Bruno sat on the cold floor of the hidden room in the ship's hold. Darkness enveloped the cramped space, with only a solitary lamp casting a dim glow, hanging from a nail embedded in the wooden beam above. His bruised face throbbed with pain, his lower lip split and his eye blackened. Hunger gnawed at his empty stomach.

Calling out for Billy had been a grave mistake. No help arrived, nor did anyone display curiosity at the commotion. Instead, the ominous promise made by the mysterious man with the red scarf came to fruition. Bruno was swiftly knocked unconscious, only to wake up to another merciless beating. The man gagged him, ensuring his cries for help were silenced. Days stretched by without a morsel of food.

Yet, Bruno remained steadfast, refusing to abandon the idea of escape. It seemed foolish not to attempt it. He decided to bide his time, waiting for the opportunity to arrive. Given the pirates' penchant for inspecting even vessels under the guise of free passage, there was a good chance the ship would be stopped and searched.

If he heard any signs of people sniffing around the hold, Bruno planned to unleash a piercing scream, hoping it would attract attention. However, days turned into weeks, and the elusive opportunity never presented itself.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and the man appeared, carrying a small bowl containing a piece of smoked fish and stale bread. A cup of water accompanied the meager meal.

"I brought food, you nasty rascal," he smiled, revealing a hint of amusement.

Bruno patiently awaited the man's approach, yearning for the door to open and the cloth gag to be removed. He longed to have his arms freed so he could finally eat. Setting the provisions on a nearby crate, the man proceeded to unlock the cage and gradually untie the young captive.

"Thank you," Bruno uttered gratefully, his voice freed at last.

"You're learning. I like that," the man responded with a note of approval.

Without hesitation, the boy began devouring the food. Starvation and the scarcity of meals drove him to consume everything voraciously. He finished quickly and returned the bowl and cup.

"I wouldn't tie you up, but something tells me we're not done yet, so..." the man trailed off, grabbing the cloth once more.

"I won't shout. I promise," Bruno assured him.

"Yeah, sure," the man replied skeptically, yet proceeded to secure the gag regardless.

"Can I at least know your name?" The young alchemist inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"We've already been through this. Do you think anything has changed in those few days?" the man chuckled, securing the knots that bound Bruno's hands.

The young alchemist shrugged, earning another amused chuckle from the sailor.

"At least tell me how to address you," the boy persisted.

"You can call me Mister. And now, open up," the sailor instructed.

Following his directive, Bruno parted his lips, allowing the cloth to be shoved back into his mouth. It was frustrating, but he knew he had to endure it. What mattered more was the revelation gleaned from that simple question. Bruno had suspected it from the outset, but now he had confirmation.

The fact that the sailor refused to disclose his name hinted at the possibility of Bruno's eventual escape. Perhaps not from the ship, but at their destination. The sailor evidently wished to keep this secret, minimizing the risk of the pirates finding out about him later on.

For Bruno, allowing even a slight chance of escape was both intriguing and foolish. Intriguing because it hinted at the sailor's subconscious desire to maximize survivability, and foolish because Bruno would never pass up such an opportunity. Nonetheless, this observation ignited hope within the young alchemist and led him to ponder whether it was greed, selling him as a slave, or a lack of resolve to dispose of a child like him that guided the sailor's chosen path.

Viki stood at the entrance of Bruno's old laboratory, a spacious room within the wine warehouse. Torches mounted on the walls cast flickering light, illuminating the scene as boys bustled about, rearranging equipment and carefully arranging freshly procured ingredients.

With a flick of her wrist, Viki tossed a silver coin into the air, catching it effortlessly in a seamless motion. In the past, she would perform this familiar act with the golden galley Billy had given her, a token of her thoughts. However, those precious coins had to be spent on acquiring the necessary supplies. She knew the recipe for 'Fix' like the back of her hand, having worked alongside Bruno countless times, and it would be a waste not to earn money by selling it.

Their current situation was dire, as competition surged in the absence of Nathan, still bedridden with a fever. He would occasionally wake from his delirium, requiring constant care—feeding, clothing changes, and even assistance with basic bodily functions. According to Orfeo, Nathan's recovery should take only a few more days, but the uncertainty of his condition weighed heavily on Viki's mind.

That's why she made the difficult decision to disappear from the streets for now and focus solely on 'Fix'. Concluding her coin-tossing ritual, she turned away from the laboratory, visited her room to pick something up, and ascended the stairs to where Raul awaited her. In her hands, she carried a set of sturdier garments— a leather vest, intact pants, new shoes—and, most significantly, a pair of brass knuckles and a knife.

"Let's go," she tossed the clothes to Raul and headed directly for the exit.

Outside, Fin leaned against the warehouse wall, a toothpick fashioned from a splintered piece of wood wedged between his lips.

"Let's go," Viki repeated to him as well, her tone filled with determination.

Casting a hostile glance at Raul, the thief joined their ranks without uttering a word. The girl ensured that despite their mutual dislike, they would set their differences aside and cooperate in her quest to establish herself as the leader of their gang, asserting dominance over rival groups.

Nathan had openly antagonized them, but Viki couldn't afford such conflicts at the moment. She needed to extinguish the fires he had ignited, a daunting task compounded by the fact that she was a girl. Nevertheless, she had no other choice. She had to persevere until Billy's return.