"What is it, Laffy? You're disturbing my meal."
The man with thick lips and a cold air about him exhaled a cloud of smoke and wiped his grease-covered hands on his clothes.
Looking at Captain Margo, known as "Big Eater," Laffy felt fear rising from the bottom of his heart. Rumor had it that the captain he served had unusual tastes—he even cooked corpses!
"Captain, I received some news." Laffy, his face heavily powdered white, stepped aside and stood with his hands hanging at his sides. "Danitz 'Flame,' the Fourth Sailor of the Golden Dream, is in Bayam."
"There are reports that the Church of Storms may already be organizing a pursuit."
Margo paused and put the turkey meat he had been about to bring to his mouth back down. "Really? Are you sure?"
Laffy nodded. "It shouldn't be wrong. We have several informants in the city, and one of them saw someone resembling Danitz last night."
Margo burst into laughter and slammed the table, making it shake and nearly toppling the plates. "Excellent. Let the Church of Storms chase him. When Danitz is exhausted, we'll make our move, catch him, and take him to see the general."
"The general will definitely reward us!"
White-faced Laffy nodded repeatedly. "That's exactly what I thought."
But at that moment, a gloomy voice spoke from the room. "Don't celebrate too soon."
Several gazes turned toward the front, where a man sat quietly in a sofa. He wore a white formal suit, matching trousers, and a white half-top hat.
A sapphire flower-shaped brooch was pinned to his chest.
He had thick brows and a beard. His eyes were gloomy, gray-blue like glass that could never be wiped clean.
"You're always such a killjoy, Roch. But I'd like to hear why you say that." Margo