[H2][CENTRE][color=fff200][b][ARC 2][/b][/color][/CENTRE][/H2]
[H2][CENTRE][color=fff200][b]KUROZUMI HAKU[/b][/color][/CENTRE][/H2]

Sounds of hammering came as the mast of Kirin was finally repaired and made sail-worthy. They’ll have to request for a proper change during their maintenance in East Blue HQ but for now, the patch job their carpenters did will have to do.

Idly, Cadog left eye twitched before quickly heading back inside the captains quarter, where charts and tools laid in the centre. 

“Report.” He said, seemingly to no one as he kept his gaze on the map, making and plotting a course mentally.

Then without warning, a shadow landed next to his sides. One knee against the floor as the latter face was covered in a mask.

[color=fff200]“Multiple locations have been spotted for an infiltration, so far, none of them have traces of being used.”[/color]  Haku, cadet Marine and also Cadog’s scout, returned as he briefed the latter on the geography. “One noteworthy place is the ruined city, located deep in Melody island.”

“A ruined city you say?” Cadog looked at the map and adjusted one of the pieces, a block of wood representing the area.

[color=fff200]“Indeed. I, however, didn’t manage to fully scout the place but if there’s one sure place to hide, it’ll be there.”[/color]

“Hmm.” Cadog shook his head as he opened a flask for a quick sip. “You need to be faster, there are times where you need to read and learn the lay of the land in an instant.”

[color=fff200]“Understood.” [/color]

“We’re not wasting time, you’ll be tasked to defend this place should any of them come as planned. Work with former commodore Ryu Burnet- He’s the bodyguard of the mayor.” Cadog quickly had Haku catch up to speed, smacked his lips at the canteen.

[color=fff200]“He’s a marine?”[/color]

“Former, and probably the only person worth his salt on this island.”

“The rest of us are to sail to their base of operation. Blasted storm couldn’t picked a better time, I swear-” Cadog rapped the table with the flask, signalling the start and offered Haku before withdrawing it when the latter shook his head.

[color=fff200]“Very well, also, Captain, if I may?”[/color]

Cadog stopped to listen, inches away from the door.

[color=fff200]“There’s a child here looking interested in joining the marine. Peppermint, I believe, Coriander says she has potential and I’ll evaluate her worth.”[/color]

“Hmph,” Cadog only grunted in agreement, giving Haku full authority and trusting his judgement on it.

[color=fff200]“Thank you, captain.”[/color] Haku replied as Cadog left the room and he in turn, disappeared in a flash as he snuck through the small open window port.

From afar, the marines begun their preparation to leave as the ropes were untied, anchors lifted and the sails being unfurled.

Cadog look at the wind before taking a long inhalation of the salted air and bellowed loudly to his crew. “Cast off you mangy dog!”

“You heard the cap, cast off!”

While everyone was focused on the marines departure, one figure moved away and headed deeper into the island. Managing to blend themselves by looking as one of the villagers with none the wiser.

[color=fff200][i]Hmm, former commodore, I wonder why he left the marines?[/i][/color] Haku thought as he made his way closer to the mayor’s place.