Bron's crew and Kier looked at the arrogant girl who had just shown up. They didn’t hide their displeasure toward her, as she was clearly looking down on them.

  She stared back at them as well. Her eyes moved across the crowd and stopped at Kier—he stood out from the others because he was the youngest.

  It was only a brief moment.

  Their eyes met.

  One looking down with pride as hard as steel.

  The other searching for answers to his own thoughts.

  Then their gazes broke, drifting in opposite directions.

  Since she appeared, the atmosphere had shifted for the worse.

  Captain Freston grew worried—and he had every right to be. He was sailing into unfamiliar waters and was short on time. The last thing he wanted was conflict between crews. None of them would tolerate disrespect.

  A few seconds passed like that, and Captain Freston searched for a way to ease the situation.

  “You don’t need to apologize,” Bron said, breaking the silence as he noticed the captain’s concern.

  “It is truly an honor to meet one of the members of the Seirune family,” Bron continued with utmost respect.

  “She is a member of the Seirune family?!” Noah asked in a low voice.

  “I think so, if the captain said so,” another replied. “Well, no wonder their captain referred to her so respectfully.”

  Just like that, rumors began to spread beneath hushed voices.

  Kier listened as they spoke about her. He now understood who she was, but for some reason, he felt uneasy.

  However, on the other ship, suspicion arose. The crewmates—and surely the captain—hadn’t mentioned anything about her.

  Curious, the girl asked Bron,

  “How do you know that I am part of the Seirune family?”

  “Your father is a great man. He saved my life a long time ago and took me under his care. I learned a great deal from him—about the rules, history—and I had the chance to meet your family,” he answered.

  Kier was a little surprised. So were both crews. The only ones who didn’t show even a hint of surprise were the man with long black hair on the other ship and Clad.

  Captain Freston relaxed as he listened.

  Phew. A quiet sigh of relief escaped him.

  The girl didn’t fully believe him, but knowing her father—and hearing the sincerity in Bron’s voice—it was possible.

  “Honestly, I owe him my life. So please allow me to repay that debt as much as I can,” Bron told her.

  As the conversation continued, uneasiness filled Kier.

  She loosened her guard slightly.

  “It is a good thing that my father saved a life. However, that does not change the fact that sailing with you may slow us down. We would be faster if we sailed alone.”

  “My lady, if we are heading in the same direction, we might as well follow them—especially since they offered their help,” Captain Freston said to the young girl.

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  He was a man devoted to his duty. That was why he insisted on accepting Bron’s help. Fighting an unknown enemy—the sea itself—could be a fatal mistake.

  “Hey, girl. I think I heard you say that we would slow you down, didn’t I?”

  A drunken voice came from behind Kier. It was Gissy, holding his steel flask as if his life depended on it.

  The girl looked confused.

  “If that’s the case, I’ll bet you both my arms that my girl can leave that shitty ship of yours miles behind.”

  As he finished, he took another sip.

  The entire crew heard him. Judging by their irritated expressions, he had struck a nerve. Even Freston looked as if he were grinding his teeth in secret.

  “Clad, please take Gissy to his room. I believe he needs some rest,” Bron said calmly.

  “Understood!” Clad followed his captain’s orders, dragging Gissy away as he complained loudly.

  “I apologize on his behalf,” Bron said.

  “But what he said is true. Our ships are built for speed—and to face powerful enemies.”

  “My lady, I hate to admit it, but it's true. Their ships are created for—”

  “Freston!” She interrupted him. “I think I refused their help more than once.” She made it clear that she didn’t want their help.

  But Freston tried to protest.

  “But my lady, I am worried that you might be late to attend the banquet with your family. After all, this only happens once a year, and every noble family comes together under the King’s invitation.”

  ‘What?! A banquet with all the noble families and the King? But even though she has such a big reason, she doesn’t have to be so stubborn about getting help,’ Kier thought.

  Bron wasn’t surprised about the banquet at all. He knew that the King invited the families every year before the anniversary of the kingdom. But this time was different because of Verilion.

  The crews stayed quiet, as if they were waiting for her to speak.

  “Enough! I have heard you, and I refused more than once, yet you still try to protest.”

  She looked at Freston, who was feeling a bit guilty.

  “If you want to get their help so badly, then take a map for the shortest route. Since they also offered their help, I don’t think they will refuse.” She looked at Bron.

  Bron nodded, respecting her decision.

  “Understood!” Freston said, then turned to his crew. “You heard the lady, get moving!”

  His crewmates went to their positions.

  A crewmate from Bron's side took out a map from the captain’s chamber and handed it to Freston. As the captains of both crews were discussing, Kier fixed his eyes on her. She noticed but didn’t give it much thought.

  The lady stopped looking around and began to walk away.

  Kier didn’t waste this chance, as it might have been his last.

  “Why are you so stubborn?” he yelled, getting her attention.

  She stopped and looked at him, as did everyone else.

  Bron grew worried and tried to stop Kier.

  But Kier was quick and didn’t mind Bron.

  “Does getting help hurt your pride so much that you are willing to put their lives in danger?”

  She looked at Kier.

  His words were partly true.

  “What would a boy like you even know?”

  She answered him in a low tone.

  “Maybe this is the first time you are going outside your village. You don’t understand the colors and the size of this world—the importance of time and lives.”

  “So on what right do you judge me?”

  Silence settled between them, heavy as iron.

  Then Kier smiled.

  “You are right. The world just keeps expanding. And like you, we don’t have the right to judge each other.”

  “But even though I am just getting to know this world better, I believe I know how important life and time are. Better than you do.”

  Kier continued to smile as if he was enjoying all of this.

  She stayed silent. Seeing his expression after hearing him was somehow exhausting.

  Then she spoke.

  “If you are really knowledgeable about how important time is, then do me a favor. Don’t waste any more of my time,” she said firmly.

  Kier simply smiled.

  “Freston, how long will you make me wait?”

  The question took Freston off guard.

  “Oh—yes, we will get going right now.” Freston turned to his crewmates and yelled orders so they could go to their posts.

  Bron, on the other hand, after hearing Kier’s conversation, felt at ease that he hadn’t caused any real trouble. Both crews returned to their positions.

  Kier felt uneasiness crawl up his neck. He still didn’t know why.

  The girl turned back and slowly went where she came from.

  Bron sighed.

  Finally, it was quiet. Slowly, he approached his room.

  Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion for some reason, as Kier watched their movements in confusion.

  Under his feet, he felt vibration. The men were moving and being too loud in their rooms.

  Nothing to worry about.

  Then—

  His eyes widened.

  He took one step back.

  ‘Where—where is it? Behind?!’ His head snapped back.

  ‘No—it’s on my right!’ His body followed his thoughts, turning sharply to the right.Nothing.

  As Bron was about to enter his room, he noticed Kier’s strange behavior.

  ‘Left, right—it’s below—no, it’s in front!’ He quickly turned left, right, then back to his original position.

  ‘No. It’s the other ship!’ The uneasiness filling him turned into real fear.

  “Hey, Kier, is something wr—?” Bron asked.

  Kier suddenly froze.

  He was looking at his feet.

  Then he raised his head.

  “IT’S COMING FROM EVERYWHERE!!!”