Werther woke early the next morning.
At Marine Headquarters, he had only slept lightly. Too much here was uncertain.
The Chief Steward was already awake beside him. They exchanged a glance, got up, and left the Fleet Admiral's Office.
Just as they reached the door, Werther heard the door to the next room slide open.
Aokiji, Sengoku, Momousagi, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Fujitora, who had hurried back to Marine Headquarters, all came out.
"You Marines are awfully hospitable."
The Chief Steward looked at the assembled officers and wondered what Werther had done to put the Marine leadership so on edge.
"Bastard."
The muttered curse came from a woman.
Werther looked at Momousagi and immediately saw why she had said it.
One side of Momousagi's already ample chest was swollen to an astonishing size.
The mismatch between the two sides was hard not to laugh at.
"Ahem." Aokiji cleared his throat to ease the awkwardness.
"Are you two leaving? Why not have breakfast first?"
Aokiji wasn't merely being polite. Werther and the Chief Steward had already spent a night at Marine Headquarters, so there was no need to rush them out now. Besides, the Chief Steward's identity concerned him.
"Thank you for the offer, Fleet Admiral Aokiji."
They went to the Marine cafeteria together. Breakfast was fairly good: plenty of high-calorie food, including Sea King meat.
After breakfast, Werther and the Chief Steward walked out of Marine Headquarters.
Lightning surged around Werther's hand, and the King of the Sky swooped down.
"So this is the raptor you tamed? Quite a fine mount."
Werther nodded without saying anything else, and the two jumped onto the King of the Sky's back.
The King of the Sky beat his enormous wings. Dust swirled around them as he rose into the air.
Aokiji and the