The fireworks in the night sky were like epiphyllum flowers, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Pale white mist rose with the rolling seawater, clinging to the warship's dark green hull before slowly creeping upward with the waves.
Sound seemed to disappear.
Grant stared around blankly.
Soldiers hurried past him. The rustling of uniforms and weapons that should have reached his ears was gone, as was the sound of Vice Admiral Doberman standing on the bow, barking orders...
Not a sound came through.
"Heh, heh-heh..."
He didn't wonder why the sounds had vanished. Instead, he lowered his head and gave a bitter, strained laugh.
"A silent world. How wonderful."
Grant found a measure of comfort in this soundless world.
His face was twisted between laughter and tears.
With a surprisingly light step, he approached the Vice Admiral.
The word JUSTICE on the Admiral's coat stood out painfully.
And right now, Grant was desperate to destroy something, to cause some kind of chaos—to bury his sorrow beneath an outburst.
Otherwise, he feared he'd lose control and tear out the heart that felt as if some hand had gripped it tight, just to see whether it really was as ridiculous as it felt...
The emotions demanding release overwhelmed his reason.
It was as if a devil lurked in the mysterious Mental World, manipulating people's emotions.
It wasn't creating anything from nothing. It was magnifying the three or four parts of resentment and dissatisfaction already inside Grant until they consumed his entire heart.
The Vice Admiral seemed to have noticed the silence too. His expression grew especially grim as he began using kicks and gestures to make his orders understood.
He wasn't on guard. He wasn't on guard...
Grant couldn't help snickering, like a child about to pull off a prank.
The