The Turncoat (Please Subscribe~)

At 9:05 p.m.

Captain Ken Angus held a pocket watch and checked the time, then glanced back at the people standing in the corridor. Besides boatswain Roger, Poet Edward had come, and so had Quincy. Quincy stood far away, leaning against the wall, watching from a distance.

"About time."

The captain took out a key and opened the isolation room. The moment he pushed open the door, Ken felt a fierce, restless aura surge out, like a beast caged for too long, its back arched and fur bristling, ready to charge.

Then Sifa burst from the room. Without a word, he clenched his fists, threw back his head, and roared so loudly that both of the captain's ears rang.

Sifa lunged at the captain, wrapped him in a crushing hug, and thumped Ken's back. "Captain! It's been ages. I missed you so much."

He enthusiastically hugged and greeted the other two in turn. When he looked toward Quincy, Quincy turned and walked away. Sifa shrugged, then sighed. "That day was far too long. Thank goodness it's over."

The captain shook his head. "Go back to your room and take a bath. You smell like a vagrant. And remember, come to my cabin once you've cleaned up. I have work for you."

"Yes, sir!"

Sifa stood ramrod straight and saluted the captain before leaving. He greeted everyone he passed with a hearty "How are you?"

Ken put a cigarette between his lips. "Another day in there, and he'd have gone mad."

Roger grinned. "Weren't you the same last time?"

"I was much more normal than him," the captain said seriously. "I have excellent self-control."

The boatswain declined to discuss the matter further, and they soon went their separate ways.

After bathing and changing clothes, Sifa sprayed some perfume into the air