On the morning of the duel, the sky was crystal clear, and the deep blue waves of the sea glittered with flecks of gold. Under the brilliant, hot sun, the teak deck, the metal railings, the flag on the mast—every detail was so sharp and distinct it made Milady uneasy.
At 10:59 AM, the second deck was already crowded with people.
It was the first time since boarding the ship that Milady had seen the entire crew of the Night Castle assembled. They crowded behind the railings, whispering and craning their necks. Occupying the prime viewing spot, dead center, was Captain Lu Ranzhou. He had dragged a chair over earlier and was now draped over the railing with limp arms, looking for all the world like he'd been hung there to dry.
