For a while after that, things were... repetitive. Whether I was walking the night streets and having to slap around a distinct group of black-masked thugs, or taking a practice swim in the Fish-Man Island waters and having to punch out the same masked idiots trying to drag me to the abyss, it was getting old. It's hard to stay undercover when your masks are that recognizable, Hordy.
"Ten times the strength of a human?" I muttered as I left them sprawled on the pavement. "After years of training and body modification, you're going to need to bring at least ten times that if you want to make me sweat."
Finally, a scout from the Royal Guard arrived with the report: "Bonbori-sama," the giant anglerfish, had appeared on the New World side.
I left the soldier waiting and went to find Robin.
"Robin, Bonbori-sama has appeared on the New World side. I could use your help."
"My, Uncle," she replied with a playful smirk. "If you're asking me out on a date, you really should be more passionate about it."
I decided to play along. "Robin, I need you. Why don't you come with me on a little date?"
She froze for a good few seconds, apparently not expecting me to actually lean into the bit.
"...I'll go get ready. Please wait a moment, Uncle," she finally said, her voice regaining its composure. Now I was the one feeling a bit embarrassed by her calm response.
I began my own preparations. Since we'd be traveling through the sea, I opted for a lighter load. I left my heavy cuirass and mace behind, instead strapping the "Unnumbered 16 and 17" to my waist—swords built for pure durability.
(Numbers 1 through 15 had all met honorable ends in battle.) I packed several pouches onto my belt, wore a black tank top with blue-and-black camo trousers, and pulled on sturdy combat boots.
Finally, I threw on my custom Navy coat with the red gull emblem.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Uncle."
Robin stepped out. She wore the sea-beast leather backpack I'd gifted her, and the monocle pendant hung at her neck.
Her belt held two pouches and a pair of crossed collapsible rods—standard issue for the Vanguard. She wore a brimmed cap with steel wire woven into the lining, and her long white hair was tied at the nape of her neck.
She was dressed in a tough leather jacket, matching black gloves, camo trousers like mine, and knee-high combat boots.
"...It's an unknown location. Shouldn't you cover up a bit more?" I noted that her short top left her midriff and navel exposed.
"My, I don't want to hear that from an 'Uncle' who's wearing nothing but a tank top under his coat," she teased. "Besides, it's just fashion. You really don't understand a woman's heart, do you?"
I had no comeback for that, so I just kept my mouth shut. As long as I'm with her, she'll be fine, I figured.
"Alright then, let's go."
"Yes! I'm happy you're relying on me, Uncle. I'll work my hardest, so watch me!"
It was our first real "adventure" together. As we headed out, a Ryugu soldier handed us two short coral branches. "Please use these 'Bubbly Corals.' If you press this protrusion, a bubble will emerge. Since you aren't using a ship, we thought you might need them for air."
I had initially planned to take the whole squad on a coated ship, but Hordy and his "Masked Friends" had been so persistent lately that I changed my mind.
I didn't think my elites would lose, but I didn't want to risk the ship being sabotaged mid-transit. So, it was just the two of us; the rest stayed behind to guard the ship and keep an eye on the Fish-Man District.
We mounted a sea beast provided by the Kingdom. The driver's seat was encased in a bubble, making the journey quite comfortable. I'd been prepared to swim while holding my breath, so I made a mental note to thank Neptune again.
After a while, we saw it: an anglerfish with a massive, golden-glowing lure.
"It's even bigger than I imagined..."
"So that is Bonbori-sama..."
It swam with a majestic, unhurried grace, its body gargantuan even for its lure. When its mouth drifted slightly open, rows of razor-sharp teeth were visible. The Island Eater indeed.
I signaled the sea beast to stop. "This is far enough. We're going inside. Wait for us a safe distance away."
"Alright, Robin! Here we go!"
I took a deep breath, and we leapt from the beast's bubble. I clicked the Bubbly Coral once, enveloping Robin in a fresh sphere. Holding her securely with one arm, I used Moonwalk to kick through the water toward the leviathan.
We slipped through a gap in its teeth—a "gap" that was larger than a house to us—and accelerated. We shot past the massive uvula, down the cliff-like throat, and through the esophagus until we suddenly emerged into an open, brightly lit area filled with air.
I used Moonwalk to stay airborne for a moment, scanning the horizon. This had to be the stomach. There were patches of land scattered about—likely the remains of whatever islands the beast had made a meal of. I spotted a lush, green island and landed, setting Robin down.
"It's so bright in here, even though we're inside a fish..."
"Yeah. I brought lights, thinking it would be pitch black. This is a lucky mistake. Let's start looking for clues about Alchemi. What do you think—should we split up?"
"Hmm, it's an unknown territory. I think we should stay together."
I agreed, and we pushed into the dense greenery of the island.
"...I didn't expect to find dinosaurs in here," Robin remarked.
"It's been a while since I've seen these. Not much variety, but they're definitely dinosaurs." A large carnivore was nearby, currently crunching on a smaller herbivore.
"Oh? Have you seen them somewhere before, Uncle?"
"Yeah, on an ancient island called Little Garden."
I was watching the beast from a distance, deciding whether to engage, when a high-pitched, out-of-place voice chirped from behind us.
"Hyoh?! My, my, my, what a surprise! I never expected to meet another human in here! What a shock, sa!"
We both spun around. Standing there was a young girl—maybe not even ten years old. She had tanned skin, striking red eyes, and blonde hair, wearing a simple indigo dress.
There she is. Uh... what was her name again?
I forgot! It's the survivor of Alchemi—the old woman in a little girl's body!
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