its dorsal fin, stenciled in bold black letters:
MARINE LAB 8
Spruce sucked in a sharp breath. "C-Captain—"
Ripple tensed beneath us, ready to dive or fight.
I didn't move.
I just looked at it.
The system screen flickered.
This time… it didn't ask.
[Trust Skill — Condensed Activation]
Potency: ×30
Duration: 1 Day
Status: Active
Cost: Deferred
Effect: Authority Through Belief
The air felt heavier.
Not pressure.
Expectation.
I leaned forward slightly and spoke, casually—like this was the most normal thing in the world.
"…Oi."
The Sea Beast Weapon froze.
Its glowing eyes adjusted, lenses narrowing, scanning.
"I'm Dr. Vegapunk's bestfriend," I said, bored.
"Mind giving us a lift?"
For a split second, nothing happened.
Then—
The weapon bowed its head.
Ripple blinked.
Spruce's jaw dropped. "E-EH?!"
The massive cyborg shark tilted its body, carefully—precisely—adjusting its position so that not a single drop of seawater splashed onto me. It lowered itself slightly, offering its metallic snout like a seat.
"…You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered.
The Trust Skill didn't force obedience.
It did something worse.
It made my lie feel… obvious.
And that scared me more than if it hadn't worked at all.
---
We rode it in.
No—glided.
Ripple following it.
The small skiff would've been crushed by Egghead's scale, but the Sea Beast Weapon cut through the Warm Eddy currents at terrifying speed, smooth and controlled. I sat cross-legged on its metallic snout, coat fluttering slightly, not a crease disturbed.
Spruce clung to my shoulder, whispering, "This is illegal—resu."
"I know."
Ahead, towering metal cliffs rose from the sea, layered platforms stacked like a city built by gods who hated gravity. Gates of iron and circuitry groaned open as we approached the lower Fabiriophase dock.
And waiting there—
Sentomaru.
I covered my face with a mask.
He stood wide-legged on the pier, massive battle-axe resting on his shoulder, flanked by two prototype Pacifistas, their red eyes glowing cold and mechanical.
"Halt, intruder!" Sentomaru's voice boomed, echoing across steel and water.
"This is the world's greatest sanctuary of intellect! State your business before my Tightest Guard crushes you into—"
The Trust Skill pulsed.
Not outward.
Inward.
A golden ripple washed across the dock—silent, invisible.
Sentomaru blinked.
His smile came a second too late—like his body reacted before his mind caught up.
His grip loosened.
The axe slipped from his hand and slammed into the pier with a heavy crack, concrete fracturing beneath it.
"…Eh?"
He leaned forward, squinting at me.
Then his face split into a massive grin.
"WAIT—IS THAT YOU?!" he laughed, slapping his knee.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU SEND A DEN DEN MUSHI?!"
Spruce nearly fell off my shoulder.
The Sea Beast Weapon gently nudged the dock, lowering itself so I could step off. The moment my feet touched metal, Sentomaru wrapped an arm around my shoulders, nearly snapping my ribs in half.
"My goodness! The Old Man is gonna be THRILLED!" he shouted.
"You two!"—he barked at the Pacifistas—"Carry my friend's bags! Treat 'em like they're made of gold!"
The Pacifistas obeyed instantly.
Because Sentomaru believed.
And belief… was enough.
---
Sentomaru led us toward the Vacuum Rocket, the transport tube rising straight into the clouds.
As we walked, I leaned closer. "Oi—quick question. You wouldn't happen to be here about some… giant kid stuff, right?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Giant kid?"
"Nah," he waved it off. "Dr. Vegapunk stopped that kinda research ages ago. Punk Hazard days. You know how it was."
So I was right.
Buggy lied.
But not fully.
The Rocket hissed open, swallowing us in light.
Before it launched, Sentomaru pointed at Ripple and Spruce.
"Your companions can roam Egghead! As long as they don't break anything… important."
Ripple let out a curious chirp and immediately swam off alongside the Sea Beast Weapon, exploring the island's outer waters like an excited child.
Spruce hesitated.
I placed a hand on his head. "Go. Learn."
He nodded slowly. "…Don't disappear—resu."
"I won't."
---
The Rocket burst out at the top of the island.
The air was different here—clean, pressurized, humming with the sound of thought itself. Screens floated midair. Test tubes bubbled. Blueprints shifted in holographic light.
And there—
Dr. Vegapunk.
The Stella body turned, massive head pulsing with endless ideas.
Before he could speak—
The Trust Skill settled in.
Not like a command.
Like a realization.
Vegapunk froze.
"…Ah," he said softly.
"…Ah. So this is the version of you that arrived."
I smiled.
Inside, something twisted.
Because for the first time—
The lie felt too easy.
And I didn't know what it was going to cost me later.
"...Bruhhh."