Klein's face darkened. He raised his hand and brought down a classic Love-Fueled Iron Fist on Oss' head.
"Hey! Worry about me later! What's going on between you and Gertz!?"
"Ow ow ow!" Oss clutched his head and crouched down. "Gertz? Gertz is great! She really likes humans. We're friends now!"
"What kind of friends?"
Oss stood up, a giant bump swelling on his head. "What do you mean what kind? Just regular friends!"
Smack—!
Another Love-Fueled Iron Fist came crashing down, making him yowl in pain.
"Can't you put some effort into winning her over? Do you know how amazing giant physiques are? Absolutely perfect for wide hips and giving birth!" Klein looked like a disappointed parent.
Oss pouted, all aggrieved. "She's still just a kid! I'm not thinking that way…"
"Stupid." Klein shook his head. Matchmaking sure is tough work… guess I'll leave it to fate.
He barked, "Set sail!"
"Let's pick up the soldiers from the battleship first, then head back to G-14 Base!"
"Aye aye!" Oss immediately ordered the Homies on the oars to get to work.
The oars moved in perfect sync, singing cheerful little tunes as they rowed.
The massive warship began to slowly glide forward, lowering its sails. At the helm stood Newgate.
Veins bulged along his arms—steering such a massive beast of a ship was no easy task.
Klein walked over to Shakky and asked, "Where's Loki's room? Take me there."
"I'll take you." Shakky flicked her cigarette into the sea.
In the Room
Loki stared out the window at the vast blue sea. The silhouettes on the shore were getting smaller and smaller.
Suddenly, a massive figure appeared on deck, making his eyes go wide. He pressed his face against the glass and muttered, "Father…"
A stinging warmth surged in his eyes. Tears seeped into the bandages covering them.
"Your dad's right here!" Klein pushed open the door and strode in.
Loki sniffled, then quickly composed himself. He returned to his usual cold, indifferent face and remained silent.
Klein walked straight over, leapt up onto Loki's shoulder, and patted him.
"A lot of people in Elbaf say you're cursed. Just parroting rumors…"
"But I've been through it. I know what it's like when lies fly faster than truth. I get you."
He spoke softly, trying to comfort Loki. Loki didn't respond—just sat there quietly listening.
Klein didn't mind. After all, he'd been through this before.
Back in his previous life...
Some kids weren't lively. They didn't talk much. Parents blamed them.
But in a child's world, there's no good or evil. No right or wrong.
Klein sighed inwardly. 'Back then, no one looked up to me either. And I wasn't exactly impressive. No one lifted me up, and I couldn't climb on my own.'
Good thing... I got a cheat.
Otherwise, he'd probably still be stuck sweating it out in Marine school—huffing and puffing, slowly grinding for a speck of strength...
All to become a prime-grade disposable grunt.
Clearing his head, Klein suddenly laughed and said frankly, "You leaving them? Good for you, good for them, good for me. Everybody wins!"
"..." Loki stayed silent. It did sound comforting... but also kinda off?
"Don't look at me like that. It's my first time being a dad. I've got no experience." Klein grinned. "Everything has a first time, y'know. First awkward, then smooth."
"..."
Loki's expression darkened. He finally spoke. "Why… why did you take me in as your son?"
The first thing that came to Klein's mind was that old geezer Newgate.
Sure, that had some influence. But more than that—he didn't want all these monstrously talented kids falling into the pirates' hands.
That was when the idea of "adopting sons" began to take shape.
"Honestly? Just felt like it!" Klein looked out at the ocean and laughed boldly. "Hey, Loki. I don't take just anyone in, you know. I even fought your dad for you."
"I've got high hopes for you!"
'He has high hopes for me?'
It was the first time Loki felt seen—truly seen—by someone other than his father. A warmth spread in his chest.
[Affinity +2]
"Can you take off that bandage over your eyes?" Klein turned his head and stared at him intently.
Loki trembled, sweat beading on his brow. He shook his head rapidly.
Rip—
A cold gleam flashed, and the bandage over his eyes split cleanly. Loki instantly raised his hands to cover them. "Don't!"
"Don't look at my eyes!"
His emotions spiraled. His mind was flooded with all the scoldings, ridicule, and laughter he'd suffered. But the one that cut deepest…
His own mother.
When she first saw his eyes, she looked like she'd seen a ghost—terrified into illness.
Trauma response.
Klein could see it clearly. That's his eternal wound.
"Hey, Loki. I already saw them. It's not a big deal."
"....." Loki stayed still, hands still covering his face.
Then—
He froze.
Klein burst out laughing and shouted, genuinely excited, "Hey! Do you even know how awesome your eyes look?!"
"The pressure from them alone could make regular folks wet their pants!"
"Those eyes..."
"They're the kind that make people scream: 'That's my boy Loki! Born to be a top-tier badass!'"
Loki was stunned. Klein's reaction wasn't just unexpected—it was praise.
No one had ever praised his eyes before.
Peeking through his fingers, he could see the excitement and admiration on Klein's face.
It didn't look fake.
He… really thinks that?
For years, this pair of eyes had brought nothing but insults, slander, and mockery…
Even his mother, terrified, had abandoned him—left him to die.
But Klein?
Klein had seen way worse.
From anime alone, he'd seen all kinds of insane stuff. This? This was nothing.
People in anime gave up their humanity for power. Look at Dio.
In Demon Slayer, every other character had flashy, dramatic eyes.
Don't even start on the demons—their eyes were basically badges of rank.
And real life? It got weirder than fiction. Every kind of bizarre story existed. Humans were an endless variety pack.
Just this?
This scared you?
'Do I look like someone raised on fear?'
Honestly, walking in on Deer Hermit by accident would be way more socially lethal.
Loki watched Klein's face, slowly—bit by bit—removing his hands, until they were fully lowered.
"So freakin' cool!"
Klein stared at Loki's eyes.
They were vertical pupils, like a serpent or a demon. If you wanted to sound fancy—dragon eyes fit too.
That outburst made Loki instinctively cover up again, then hesitantly lower his hands.
"You... you really aren't scared of my eyes?" Loki asked nervously.
"What's there to be scared of?" Klein smiled, then his expression turned serious.
"Out here on the sea, there's only one disease..."
"The Weak Disease."
Strength can't solve every problem.
But it sure as hell can deal with the people who cause them.
Klein silently gave himself a thumbs-up.
'Most of the time, I'm sharp as hell!'