As the sun dipped low, long shadows stretched across Alba's docks. Argento and Veyra slipped along the harbor, sticking close to crates and warehouses. Behind a stack of barrels, they spotted the Crimson Corsairs' ship: a medium-sized brig with flapping red sails, paint chipped and faded, rigging tangled, and crew members shouting at each other as they stumbled across the deck. The vessel swayed dangerously near the reef-marked waters, and Argento's silver fingers itched.
"See that, Vice-Captain?" he whispered, eyes glinting. "Every one of them is practically inviting us to… intervene."
"They're begging for it! CICICICICI! Look at them! They can't even keep their own ropes untangled!" Veyra's grin was feral.
Argento's own grin stretched, sharp as a blade. "Geheheheh… exactly why the Mercurio will come out on top."
They moved closer, crouching in shadows, plotting their approach. Then Veyra's eyes flared with impatience.
"Why wait?" she hissed. "They're right there! Strike now—show them what the Mercurial Pirates can do!"
Argento's metallic fingers flexed. "Geheheheh… indeed. Who needs careful plans when opportunity practically begs for a fight?"
With practiced charm, they approached the ship, smiles polite, hands empty.
"Looking for work," Veyra cooed. "We can help with anything—swabbing, mending, carrying."
The captain, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, squinted suspiciously. He shrugged, clearly amused by their audacity.
Once aboard, Argento gave a subtle nod to Veyra. The chaos began. His metallic fingers hardened into sharp edges, striking two nearby pirates with precise blows. Veyra leapt into the fray, rolling and darting with acrobatic finesse. The first two Corsairs went down, stunned. The rest hesitated.
Argento disarmed a swinging cutlass with a silver grab, parried a chain with a thin metallic shield. Veyra's Glimmer and Phantom Strikes sent two more pirates tumbling. But momentum betrayed them. One pirate slammed into Argento; another lunged at Veyra. She twisted, barely avoiding the knife, countering just enough to keep herself safe.
Every movement cost precious energy. The Corsairs, though reckless, pressed together in chaotic coordination, pushing the siblings to their limits. Blood blossomed across Argento's shirt, his metallic coating flickering under strain.
Argento's vision narrowed, focusing on survival and Veyra. Decision made, he let himself melt: his body liquefying into a rolling sphere of shimmering mercury. Tendrils flared outward, wrapping, slicing, hurling Corsairs across the deck. The metallic storm was precise, overwhelming, and protective. Veyra found herself encased in a glimmering sphere, every strike from the Corsairs absorbed or deflected.
In less than a minute, ten pirates were pinned, bleeding, or sprawled across the deck. Argento reformed, silver gleaming and rippling faintly along his skin, breath heavy but controlled. Veyra stepped out, eyes wide, brushing herself off.
"ULULULULU! What do we have here, huh?"
A lanky boy emerged from the lower deck, boots clattering against wet wood. Red hair like fire, eyes the color of spilled wine, mismatched clothing, a thin saber at his hip. He stopped, grinning at them.
"So, you had the same idea as me? Rob these foolish pirates?"
Argento swayed slightly, drained, silver coating flickering. Veyra gripped his shoulders.
"You idiot," she hissed. "You can't go full Tempest without collapsing! Look at you…"
Argento's faint grin remained. "Geheheheh… just… a little rest."
The red-haired boy tilted his head, amused. "Big fireworks, lots of noise… then barely standing. Hilarious… ULULULULULU!"
Veyra's grin snapped back, fierce. "CICICICICI! You think we're funny? You've got no idea who you're messing with!"
The boy laughed, crouching slightly. "Relax, child. I like chaos. Makes life interesting. Name's Ula. And I can help… in a way you'll find… unique."
"Unique?" Veyra's eyes narrowed.
"I'm a doctor," Ula said, twirling his saber lazily. "Not the boring kind. I have the Itai Itai no Mi. I transfer pain—or injuries—but always in equivalent exchange. What I take has to go somewhere or to someone. Lucky for you," he nodded at Argento, "I'm generous."
Before they could respond, he touched a knocked-out Corsair. Silver threads of energy pulsed from the pirate into Argento, knitting his wounds, dulling pain, restoring mobility.
Veyra stepped back, wide-eyed. "CICICICICI! You… healed him… from one of those fools?"
Ula brushed his fingers clean, grinning. "Equivalent exchange. Don't get used to it. Consider it a demonstration."
Argento's breathing steadied, awe in his voice. "Geheheheh… incredible. You're exactly the kind of ally we need."
Ula's grin sharpened. "Careful with that praise, silver boy. I'm generous, yes… but not a charity. Keep up, or find out how painful an exchange can be."
Veyra's fists clenched in excitement. "CICICICICI! Perfect! First recruit, deadly power, heals Big Brother… this is going to be fun."
Argento, still steadying himself, silver gleam faint across his skin, whispered, "Geheheheh… quite the doctor, Ula. You'd make a fine addition to our crew."
Ula blinked, then threw back his head, laughing. "When did I say I'd join you? ULULULULU! But… if you insist!"