crow

Alright. Us ruffians don't know how to cook. If you need anything, let us know.

Mhm.

I really need to hand it to you to come up with this roast fowlbeast idea. It's the colonel's favorite.

Fowlbeasts raised for food are usually heftier.

We could write any messages we want to get to him on paper and stuff them inside, you bring it to the Colonel.

Maybe we can squeeze some trinkets in there, too.

Yeah, I want Papá to eat something that he likes, even if it's just once in a while.

He probably hasn't had a good meal inside.

...Yeah.

The Colonel has never been one to indulge in pleasures. He probably hasn't had a very good time in prison.

He'll be so happy to have a taste of his daughter's roast fowlbeast.

I'm sure he'll be delighted that you're worried about him. I mean...

Barrow.

Fine, I won't bring it up.

Hermano... came back a while ago.

He paid the colonel a visit and attended a wedding.

I saw him from a distance. Didn't talk to him.

Do you hate him?

Hate him? No way.

If it wasn't for him, all of us would probably have been buried in the wastes, back when the Colonel was arrested.

He's got a bright future ahead of him. Maybe he'll actually become a successful man one day.

Tío Barrow, hand me that spice.

You got it.

As the flames grill the fowlbeast meat, a beautiful luster gradually appears.

Heh, this aroma sure brings me back.

Right... Before we came to Dossoles, we often grilled meat together out in the wilds.

The kitchen utensils we had don't hold a candle to this stuff, we didn't have all these spices, we had to hunt for meat... It was terrible...

But as soon as we got the fire started and everyone started to gather around it, it felt like we could pull through even the harshest hardships.

So it goes.

Tacito, catch.

When did you buy this?

Just now.

How come I didn't notice?

Do I even deserve to call myself a scout if you of all people notice me doing anything?

Hmph.

The bulky soldier doesn't rebuke. Instead, he simply cracks open a can of beer and chugs it.

I want one, too.

You got it.

La Pluma clumsily pulls the can's tab and holds it with both her hands, drinking its contents in small gulps.

The soldiers never cared much about their beer's quality, and its taste could not be more different from her brew.

But this exciting texture instantly reminds her of how things were before.

There was this one time after Papá won a battle, when everyone celebrated in the camp.

She had already learned how to cook by then, and she loved making food for them.

Hermano preferred quiet places, so he hid in the tent and tried to sleep.

But in the end, with all the noise around him, he had no choice but to come out and try to quiet them down, only for Papá to force him to join them as they drank. Both of them ended up completely hammered.

The camp was filled with cheers and laughter.

Back then, Papá often laughed out loud.

Back then, the things that worried Hermano were written all over his face.

The sizzling of the meat pulls her back to reality.

Suddenly, she is feeling a little thankful for the Doctor.

In the past, she would definitely be hung up on what she should do, and hope that someone would give her an idea.

But now, she knows what to do.

Ugh.

It's me.

Sorry, I lost her, but she's headed toward the prison. She's probably going to make contact with Pancho.

Yes, she made contact with what's left of Pancho's men.

Yeah, could very well be connected.

Assemble the men.

I really wish I could get a compliment from the Doctor at a time like this.

Papá, I'm here.

Oh, mija. You've finally come to visit.

I brought you this, too. It's roast fowlbeast, your favorite.

Hoho, my own daughter's roast fowlbeast. It's been way too long.

Come here and let me get a good look at you.

Okay.

You lost weight. Is the food at Rhodes Island that bad?

Not at all. It's very good.

Maybe it's because I've been out on missions a lot lately.

Don't overwork yourself. It's very important to sleep and eat on a regular schedule.

Yeah, I know.

Papá, you have new scars.

Prison is a place where fists do the talking.

All I did was tell a few men here that just because I'm getting on in years doesn't mean they can pick on me.

I'll bring you some ointment next time.

Alright, alright.

What do you think of Rhodes Island?

I think... it's a pretty good place. Everyone at the company's very friendly, and they treat us well.

That's good to hear.

But you can't settle down if you just keep working for them.

Doesn't Rhodes Island travel to lots of different countries? You should look out when you go to all those different places with them.

If you find somewhere that works for you, settle down there.

Can't I come back to Bolívar?

Don't be silly, my daughter.

There's nothing here in Bolívar. My greatest wish now is for you to live a peaceful life.

What about Hermano?

That malcriado...

He's got things he wants to do. Let him do them.

With the ways things turned out, if he told me he wanted to be Candela's doorman, I'd let him.

But he never thinks about what exactly it is that he wants to do.

He's too hesitant and cautious. A man like him can't accomplish anything!

I... I'm sure he's aware.

He knows what it is that he wants to do.

He's just afraid.

Afraid? What could he even be afraid of?

He's afraid that if he really ended up picking a path, he'd lose you, and he'd lose me.

...Is that what you think?

Yes.

He doesn't actually talk to me much aboard Rhodes Island.

I think he probably thinks the same way as you do. He wants me to use Rhodes Island to find a place to settle down.

But... why?