If you want to read the first 5 chapters, you can go to my P@treon and become a free member. If you want me to continue this fanfic, please support it with powerstones and reviews. 💭 Thank you so much!!!
[Start of the chapter]
"Lynn… are we really doing this…?"
In a dim, shadowy corridor, a blond girl stood behind a handsome young man. While helping him scan the surroundings, she spoke up in a hesitant tone.
Yet despite the uncertainty in her voice, her movements never faltered even a little.
The girl's name was Escoffier.
Hearing her, the young man called Lynn didn't slow his hands. He only tilted his head slightly and gave a short reply:
"I'll explain later."
His serious, striking profile reflected in Escoffier's eyes. Even under the weak, blurry light, that charm still made her lose focus for a split second—
Even though they'd known each other for months, and their relationship had already grown intimately close, she still couldn't quite resist.
Of course, that also had a lot to do with the fact that she'd never intended to resist in the first place… but the situation right now was a little special.
No. Can't get lost in it… we're busy with the real job.
Escoffier knew that if she kept staring, she'd almost certainly fall right back into it. She hurriedly warned herself in her heart, using the cool clarity of Cryo to steady her mind and pull her thoughts back.
"Mhm," she answered softly, continuing her vigilance—but after only a few seconds, she couldn't help the silent wail in her heart:
Ugh… no wonder when we left Natlan, Mualani and the others looked at me like that…
Lynn's face is downright unfair. When you're alone with him, you just can't hold the line!
Good thing I already threw caution to the wind. If I'd insisted on being stubborn back then, then later turned around and went to Lynn on my own… ngh… I'd have totally embarrassed myself in front of my friends in Natlan.
Second by second, time slipped past. Escoffier forced herself to focus on observing their surroundings, and with the chill of Cryo aiding her, the stray thoughts gradually faded.
But even with the stray thoughts gone, her doubts remained. While keeping watch, she instinctively replayed every detail from the port until now.
The two of them were currently aboard a cargo ship bound for Fontaine.
And no—don't misunderstand. They had wanted to take a passenger ship to Fontaine, but they'd unexpectedly missed the departure time.
Left with no choice, they planned to wait for the next ship. While wandering around, they happened to run into this ship's captain. Lynn hit it off with him immediately, and the captain—warm and eager—invited them to hitch a ride to Fontaine.
At the time, Escoffier felt something was off. But Lynn seemed determined. He ignored her subtle warning and accepted the captain's invitation anyway.
If this had been a few months earlier, she would've stuck to her judgment. But after months together, she trusted that Lynn wouldn't be foolish about something like this.
So she pushed down her doubts, thinking Lynn must have a plan—
She just hadn't expected his plan to be this thrilling.
Once they boarded, he didn't move for a while—but the moment he did, he brought her straight to the cargo hold!
Because back when they discussed it, the captain—who looked bold and welcoming—barely cared about charging them at all. His only condition was that they could only stay within the designated area, and they were forbidden from stepping into the cargo zone.
And thinking back, Lynn had responded with one "don't worry" after another. Now it looked like he hadn't actually promised anything concrete. Given how much Lynn valued keeping his word, it was obvious he'd planned this from the start…
Escoffier understood Lynn's personality. He wasn't exactly upright, but he also wouldn't casually scheme against innocent people for no reason.
Which meant… this ship really did have a problem.
But what kind of problem would make Lynn act like this?
Could the cargo be contraband?
No. With Lynn's temperament, even if it really were contraband, he wouldn't meddle like this. The safest and most appropriate thing would be to report it and let the authorities handle it.
Then… what?
Before she could think further, a soft click sounded. A moment later, Lynn's voice followed:
"Alright. Come."
Escoffier quickly turned, following Lynn through the door he'd just opened.
She pulled the door shut behind them and took out a small lantern, lighting it. With the weak glow, she glanced around and gave a casual assessment:
"Lower humidity. Better environment than the room they assigned us."
That wasn't strange. On a cargo ship, the storage conditions for goods being better than human living quarters was only natural.
Lynn, who had entered first, didn't pause at all. He headed straight for the cargo stacked inside the hold.
"Escoffier. Here."
"Coming."
In the darkness, the piled cargo looked like one seamless mass. Only when Escoffier approached with the lantern did the outlines of individual crates become visible.
But Lynn didn't seem to need much light. Before Escoffier even reached him, he'd already lifted a crate from the edge and set it down—lightly yet precisely—onto a small open patch of floor. He pinned it in place with one foot, never making a sound the entire time.
"Sword."
Escoffier swept her right hand lightly across her chest. Just like when she produced the lantern earlier, a faint glimmer flashed—and a sheathed sword appeared out of thin air.
Lynn took it, using the sheathed blade as a crowbar. With ease, he pried the crate open.
Then he shifted aside slightly, letting Escoffier see the cargo's true contents under the lantern's glow—
"This is… a beverage?"
Escoffier frowned.
The crate was filled with bottles of liquid. This kind of packaging was common in Fontaine, and the liquid itself looked ordinary. Even taking one out for closer inspection didn't reveal anything unusual.
But if Lynn had gone this far… could it really be that mundane?
She instinctively looked to Lynn—only to hear footsteps approaching from outside.
They were quiet, but in this enclosed space they were unmistakable: coming nearer, nearer… then stopping at the door. A pair of rough, calloused hands pushed open the half-latched door.
It was the captain.
The moment she'd heard the sound, Escoffier had already extinguished the lantern. But the captain carried a brighter lamp of his own. Its light washed over his face—bold, hearty, and kindly at a glance.
"Hmph… I knew it. Those brats forgot to lock the cargo hold again."
"Eh? Mr. Lynn—and Miss Escoffier? Are you two lost? How did you end up here? The cargo hold's a mess. Please return to your cabin—"
His words were polished enough that most people would gladly take the offered exit, maybe even feel grateful for being "let off."
But Escoffier wasn't some greenhorn. Her heart sank instead.
Kindly?
To her, this felt more like the prelude to turning hostile—trying to lure them out first so a fight wouldn't risk damaging the cargo.
She wouldn't forget it: on this ship, they were on his turf.
Luckily, she had her own confidence, too…
But just as Escoffier was about to respond, a soft laugh sounded beside her ear.
"Heh…"
It was Lynn. He stepped forward two paces, placing Escoffier behind him.
"Captain… at this point, are you still going to keep acting?"
(End of Chapter)
If I see that this fanfic has support, I will upload 20+ chapters to Patreon!!
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]