"Here I am, I put it away," Hesta replied, "What's the matter?"
"Have you found the lock that corresponds to it?"
"not yet."
"Give me the key," Qianye said softly, "It's not an important thing..."
Chiba suddenly stopped and reached out to grab the ankle kicked by Li Guo. She used the opportunity to reverse the direction. Li Guo was unable to dodge and was spun around in the air by Chiba, completely losing her balance.
"I almost missed it." Before Rico fell, Chiba grabbed her back shoulder with one hand, "It wasn't fast enough."
"let me go!"
Qianye let go, and Li Ge fell to the ground with a muffled sound.
Hesta looked at Rico and then at Chiba, "...What is that key for? Does Miss Chiba know?"
Chiba dragged out a long "hmm" and then answered with a smile: "I know."
Rico stood up: "What do you do?"
"that's not important."
"Then I won't give it to you," Rico looked at Hesta, "Jane, don't give it to her!"
Hesta: "..."
Chiba: "Where is the key?"
Hesta: "I should have always carried it with me——"
Qianye stretched out his hand and Li Ge slapped it.
"First tell me clearly what happened to the key -"
"Don't make trouble, that key is of no use to you."
"Jane and I found the key together. Now what's the point of taking it away just as you say?"
"Oh... where is it... strange..."
Hesta dug into her pocket slowly and leisurely. Although she did not intend to refuse Qianye's request, she was really curious about the purpose of the key. After touching for a long time, Hesta looked up and said, "...it might be in another piece of clothing. In it, or locked in the safe—with my suitcase. If you're not in a hurry now—"
"I'm not in a hurry," Qianye retracted his hand, "I'll go back with you in a while -"
Suddenly, a sharp siren sounded from under the three people's feet, and it interrupted everyone's conversation.
"Don't be nervous." Chiba raised his hand to indicate that Rico didn't need to enter bullet time, "Let's see what's going on first..."
Not far away, the ajar door of the observation deck was pushed open again. This time, Si Lei and Gustav appeared in front of everyone.
"Tonight," Si Lei stopped, "can I take him to stay with you for one night?"
Rico and Hesta looked at each other.
"OK."
…
As the night deepened, Gustav, who was only wearing short-sleeved shirts, was sitting on the ground shivering. He looked at the long blanket hanging on the ground by Hesta, moved his position slightly, and whispered, "Excuse me...can I...please... cannot--"
"There are spare blankets in the reserve room in the captain's cabin over there," Chiba said softly, "If you want it, go get it yourself."
"Sit here and don't move." Si Lei stood up and walked to the captain's cabin, and soon came back with two blankets. She handed one to Gustave, then looked at Chiba and Rico, "Do you use it?"
Both of them shook their heads, and Si Lei simply put the blanket under him.
"You are also familiar with this ship."
"...Why do you say it?"
"Some people know that there is a Hard Rock Bar on the second floor when they first board a ship." Si Lei met Qianye's gaze, "It's not your first time on a ship, right?"
"No," Qianye held his face and tapped his cheek lightly with his fingers, "My second time."
The air suddenly became quiet.
"The alarm has stopped." Hesta said softly.
"It is Gobelin who is summoning people," Srey replied. "He wants everyone to assemble at Bishop's restaurant immediately."
Li Ge looked sideways: "What happened to him?"
"who knows."
"Don't you two go over?" Rico pointed at Si Lei and Gustave.
Si Lei adjusted the position of the blanket he was sitting on, "It's not as safe there as it is here."
"Really?" Rico looked at Gustave, "Didn't you run out just now? Why are you back with Si Lei now?"
"Mr. Gobelin said that the situation has exceeded his expectations..." Gustav murmured in a low voice, "He hopes that I will not return to the cabin for the time being, so as not to bring... danger to others."
Rico smiled silently—guessed it.
After a moment of silence, Gustave spoke again, "...will I die?"
"I know how."
Si Lei was startled and was about to ask why when he heard Li Ge continue: "Everyone will die, don't you know?"
Hesta suddenly laughed and coughed intermittently.
Gustav's eyes were filled with tears again. He bowed down and shook his head with sobs: "...I don't want to die, I still-"
"Quiet," Qianye glanced at him, "If you want to cry, don't stay here, go find Gobelin."
Gustave fell silent again, wrapped tightly in the blanket, a sob still coming out of the back of his throat uncontrollably.
Si Lei stood motionless behind Gustav. She looked at the child's back. After a long time, she still showed sympathy and reached out to pat his shoulder.
"...Don't worry," Si Lei whispered, "There will be a solution."
"Have you known each other before?" Hesta asked.
Gustav wiped his eyes and shook his head, as did Si Lei, "Why do you ask that?"
"Well..." Hesta thought thoughtfully, "Because, you look like..."
"It's not surprising, Jane," Qianye said with a half-smiling expression, "because that's what Officer Si Lei is."
"What kind of person?" Si Lei withdrew his hand, "I just don't have any prejudice against him just because he is a Thorn Monk, that's all."
"Yes," Qianye smiled. "I just want to say that you are a person who is not prejudiced against someone just because he is a Thorn Monk. What's the problem?"
Si Lei frowned, "What's so weird about this? He's only fifteen years old - haven't you ever helped a stranger before? And you've never met anyone who lends a helping hand to you for no reason?" Not once?”
"There are strangers," Chiba shrugged, "but none of them are 'without reason'."
Rico touched the back of his neck, "...I can't help you to this extent."
Si Lei looked at Hesta, "What about you, Jane?"
Hesta thought of Ava, but she couldn't say it out loud. She looked at the frightened Gustav, and suddenly thought of another person.
"I met a very good grocer when I was in Short Call Alley," Hestad recalled. "I wasn't related to him, but he was very kind to me. He not only took care of me in terms of food and clothing, but he was very kind to me." , and taught me a lot..."
Hesta stopped - she saw Chiba's brows suddenly twisted into knots.
"What's wrong?"
"...It's okay," Qianye picked a strand of hair on her forehead and stared at her fingertips, "I just suddenly remembered something... disgusting."
"Is it related to what I just said?"
"Huh?" Chiba resumed his smile, "I was a little distracted just now. What did you say?"
