Kirishima had already leaped down, the hem of his black coat spreading in the dry, hot wind.
Like a falcon's wings, he landed lightly on the scorching sand below without stirring a speck of dust.
Meanwhile... Enel looked at the lone white plastic chair.
He could not help looking down again at the figure that merged into the crowd outside the casino and vanished in an instant, torn by an internal struggle.
Run? The moment the thought arose, the searing pain in his ribs and the cold killing intent lingering deep in his soul made him shudder.
In the end, he sighed mournfully, drew his Golden Staff in resignation, and carefully guided the Ark Maxim down to the designated spot.
Once he had finished, he jumped off the ship, gripping his Golden Staff tightly in one hand while, with the other, he awkwardly... picked up the white plastic chair, light as a feather yet heavy as a mountain.
After a moment's hesitation, he scratched his head, took a few small gold bars he carried from inside his clothes, and solemnly placed them on the chair's seat.
As he understood it, this was the price of admission to a place like this.
The entrance to the Rain Dinners Casino glittered with gold, and attendants in skimpy bunny outfits wore sweet smiles.
Kirishima felt his completely empty pockets. He had never had a habit of carrying money. Then he glanced at the astronomical minimum chip exchange amount posted at the entrance and stopped quite naturally.
"Tch. Gambling and drugs are my sworn enemies."
Muttering without the slightest qualm, he turned and headed toward a nearby tavern that looked more down-to-earth, with a faded wooden sign hanging outside-the Sand Camel Bell Tavern.
Just as he was about to push the door open, Enel's