Night fell, and the lights of Angel Island began to sparkle across the sea of clouds like scattered stars.
After parting ways with Riberra Sami's group, Gan·Fall returned to his residence. Yet the scenes of the day continued to churn in his mind.
Riberra Sami's gaze at the marketplace.
The crowd's fanatical shouting in the plaza.
The battered Shandian tied to the execution platform…
And Riberra Sami's seemingly casual words that had struck like thunder.
"Many times, it all begins with a single sentence from those above."
Gan·Fall lay in bed, tossing and turning. Though the night had grown deep, his mind was unusually awake.
Three hundred years of war.
Generations of accumulated hatred.
The endless grief of losing loved ones.
Could all of this truly never end?
If the root of the war really lay with those at the top… then would the current God be willing to give the order to stop?
And even if the God agreed, how could that intention possibly be conveyed to the Shandians?
Both sides' hands were stained with each other's blood. Could a simple declaration of ceasefire really dissolve hatred built up over centuries?
One question after another weighed on his mind.
He had no answers.
Yet somewhere deep inside, he could sense a faint possibility he had never noticed before.
Something hovered at the edge of his thoughts—but he couldn't grasp it.
If only he could find the key hidden behind that unfinished sentence:
"Unless…"
"No… I have to ask Mr. Riberra Sami!"
Gan·Fall suddenly sat upright.
The urgency of seeking an answer completely chased away his sleep.
He quickly dressed and stepped into the night, heading toward the dock where the Skylark was moored.
The Skylark rested quietly at the harbor.
Several newly purchased Lamp Dials illuminated the deck.
As Gan·Fall approached the gangplank, a large figure stepped out from the shadows and blocked his way.
It was Aldo.
"Yo, Captain Gan·Fall. Out pretty late, huh? Need something?"
Aldo crossed his arms, wearing an unmistakably unwelcoming expression.
"Mr. Aldo, I urgently need to speak with Captain Riberra Sami. Has he already gone to rest?"
"You want to see our boss?"
Aldo scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled.
"Well… Captain Gan·Fall, bad timing. Our captain's pretty tired after walking around all day. He's already resting. Whatever it is, how about tomorrow morning? One night shouldn't make much difference, right?"
Several other crew members had gathered nearby after hearing the conversation.
Hiriluk yawned as he stepped onto the deck.
"Yeah, Captain Gan·Fall. The captain told us to get proper rest tonight. It's already midnight. Even urgent matters can wait one night, right?"
"But…"
Gan·Fall hesitated.
Looking at Aldo and Hiriluk blocking the entrance, his sense of urgency slowly began to calm.
Three hundred years had already passed.
Was resolving the war really so urgent that it had to happen tonight?
Moreover, he was the one seeking advice. He hoped to gain more insight from Riberra Sami.
If he pushed too aggressively, it might backfire.
"…Alright."
Gan·Fall took a deep breath, suppressing his impatience.
He nodded toward them.
"Sorry for disturbing your rest. I'll come back tomorrow morning."
As he turned and left, his somewhat heavy silhouette gradually disappeared down the harbor walkway.
Only then did Aldo finally let out a long breath and wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.
"That was close… If that guy had insisted on rushing in to see the boss while the boss wasn't here, we would've been exposed."
Hiriluk nodded.
"The captain and the others left less than an hour ago. If the captain of the God's Army realized the boss was missing right now, the entire plan could fall apart."
About an Hour and a Half Earlier
The night had only just fallen.
Inside the Skylark's cabin, the lamps burned brightly.
Riberra Sami sat with Aldo, Marcus, Feich, Henry, Hans, and the other core members.
"Tonight," Riberra Sami said bluntly, sweeping his gaze across them,
"we're going to Upper Yard."
"The sacred land?" Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Boss, what are we going there for? Isn't it a forbidden area in the Kingdom of God?"
"Yes. It's forbidden."
Riberra Sami nodded but offered no further explanation.
"But I want to take a look up there. There may be something I'm looking for."
"I've already had Henry prepare the ship—a large Waver equipped with dual Wind Dials. Marcus, Feich, Henry, and Hans will come with me. Aldo and the rest of you will stay behind."
"What?! Boss!"
Aldo immediately protested, his face full of dissatisfaction.
"How can you leave me out of an operation like this? I'm the strongest fighter here!"
Riberra Sami looked at Aldo's loud reaction with mild helplessness, but his tone remained firm.
"Aldo, you can't go this time. Precisely because this is the Kingdom of God, the Skylark must keep enough strength to defend itself. I know your ability better than anyone. With you and Sagins here—along with the rest of the crew—even if the God's Army suddenly comes to inspect, you can handle it. At the very least, you can delay them and prevent them from noticing anything unusual."
He paused, his gaze deepening.
"If all the officers leave the ship, our defenses will be too weak. Someone must ensure the Skylark's safety and maintain the illusion that all of us are still on board. I trust you most with that task."
Aldo opened his mouth, still clearly reluctant.
But hearing Riberra Sami describe the responsibility in such important terms—especially acknowledging his strength and importance—made most of his dissatisfaction fade.
He thumped his chest.
"Fine! If you say it's that important, boss, then leave the home front to me! Don't worry—while I'm here, no one's getting past this ship!"
Marcus snorted from the side, though he didn't object to the arrangement.
Not long afterward, a Waver quietly departed the harbor.
It glided silently across the darkened White-White Sea, heading toward the shadowy island of Upper Yard.
The craft cut through the calm cloud waves.
Aside from Hans steering, Riberra Sami, Marcus, Feich, and Henry all remained silent.
Marcus glanced back at the fading lights of Angel Island in the distance and spoke quietly.
"Boss… did you really leave Aldo behind only for the reason you gave?"
Riberra Sami leaned against the railing and chuckled softly.
"Aldo's strength is unquestionable. His loyalty and courage are beyond doubt as well. But tonight we're infiltrating, not fighting. With his loud personality, he'd turn a quiet infiltration into a full frontal assault."
He paused before continuing.
"And besides… Sagins is with him now. Put those two together and the mission would become far more complicated. Letting them guard the ship is actually the safest choice."
Marcus burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
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