Annan and Luoxi stood on the Wharf, with the crowd watching from afar as the Broken Laws slowly sailed away from Free Port.
Waves raised by the massive warship rocked the ships in the Harbor, and passengers aboard the merchant vessels grabbed the Handlebar Grips.
Hoooo—
The whale song they had heard aboard the ship rang out again, more lilting and resonant than before. It echoed across the water, quieting the bustling Harbor and streets.
Annan felt a pang of regret. They had left too soon, without a chance to properly explore Free City.
No coastal city could turn away sailors—they had money to spend, asked for little, and rarely caused trouble.
The Broken Laws vanished beyond the horizon, leaving only a white wake rippling across the bay.
Annan returned to the Lounge and told his waiting Eldest Sister and Olmedo about his time aboard the ship.
"Looks like that was the Empire's apology," Olmedo said.
An apology?
It dawned on Annan. No wonder Minister Ollie had said he could not tour the ship, then promptly taken him aboard for a look around. Annan had thought Ollie's words simply did not match his actions.
"What did you see?"
"Nothing much. Some facilities, blueprints, things like that."
Olmedo grew serious. The Dreadnought embodied the finest craftsmanship humanity had to offer. Even a glimpse of it could give them years' worth of research.
"How much do you remember?"
"Uh... I only glanced at them."
But Annan's Expression made it plain that the thought had never occurred to him.
Olmedo sighed. "Annan..."
"What?"
"Even if we'd sent Martin aboard, he would've remembered more than you."
"That's going a bit far."
Idelia watched them bicker with a gentle smile. Then footsteps sounded outside in the corridor.
Guilty as he felt, Annan thought it was