Chapter 120 — The Smugglers' Path
S.C. 1511 — Early February
Foosha Village → Makino's Bar (Evening Crowd)
The bar was louder than usual.
Not rowdy — just full.
Merchants, fishermen, traveling traders, and two suspiciously shady men who looked like they'd lost their barber years ago.
Ren sat in his usual corner, warm milk in hand.
Zemo rested beneath his chair, curled in a fluffy defensive circle.
Ren wasn't here for fun.
He was here to observe.
Because tonight, the bar had visitors — the kind that spoke too loudly, drank too much, and accidentally revealed useful information if you listened long enough.
Ren's notebook stayed hidden in his sleeve, ready.
Makino sent him a gentle look that said:
"Listen… but don't get too close."
He nodded.
---
The First Slip — "Shortcut Around Goa"
Two scruffy men leaned over a half-spilled drink.
The bald one slammed his mug down.
"I told ya! The Marines only check the main gate by the port. The south channel? They barely look at it!"
Ren froze.
South channel?
The other man scoffed.
"They don't check it 'cause it's shallow and rocky."
The bald one hiccuped.
"That's why it's perfect! If you got a small boat, ya just slide right through!"
Ren mentally underlined the concept.
South Channel Route — shallow, rocky, unguarded.
Smugglers use it.
Zemo's ears twitched.
Ren kept drinking quietly.
---
The Second Slip — "Gray Terminal Drop-Off"
A fisherman joined the conversation, half-drunk and half-proud.
"I'll tell ya what's risky — selling to scavengers at night. Those nobles will skin ya if they catch you helping the poor."
The smugglers laughed.
One whispered loudly (as drunk men do):
"Gray Terminal's back edge has a beach. Tiny one. Not on any maps. Perfect for unloading stuff."
Ren's eyes widened.
A beach near Gray Terminal?
Hidden?
Unmapped?
He wrote silently in his mind:
Gray Terminal Back Beach — covert landing spot.
High poverty area → high demand → low risk of betrayal.
Zemo nudged Ren's leg.
Ren nodded very subtly — he understood.
---
The Third Slip — "Marines Don't Patrol the West Cliff"
A group of traveling sailors joined in, complaining loudly.
"The Marines only patrol the center sea path! The west cliff side? Too windy. Too many waves."
One sailor swirled his drink dramatically.
"Ships don't go there! Unless they wanna get smashed."
The smugglers smirked.
"That's why we go there."
Ren added mentally:
West Cliff Route — risky waves, but zero patrols.
Possible emergency escape lane.
A dangerous but useful path — only for desperate situations.
Zemo sneezed at the smell of alcohol drifting downward.
Ren patted his head reassuringly.
---
The Fourth Slip — Coded Containers
The bald smuggler proudly slapped a crate beside him.
"Ya see this mark?"
He pointed to a crooked fish symbol.
"That means fish on the outside, but herbs on the inside. Nobles never check these crates hard."
Ren blinked.
Coded crates.
Simple markings.
Disguised shipments.
He memorized the mark pattern.
This wasn't just smugglers being shady—
This was logistics being revealed.
A system Ren could borrow from… legally.
---
Makino Steps In
Seeing Ren observing too intently, Makino walked over.
She tapped Ren's cup.
"Milk refill?"
Ren blinked. "Yes, please."
Makino refilled it, leaned closer, and whispered:
"Don't copy smugglers."
Ren nodded.
"I won't."
Then Makino added with a soft grin:
"But learning what not to do is also important, isn't it?"
Ren smiled faintly.
Makino always understood more than she let on.
---
Leaving the Bar
Ren stepped outside quietly with Zemo, night air cold on his face.
The villagers were asleep.
The moon reflected off the calm sea.
Ren whispered:
"We learned a lot tonight."
Zemo barked once.
Ren opened his notebook and wrote under moonlight:
---
Secret Notes — Smuggler Routes (Not to Use Recklessly)
1. South Channel (Shallow Route)
• perfect for small boats
• unguarded
• rocky bottom → slow navigation
2. Gray Terminal Hidden Beach
• unmapped
• no patrol
• useful for future contact with scavengers
3. West Cliff Waves Route
• dangerous
• zero Marine presence
• last-resort escape path
4. Coded Cargo Marks
• disguise contents
• common smuggler tactic
• usable for legit trade too
---
Ren closed the notebook.
Tonight wasn't about becoming a smuggler.
It was about understanding the paths people used when they wanted to avoid nobles.
Because Ren wanted one thing above all:
Freedom to move without being seen.
Freedom to trade without interference.
Freedom to help without asking permission.
He whispered into the night:
"These routes aren't for crime.
They're for survival."
Zemo leaned against him, warm and soft.
Ren smiled gently.
And the moonlit sea shimmered with quiet promise.
---
End of Chapter 120