The next day, at the docks.
"Belle-mère, let's just forget it. I'll be back in a month, there's no need to bring it."
Jon held up the village's rare Transponder Snail, which had been assigned to Officer Gen.
"Stop talking nonsense, just take it if I tell you to."
Belle-mère looked furious. "You suddenly want to go out to sea, how can I be at ease if you don't bring it?"
"Belle-mère is right, just take it, Jon."
Gen, dressed in a patrol officer's uniform, smiled amiably, the small pinwheel on his hat whirring in the sea breeze.
"If you run into trouble, just dial the village office number. Belle-mère forced me to give it to you, so don't be such a wimp, you stinky brat."
"You talk too much!"
Belle-mère punched Gen in annoyance, then explained how to use the Transponder Snail to Jon.
Jon listened with a smile, fiddling with the Transponder Snail's small pinwheel head.
"It really looks just like Uncle Gen, so ugly."
Purupuru.
The Transponder Snail was lazily chewing on a leaf, as if it understood Jon's words. It puffed up and pushed Jon's hand away, moving its head to the other side.
Heh, this thing is actually quite fun!
This was Jon's first time playing with a Transponder Snail. It was a cute little thing, but super expensive.
He couldn't afford to raise one yet, but he could buy more when he had money later.
Speaking of which… does this thing have any entries?
(Transponder Snail: I'm trembling~!)
Belle-mère saw Jon spacing out and shifted her gaze to the old man over there, a rare gentle smile on her face.
"Mr. Limby, this child is going out to sea for the first time. I'll trouble you to look after him on the way."
"Don't worry, we're old friends, no need for such formalities."
Limby smiled, holding a wine bottle, and looked kindly at Jon. "I guarantee I'll get him to his destination, but what's he going to Dawn Island for?"
"Who knows, he won't tell me when I ask. Anyway, I'll leave him in your care, Mr. Limby."
Belle-mère clasped her hands together and bowed to Limby in thanks.
After Limby and the others boarded the ship, she glared at Jon, her tone and demeanor completely changed.
"Alright, go on. Since you've grown up, I won't stop you, but don't forget, you must call me three times a week!"
Jon was already a fourteen-year-old boy, and even if Belle-mère was worried, she couldn't force him to stay.
It was good for a young boy to experience the world outside.
Plus, Dawn Island wasn't far from here, and the route was considered safe, so Belle-mère chose to let him go.
"Got it, got it. Come on, Nami, Nojiko, say goodbye to your brother."
The two little lolis looked at their Jon-bro with reluctance. Hearing him, they came over with red eyes to hug him.
But from an angle Belle-mère couldn't see, they secretly kissed Jon on the lips.
"Jon-bro, this is a daytime first kiss. You must come back soon."
"Brother, I'll wait for you at home."
Jon was stunned by the soft lips and then looked at the two little girls who hadn't even grown all their hair yet. For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This wasn't a foster sister sending off her brother; it was clearly a wife sending off her lover.
His upbringing plan was perhaps too successful by a bit.
Belle-mère didn't notice their little actions and helped stuff the Transponder Snail into Jon's clothes. The bulging feeling made Jon a little uncomfortable.
He waved goodbye to Belle-mère and his two sisters, then turned and ran towards the cargo ship.
Beep beep beep—
The long blast of the ship's horn, sweeping past the gradually blurring figure of the young boy.
"..."
Belle-mère supported her two foster daughters' shoulders, the salty sea breeze making her eyes slightly red.
Only Gen, after a few seconds of silence, approached Belle-mère, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you beating around the bush?"
Seeing Belle-mère's furrowed brow.
Gen scratched his head and spoke, "You secretly put the money and the Transponder Snail in the same pocket. Aren't you afraid my Transponder Snail will eat your 5, 000 Beri?"
Belle-mère's desolate figure instantly stiffened, her expression incredibly rich.
"Ahhh, Gen, you bastard! Why didn't you say so earlier!"
The red-haired woman, whose tears hadn't yet dried, suddenly pushed away the two little lolis and ran towards the shore in a frenzy, her voice deafening:
"Jon! Quickly take the Transponder Snail out of the phone bill!!"
?
Phone bill? What phone bill?
...…
The sun was a bit dazzling, and the sea was bathed in light.
There was no nauseating seasickness or anything like that. Jon was quite adapted to sailing, as if he was naturally suited to swaying on the open sea.
"Have a beer, kid. Away from your mother, you're a little man now, haha."
Limby held out a brown and black cup. "How about it? Want to come work on my ship in a couple of years? I'll give you a high salary."
"Helping out is fine, but I'm not cut out to be a sailor," Jon chuckled.
Limby often traveled to Cocoyasi Village, and they were all familiar with each other, so refusing wasn't a problem.
He knew everyone on this ship, and his impression of them was generally good.
"Uncle Limby," Jon asked curiously, "How much longer until we reach Dawn Island?"
"If we go fast, about four days," Limby smiled. "Dawn Island isn't far from the Conomi Islands. We're departing from Cocoyasi, so at most…"
Boom!!
A loud bang shattered the peaceful atmosphere, simultaneously interrupting Limby's words.
"What was that sound!?"
"Hey, hey, hey, the cargo's falling off!"
Everyone on board gathered on the deck, looking for the source of the sound with surprise and uncertainty.
"Something's hitting the ship!"
Limby, experienced as he was, immediately directed the sailors, "Don't panic, gunners listen to instructions, what we've encountered this time isn't a small fry!"
"Yes, Mr. Limby!"
Everyone quickly dispersed, finding their positions and preparing for action.
Jon, however, stood by the railing, his pupils shrinking as he looked at the huge shadow in the sea behind the ship.
That size is—the Lord of the Coast!?
Wait, there's a wooden boat next to it!
The pink-haired boy wailing on the boat is…