Inside the training room.
"Whoa…"
Sweetheart Queen's beautiful face lit up with excitement.
"Come on, come on—let's head out quick!"
Even Betty, usually indifferent, showed a rare hint of curiosity.
"Let's go see if what Chris said really holds up."
Baccarat looked at the man who was still training, her eyes soft with a gentle smile.
"Chris, aren't you coming out to watch?"
Chris, still swinging his blood-red blade, answered flatly without turning.
"The outcome is already decided. Nothing worth watching."
He clearly had other priorities.
Betty strode out with a slight scoff.
"Yeah, figured he'd say that."
"Our captain only cares about training—he doesn't bother with this kind of stuff."
Sweetheart Queen skipped along, giggling.
"Told ya! I knew he'd say something like that."
Baccarat smiled back at Chris one last time.
"We'll come tell you how it ends. You focus on your training."
Soon, the three women had stepped out and made their way to the deck.
"Go, Captain Burgess!"
Padong was bouncing around, cheerful as ever.
"And Captain Lafitte, you too—do your best! Heehee~"
Doc Q, surprisingly upright for once, wore a creepy smile and glanced at the two fighters.
"Don't hold back just because the captain said so."
"If you're gonna fight—then go all out. Beat each other half to death."
"That's what being a man is all about!"
Burgess glared at him and let out a roar.
"Damn it, Doc Q! Stop talking nonsense!"
"One of these days, the Captain will kill you, and I'm not stepping in to save your sorry ass."
Lafitte adjusted his elegant top hat, voice still refined.
"The Captain's not exactly... lenient. Keep pushing him, and you might not live to regret it."
"Frankly, I do think he's capable of it."
Sweetheart Queen strolled over, smiling.
"Exactly. Doc Q, you keep poking the bear, and one day, Chris really will make you pay."
Betty added coolly,
"Don't expect us to speak up for you either. You know that, right?"
Baccarat rolled her eyes, annoyed.
"Seriously, you guys make Chris sound like a heartless tyrant."
"Sure, he's intense, but he's not some cold-blooded killer. You're all overthinking it."
Lafitte looked toward the training room.
"Captain really isn't coming out to watch?"
Burgess shrugged with a helpless grin.
"I knew he wouldn't. He doesn't give a damn about this kind of stuff."
"To him, it's all about training. Everything else? Whatever."
Doc Q chuckled wickedly.
"Which is great for you two. No Captain watching means no pressure—go nuts."
"What's a fight without some real bloodshed?"
Burgess ignored him and turned to Lafitte, laughing boisterously.
"Let's go! Time to crush you! Wahahaha!"
With that, he leapt from the ship to the island below, clearly itching for a brawl.
Lafitte, ever composed, smiled politely.
"As you wish."
His figure flashed and disappeared from the deck, joining Burgess below.
Sweetheart Queen turned to Doc Q with a smirk.
"What, you're not joining in the fun down there?"
"Please. I'm sickly and frail. No business jumping into fights."
Doc Q strolled slowly to the rail.
Betty waved the others over.
"Let's head to the railing. Better view."
Soon, everyone had gathered by the railings, watching the island below.
It was a small island, overgrown with lush greenery and bizarre flowers.
Clearly, no one had set foot there for a long time.
"Go get 'em, Captain Burgess! Captain Lafitte, you too!"
Padong sat on the rail, beaming from ear to ear.
"Burgess! I believe in you! Don't screw this up!"
"Let the storm rage! The more chaos, the better!"
"I'm so hyped I wanna punch someone myself—what do I doooo!?"
"Burgess! Lafitte! You're both total badasses—I salute you!!"
"Ahem, I now declare… the battle has BEGUN!!"
The men, fueled by the promise of an epic fight, were going wild.
Shouts and cheers thundered across the deck like waves crashing against rocks.
Baccarat shook her head with a helpless smile.
"These guys really love their brawls, huh…"
"You're telling me."
Sweetheart Queen's eyes sparkled as she watched the two figures below.
"Even I'm getting pumped. I kinda wanna cheer with them now!"
Betty lit a cigarette and exhaled slowly.
"Let's see what Lafitte's got. I wanna know what makes him so special that Chris would vouch for him like that."
Down on the island, Lafitte and Burgess stood face-to-face.
A breeze swept through the trees.
Leaves rustled, flowers swayed—as if the island itself was ready for the showdown.
"Lafitte. Final warning. You still have time to surrender."
Burgess cracked his neck, stretching out.
Lafitte twirled his cane, as courteous as ever.
"Oh, I'd love to surrender. Really, I would."
"But that Vice-Captain position… it's calling to me."
"Don't worry, Burgess. I'll go easy—I won't hurt you too badly."
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T/N:
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