Aikefei's heart settled instantly.
She still didn't know what Lin En was planning, but she trusted him completely.
A moment of anxiety had made her forget that things were different now. Out of habit, she had almost slipped back into the mindset of walking alone—shouldering everything herself.
But that was no longer her reality.
Now, someone shared her burdens.
She knew how reliable Lin En was and was willing to let him take the lead. Besides—
I'm not the same person I used to be.
Her thoughts shifted subtly as she placed a hand over her chest, appearing every bit the anxious, worried girl.
What others couldn't see was the Vision hidden in the inner pocket of her clothing, quietly accumulating Cryo energy under her control.
Ordinarily, such a buildup would emit a faint glow. In the darkness of the hold, even her relatively conservative attire might not conceal it completely.
But her hand covered it perfectly.
Always keep a trump card when traveling abroad—Lin En had once said that.
She'd found it very reasonable.
And now, she was putting it to use.
On the other side, the captain seemed to be growing irritated.
"Pretend?"
"What are you talking about, Mr. Lin En? I kindly offered you passage. When you boarded, I repeatedly emphasized that you were not to wander into other areas and disrupt our work."
His tone grew heavier, tinged with grievance—as though good intentions had been repaid with suspicion.
"Now, please leave this place and return to your cabin! We'll arrive at Romaritime Harbor around three or four in the morning. You may disembark then. I won't pursue your violation of our agreement by trespassing into the cargo hold—but I expect you not to wander about again—"
Lin En remained unmoved. The sword in his hand tapped lightly against a crate.
"Kindly?"
He sounded as though he'd heard a joke.
"A smuggler. And you're smuggling Les. Calling you heinous wouldn't be unfair, would it? And yet you claim you invited us aboard out of kindness? You even plan to dock at a proper harbor like Romaritime?"
He chuckled.
"I suppose it pays to travel. I've never heard a joke this funny in Natlan or Nod-Krai. Have you, Aikefei?"
Les!
Aikefei's heart jolted.
The substance hadn't been around for long. Ever since the Spina di Rosula publicly exposed its dangers and banned its spread in Poisson, the entire Fontaine authorities had swiftly followed suit, classifying it as a high-risk prohibited item.
How could she not know of it?
She just hadn't expected her first encounter with it to be like this.
"Smuggling? That is amusing."
Borrowing the chill of Cryo to steady herself, Aikefei joined in the mockery.
She had traveled widely—her experience rivaling that of veteran adventurers. She understood this type of person well.
Smugglers operated under extreme risk and profit. During transit, they were obsessively cautious—even more trouble-averse than ordinary people. In extreme cases, they'd postpone settling even life-and-death grudges until after the goods were delivered.
This captain was clearly no amateur. For someone like him to claim he acted on "a moment of kindness" was laughable. To invite complications was even more laughable.
And docking at Romaritime Harbor?
Carrying a shipload of contraband into an official port—was he courting death?
For that matter, whether this ship was even heading to Fontaine was questionable.
Other contraband might be smuggled in through unconventional routes. But this was Les.
Though its origin remained uncertain, many in Fontaine had their suspicions. The substance caused little stir abroad but persisted stubbornly within Fontaine.
Most likely, it was a local "specialty."
Importing a local specialty from overseas—did he think smuggling had no cost?
"Though I don't frequent the Opera Epiclese," Aikefei added coolly, "this is at least as funny as one of Lady Furina's comedies."
Their back-and-forth stripped away the captain's facade. The feigned warmth vanished from his rugged face, replaced by gloom and viciousness.
"When did you figure it out?"
There was confusion in his voice—and unwillingness.
How had such perfect acting been seen through by two youngsters?
Perhaps sensing the sincerity in his question—or perhaps simply in a good mood—Lin En actually answered.
"When?"
He considered.
"From the beginning."
"The moment you invited us aboard."
The captain didn't believe him.
"From the beginning?"
"My performance had flaws?"
Lin En fell briefly silent, as though replaying their encounter in his mind. Then he shook his head slightly.
"No flaws. Your performance was professional. I didn't spot any calls."
The captain received affirmation—but not clarity.
"Then how did you know?"
What he didn't notice was the faint teasing now mixed into Lin En's gaze.
"You want to know?"
"Of course."
"Fine. I'll tell you."
Lin En nodded, as though acknowledging the situation required honesty.
"Because I'm unlucky."
"Unlucky?"
The answer was so broad it sounded evasive.
Before the captain could press further, Lin En continued leisurely, as though telling a story.
"Don't misunderstand. By 'unlucky,' I mean myself—not you."
"Let me give you an example. Since you're in this line of work, you should know a bit about Nod-Krai. Ever heard of the Wild Hunt? No? Doesn't matter. It's a kind of Abyssal disaster unique to the region—most common north of Pyramida City."
"South of Pyramida, especially around Xixi Island and Lunbo Island, it's much rarer. Even someone constantly traveling might only encounter it once every ten days or half a month. With decent luck, maybe not at all."
"As for me… Let's put it this way. In two months, I left Nasha Town fewer than twenty times. The number of times I didn't run into the Wild Hunt can be counted on one hand."
"And afterward? I tried to leave Nod-Krai. Missed three consecutive ferries for various reasons. Finally managed to secure passage on a cargo ship willing to take passengers—only to discover midway that it was a smuggling vessel."
"That alone would've been fine. I didn't want to meddle. I just wanted to mind my own business. But they started fighting among themselves—and then we ran into a shipwreck."
"With luck like that, missing a passenger ship at the harbor… and then having a cargo captain warmly invite you aboard?"
He smiled faintly.
"Be honest, Captain. If you were me—what would you think?"