The scar on the wall was still there. Luka D Taiga looked at the stone wall of the inn. Where the dagger had been driven in. Now pulled free. Only a thin crack remained. "To the one who toys with time. —From Diael." That single line kept repeating in his head. Push down the agitation. Work to do today. Morning Porto Neira was thick with fog. A ship's whistle echoed from the direction of the Smoke Pier. The harbor district's cobblestones were wet with night dew. Footsteps made damp sounds. --- Behind the arena—Garuda Pit—there was a small bar. A dim shop with no windows. Open since before noon. When Taiga pushed the door, tobacco smoke drifted out. Zarl Voluren sat at the table in the back. Arms crossed. Cup placed in front. Not waiting for anyone. Just there. Closer than at yesterday's arena, his massive frame became clear. Black hair with red streaks. Scar on right cheek. Tattoos covering his arms. Twenty-four years old seemed impossible. The tired eyes of someone who'd done something too long. Taiga sat across from him. "[serious]Become my ally" No preamble. Zarl laughed through his nose. Eyes still on the cup. "[sarcastic]What can you do" "Listen and decide. First I'll show you" Taiga placed his right fist on the table. He lit the flame. Minimal output. Orange fire wavered quietly above his clenched fist. No runaway. Control. Emotions locked away. Only the flame, stable. His left arm's scar throbbed slightly. He ignored it. Zarl's eyes stopped. Gaze lifted from the cup. Saw the flame. Stared. Nearly ten seconds. Eyes remembering something. Looking at a distant place. Deep, caught color. Beneath the rough expression, it was there. Taiga extinguished the flame. Silence stretched. "[serious]……Interesting" Zarl spoke low. "I don't trust you yet. But depending on the destination, I'll travel with you. One condition—I need a purpose I can accept. That's all" He stood. The conversation was over. His posture said so. Taiga watched Zarl's eyes. That deep color from when he saw the flame. Still there. Questions wanted asking. But Zarl walked first. Not now. --- Reina was waiting. Outside the bar. At the alley's edge. Touching her compass pendant slightly. Silver hair caught morning light. She saw Taiga's face. Nodded small. "[gentle]It went well?" "Conditional agreement" "The condition" "Purpose. I'll explain later" They walked toward the market. Pre-noon Porto Neira had more people. Vendor calls. Negotiation voices. Sailors laughing. Salt and oil and fish smell mixed. Behind the market—one street before the path to Smoke Pier. A voice came. Not a shout. Quiet. The kind that corners prey. Taiga stopped. Deep in the alley. Three men in black jackets. Before them, a small figure. Looked fourteen. Purple two-tone short hair. Gold eyes sharp. Multiple piercings in left ear. Small tattoos. Calculating escape while keeping distance at the wall—that eye movement said not just a child. "[serious]Return the company's cargo" One man said. "[cold]Don't have it" The girl didn't flinch. Calm voice. But three stepped closer. Taiga ran. Flew into the alley. Grabbed the first man's arm. Slammed him into the wall. Dull thud. Man crumpled. Second turned. Taiga stepped in. Fist to solar plexus. Breath stopped. Third pulled a knife. Reina had circled from behind. Blocked the rear. Third man understood. Trapped between two. Lowered the knife. Ran away. Taiga turned back. The girl was watching. Gold eyes appraising him straight. Not gratitude. Wariness. "[cold]Company people?" "No" "Proof" "If we were company, you'd be tied up by now" The girl thought one moment. Then eased her guard slightly—not completely. Stepped from the wall. Faced Taiga directly. "Luka D Taiga" Introduced himself. The girl's eyes narrowed. "[serious]……A notice went around the company. A man who uses fire came to Porto Neira. That you?" "Yes" "Milena Feelds" Short introduction. That was all. --- Needed a place to talk. Moved to the shadow of a warehouse. Few eyes. Reina checked the surroundings. Came back. Milena kept observing Taiga. "Why did you leave the company" Asked directly. Milena paused. Then answered. "[serious]I saw the ledgers" "Ledgers" "Records of people packed in boxes. Sold. Written in numbers, names, amounts. I managed information—all the hidden ledgers, all the trade records. One day I saw them. At that moment, being there meant nothing" Flat tone. Emotionless delivery. But the words were heavy. "Burned the records into my head and left. Been hunted since. Naturally" "[serious]Come with us" Taiga said it. Milena's eyes changed slightly. Wariness stayed. But testing color was added. "[cold]You want to destroy the company?" "No. I have a different purpose" "What" Taiga paused. "Save my precious brother. That's all" Milena went silent. Seconds. Nothing. Gold eyes stared at Taiga's face. That gaze—just for an instant—wavered. Came back. Expression unchanged. But rejection didn't come. "[cold]……And?" "Exchange your information for our movements. Need someone who knows the company inside" Milena thought. Looked at the wall. Came back. "I have a condition" "Tell me" "I move by my judgment. No orders. That's it" "Understood" --- Evening. Four people gathered at Smoke Pier. The ship was small. But Reina's ship—the deck was clean. Rope knots careful. Of fifteen ships moored at the pier, the most well-maintained. Zarl saw Milena. Frowned. "[serious]……A child?" Milena paused. Answered. "[cold]Barossa Company roster. Porto Neira station alone, forty-seven members. Current captain is Toss Hernan. Vice-captain is Keina Valt. Harbor operations leader is Morick Stein—this man sent today's pursuers" Zarl went silent. Milena closed her mouth. Reina began departure preparations. Checked sail condition. Mentally ordered the rope sequence. Her movements were trustworthy just watching. Milena watched sideways. Former company member and someone with deep hatred for the company. No words between them. Reina's gaze turned to Milena one moment. Came back forward. In that silence, something complex drifted. Taiga felt that air. Said nothing. Only departure now. Zarl silently lifted cargo. Heavy wooden box alone. No wasted strength. Four began moving—then. Footsteps. Heard them. Not one. Many. Orderly. Taiga turned. Pier's exit side—toward land. Black-jacketed men appeared. Weapons. Quiet. But certain. Spreading to form an encirclement. Simultaneously, sea side. Between ships. Small boats. Multiple. Thirty people. At least. Zarl cursed low. From the pier's back. Stairs to the mansion. Footsteps descended. White coat. White hair tied once. Fifty-eight years old perhaps, but no age in that walk. Wrinkles carved on her face. Cold smile floating. Milena's face changed. Lips pressed tight. Eyes narrowed—barely suppressing emotion. Grizelda Barossa. Barossa Company head. Former pirate. This island's practical ruler. The woman looked at Taiga. "[serious]This man knows the future. His head has value" Quiet voice. No emotion. Command. "[cold]Take him alive" Elite moved. Zarl stepped forward. Blew two men away with his arms. Pier rang. Dogan. Taiga wrapped both fists in Kagero flame. Suppress emotion. Don't raise output. Three coming straight—pushed them with flame. Knocked one off the pier. Water spray rose. Milena read the structure. Shouted back. "[serious]Left gap, three meters ahead, there's an exit!" Can move. Still can move. But elite were combat veterans. One falls, next fills. Numbers worked. Taiga's left arm scar throbbed. Emotion wavered. Flame losing control. Suppress. Push down. Suppress— One moment. Consciousness scattered. Shadow moved from blind spot. Behind Reina preparing the ship. Multiple closing in. Realized too late. One grabbed her arm. Another put blade to her throat. Reina didn't move. No sound. Expression unchanged. Looked straight at Taiga. Not emotion. Situation confirmation. In Taiga's mind, images ran. Ace wrapped in flame. Falling. That sight. Seen many times. Eyes closed, won't fade. Another precious person dies. Before his eyes. That fear painted everything. Taiga dropped his weapon. On the pier. Kan. Dry sound. "[angry]Wait!" Zarl shouted. But Taiga didn't move. Opened both hands. Surrender intent. Grizelda spoke quietly. "[cold]A wise choice" Elite approached. Zarl stepped forward. But the blade at Reina's throat moved—that alone stopped him. Milena bit her lip at the wall. Rope wound around him. Taiga didn't resist. Grizelda bought information from Diael. The ledger said flame ability. Also that Taiga held future knowledge. How much known. What was sold. Taiga, bound, watched Grizelda's cold smile. On the pier's water, sunset reflected. Red. Wavering. Diael was already moving. Ace's information might be sold somewhere. Worst situation spread quietly.