Turner asked back, visibly tense.Not long after, small rocky islands, scattered sparsely, came into view not far from the currents.There were dozens of tiny rock islands, barely large enough for two adults to fit snugly, and every few islands, there were women atop them.Turner seemed shocked by the fact that there were women—scantily clad women—on each of those rugged islands.

“Are there really sirens out there?”

“They’re not monsters like in legends. It’s a tribe made up entirely of women.”

“A tribe made only of women?”

Turner spread his palms as if urging for more explanation.Ro shrugged her shoulders.

“When the warriors want a child, they come out to the nearby sea to seduce sailors.They’re looking for healthy, strong seeds capable of crossing the currents of El Trabata with their bare bodies.”

Turner wrinkled his nose at the raw bluntness of the statement.

“They want marriage?”

“I told you. They want seeds. Well, if they really take a liking to a man, they might let him settle near the tribe.But most of the time, it’s just for one night.”

“One night.”

Turner chuckled as if the phrase amused him.As the ship passed nearby, the women’s whistling grew mournful, then sweet.Their seductive behavior became increasingly bold.Some sailors were already gripping the railings, as if entranced.

“Everyone, let go of the railings! Stay sharp! If you’re not confident, get back to the cabin!”

Ro waved the gun in her right hand, shouting at the top of her lungs.At her voice, a few sailors jolted and stepped back from the railings.Turner laughed in disbelief as he watched the sailors scrambling back to the cabin.

“Why not just let them go if they’re like that?”

“No way. First, they’d have to cross that whirlpool bare-bodied, and even if they managed, if they don’t please the women or perform well…”

Ro drew her thumb across her throat in a straight line.

“Don’t you go near the railings either. There might be some diving up close.”

“They dive too?”

“They cling to the ship, and when a man they like comes near the railing, they throw a lasso, tie him up, and drag him into the sea.If they get away, searching is pointless.”

Turner instinctively glanced over the railing and locked eyes with a woman peeking out of the water.He recoiled in panic, stepping back.Rosetta pulled out her pistol, firing warning shots at the women approaching the ship.The lookout tower rang its bell loudly.But perhaps because many of the experienced sailors were just local fishermen, they couldn’t react quickly and fumbled about.

The tense standoff continued until dawn.The sirens clung desperately to the ship.It seemed there hadn’t been many passing ships lately.Missing this chance meant they couldn’t come out to sea until the next season.When the sound of splashing water came—small twice, loud once—it meant someone had been dragged under.

“Damn it… at least three or four got taken.”

Ro bit her lips until they bled.With every sailor being precious, the loss was so devastating it felt like tears of blood were streaming down.Ro prayed the men taken would somewhat please the sirens.If they pleased them greatly, they’d be kept for life; if only moderately, they’d be used and discarded gently.

“Don’t think about rescuing them—unfurl all the sails! We’re getting out fast!”

Under her command, the sailors, ears plugged, began untying the sail ropes.A favorable tailwind filled the sails fully.Melvin deftly maneuvered the ship out of the waters.The sirens’ sharp whistles gradually faded.Finally, the sea grew calm.They had completely escaped their influence.

“Is it… over now?”

Turner asked, dazed.Ro snapped her fingers right in front of his nose.

“Yeah. Pull yourself together and gather the sailors. We need to figure out who got taken.”

“Now?”

“The chances of them coming back alive are slim, but just in case.We need to know in advance to arrange compensation.”

“…Get some rest already. You’ll collapse first.”

Ro gave a bitter smile and let go of the railing she’d been gripping.Dawn was breaking.The currents were stable, and the wind was still in their favor.After surviving a hellish night, the brief peace felt especially sweet.If all went well, they’d reach the Portmutz Archipelago by the evening after next.

Ro pulled out the compass Calypso had given her.The needle, which had been spinning wildly, finally settled in one direction.That became the hope that sustained her through this hell.

What she wanted was a living person, not a dead body.She prayed, whatever their state, they were alive.Ro gripped the compass so tightly her knuckles turned white.

The ship was sailing faster than ever, even faster than when it had the witches’ blessings at Toulon.But to Ro, it felt as slow as standing on a turtle’s shell.Ro spent most of her idle time sparring with Turner on the deck.Keeping balance on a swaying ship wasn’t easy.

Unlike her previous body, which adapted to any weapon with ease, Leah’s body took time to get used to even one.Through sparring, Rosetta learned a lot.Above all, Turner’s build being similar to Nick’s was the greatest help.Now she knew how to efficiently target the vital points of someone larger than her.Ro was satisfied with that.

By noon the next day, islands of the Portmutz Archipelago began appearing sporadically.They were less like island villages and more like small tribal settlements.These tribes, somewhat behind civilization, caught fish in the distant ocean and sold them at large markets after days of travel.

Reaching this point meant they were nearing the end of El Trabata’s waters.The dark, murky seawater was gradually regaining its natural blue hue.The current, which had reached 70 decars per hour (30 kilometers per hour), was slowing, making it hard to believe they’d passed through such a whirlpool.

Ro distributed plenty of rations to ensure the sailors ate well.Drinks were sugar water mixed with a few drops of rum.If something happened, they might need to arm themselves, and strength would be crucial for pulling injured men onto the ship, so it was better to eat heartily.

Ro settled among the barrels, taking short naps, waking every thirty minutes to check the compass.The compass pointed unwaveringly northwest.Half a day later, a sailor in the lookout tower, peering through a telescope, rang the bell.

“Land in sight…!”

Land. In reality, these were islands large enough to pass for mainland.It meant they’d reached the heart of Portmutz.Ro doubted Cardier was on these islands.Islands of this scale had systems akin to cities, teeming with naval officers dispatched by the empire.If Sub-Admiral Montrosa had been shipwrecked nearby, he would’ve been found long ago.

So, it couldn’t be here.It had to be closer to Tilsen’s border.As she expected, they’d need another full night’s travel.Ro habitually opened the compass.At that moment, the needle spun wildly.

“…!”

Startled, Ro straightened up from her relaxed lean.The needle, which had been steadily pointing northwest, suddenly shifted.Damn it, what was going on?Ro rushed to the opposite railing, pointing at nearby islands one by one.The spinning compass stopped precisely at one island.

It was the most developed city in the area…If Portmutz was the center, this was the island with the naval base on its outskirts.Damn it, Calypso. If this compass was fake or broken, you’d better be ready.

“Damn… damn it to hell!”

Ro spat out curses, chewing on them, and stormed up the stairs to the helm.

“Melvin! Turn the bow now!”

Rosetta’s sudden burst into the helm startled Melvin and the helmsman.Her hair half-disheveled, she frantically reached for the wheel.Melvin grabbed her waist from behind.

“No, wait… what’s this! Captain, you’ll hurt yourself like that!”

“Turn the ship now! That way! That way!”

“…What?”

“Before we get any farther, hurry!”

The two wore baffled expressions—more like they thought she’d lost her mind.Melvin was the first to snap out of it.

“Damn it, just point it, right?”

“Yeah, damn it! If it’s too hard, ram it into the dock!”