Dante was gulping down his meat like a man starved for days. Grease ran down his fingers, but he didn't care. He threw his head back and shouted in pure joy, "This is goooood!"
Carolina laughed softly, resting her chin on her palm. "It's only natural. I made it myself."
Yamato, sitting calmly beside him, took a sip of his sake and exhaled in quiet satisfaction. "This sake is quite good as well."
Anitta blinked in mock surprise, eyes wide. "Ara? Is this Yamato? Did he actually just compliment something?"
Yamato shot her an unimpressed look. "I compliment things that actually deserve it. My standards are just really high."
Dante suddenly stopped eating mid-bite, his expression shifting from excitement to deep thought. The room's chatter continued, but his eyes were distant.
Carolina leaned closer, tilting her head. "What's the problem? Did you find something wrong with the food?"
Dante shook his head. "No, the food's amazing… but…" He furrowed his brow. "Something's missing."
Carolina and Anitta exchanged confused glances. "Something's missing?" they both said almost in unison.
Their eyes slowly turned toward Yamato, silently asking for an explanation.
Yamato raised his shoulders and shrugged. "Don't look at me. I don't know what my brother's thinking 90% of the time."
Just then, a smooth voice came from behind them. "You all don't understand how a man really feels."
They turned around to see a tall man with a confident grin, a guitar slung casually over his shoulder.
Anitta's eyes widened. "Fenn!" she called out, surprised.
The man named Fenn grinned and waved lazily. "Yo! It's been a while, Anitta."
Carolina's face lit up as well. "Fenn, it's been almost a year since we last saw you! Where've you been?"
Fenn chuckled, strumming a light note on his guitar. "I've been over at Goodman Island, working with the musicians there, perfecting my guitar skills."
Carolina smirked. "Then your skills must be top-tier by now."
Fenn brushed his hair back with a smirk. "Of course. It's only natural. I'm a gifted musician, after all." He then turned his gaze toward Dante, whose expression shifted as though he had just discovered the answer to life itself.
Dante suddenly shouted, "Music! That's what's missing!"
Fenn snapped his fingers and laughed. "Bingo! Man, alcohol, food, and music, those four have always been a combo no one can separate. You can't have one without the other!"
Dante laughed heartily, slamming his hand on the counter. "I like this guy!"
Carolina laughed, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Of course, that was an oversight on my part."
Fenn turned toward Dante with a bright grin. "My good brother," he said dramatically, placing a hand on his chest, "would you like to join me, Fenn in showing this place the gust of sound?"
Dante smirked. "Of course! Music is my forte."
Carolina chuckled. "Then it's good we have a stage here. You two can sing to your hearts' content."
Dante looked toward Anitta. "Anitta, want to join us?"
She quickly waved both hands. "No way! I'd just ruin the performance."
Carolina climbed up onto the stage, grabbing the mic. The faint crackle of it connecting echoed through the bar. Instantly, the noise and chatter faded as everyone turned their attention to her.
Carolina smiled warmly. "Hello everyone! Sorry for interrupting whatever you were busy with but some people have decided they want to bless us with a little music tonight!"
The bar erupted with cheers and clapping. Carolina laughed over the noise. "Calm down, calm down! They'll be up in a moment and they'll introduce themselves."
She stepped off the stage, and the lights dimmed. The bar grew quiet again, the only sound being soft murmurs of anticipation.
A single spotlight flicked on, illuminating a man sitting on a stool, brunette hair gleaming under the light, a guitar resting across his lap.
"Wait, it's Fenn!" someone whispered.
"Little Swan's own Fenn's performing?!" another voice shouted excitedly.
The murmurs turned into cheers as people recognized him.
Fenn smiled, lightly strumming a note on his guitar. "Good evening, everyone. My name, as many of you already know, is Fenn. I'm here to perform a little something for everyone tonight."
The crowd erupted again.
He waited for the cheers to settle, then raised his hand. "But of course… I'm not alone."
A second light turned on, revealing Dante standing proudly beside a mic stand, hands in his pockets, grinning wide.
The crowd buzzed with whispers. "Who's that?" "That's the guy who came with Anitta!" "Is he any good?"
Dante leaned into the mic and said, "My name is Dante. I'm the man who will surpass Eustass and become an SS-Rank Adventurer!"
The crowd laughed, some cheering, some shaking their heads. "Surpass Eustass? What a bold kid," one man said but they clapped all the same.
Anitta cupped her hands around her mouth. "Dante! Fenn! Do your best!"
Dante smiled. "Alright then! We're going to sing a song everyone knows, you have to sing along, okay? This one's called 'Sailor's Dream.'"
The crowd roared in excitement. Sailor's Dream was a bar classic known across the islands.
Fenn started strumming, a calm rhythm like the gentle roll of waves. His voice carried softly at first:
🎵 When the winds call your name across the sea,
And the stars light the path where you're meant to be,
Raise your glass, my friend, don't you fear the deep,
For a sailor's dream is never asleep… 🎵
The crowd swayed, humming along. Then Dante joined in, his voice stronger, vibrant, carrying the energy higher:
🎵 We sail, we fight, we laugh through the night,
Chasing dawn till morning light!
Through storm or flame, we'll stake our claim,
For adventure's our only aim! 🎵
The bar erupted with cheers, people slapping tables in rhythm, singing along. Fenn's guitar grew livelier, Dante's voice booming with excitement. Even Yamato cracked a small smile as the room filled with life and laughter.
🎵 So drink and cheer, for we are free,
Bound by the waves, by destiny!
To every friend we meet again,
May our song never end! 🎵
The bar exploded with applause, people dancing, clapping, laughing together. The air felt alive.
But then.
The wooden doors creaked open. Three figures stepped in.
Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. The laughter died. The guitar's final note hung in the air, fading into silence.
Fenn's fingers froze mid-string, his gaze turning cold. Carolina and Anitta exchanged tense, worried glances.
Dante, still caught in the moment, kept singing the last line cheerfully before realizing no one else was joining in. His voice trailed off, confused.
He turned and saw them, three men standing in the doorway. The one in front was short and fat man, his body covered in glinting gold jewelry. His blonde hair was slicked back neatly, and a smug grin stretched across his face.
"Well," the man said, voice dripping with arrogance, "it's very lively in here."
Anitta's voice trembled, barely a whisper. "…Domiré."
Dante suddenly shouted across the room, voice echoing through the tense silence.
"Hey! Who are you, and why are you interrupting our performance?"
The bar collectively held its breath.
Domiré turned his head slowly toward Dante, eyes narrowing with disdain. "And what business does a mere peasant have shouting at me?" he sneered.
"Huh?" Dante frowned, stepping forward, clearly ready to confront him but Fenn quickly grabbed his shoulder, stopping him.
In Fenn's mind, letting Dante confront Domiré was the same as sending him to his death. He couldn't allow that, not for his new friend. And besides, Domiré might not even be here to cause trouble… yet.
Domiré chuckled, clearly amused by Fenn's protective move. "Fenn," he said mockingly, "it seems you've returned, just like me. Little Swan is getting more and more… interesting."
Fenn's voice turned sharp. "What are you doing here, Domiré?"
Domiré exaggerated a shocked expression, placing a hand on his chest. "Fenn! The last I checked, this was a public bar. Anyone is allowed to come here. And as the next lord of this island, it's only natural that I visit the places I'll soon govern."
One of the men standing beside him, a tall, muscular brute wearing brass knuckles, stepped forward aggressively. "Fenn! You still refer to Domiré-sama without honorifics, you disrespectful brat!"
Fenn's expression didn't change. "Huh? Respect this scum? You must be out of your mind."
The large man snarled, stepping closer but Domiré raised his hand, stopping him.
"That's enough, Joone," Domiré said calmly, though his eyes gleamed with cruelty. "I've already seen what I came for."
Then, slowly, he began walking toward Anitta.
Anitta's entire body stiffened.
Fenn cursed under his breath, clenching his fists. Damn it… He knew exactly why Domiré was here. He'd tried provoking him to keep his attention away from her, but it hadn't worked.
Dante, watching silently, narrowed his eyes. He might not have been the smartest person around, but he could read a room. This Domiré guy, he really wanted to punch his smug face off. But something told him this man was important here. Acting rashly could cause trouble for Anitta and the others. He'd wait, for now.
Yamato thought the same as his brother. We can't make the first move.
Domiré stopped right in front of Anitta. His smile was oily, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Anitta, my darling," he said, reaching for her chin. "I've been gone for a while. Did you miss me?"
Anitta looked him dead in the eyes, fear flickering beneath her defiance, slapped his hand out of her chin and said. "There's nothing to miss about you, Domiré."
He chuckled. "Come now, that's no way to welcome back your future husband."
Anitta's voice hardened. "There's no way I'd ever become your wife."
Domiré's smile vanished. His tone turned icy. "Anitta… I've given you and your father very good deals, you know. If you keep rejecting me, I'll get angry and resort to force."
Carolina slammed her hand on the counter. "Domiré-sama, resorting to threats to woo a girl isn't very charming."
Domiré's gaze snapped toward her, venomous. "Hags should keep quiet."
Carolina's face twisted in shock and anger, but before she could retort, Anitta quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Turning back to Domiré, Anitta said coldly, "Your father and my father agreed that our marriage can only happen if both sides are in agreement. You can't force me to marry you."
Domiré tilted his head, pretending to think. Then a cruel smile crept back onto his face. "But my father isn't on the island right now, is he?"
Fenn's entire body tensed on the stage. A terrible feeling gripped him. He glanced at the two men beside Domiré and realized there were likely more outside. The guys outside were probably fodder, but Burly… and Joone. Even one of them was trouble. Both? Impossible, he wasn't even confident he could beat Burly.
If I move recklessly, I'll die before helping anyone, he thought bitterly.
Anitta scoffed. "So what if your father isn't here?"
Domiré's grin widened. "It means I can do this."
Before anyone could react, he grabbed Anitta by the neck, yanking her roughly toward him.
"Anitta!" Carolina shouted.
Yamato immediately grabbed his sword, muscles tightening to move but Dante was already gone.
He disappeared from the stage in an instant.
Fenn's eyes widened in disbelief. So fast!
In the blink of an eye, Dante appeared beside Domiré and Anitta. His hand came down in a blur
CRACK!
The sound of bone snapping filled the room. Domiré screamed in agony as his arm twisted unnaturally, completely shattered from Dante's single chop.
"AAAAH! MY ARM!"
"Domiré-sama!" Burly roared, charging forward.
He swung his metal baton with brutal strength, THWACK!
It struck Dante square on the side of the head. The sound of something shattering echoed through the bar as Dante's body was sent flying. He crashed into the wall, destroying part of it, the debris scattering as his body burst through and disappeared outside.
"DANTE!!"
Anitta and Carolina screamed in unison.
Yamato's sword was unsheathed before their voices even finished echoing. He lunged straight for Burly. Their weapons clashed
CLANG! Sparks flew.
Yamato's eyes were cold, his killing intent radiating. "I'll kill you," he growled, "for attacking my little brother."
Burly sneered. "Talk is cheap. Your brother's probably dead already, so what's the point of this useless scuffle?"
Yamato smiled faintly. "You think Dante's dead? …How funny."
From the stage, Fenn stood frozen for a moment, stunned by everything that had happened. Two people. People Anitta had barely just met had moved instantly when she was in danger.
And he had hesitated.
He clenched his jaw, then smiled bitterly. "What good friends you've found, Anitta."
He looked toward the chaos breaking out in the bar. "Now I have no reason to hesitate anymore."