Trafalgar gave his arm one last glance, adjusting his sleeve just above the elbow. He exhaled slowly and turned toward Barth, his tone calm but sharp.
"Second part of the plan, ready, Barth?"
Barth jumped at the question, clutching his notebook so tightly his knuckles whitened. "R-ready!"
A faint grin crossed Trafalgar's face. "Good. When we get out of here, I'll give you your reward."
Barth nodded nervously, swallowing hard. "O-okay…"
The faint sound of shifting fabric broke the silence — the Myrrhvale guard was waking up. His scaled arms twitched, and a low groan escaped his throat. Barth froze like a statue, his eyes wide. Trafalgar, in contrast, looked perfectly composed.
"Remember," Trafalgar whispered under his breath, "he fainted, we panicked, but stayed. Don't overact — just sound scared."
"I—I'll try!" Barth whispered back, nearly trembling.
