Artis continued to run around the cruise, looking for his sister until he heard his phone ringing.
It was his sister, Alice calling!
"Hello?"
-Hey, uh? Did you just call me right now?
"Not at all, sis! It was my ghost who just called you right now! Of course, I called you! What kind of stupid question is that?
From the other end of the phone, Artis could hear Alice grumble in annoyance as she replied,
-Well, sorry to burst your bubble but unlike you, I am actually busy with my work. Why did you call me?
Artis took a deep breath calming himself down, "Where are you right now? There's something important I've to discuss with you!"
-Where am I right now? Uh...I think...Yeah, I am currently at the poolside. Why, what happened?
"Just a meeting with your old friend. Don't worry about it." replied Artis simply.
"Anyways, I'm coming. Stay there only!"
As Artis cut the call, he hurriedly made his way towards the poolside avoiding all the passengers and the crewmates swiftly.
...
10th Floor, BlackHearts Casino,
Inside the casino, a lady wearing a beautiful red dress and classy brown hair was playing a game of Blackjack that she managed to win again.
"So what do you think about this, Vaneria? Pretty great wasn't it?" the lady with brown hair turned around to face another lady with short purple hair, her eyes covered with sunglasses who was sitting on a chair, legs crossed, using her laptop.
"Don't disturb me now, Ponia!" warned Vaneria.
"If I mess this code up, everything we worked for will go to waste. So please, don't disturb me and let me do my work. Everything depends on this."
"Oh c'mon!" groaned Ponia, "You are always stuck on that computer of yours doing something! When will you learn to have fun? This is THE St. Annie Cruise y'know?"
"Hard for me to have fun when this place is going to blow up soon."
Ponia's smile completely froze on her face as she listened to such a blunt reply.
"Anyways, leaving that depressing thought aside....care to remind me why are we doing this again and not focusing on our remaining projects that are just as important as this one?"
Ponia stood from her seat as she slowly began leaning towards Vaneria.
"Sigh...It's only because this will be the first time over the decades we're leaving a mark on this world and second!
Her voice turned serious, "It's "Madame" orders! And following her orders is absolutely important for us!"
Ponia remained silent for a while, absorbing the information Vaneria just gave, swear forming on her forehead.
"Go contact Robcael now, and make sure to tell our grunts to take their position. Tonight is the night we strike at the heart of Aurosia."
"Understood!"
...
Captain Fervier sat in his cabin, reading few reports kept on his table frowning as he read one report after another.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
There was a sudden knock at his door.
"Come in!"
The door opened and in front of Captain Fervier stood a tall man who had bronze skin wearing a black bandana, a deep scar on his left eye as he wore a blue overcoat jacket carrying a basket filled with wine.
"Can I help you?" asked Captain Fervier confused by this person's sudden appearance.
"You don't recognize me, Fervier? Have I changed so much over the years?" asked the man amused.
Captain Fervier, now was even more confused after hearing that as he stood up seizing the man in front of him as he fell into a deep thought.
"It seems you still don't remember me. Well let me refresh your memory, remember your battle at the Juju Island where you almost got your hand chopped off and it was a girl with red hair who had to save your pirate ass?"
Suddenly, Captain Fervier felt a jolt of memories flooding inside his brain as he exclaimed happily and excitedly.
"Michael is that you! Oh! How have ya been? And what's with that scar on ya left eye? You lost the battle?"
The man named Michael chuckled as he replied softly, "Yeah, it's me, but I don't go by that name anymore. I'm called Robcael now."
"Robcael? That's a weird name if you ask me. What made you choose that?"
"Ha Ha! Circumstances. You see, I lost my eye for this reason only. So, how about it? Wanna share a cup?"
...
Artis stood in front of Alice as she was avoiding making eye contact with him for some reason looking all serious.
"Alice, is there something important you want to tell me? Why have you avoided me after my show?"
Alice remained silent, not responding to Artis which made him irritate even further.
"Big Sis! I'm talking to you, ya kno-"
"Let's leave this ship tomorrow morning...." interrupted Alice.
"-w. Wait, what?"
Alice nodded, "Yeah, I just thought about it, but since we already entered Aurosia and our first spot is Tranquill Haven Port, I just checked the map and saw a route that by entering West Ferric City and taking a train there, we might reach our destination even earlier than before."
"Come again? Wouldn't it cost more? Boarding a train and all?"
"Yeah, it would! But the cost is not that bad and we can manage it. C'mon let's pack up and get out of here."
Artis was even more confused, "But...But why? Is it because of your friend's cryptic warning that I'm in danger?"
"That's one of the reason, yes." Alice didn't deny it, "Right now, my only concern is your safety. If something happens to you, then I won't be able to forgive myself. This place isn't safe anymore, we have to leave soon!"
"How can you even say that? What about Captain? What about the other people here? Don't they consider you your family too?" countered Artis, not understanding what his sister was saying.
Alice sighed, "Listen Artis, sometimes in life, you have to make choices that you don't want to make but the world will force you to. The crew is my family and I love them too, but you will always be my first preference no matter what! You understand? This is one of those moments where I've to make such a choice."
"I still don't understand! Why are you so scared of a threat that might not even come to plight! Are you that scared?" countered Artis, his temper rising rapidly.
Alice gritted her teeth as she stood up angrily, "Listen here brat! Do you think I want to make this choice too! It's already hard enough for me to leave them here, but I'm doing this for you! We're leaving tomorrow and that's final! I'll talk to Captain tonight about this!"
Artis took a step back, seeing his sister's anger as she trembled and walked away from there hastily.
"Tonight!" she began as she face his back, "We're going to join the farewell dinner and say our goodbyes! I won't take any no or unnecessary arguments anymore after this understand?"
Artis did not replied back as he stood there frozen momentarily.
Seeing that, Alice clicked her tongue and walked away leaving Artis behind not allowing him to answer at all.