The hearts of everyone aboard the ship rose into their throats.
"Bai Zhu!"
Morel's low growl carried an irrepressible agitation.
He stood on the gunwale, thick purple smoke spilling from his pipe like a living tentacle, winding around Landlord's outstretched wings as he tried to sweep the figure on the beach straight onto the ship.
"Hiss-"
The edge of the wing met the tip of the smoke with a faint sound like fabric being scorched.
The two forces remained locked in a stalemate in midair.
"Let him fucking go, you mushroom-covered fatso!"
Milluki stamped his feet in agitation aboard the ship, shoved aside Shuto, who was supporting him, and raised a leg to charge down.
"I'll fucking take you on!"
"Young master!"
Shuto reacted swiftly, locking both arms around his waist from behind and dragging him back.
"Don't make things worse!"
Bai Zhu looked up and waved at those aboard, even managing to squeeze out a little smile.
"It's fine. Just discussing a deal. I'll be back after a few words."
His tone was relaxed, but behind his back, the knuckles of his clenched right hand had already turned white.
From several meters away, Morel stared hard into his eyes for three full seconds.
The pipe in his mouth did not move, nor did the strand of purple smoke reaching out show any intention of withdrawing.
"Be quick."
The two words squeezed out between Morel's teeth.
Bai Zhu gave him an "OK" gesture, then turned to face the chubby baby holding a game console before him.
"Go on. What's the deal?"
Gao Mao shook its head and pointed toward the Lighthouse.
"You think stopping that lousy clock fixed everything?"
It looked at Bai Zhu as though he were an idiot.
"All you did was knock its rhythm out of sync