Ice Cream (before battle)
We made our way past the mountains of shipping containers and back to where we first docked...
I saw Vergilius and Charon on a bench, watching us approach. The latter of the two was clearly suffering from crushing boredom.
Charon ate ice cream. It was cold but disappeared fast.
D-did it not have the putrid scent of the sea?
Putrid? Charon doesn't know what that means.
'Tis... a flavor not unlike licking a fish...
Blonde girl licks fish? Funny tastes. Charon, shudder shudder.
Something's happened, by the looks on your faces.
Explain.
Allow me to explain...! Upon our arrival at the promised location -
... That is none of my concern. I only want to know what intel you have learned. And make it short.
We know where the Golden Bough is. It's in a Lobotomy Corp. Branch in the middle of the Great Lake.
... Of course it's in a Lobotomy Corp. Branch. Did you learn anything else?
We obtained its variable coordinates.
I know what you're about to say... "That's it? That's all you got?" or something... But just listen to the trouble we went through to...
No, that's good enough. Almost makes me want to applaud you all.
Oh my?
Vergilius, there was...
Ah, I know exactly what you're about to tell me.
I will deal with it. Stay out of this.
…….
You look impatient, Ishmael.
I see that our earlier... 'consultation' did not ease your anxiety.
Of course not. I don't even know what's happening with my mission. We're wading blindly through a misty sea...
Yet here we are, shoving our noses in everything, everywhere. It's driving me up the wall.
Hah, relax. You must know that no path is ever direct in the Great Lake. I did not expect this much lack of patience from someone who spent most of her life here.
Can I assume the mess you've left the manager's shoulder in... is also a consequence of your impatience?
That's…
Well... Clearly, an unintentional mistake. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be sitting before me with your throat intact.
…….
Why do you fail to look further, Ishmael? By now, you must have realized what awaits you at the end of this journey.
That 'contract clause' you're so impatient about... is bound to make an appearance as long as you follow the manager's peculiar misadventures.
Your combative attitude against the manager will only delay that inevitability.
It happened four times. That's not a very big sample.
Well... I'm good at reading how these things usually flow.
...!
... If you're so sure about it... then fine. I won't let frustration get the better of me. I won't step out of line... not any more than necessary.
Ishmael, what happened... happened. You will still have to write up a form explaining your actions and the circumstances surrounding them.
Gladly.
As long as the guide is right.
H-have you brought us any ice cream, by any...
…….
Bother not... I was merely curious of the famed ice cream of Marlin port... I shall board the busboat posthaste...
I appreciate the effort, Yi Sang~
Your appreciation is more than enough...
<He's not going to answer me anyway, but... What were you two up to?>
Dante is asking a meaningless question.
Don't let them rub off on you, Dante. What, was I actually supposed to bring a tub of Whale ice cream for everyone?