[Open ocean — Central zone — Day 38 — 12:30 AM]
This time the captain didn't wait three full days.
Three and a half days. And when he arrived, he came alone.
One ship. No formation. No reinforcements. The captain on the bow with the Depth Mark at seventy percent — recovering, not complete, but closer than it had been a week ago.
Kira from the crow's nest:
"One ship. Just the captain."
"A trap?" asked Maya.
"I don't detect any additional ships within forty kilometers." Kira. "It's just him."
Alex on deck with Grim on his shoulder, already tired of this.
"What does he want now?"
The captain spoke from his ship, sixty meters away, not coming closer.
"You."
---
"Fourteen ships weren't enough last time," said Alex.
"Fourteen ships was a mistake." The captain. "I brought a Bone and Iron Sentinel because I thought I needed something without a soul to face your team. Your F6 bearer showed me that was a waste of time and gold."
"And now?"
