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Loa's words jolted Arudo and Mingde. They spun around, and sure enough, Tony's eyes were open.
What kind of look was that?
Anger, despair, pain, regret, grief.
All those emotions filled his eyes. Anyone who saw them would feel a pang of pity.
But all three were strong-willed, and none let Tony's gaze sway them.
Seeing him awake, Mingde angrily pressed the Spiked Club against his neck. "Are you stupid? If you want to die, I'll put you out of your misery right now!"
As he spoke, he pushed down harder. The club's short, sharp spikes pierced the skin and sank into blood vessels. Blood poured down Tony's neck, soon staining the sheets red.
Tony lay motionless, staring at the ceiling as though he felt nothing.
"Mingde, calm down!" Arudo lunged forward and grabbed the Spiked Club. Apart from Loa, he'd never feared anyone's strength in the Elite Camp. Once he had it in his grip, Mingde couldn't push it another inch.
"Enough!"
Loa, who had been sitting silently on the Floating Ice, roared and cut their struggle short.
A chill swept through the air. Both men shivered and let go at the same time.
Arudo quietly stepped in front of Tony's bed, edging Mingde aside. He looked just as he had when he'd stood in front of Loa back at the Elite Camp.
Loa sighed helplessly. He stood and used Geppo to drift toward the door. "Well, if you don't want to say it, I won't ask. Just remember: when it matters, we're all blind and deaf."
At the doorway, Loa stopped and gave a bitter laugh. "Because we're Navy men."
With that, he left without looking