North x Northwest

p>A shadow fell over their heads.
The source of the shadow was a deck that was much higher than the Bell Rock’s.
It was so high that it looked like it was topped by one full floor.

Lil slowly raised her head and witnessed how the shadow of a huge hull leaned toward the Bell Rock, thereby engulfing her face.
One of the ship’s jet-black gun barrels pointed directly at her, causing her frozen gaze to stutter along the opponent ship’s hull. 

Above the uniformly protruding gun barrels, a noble golden band crossed its streamlined body.
The engraving of the ship’s name in elegant handwriting on that golden background exhibited the fine taste of its designer.

“Vi…”

When the remaining fog was pushed away, the name of the ship was revealed.
The crystal clear nameplate flashed before her eyes.
Her knees began to shake even before she could read it aloud.
Lil couldn’t control her quivering lips nor her uncontrollably trembling body.

With a groan, Lil pushed out the words she refused to believe.

[ Visha ] 

“…Visha…”

Blood drained from her face when she mumbled the name.

“…Oh… how did they… we couldn’t even see…”

It felt so unrealistic that she wondered if she was looking at a hallucination.
Lil wished for the fog to obscure her vision again.
But cruelly, the fog was gradually dissipating even further.
As her vision grew much clearer, the terrifying reality weighed on her, causing her to roll her immovable eyes to check the ship’s name plate once more. 

With it being the same, she was left with no choice but to admit their situation. 

“…Admiral Retiro… why is he here…”

The admiral’s flagship was close enough to engage in hand-to-hand battle at any time.
That feeling of intimidation made Lil instinctively take a step back. 

Then, a scream pierced through the silence.

That single scream triggered dozens of shouts to fill the air.
The sound of panic-stricken sailors loading irons invaded Lil’s ears.
Finally coming to her senses, Lil grabbed her waist… 

But, the captain’s horn was missing…

She had no choice but to shout towards the foredeck.

“Calm down!”

However, Lil was in the middle of the main deck, a place where she wasn’t able to grab anyone’s attention the way she could on the rear deck.
Chaos began to spread and a group of shift workers hit her on the shoulder as they rushed forward.
Lil stumbled onto the railing and raised her head to the deck behind her.
Julio was busily pacing around.
However, Cesar couldn’t be seen. 

‘He probably took advantage of the gap and escaped.’

Lil closed her eyes tightly to think. 

‘Stay focused.
Please think… Under the guise of refusing to conduct inspection, the Navy will demand our immediate surrender… If worse comes to worst, I will have to take off my necklace…’

Lil tried hard to suppress the thoughts about the rumours surrounding the admiral.
However, all the evil deeds she had heard about cut through her efforts. 

‘I can’t let my sailors fall prey to his man-eating fish.
Nor let their heads be skinned… Ugh!’ 

Lil banged her head in an attempt to erase the terrible image from her mind.
Needing to prevent her crew from falling into the admiral’s insane inclinations, she even deemed that revealing her identity would be nothing compared to her crew’s demise.
In fact, she was prepared to be dragged away like a dog…

Suddenly, the captain’s horn sounded overhead.

“…All units to battle position!…”

Julio planted his foot on the railing and blew the horn again.
Lil doubted her ears for a moment but subsequently let out a stunned groan when the floor beneath her shook.
Vibrations reverberated through her feet. 

 – Drruckk… Kung! Drruckk… Kung! –

The guns on her left side pierced through the gun gates one after another.

Lil looked ahead again.
On the deck, half of the crew was arranging their positions in perfect order, while the other half was mindlessly wandering around.
She slowly backed away and settled in a blind spot just below the railing.
From there, it was impossible for Julio to see her.
Lil then made eye contact with one of the sailors wandering the deck before shaking her head and quietly pointing down.
When the sailor looked toward the entrance of the lower deck, Lil nodded her head. 

‘The cabin deck will be the safest place.
Even if things escalate to a full-scale battle, at least they can defend themselves down there while waiting for everyone else to surrender…’