Adam walked down a sidewalk with flowers sprouting from tiny cracks and vines climbing up the stone walls of a nearby playground.
He leaned over the wall, looking at the abandoned playground, and imagined a distant memory of his past that was filled with laughter and joy.
He remembered the countless hours he spent playing with his friends and the countless memories he created there.
“The fuckin’ itch.” Adam muttered to himself and scratched his back in frustration.
He then took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up before placing it on his lips and taking a short puff.
“Mister, who are you?”
Hearing a voice of very young age, Adam turned around and leaned on the stone wall while looking at the round-eyed young girl looking at him with curiosity.
“Name’s Adam. Adam Slasher.” Adam let out a smoke-filled breath and leaned back against the wall, his blind eyes lingering in the direction of the little girl.
“That is a weird name.” The young girl said and looked at the abandoned playground. “Are you here to play?”
“Nah.” Adam replied and pointed the cigarette at the direction of the little girl. “Why are you outside? Scary pirates are roaming the streets.”
“But I am not scared.” The little girl said innocently.
“Ah, hah.” Adam chuckled and took a drag on his cigarette. “You should. They’re dangerous and could hurt you and your family.”
Before the little girl could say anything, a frantic shout came behind her.
“Pam!” A middle-aged woman with a worried expression rushed towards her. She was rather beautiful, with a mature charm and body that didn’t make her seem like she was a mother.
“Mom.” The little girl wondered why her mother was panicking and then felt her mother’s embrace.
“Why did you leave, it’s not safe!” Her mother asked with mix of anger and worry.
“Ah, I was talking to him.” The little girl pointed at the enormous man with tanned skin and a large sword sheathed at his side.
Her mother’s face paled and she took a step back in shock. It didn’t take long for her to recognize him as she had seen faces in the newspapers before.
Adam whistled and smiled charmingly. “Wohoo, what a beautiful sounding lady. I have some time left, so wanna have a go, aye?”
The woman hugged her daughter, lifted her off the ground, and slowly backed away from the man. She knew that she couldn’t do anything if the man wanted to have his way with her, but at least she wanted her daughter to be safe.
“You could’ve just said no, tch.” Adam tossed the cigarette away, slipped his hands inside his pockets, and walked away from the frightened mother and confused daughter.
“Rejection always hurts.” Adam wryly smiled and shook his head.
As soon as the tanned man walked away, the mother and daughter returned to the house, locked the door tight, and went hiding in the basement.
After leaving the playground, Adam arrived back at the park and “saw” a black-haired young man sitting on the bench. He was surrounded by nothing but the dead-looking grass and petalless flowers.
“You talked with him?” Ambrose looked away from the ground and had to look way up to catch Adam’s white eyes that seemed like he could see him but at the same time not.
“Yeah, you are coming with me.” Adam sat next to him and laughed. “He’ll also come to visit the Sea King. They’ll have business to discuss.”
“You are planning to do business with him?” Ambrose scoffed and looked away in anger. “Is your boss afraid to fight him or what?”
“He’ll do whatever it takes for him to get his mace back. It still doesn’t mean the Sea King will be happy about Bonney’s crew being massacred and the mace stolen.”
“Your boss is underestimating Mars.” Ambrose clenched his fists. “It will result in his death if he doesn’t keep his eyes open.”
“Both are using each other.” Adam laughed. “I don’t mind if Tyrannus and Mars kill each other. They are both scheming, and it won’t end well.”
“Tyrannus?” Ambrose frowned, as this was an unfamiliar name.
“It’s the Sea King’s name.” Adam chuckled. “You didn’t think that he was called the Sea King? It’s just a title.”
“Why do you want him to be dead?” Ambrose frowned.
“I am indifferent.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “If he lives, I’ll continue living my life as his subordinate, enjoying my life, and if he dies, I’ll enjoy my life somewhere else.”
“No loyalty among pirates, huh?” Ambrose scoffed and then touched his forehead with a frown. “There’s this thing with me.”
“You are contract bound to Mars, correct?”
“How did you know?” Ambrose asked in shock.
“It’s not that uncommon.” Adam said. “Tyrannus has also used it many times. It’s an effective way of ensuring that no prisoners can escape him.”
“So, I can travel separately from him without getting teleported back to him?” Ambrose asked to make sure.
“Yes.” Adam nodded. “It’s basically summoning contract. If he wants you to return, he’ll just have to think about that. It isn’t based on distance.”
“So…” Ambrose bit his lip and asked. “If he doesn’t know I have escaped, I won’t be summoned back to him.”
“Ding, ding.” Adam nodded. “That’s right.”
“So, why did you want me to come with you?” Ambrose asked with a frown. “If we are going to the same place anyway, what is the point?”
“We aren’t exactly going to the same place as Mars.” Adam said with a grin. “There are two islands connected in the so-called Sea King’s Island.
“The first island has the Sea King’s castle and auction hall, and the second island has the town.
“The two islands are connected by a bridge, but they are basically the same island.
“We’ll go to the second island.”
“Why?” Ambrose asked.
“You’ll see.” Adam stood up and scratched his itching back. “To waste the time of moving from one island to another, we might as well travel together. Don’t you agree?”
Ambrose raised his eyebrow and stood up from the bench.
“One question.”
“What is it?” Adam looked at the black-haired young man with a smile.
“Will Sea King reveal my intention to kill Mars?” Ambrose asked.
“Perhaps.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Even if he does, who cares? Mars is a fool if he thinks you don’t harbor the intention to kill him. It’s natural.”
“I suppose you are right.” Ambrose looked around and said, “Shall we go? Is your ship back in the pier?”
“Nah, we docked on the other side of the island. Didn’t wanna scare you all.” Adam chuckled, put his hands inside his pockets, and began walking down a cracked sidewalk. “Follow me.”
Ambrose silently followed, but his mind was running on overdrive.
‘Something is wrong about this. Adam is acting unnaturally comfortable with me, and what the hell was the talk about me being Reinhardt’s student?
‘Also, what is the Sea King’s intention to invite Mars. Only for the mace? Unlikely, I have to ask Bonney.’
As if she heard his thoughts, an echoing voice appeared in his mind.
‘I… don’t… think… Sea King… invited Mars.’
‘You heard my thoughts or what?’ Ambrose asked with a frown.
‘No… I felt… that… something was… wrong with Adam…’
The voice continued to turn more painful with each word.
‘Adam is… plotting something…’ The voice finished talking and couldn’t speak any longer.
‘Hmm…’ Ambrose nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibility.
“Mm~” Adam, walking ahead, hummed a certain song that one of the famous singers back on Sea King’s Island used to sing to him when they were together in bed.
The memory brought a soft smile to his face.
“You like music?”
“Ah, yeah.” Ambrose nodded.
“We can go listen to a concert that is happening at the start of the auction.” Adam said and smiled. “It will be quite a show.”