Roger looked back at the beach. Behind him, the airship continued to rain bombs down, filling the ground with thick smoke. No one dared to set foot in the bombardment zone, and so none could chase after him.
By the time the smoke cleared and the airship was crushed, the titans and Marleyan soldiers were left standing at the shoreline, watching as Roger grew farther and farther away.
Seeing their frustration, Roger's heart brimmed with joy.
"Never thought that mysterious man, Niaolin, would be so capable—actually summoning an airship and a warship."
Relieved at last, Roger no longer feared pursuit. He hauled himself up onto the warship and stood upon the deck.
Though his titan form was seven meters tall, his human stance only reached about three meters. On the deck, he was large but not so enormous as to unbalance the ship.
"It seems everything was arranged by that Niaolin." Roger muttered, "But it's suspicious… how did he know I would transform into the Jaw Titan? Unless… he really is in league with Anderson? Was this all set up from the start?"
That gnawing uncertainty unsettled Roger. He had always hated fighting blind, and now suspicion pressed in from every side.
He had escaped Marley's siege against all odds—but was he truly free?
Silent, Roger looked up at the sky.
The day was fading, stars faintly pricking the darkening heavens, stirring countless thoughts.
"Right… maybe I can ask the people on board."
He suddenly remembered. Struggling, he tried to pull himself free from the Jaw Titan's nape.
But perhaps because it was his first transformation, his bond to the titan body was far too tight.
No choice—he took his knife and cut off the arm stuck within.
Spurt!
Blood gushed out, but the flesh quickly sealed.
Healing steam rose from the wound as Roger leapt down from the titan's neck.
Standing on the deck, the titan body faded behind him.
Roger looked around—and was stunned.
No one came to see the Jaw Titan that had climbed aboard.
Afraid?
Impossible.
Surely they had expected this.
With no answers, Roger opened the hatch and made for the captain's cabin.
But the ship was eerily silent.
No voices, no footsteps—nothing.
Where was everyone?
Confused, Roger pushed open the captain's cabin door.
Whoosh!
A blast of wind struck him.
When it passed, he saw inside—empty!
Nothing but a slowly turning helm.
"?!"
Something was wrong!
Roger spun and hurried back to the deck.
The ocean stretched in every direction. Land was already far, far behind.
"Damn it! What the hell kind of ship is this?!"
He glanced from the vessel to the endless sea.
There was no way back. Land was too far.
Even if he swam in titan form, he'd collapse from exhaustion and drown.
Thinking it through, Roger gripped his knife and searched the ship again.
Still nothing.
No people. No enemies.
Nothing—except a single iron cage in the hold.
Inside was a brown-furred ape.
Truthfully, it was the first time Roger had ever seen a live ape.
The Eldian internment zone had no such entertainment. A zoo was an impossible dream for despised Eldians.
Seeing the living animal filled Roger with a strange delight.
"At last… feels a little like freedom, huh?"
He consoled himself. Exhausted, he sat in a chair.
There, beside him, lay fruit he hadn't noticed before.
Food for the ape, perhaps? he thought.
"Sorry, I'll repay you."
He picked up an apple, speaking to the ape. Then felt odd—why talk to a monkey?
The ape lay listlessly in its cage, unmoving, seemingly more drained than Roger himself.
Roger thought a moment, then opened the cage—his thanks for the apple.
The ape just waved dismissively, as if it didn't care. Then, unbelievably, it pulled a pin-up magazine from behind its back, and mimicked a human… with its gloved hands.
"????"
Roger was dumbfounded. He'd never seen an ape act like that.
Absurd!
"Must be a circus ape," he guessed.
But where were the crew?
No time for nonsense. After finishing the apple, some strength returned, and his left arm had healed.
He found a compass in the captain's room, and checked their heading. The ship was racing eastward.
\[Head east!]
\[Head east!]
Two voices rang in his mind—Anderson's and Niaolin's.
Both had told him the same.
But…
What lay to the east?
Roger searched further, finding a map.
On it, east of Marley was written—
"Paradis Island."
---
Marley, elsewhere.
Niaolin Eikam nodded to the attendant at the door. The man bowed and quickly withdrew.
Opening the door, Niaolin inhaled heavy sandalwood incense. Though uncomfortable, he showed no displeasure, removing his hat and kneeling before an aged man inside.
"You acting on your own pleases me, Niaolin," the elder said. His voice was frail, life nearly spent.
"No, General. I moved without orders. Please punish me."
"A meritorious man need not be punished."
"Thank you, General."
"Enough idle words. What of the War Hammer's stance? Any change?"
"None. They cling to their old ways, and ask that you stop meddling in Marley's affairs."
"Heh. Their words were likely harsher than that." The elder smirked. "Willy Tybur, my dear nephew… once he took the War Hammer, he plunged it into his uncle's back."
"General…"
"No more."
The elder rose, snuffing out the incense—having noticed Niaolin's discomfort.
Relieved, Niaolin breathed easier. His time spent infiltrating Marley had worsened his sinuses. That even such details drew the General's care…
"General, I have succeeded. Roger has inherited the Jaw Titan—and I have sent him to Paradis Island."
"Well done."
"I only follow your orders."
At this, the elder nodded slightly.
"May he bring out the Founding Titan…
"My…
"Son."
//Check out my Patreon for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[[email protected]/Razeil0810](http://[email protected]/Razeil0810)