Inside the reinforced Sanctuary, Old John stared in surprise at Horton, who had appeared before him.
"Part of your deal?"
As Old John soothed the monkey on his shoulder, which had grown restless at the smell of blood, he quietly studied this unusual partner of his.
The Captain had "seen" the battle just now.
That was why the strength Horton had displayed astonished him.
Old John had thought he was already overestimating the young man's strength, but when Horton actually showed it, he still got a shock.
Damn it!
Why were all the youngsters these days like this?
Each one was more devious than the last, each better at hiding his trump cards.
Weren't young people supposed to be carefree and careless?
Was it time for old fellows like us to retire?
Remembering how Horton had controlled the storm to whip up enormous waves and heave the great ship upward, then struck both sides of Sakiri's chest and even sliced off that idiot's head, the old Captain felt a chill deep inside. His scalp tingled all the more when he recalled that Horton had kept a considerable distance from that fool Sakiri throughout the entire fight.
So now, as the old Captain looked at Horton, his heart was full of wariness.
"A deal?
If this really were a deal, I'd leave Coconut Island right now to find His Excellency the Medium."
Horton shook his head slightly.
That made Bloody John pause.
"Then what is it?"
The old Captain could not help asking.
Far away, in a room at 2 Kirk Street in South Los, Arthur drew a deep breath and made Horton say softly-
"Currying favor."
"Huh?"
Faced with Horton's answer, the old Captain looked dumbfounded. Certain he had misheard, he immediately blurted out another question.
"What? What did you