Using the stacked cargo crates and the shadows cast by the coral reefs along the dock as cover, Buck and Gade quietly made their way to the auxiliary harbor.
"Look over there," Buck whispered, pointing toward the berth. "Isn't that the Golden Dice?"
"It really is."
The gaudily painted vessel lay quietly moored at the dock, with faint silhouettes moving about on its deck.
Just then, the sound of hurried conversation and heavy footsteps drifted over from the direction of Coral Hill.
The two immediately slipped back into the shadows.
Three anxious-looking men, their eyes constantly darting about, hurried toward the Golden Dice's gangplank carrying a large burlap sack between them.
"We're not too late, are we?" the man carrying the front end of the sack asked between heavy breaths.
A lookout sailor leaned over the gangplank, waving impatiently.
"Not too late? The first shipment arrived an hour ago!"
"We couldn't help it," another man defended himself. "It's not easy waiting for the target to end up alone."
"Enough talking! Get aboard already!" the sailor barked as he lowered the gangplank. "We're only waiting for the last group now. As soon as everyone's here, we're setting sail!"
The three men dared not waste another second and quickly carried the sack up the gangplank.
Hidden in the shadows, Buck's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.
His fists clenched so tightly they creaked.
Those words...
They were unmistakably the jargon of slavers.
Leaning forward, he was just about to charge out when a hand like an iron vise clamped down on his shoulder.
"Don't be reckless."
Gade's deep voice sounded beside his ear as his gaze remained fixed on the Golden Dice.
"From what they just said, there's still one last shipment that hasn't arrived."
"If we rush out now, we'll only alert them."
"The safest course is to wait until the captain and the others get here."
"But... Keliya might be in..."
Buck's eyes remained locked on the burlap sack that had just been carried aboard.
"Keliya? Your sweetheart?"
Gade instantly understood why Buck had become so agitated, but the grip on his shoulder didn't loosen in the slightest.
"I understand."
"But that's exactly why you can't lose your head now."
"Don't worry."
"Gillian's a businessman."
"As long as she still has value, he won't let anything happen to her."
Those words helped Buck regain a sliver of reason.
Grinding his teeth fiercely, he forced himself to remain hidden.
Unfortunately, events refused to give them any more time.
Another burst of hurried footsteps echoed across the dock.
Four or five more figures emerged from a nearby alley, sprinting toward the harbor.
Two of them were carrying another, somewhat smaller burlap sack.
"Hurry up! What's taking you so long? We're only waiting for you!" someone on the ship shouted again.
"We're coming!"
The final group accelerated toward the gangplank.
"Gade!"
Buck abruptly turned toward him, his eyes filled with urgency he could no longer suppress.
Gade's expression became solemn.
He knew they couldn't wait any longer.
Taking a deep breath, he spoke rapidly in a low voice.
"Stay with me."
"Don't do anything rash."
"I'll try to keep Gillian talking and buy us some time."
With that, Gade stepped out from the shadows first, Buck following close behind.
No longer bothering to conceal themselves, the two walked directly toward the Golden Dice.
Their sudden appearance immediately caught the attention of the lookout on deck.
"Hm?"
"Those two over there..."
"They look familiar."
Before the man could think any further, Gade called out loudly.
"Hey—!"
"Is this Boss Gillian's ship?"
"What a coincidence!"
"I'm Gade of the Jellyfish Pirates!"
"I never thought we'd run into familiar faces here on Fish-Man Island!"
The officer on deck was startled.
Leaning over the railing for a closer look, he recognized Gade's face, and his expression immediately changed.
"People from the Jellyfish Pirates?"
"What are they doing here?"
"No idea..."
"Hurry and inform Boss Gillian!"
Inside the cabin, Gillian, who had been taking inventory of the cargo, felt his heart sink upon hearing the report.
The Jellyfish Pirates? Sammy's men?
Why would they appear at the docks of Fish-Man Island?
Ever since that phone call he had been forced by the Marines to make to Sammy, Gillian had already assumed that relationship was finished.
In fact, he had been rather pleased to have shaken off what he considered a potential future nuisance.
Yet now...
Just as his plan was on the verge of succeeding...
He had been caught red-handed by Sammy's crew.
Forcing himself to calm down, he asked in a low voice,
"Has everyone who went out returned?"
"Yes, Boss."
"Good."
Gillian immediately issued his orders.
"Tell them to raise the anchor at once and prepare to depart."
"I'll go handle this at the bow."
"Remember."
"Without my orders, no one makes a move."
"Do everything you can to avoid causing unnecessary trouble."
Straightening his clothes and suppressing the unease in his heart, Gillian put on an exaggeratedly warm smile before striding toward the bow.
Reaching the rail, he looked down at the two figures standing on the dock.
One was an unusually burly giant.
The other was a sharp-eyed young man.
He recognized both of them as members of the Jellyfish Pirates—people he had encountered several times before, though they had never been particularly close.
"Oh my!"
Gillian laughed naturally.
"Who do we have here?"
"Isn't it two fine brothers from the Jellyfish Pirates?"
"I never imagined we'd run into each other here on Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters beneath the sea!"
"What fate! Truly, what fate!"
Looking up at Gillian standing at the bow, Gade forced a smile that lacked any real warmth.
"Boss Gillian."
"Since we've met, all the better."
"Our Captain Sammy has been talking about you lately."
"There are a few old matters he'd like to discuss."
"Since fate has brought us together, why don't you come with us and meet our captain?"
Just as I thought... They didn't come with good intentions.
The thought flashed through Gillian's mind, but the smile never left his face.
"Oh dear, what unfortunate timing!"
He waved his hand apologetically.
"This trip is terribly rushed."
"I'm carrying out an urgent assignment personally entrusted to me by Lord Spade."
"I'm afraid time is extremely tight."
"We've known each other for a long time."
"There'll be plenty of opportunities in the future."
"Next time."
"I promise, next time for sure!"
As he spoke, the corner of his eye drifted toward the anchor chain, which was slowly being hauled up.
Naturally, Gade noticed the movement as well.
His expression darkened as he took a step forward.
"Boss Gillian..."
"So you're refusing to give our captain face?"
"No matter how urgent your mission is..."
"You don't even have time for a single drink?"
He deliberately emphasized the words refusing to give face, while his massive frame radiated silent pressure.
"A misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"
Gillian hurriedly smiled in apology.
He could tell the other party wasn't merely exchanging pleasantries.
They were genuinely prepared to resort to force.
Secretly urging his men to move faster, his mind raced as he searched for a way to escape.
Because if fighting broke out here and caused too much of a disturbance...
Given the speed of Ryugu Kingdom's guards...
This dock would likely be completely surrounded before long.
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