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You can stop calling me boss. All my friends call me Peludita, on account of how fluffy I am.

Oh, so we're friends now?

'Course we are! Could you have ever found your old amigo without the help of yours truly?

(Talk about twisting the truth.)

Hm... so what should you call <i>me</i>, now that we're friends?

Anything you like! More importantly, what did Señor Isidro say?

About, you know, putting me under his protection?

Oh, I forgot to ask. But maybe I'll remember tomorrow, if you ask nicely.

Please, o honorable Señor Pelirrojito! The greatest, handsomest Liberi of all!

Ooh, I like that. Keep it coming!

(You flipping finshit!)

(I'm yanking that red bit right out once I'm out of this mess!)

Well, I guess I <i>do</i> owe you one for helping me find my good buddy...

Elysium pats the girl on the head. Her youthful, childlike exterior belies the maturity, even cruelty, lying beneath.

You sure keep some choice company for a girl your age. Well, come find me if you ever squeeze yourself into something you can't squeeze out of.

I'm as kind-hearted as they come, after all!

...Huh?

...Huh?!

Hmph! Who'd believe a show-off like you?

At the end of the day, the only one you can trust is yourself.

Another one, please.

That pancake... mm... another plate please!

(Whisper) Have they never eaten in their entire lives?

(Whisper) Isn't it all so very familiar? The pride, the gluttony, the greed.

(Whisper) How are they any different from when they raided your granary?

(Whisper) I don't need them to change.

Ahem... I'm sure you're familiar with Aarón, even if your previous visits have been, shall we say, less peaceful.

Still, I bid you welcome, and look forward to a productive discussion.

*Burp*—

(Raises arm)

Did you need a handkerchief?

I'm good, got my sleeves.

...Very well.

(Whisper) Who decided to serve them fried garlic pancakes?

(Whisper) Do you truly believe you can accept them?

(Whisper) If it benefits the town.

Now that you have eaten, it's time to talk—

Can we get some more of those for take-out?

Dinner is over. It's time to—

Alright, you over there, no need to hide. Come here, and we'll talk.

Yes, you, señor. You're the one calling the shots, right? You can't fool us.

...Negotiation is the calificador's duty. Speak to Señor Silver.

How long have you been waiting here, Javi?

Since morning.

Didn't Teach tell you I had private business I needed to attend to?

In all my time by your side, you've never had 'private business' even once. Do you even have a life outside this fleet?

I never said I did.

So why were you looking for me?

...Would you give up the compass, if we found another way besides going out to sea?

I'm listening.

The mates who got back from Aarón said we'll be pardoned if we hand over the compass and the thief. That they'd let us live in town, or go wherever we want.

And you believe them?

I looked into it. The offer's real, at least.

When? And why wasn't I informed?

Didn't want to bother you while you were recuperating.

...And who asked you to be so protective of me?

How else would I treat the woman who raised me?

It feels like it was only yesterday. Now you're taller than I am.

When I was little, I used to pray to grow up faster, taller, and stronger, so that I could share your burden.

Guess my wish came true.

You'll always be that little boy to me, no matter how big you are.

But what about my thoughts? Will you still treat them as the ideas of a little boy?

No, Javi, I won't. I know it's a feeble concession, the kind that only an adult can make.

But I'd sooner die than surrender to them.

How many of the friends you grew up with have already died at their hands?

I'll never forget, Señora Juana...

My crew and I did everything for them, when times were hardest!

Cruz, myself, and our crew fought the Seaborn to protect them!

We spared what little rations we had, so they wouldn't have to feed on their own corpses!

And how did they repay us? By chasing us into the Salt Flat as soon as the Inquisition arrived!

That never would've happened to Cruz if they hadn't turned a blind eye!

I will never bow my head to those ingrates.

I love you, Javi, all of you, whether you believe it or not. Just as I loved all the mates who fought alongside me amidst the waves.

They're long gone, but I still see them in you all. The legacy of blood works in such mysterious ways.

That's why I can never forgive them... I hope you understand.

Wow, this is way more dangerous than your experiments at Rhodes Island.

You used to blow up your lab like three or four times a day, at most. Now, you're doing it once every fifteen minutes.

That's not the kind of data I want...

Don't worry, I made detailed records of all your experiments so far. Clean the desk up, won't you, Peludita?

Sure thing!

What is she doing here?

I felt like I could use an assistant myself. Don't worry, she's clever and hardworking enough.

(And you're making me do all your work!)

Ahem. How about you go fetch some fin oil and Oriron from the warehouse?

On it!

Alright, she's gone...

Now, what's the problem we're dealing with?

We're not making much progress... The samples that I've managed to construct are well below the required standard.

Really? They look good though. Nice and shiny.

There's a reason Corazonix is so rare. Its incredible powers are supported by an extraordinarily complex structure.

Either I'm not doing this right, or my understanding of Corazonix is completely wrong.

I'm not ready to manipulate true Corazonix, not even close.

So why not make more samples until you're satisfied with them?

Our resources are limited, I can't use them all... If I fail, I at least want to leave some behind for them.

You've barely started and you're already thinking about your inevitable failure. Come on, have some faith in yourself.

We've worked together so many times. I have faith in you. So does Señora Juana, and, er... er...

...Who else was there again?

Well, that certain someone, at least...

And me.

Oh, hey there, Peludita. You're back already?