Paradis Island, Thunder God Port, dawn.
Annie slowly opened her eyes, rubbed them, and sat up in bed. Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders as she swung her pale legs over the blue-gray floor without touching it.
Bracing herself with her hands, Annie slipped her bare feet, with their slender ankles, into the sandals on the floor. The rising sunlight shone between her feet, and her translucent toenails gleamed faintly.
After a rustle of fabric, her clothes lay on the bed beside her, and she had changed into a military uniform bearing the Wings of Freedom.
Annie walked over to the dressing table and deftly tied her hair into a ponytail in front of the mirror. After gazing at her reflection for a moment, she glanced at the calendar beside her and turned the page to November 1.
Had more than a year already passed? Annie lowered her eyes slightly, lost in thought.
Annie checked the clock on the wall. Four thirty.
Before Chen Si left, he had arranged for Annie to live in the Royal Capital, but she felt she could hardly face the residents there. She preferred living alone by the cold, lonely sea, so the corps had appointed her chief inspector of Thunder God Port.
"You're up so early... haaah..." A voluptuous woman sat up in the other bed, yawning.
"Yes. Routine inspection." Annie glanced at Hitch and spoke quietly. Though her face remained expressionless, she was grateful for Hitch's company.
Hitch, flirtatious as she was, had actually been willing to leave the comfortable Royal Capital for this remote, desolate port to keep her company. She had already stayed for a full three months.
Hitch rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock on the wall. "What? It's only four thirty. Haaah... I'm going back