Jewelry Bonney stood outside Wuli's room for a long time. She finally left only when the old cook aboard the warship came to say the food was ready.
"Lord Sword Master, why did you do that? Even if she stayed with us, she wouldn't necessarily be in more danger than she would be on her own," Shangyang couldn't help asking.
"What good would it do her to follow someone who can't even go out in the sunlight?"
Shangyang fell silent and said nothing more.
Wuli had sent Jewelry Bonney away. He had already fulfilled the first two parts of his agreement with her.
If Jewelry Bonney continued to follow Wuli, she would face danger at every turn. He still had to search for his shadow, while Fleet Admiral Sakazuki had personally ordered him back to Marine Headquarters. Kizaru, who had been suspicious of him all along, was probably waiting for him too.
If Wuli found himself trapped, Jewelry Bonney, as a pirate, would be caught up in it. Better to let her forge her own path.
Jewelry Bonney left the next day. Shangyang saw her off.
She looked back from time to time, but never saw the other familiar figure. She knew, of course, that someone who had lost his shadow could not step into the sunlight.
"Goodbye, Wuli."
Just as Jewelry Bonney was about to disappear beyond the town's harbor, a figure bundled in thick clothes emerged and watched the little girl leave. She had long, straight pink hair and wore denim overall shorts, a white short-sleeved shirt, and knee-high brown boots with low heels. Heart-shaped lipstick marked her mouth.
Shangyang beat his wings and flew to Wuli's side. "Where are we going next, Lord Sword Master? Are we returning to Marine Headquarters?"
Wuli answered slowly, "There's somewhere we