Mizu and Shogo now stand side by side in the ship's cargo hold looking at a couple of cargo boxes lined up along the walls.
Mizu looks as if he is trying to solve a complicated mental puzzle with a finger tapping the bottom of his chin.
Shogo looks deathly ill, sweat cascading down his body from head to toe. His usual earthy brass skin has become a few shades lighter.
"Now these boxes look normal from this angle, right? But it's when you turn them to the left, then you'll see a small little hole on each box without fail. They make boxes like this to float in the water so there are no way holes are getting by the manufacturers, and I doubt the transporters would damage the box because it could potentially leak some of the cargo."
Mizu turns to Shogo and looks down at him, locking eyes with the trembling child.
"What do you think the origin of these holes could be swab?"
Shogo looks at his feet and shrugs, hoping to stay as silent as possible on the matter.
"Silence isn't an answer kid. Speak up!"
The anger that Mizu kept sizzling below the surface boils over at Shogo's continued disrespect.
In a fit of panic, Shogo shouts out his answer,
"Rats! It might be rats!"
*SMACK!*
Shogo's back hit the ground and he slides across the floor. Even when the boy's motion stops his vision is still swimming. Blood fills Shogo's mouth as with a quick check with his tongue, he finds three teeth missing in the back.
While the young swab is down on the floor trying to regain some semblance of composure. Heavy black boots rattle the wooden floor as Mizu storms across the room towards Shogo with murder written all over his face.
Trying and failing to regain his feet, all Shogo can do is flinch when Mizu's giant hand shoots toward him and grasps his neck.
*Gagging! *
Immediately, Shogo feels his eyes trying to pop out of his head. The air had already been knocked out of his lungs from the smack earlier.
With Shogo's breathing now being completely obstructed his lungs feel close to exploding. Death is very near for the youngest crew member and Mizu doesn't seem to care with bloodshot eyes radiating killing intent.
Shogo's limbs are already starting to become weaker before he uses his left hand to retrieve something behind his back and tucked in his trousers.
*Wheezing! *
A dagger flashes out in Shogo's left hand from behind his back and almost finds purchase in the outstretched arm that Mizu is choking the boy with.
The blade of the dagger stopped cold between the index finger and thumb of Mizu's other hand before it could pierce the captain's blue flesh.
Mizu then wrenches the dagger out of Shogo's hand with just two fingers and studies the dagger now in his possession.
All hope diminishes from Shogo as his eyes start to roll back into his head.
"Hmph! Boy do you sure know how to rile me up…"
Shogo's neck is released and his small body flops to the wooden floor once more.
*Gasp! *
The swab greedily sucks in as much air as his lungs can take while trying to back away from his assailant as much as possible.
Done studying the dagger in his hand, Mizu flings it into the wall opposite of Shogo and crouches down to get level with the trembling child.
"You've got some balls on ya kid! That's part of the reason I haven't tossed ya overboard yet. For ye to try and stab me with my own stolen good whilst I'm choking the life outta ya for lying to me about it. That takes next level guts, something no other crew member is capable of."
The captain pauses for a moment as if to come to a decision while he takes in the terror and confusion in young Shogo's wide eyes.
"I'll tell ya what kid. I won't kill ye if ya let me know where ya hid me food and wares on the boat. You have my word."
Apprehensively, Shogo massages his neck and nods in acceptance of the deal.
*Cough! *
"I hid it all below the sick bay…"
Mizu raises an eyebrow at the answer,
"Show me…"