[i][b]Meanwhile, back on Batotoi Island...[/b][/i]

“It’s been about ten years since his reign of terror started,” The old man - named Caleb - explained, having seated himself at a table Siobhan had set upright for him. Finding enough coffee grounds remaining to brew the three of them each a cup, he greedily gulped his down despite the steam that poured off it. “Bueh…”

Leaning back in her chair with her arms folded behind her head, Siobhan quietly listened to the geezer talk about the situation in West Blue. She didn’t like the things she was hearing, mainly because it was hitting just a little too close to home for her liking. [color=crimson]”I heard he was still a slaver, that Blackwell.”[/color]

“Oh, he is,” Caleb nodded, downing another mouth-searing glob of the brown liquid. “Took near every man, woman and child that wasn’t killed or wounded in the fighting, if they weren’t too old to be useful to em’…”

The redhead nodded once in response to this, letting her arms briefly fall to her side before she folded them beneath her chest. [color=crimson]”That’s what he does, sure. All slavers, in fairness.”[/color]

Caleb grunted his agreement, staring down at what remained of his coffee. “At least we aren’t those fools stuck in Cheribo. Their Queen has practically put the brand to the lot of them already.”

Now [i]this[/i] caught the half-breed’s attention, causing her to quirk a brow as she leaned forward. [color=crimson]”Cheribo?”[/color]

“Kingdom to the southeast of here,” Caleb explained. “It’s Queen openly declared that she would no longer pay Blackwell’s protection tax. It’s basically the same as challenging his authority here, and bringing attention to how the Marines turn a blind eye to him. S’why I retired.”

Siobhan’s emerald eyes narrowed at this, a smile slowly playing across her lips. [color=crimson]”Then that seems like our best best to catch up to Mushuro!”[/color]

The old man practically slapped himself in the face at this, an amusing gesture to observe, to be certain. “You really have a death wish, don’t you girl?”

[color=crimson]”If I die, then so what?”[/color] Siobhan shot the geezer a beaming grin, hoping up from her table. She hadn’t even touched her coffee, it wasn’t really her thing. [color=crimson]”But I won’t. An’ if that Mushuro’s really a bastard as ya say, I’ll just bury his arse and be done with it!!”[/color]