[The Flagship: A Room of Chaos and Confusion]
The dust had barely settled in the ruin of Raiden's private quarters. On the right, the Vice-Commander of the Seven lay broken, his chest still heaving as he spat the last of his stolen energy in dark, rhythmic bursts of blood. On the left, the "Beast" was finally at rest.
Ato lay with his head pillowed on Manjo's lap. The chef was gently stroking his messy black hair, her eyes soft with a mixture of relief and lingering fear. It was a peaceful, tender moment—at least, until the rest of the crew arrived.
Lemon was the first through the door. His face went from the pale white of exhaustion to a burning, scarlet red. His eyes bugged out, and steam practically hissed from his ears.
Lemon: "WHY IS HE RESTING ON YOUR PRECIOUS LAP?!"
Before Manjo could even stutter an explanation, the sound of heavy dragging echoed from the hallway. Faramis appeared, huffing and puffing as he literally dragged the paralyzed Kojo across the deck like a sack of potatoes. Faramis looked up, saw the domestic scene, and his jaw hit the floor. Kojo, who was being dragged face-down, managed to twist his head just enough to see with the corner of his eye.
Kojo: "Oi... Ato... no way. But... this can be acceptable..." Kojo's voice trailed off as he tried to process the sight of his fierce captain looking like a pampered house cat.
Suddenly, Ato's eyes fluttered. He wasn't fully awake, his brain still foggy from the "Limit Breaker" drain. In his dazed state, he looked up and saw two huge, soft shapes hovering just above his face.
Ato: "Oh... melons... i want to eat them..."
Without thinking, Ato reached up, his hands catching and squeezing with a firm grip. Manjo's eyes went wide as dinner plates. A sharp, involuntary moan escaped her lips, her face turning a shade of red that defied physics.
Lemon, watching this, felt his soul leaving his body. He clutched his head, falling to his knees as if he had been struck by a lightning bolt. "I just want to die... kill me now..."
Faramis stood frozen, his goggles sliding down his nose. Kojo, meanwhile, went deep into thought, his internal "warrior code" struggling to categorize what he was witnessing. Ato, completely oblivious, squeezed even harder, his fingers digging in. Manjo couldn't move; it was like he had hit her ultimate weak spot. Her breathing became heavy and shallow, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Lemon: "ATTTTOOOOOOOOOO!"
The roar was so loud it shook the remaining glass in the window frames. Ato snapped awake, his eyes popping open as the fog finally cleared. He looked at his hands, then up at Manjo's vibrating, crimson face, then at the horrified Lemon.
Ato: "Oh! Lemon, Manjo, Faramis, and Kojo! Are you alright?"
He let go instantly, standing up and dusting himself off as if he hadn't just committed the ultimate culinary sin. Manjo collapsed back onto the floor, her hands covering her face as she tried to catch her breath.
Manjo: "Yea... I'm okay... and... you defeated Raiden." She somehow managed to stand, her legs shaking as she bowed deeply toward him. "Thank you, Ato."
Ato grinned, his usual reckless self returning. "Ok! Now we are getting you back on your island."
The air in the room went cold. Manjo froze mid-bow, her eyes wide. "What? I... I thought you were here to recruit me?"
Ato scratched the back of his head, looking a bit guilty. "But we made a promise to the old man that we would get you back. I'm a man of my word, Manjo."
Manjo looked down at her feet, her voice small and disappointed. "Oh... okay. Then—"
Ato: "Manjo, will you join my crew?"
Manjo's head snapped up. Her eyes began to shine with tears she refused to let fall. "Uumm... Of course I will!"
[The Great Escape: Boarding the Beast's Debt]
The Flagship was groaning, the sound of metal snapping under the weight of the rising tide echoing through the hull. The crew didn't waste another second.
Ato, Faramis, Lemon, and Kojo were already back on their ship, the Beast's Debt. The two vessels were lashed together by Faramis's harpoon cables, but the gap was widening. When Manjo reached the railing of the flagship and tried to jump, the distance looked terrifying.
Ato didn't hesitate. He leaned over the side, reaching out his scarred, strong hand.
Ato: "Manjo! Come with me! Sail the whole world with me!"
Manjo looked at his hand, then at the burning fleet behind her. She reached out, her fingers locking with his. "Ok!"
He pulled her aboard with a single, powerful tug. But just as her feet hit the deck, the atmosphere changed. A heavy, suffocating aura settled over the ship. Ato's instincts flared; he stepped in front of Manjo, pulling her behind his back.
Standing near the mast was a tall figure. He wore a heavy, midnight-black cloak that covered his entire body, hood pulled low so that his face was nothing but a void of shadow.
Ato: "What are you doing here?"
Faramis: "Who are you? How did you get past the sensors?!"
Kojo was resting against the main mast, still unable to move his legs, but the man's aura was so strong it forced him to stay conscious. He squinted, trying to pierce the shadow of the cloak.
?????: "Ato-san, right?"
Ato: "Yeah. What happened?"
The figure stepped forward, the wooden deck creaking under his weight. Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, bowing so low his forehead touched the wood.
?????: "Ato-san... please LET ME JOIN YOUR CREW!"
The entire crew—even the half-dead Kojo—shouted in unison: "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
The man reached up and pulled back his hood. He shed the black cloak, revealing a man with long, flowing black hair and features so handsome they seemed to glow under the moonlight. He looked like a prince from an ancient era.
?????: "Ato-san! Please!"
Ato blinked, tilting his head as he studied the man's face. "Oh! You were that mummy we saved from the medical bay!"
Faramis immediately hit Ato over the head with a wrench. "Of course not! Look at him! He's way too handsome to be that crusty old mummy!"
?????: "Oh yeah! Ato-san is right! I was the mummy!"
The crew screamed again: "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"
[The Debate: To Trust or Not to Trust]
They calmed down after some time, gathered in a circle on the deck as the Beast's Debt finally cut the lines and sailed away from the sinking EDEN fleet. Faramis was the first to speak, his arms crossed over his chest.
Faramis: "It's ok. You were that mummy that we saved, and you asked our captain to join our crew. But here's the thing... our captain maybe an idiot, but he's not dumb. He would never let a total stranger joi—"
Ato: "It's ok! You can join us!"
Faramis's goggles nearly popped off. "Huh? What do you mean?! Just like that?!"
Lemon stepped forward, pointing an accusatory finger at the handsome stranger. "Oi, Ato! I know you want him because he's strong, but we can't just let a stranger join us! Look at him! He's probably a spy for the Seven! Or worse, he'll steal all the attention from the ladies!"
Kojo, still propped up against the mast, let out a low, dangerous growl. He couldn't move his body, but his spirit was as sharp as his steel. He glared at Lemon, his eyes flashing with the remnants of the Purple Aura.
Kojo: "Are you saying that the decision of our captain is wrong?!"
Lemon flinched but stood his ground. "What if I am?! We need to be careful, Kojo! We just barely survived Raiden! We don't need a hidden enemy on the ship!"
Kojo couldn't move, but he was not happy at all. He was angry. His hand gripped the hilt of the sword resting beside him. "Ok then... I'll show you—"
Ato stepped between them, laughing as he slapped the "Mummy" on the back. "Relax, guys! He's got good eyes! Besides, we're going to need all the help we can get if we're going to take down the rest of the Seven."
The handsome man, still kneeling, looked up at Ato with stars in his eyes. "Thank you, Captain! I promise, I will not fail you!"