The ship had barely settled before the noise of Red Port swallowed all their senses.
Wood creaked, ropes tightened, and the gangplank dropped with a heavy thud.
Adam stepped off first, boots hitting the dock.
His eyes scanned the place and busy… wasn't enough to describe it, It was controlled chaos, Marines, shouting orders as they directed cargo. World Government officials, their presence stiff and authoritative. Cipher Pol agents easy to recognize once you knew what to look for, blended into the crowd like shadows, even here.
And then there were the Bondolas.
Massive lift vessels stationed along the massive face of the Red Line.
They rose slowly, carried by thick mechanisms, transporting cargo, personnel toward the Holy Land above.
Adam tilted his head slightly, following one as it ascended.
"…First time I see one."
For a moment, he just watched. the scale of it all, then he exhaled and turned back toward his ship.
His crew was already gathering behind him, noticeably more organized than before.
Adam pointed toward one of them.
"You."
The Marine stiffened instantly.
"S-sir!"
"Make the necessary paperwork here," Adam said calmly. "Leave this ship docked. We'll be taking a new one on the other side of the Red Line."
The Marine blinked.
Then scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"…We've already done that, sir."
Adam paused.
Raised an eyebrow.
"…Have you now?"
The Marine nodded quickly.
"Yes sir! Dock clearance, transfer logs, everything's already submitted!"
A few others nearby chuckled nervously, rubbing their necks.
"Figured we should do it before you yelled at us again…"
"…Just in case."
Adam stared at them for a second.
Then a faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"Well…"
He crossed his arms slightly.
"Look at that."
"You guys aren't so bad after all."
That earned a few sheepish laughs.
"Heh… we try, sir."
Adam huffed lightly, then turned toward the Bondolas again.
"Let's go then."
The crew began to move with him, falling into step.
But Adam slowed slightly.
Just for a moment, his eyes shifted.
Locked onto something. A group of royal guards. And just some guards of a random kingdom, these were the royal guards of the holy land, they moved with authority toward one of the Bondolas preparing to ascend.
Adam's gaze sharpened slightly.
'Mary Geoise's royal guards…'
His thoughts moved quickly.
'I may be allowed to pass through the Holy Land…'
His expression darkened just a fraction.
'But I'm still just a Marine Captain.'
His eyes narrowed.
'I can't roam freely there without drawing attention…'
A brief pause.
'Dangerous attention.'
Then
A faint glint appeared in his eyes.
'But I don't want to miss this chance.'
His gaze followed the guards as they stepped onto the Bondola.
'You never know when you'll get another opportunity to step into that place…'
Silently, without a single movement that anyone could notice
Adam's shadow shifted, subtly.
Like a ripple in darkness.
A thin strand peeled away from it.
Slid across the ground.
Blending perfectly with every other shadow cast by crates, people, and structures.
No one noticed.
Not the marines, not the guards.
Not even the Cipher pol agents.
It moved and quick and silent.
And then
Latched onto the shadow of one of the royal guards.
Seamlessly.
Like it had always been there.
Adam's lips curved ever so slightly.
"…There we go."
His eyes remained fixed on the Bondola as it began its ascent.
Slowly rising, carrying the guards upward, toward the peak of the Red Line, toward the Holy Land.
'Hopefully…'
His gaze sharpened.
'Those Guards enter Pangaea Castle…'
"Captain?"
One of his men spoke up, snapping him back slightly.
Adam didn't look away immediately.
"Yes?"
The Marine gestured toward the Bondolas.
"So… are we taking these or…?"
Adam finally shifted his gaze to him.
Casual again.
"Yeah, yeah."
He waved a hand lightly.
"We'll take the next one shortly."
But his eyes
They drifted back upward.
Following that ascending vessel.
"…No rush."
The Bondola continued to rise.
And Adam stood there while the Bondola carrying the royal guards started to disappear into the sky.
His thoughts moving faster than the world around him.
'I need to learn it… Right now..'
His jaw tightened slightly.
'Shadow Exchange…'
'Otherwise this…'
His gaze narrowed.
'…is just a useless attempt.'
The shadow he had sent was climbing toward the heart of power itself.
But he couldn't follow it.
Not yet.
'I can't infiltrate that place without it…'
A faint irritation crossed his face.
'Damn it…'
Then
A deep mechanical sound echoed across the port.
CLANK.
WHRRR.
Another Bondola descended.
Chains groaning as it lowered back down from the heights of the Red Line.
It settled into place with a heavy thud.
Marines immediately began directing people toward it.
"Next group! Move!"
"Cargo first, personnel after!"
Adam blinked once.
Then exhaled lightly.
"…Well."
He turned to his crew.
"Looks like that's ours."
The Marines straightened instantly.
"Yes, Captain!"
They moved together this time.
Just a unit following their leader.
Adam stepped forward first, his men followed close behind, some glancing around with poorly hidden excitement.
"Damn… this thing is huge…"
"Never thought I'd actually ride one of these…"
"Feels like we're about to go to the sky itself…"
Adam said nothing.
Just walked forward and stopped near the edge.
Then
CLANK.
The gates closed.
The Bondola began to move.
Slowly lifting them off the ground.
The Red Port started to shrink beneath them.
Voices faded.
Movement blurred.
The chaos of the port became… distant.
Adam rested his hand lightly on the railing as the wind picked up, stronger now as they rose higher and higher.
The sea stretched, endless blue, the ships below became smaller, insignificant.
One of the Marines leaned over slightly, eyes wide.
"…We're really going up…"
Another laughed nervously.
"Don't fall, idiot."
"I'm not trying to die today."
Adam let out a faint breath.
His eyes moved slowly, taking it all in.
The Red Line wasn't just a wall.
Up close, It felt like a mountain that split the world itself in two.
A massive ancient structure clouded in mystery, the higher they climbed, the colder the air became, the wind stronger and the world below… quieter.
Clouds began to gather around them.
At first, just wisps.
Then
They passed through them.
White swallowed everything.
For a brief moment
It felt like they had left the world behind.
Then, they broke through.
Above the clouds, the sky opened up again.
Clear and endless, golden light stretched across the horizon.
The sea below now hidden beneath a blanket of white.
One of the Marines let out a quiet breath.
"…This place really is fit for Gods…"
Another whispered.
"…This is insane…"
Adam stood still.
Eyes forward.
"…What a world…"
The words left him quietly.
For a brief moment, he forgot everything. This was simple and peaceful.
Then his gaze lifted, higher, toward the very top of the Red Line.
Where something else waited, completely opposite to what he is witnessing right now.
The Holy Land.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The calm faded.
Replaced by a colder look.
"…It's a shame…"
His voice dropped.
"…that a bastard rules it."
Behind him, one of the Marines shifted slightly, glancing at him with confusion, unsure if he heard that right.
But Adam didn't look back.
his eyes stayed locked upward, toward the peak. toward the place where actual power gathered, where monsters wore crowns.
/-\
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