Chapter 218 IF Line Ash: Nesting and Courtship Feathers
Why did Violet still dare to appear in front of him?
This question has puzzled Jin ever since Violet agreed to come to Ghost Island until her ship docked.
Did she really think I wouldn't do anything to her?
Jin lowered his eyes and looked at Violet beside him, who was as comfortable as if she were at home on Ghost Island. He decided to teach her a lesson.
Jhin led Vale to an interrogation room, a brand new, clean room filled with the faint scent of leather and metal. Brand new, unopened torture instruments were neatly arranged in clean metal cases; each instrument had been personally selected or even designed by Jhin.
Jin stood by the door, a hint of smugness in his voice: "This was prepared especially for you."
Violet: "..." There's no need for that.
Violet: "Haha, I still think combing feathers is a more suitable pastime for me."
Even though he knew perfectly well that Violet's words were just a casual remark to change the subject, the moment he heard them, he couldn't help but recall the feeling of Violet sitting obediently beside him, holding his wings and gently stroking his feathers with her fingers.
Despite being a member of the Lunaria race who are not afraid of fire, when Violet's fingers brushed against the base of his feathers, Ember still had the illusion that he was about to be burned.
The sudden memory made Jhin a little flustered, and his wings flapped, hitting Violet who was standing next to him.
Fortunately, her ruffled wings were soft and flexible. Violet felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, and before she could react to what was happening, she felt herself being lifted into the air.
Jhin grabbed Violet by the collar and flew her directly to his territory on the upper level of Ghost Island.
When Jin placed Violet on the tatami mat, she was still dazed, but when she looked up and saw the familiar black leather, she slowly blinked.
She glanced at Jin, who stood silently to her side, seemingly locked in a struggle with some unseen opponent.
"Jin, about that employee..."
Before she could finish speaking, Violet clearly felt an unusually heavy gaze fall upon her.
"You came for him." Jin sneered. "Are you like this to all your subordinates? No matter who they are, whether you've met them before or not, as long as someone is captured, you rush over to rescue them without hesitation?"
"Did you know that he betrayed you the moment he was captured? For someone like that, you even dared to come to Ghost Island. Is it that you'd go to any enemy's lair without hesitation, no matter who begs you pitifully?"
Jin didn't know what he was angry about, or why he was so upset, but whenever he thought about how his subordinate, Violet, had unhesitatingly used Violet as a shield, and how Violet had rushed over to save him without even a second of hesitation after hearing his request, he felt an inexplicable fire burning in his heart.
Violet paused, then looked up at Jhin in confusion, "An enemy? But Jhin isn't my enemy."
They were clearly good friends who could preen each other's feathers and pluck quills together! Just because I fought with him in the past doesn't mean I should be categorized as an enemy!
"We are good friends who can trust each other!"
After emphasizing this, Violet felt a little guilty and quickly brought up the game panel to check the favorability of the Beast faction, thus missing the very obvious moment when Jin froze.
“…Enough! Stop trying to deceive people with your sweet talk.” Jin said viciously. “You’d better think about what price you’re willing to pay to get your ‘good employee’ back.”
After saying that, Jhin turned and left. His tall figure and long legs made it impossible for Violet to stop him. She could only see Jhin's back as he hurriedly left, as if something terrible was chasing him.
Strange, shouldn't it be Jin who should be the one to ask what price needs to be paid to get this back?
That night.
Jin, who usually works until late at night and goes to bed on time, is having a rare hard time falling asleep.
He took out the wine he had treasured in his cabinet, had the maid warm it up, and then sent the maid away. He then drank alone in the dimly lit room without any lights on.
Although not as addicted to alcohol as Kaido, King himself has a good tolerance for alcohol. After drinking more than half a pot, he felt dizzy and his body temperature was surprisingly high.
"We are good friends who can trust each other!"
As Violet spoke, her bright, sparkling eyes flashed before his eyes. Jin felt as if he had a mischievous kitten in his chest, an unbearable itch surging from the depths of his heart, clamoring for its desire and dissatisfaction.
What is it yearning for? What is it dissatisfied with?
Jin slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and reached out to tear off the last piece of covering his face.
His silver-white hair, unique to the Lunaria clan, fell over his wheat-colored skin. His eyes were deep-set and his expression was cold and aloof. His handsome face was rarely seen in the light of day on this night when no one paid attention to him.
Jin's gaze slowly fell on the hand holding the wine glass, casting a shadow on his brow bone, adding an air of unfathomable mystery to his striking, exotic face.
Something's not right. Jin squinted, sensing the change in his body temperature.
As a professional interrogator, Jin had a deep understanding of the human body. He knew exactly what physiological or psychological changes would cause this abnormal rise in body temperature.
He was not injured, nor was he poisoned. The Lunaria people's strong ability to adapt to their environment also made it impossible for him to get sick just from sitting by the window and drinking some wine.
His changing physical condition all stemmed from that one person.
Jin suddenly remembered the special torture chamber he had prepared for Violet.
He knew perfectly well that, given Vera's position and strength, it would be impossible for him to capture her anytime soon after she left Ghost Island.
But during that time, Jin still tirelessly collected all sorts of interesting "toys" to decorate the interrogation room. He even personally polished every metal bracket, handcuff, and neck ring used for fixing the room countless times with his gloved hands.
He kept adding everything he could think of to the room. Rather than preparing a terrifying, bloody, and dangerous torture chamber, this behavior was more like the nest-building behavior of birds driven by instinct during the breeding season.
However, his experiences in the laboratory from childhood to adolescence, and his battles with Kaido on the high seas from youth to adulthood, twisted this black bird to some extent, turning what should have been a warm and beautiful nest to attract female birds into a cold torture chamber.
As Jin thought of this, he raised his hand and touched the large black wings on his back, as if he suddenly understood why he had been frequently losing the longest feathers at the tips of his wings during that period.
...So it turns out that the Lunaria people also have a nature like birds, to pluck their biggest and most beautiful feathers and give them to their lovers?
So, his body had been preparing for their reunion ever since the moment Violet left?
King wasn't particularly surprised by his discovery; as a member of the Beasts Pirates, he believed in the bestial choices made by instinct and genes.
Moreover, Violet is excellent enough, whether as an object to vent one's instincts or as a suitable partner for the continuation of the Lunaria clan.
Jin's past experiences taught him that what he wanted should be seized as quickly as possible, whether it was food, the opportunity for freedom, or the fruits of power. On this vast sea, no one cared about gentleness, kindness, frugality, or humility; if you didn't devour your prey, it would either escape or be stolen by someone else.
Jin put down his wine cup, drank the remaining half-bottle of wine in one gulp, then stood up with clear eyes and flapped his wings.
“Vell…”
He called out Vera's name and suddenly flashed a smile that would make Quinn shudder.
Meanwhile, Violet, who was being targeted by Jhin, was resting.
Black Maria found her a room. This tall and beautiful lady didn't have any complaints about Violet because she had infiltrated the Beasts Pirates and fought Kaido, allowing Yamato to break free from her father's control and confront him in Wano Country. She still arranged a comfortable room for her.
Violet was sleeping, which was far too relaxed for someone who had come to enemy territory alone. However, it was nothing unusual for a player who would receive a mission notification if they accidentally entered combat.
A huge shadow swept across the sky, and in a daze, Violet heard the sound of wings flapping. She vaguely had a strange dream in which she was pressed down by the feathers of a huge, hot bird, and pressed down by its soft, furry chest.
She frowned and opened her eyes, only able to see the deep night sky and the cold moonlight through the half-open wooden window.
That's strange, didn't she close the window before she went to sleep?
Violet lingered in her warm bed for a long time before reluctantly getting up to close the window. As she placed her hand on the window frame, her gaze fell slightly, and she noticed a feather in the corner whose color almost blended into the night.
Curious, she picked up the feather, which was as long as her arm, and gently turned it by the base. The dark feather reflected the cool moonlight, displaying a rainbow of light.
Such beautiful feathers, whose could they be...Jin?
He probably wouldn't be so bored as to fly to her window in the middle of the night and just stand there blankly. With an unreliable and perpetually drunk boss like Kaido, a colleague like Queen, and a bizarre collaborator like Doflamingo, King must be incredibly busy and under a lot of pressure no matter how you look at it.
Violet suspected that even now, this unfortunate big boss was unable to fall asleep.
Besides, this is the Beasts Pirates, which has countless strange and wonderful creatures. King isn't the only one with such beautiful feathers... right?
Violet put the beautiful feather away.
The next day, Violet was about to go and talk to Jin about the redemption, but she didn't expect to see a maid standing by the door as soon as she opened the paper door.
"Lady Violet, Lord Jin is waiting for you."
Why is she making people wait for her so early? Could it be that she really didn't sleep all night?
With a touch of sympathy for Jin, Violet and her maid walked through the quiet corridor to a huge wooden door, which was carved with patterns of a colossal pterosaur soaring through the sky.
"Lord Jin is inside." The maid bowed to Vera from the doorway, then opened the door while still bowing.
Jin stood sideways in the room, the bright sunlight shining through the windowpane onto him, which dissipated some of the cold and murderous aura surrounding him.
After Violet entered, the maid bowed respectfully to Ember inside the room and then quietly closed the door.
Violet noticed that although the room where she met King was quite clean, it showed signs of use. There was a hand-painted screen in the style of Wano Country placed directly opposite the door, a huge sword hanging on the wall, and a thick stack of papers pressed down by a small dagger on a table to one side.
Could this be... where Jin usually lives?
Upon approaching, Violet caught a faint scent of wine and a chill emanating from Jin. Her gaze instinctively swept over the pair of large wings on his back, and sure enough, she saw lingering moisture on them.
"Did you really not sleep all night?" Vera asked in surprise, kneeling on the tatami mat opposite Jin, following the direction he was pointing.
"I can guarantee that R'lyeh won't extend its shipping lanes to this area until the Beasts Pirates agree. I'll also provide you with a batch of alcohol and supplies in exchange for that employee, or perhaps you'd prefer something like gold or jewelry..."
Violet and Jhin were showing their sincerity, but Jhin raised his hand and stopped them from saying the second half of their sentence.
Jin looked at Violet, who was sitting opposite him and seemed very cooperative and obedient, and curled the corners of his lips: "No need."
"Huh?"
“Just like you said, it’s the enemy’s subordinates who should be captured and interrogated when they come to the Beast Pirates…” King said, leaning forward slightly. His terrifying height advantage allowed him to completely break the safe social distance between him and Violet with just this simple movement. “And you said you’re not our enemy.”
"Yes, we are..."
Before he could even utter the word "friend," Jin interrupted him.
"But words are not enough. You must demonstrate your sincerity and determination, Shichibukai Violet."
Jin pointed out Violet's identity as a "Shichibukai" in sharp and direct words, and also hinted at her previous immoral act of "talking without proof".
"Ahem! Well, there were reasons for it back then..." Vera shifted her gaze slightly, a little guilty. "But you said to show my sincerity and determination, how do I show that?"
Violet didn't know how to demonstrate something so intangible. Jin's words were full of accusations against her for lying to him before, and Violet really didn't know how to show her sincerity to the wary black bird in front of her.
“It’s simple.” Jin suddenly reached out and grabbed Violet’s wrist. The cool leather pressed against her skin, and Jin didn’t pull away, causing the skin he was holding to turn pale from blood loss. “The Beasts Pirates have a considerable territory on the Grand Line, with plenty of supplies and hard-to-sell jewels. What difference does it make who we trade with?”
"You can board my fleet to see these places, and I will observe your performance on the way."
"Has Mr. Kaido already agreed to the Beasts Pirates' power?"
Jin nodded, feeling completely in control.
How could he not have thought of this? In fact, he had already timed it perfectly and estimated that he would go to find Kaido when he was almost sober. Kaido himself did not have any preferences or prejudices about who he traded those hard-to-sell items with. After mentioning Violet's name, King only paused slightly before indicating that it was up to King.
"That's...good too." Violet hadn't expected such an unexpected surprise. "So, when do we set off?"
"Now."
After saying that, Jin stood up, reached out and scooped up Violet. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and with a flap of his large wings, he carried her away.
The strong wind ruffled Vera's hair, and as she looked down at the ghost island that was gradually shrinking, the drowsiness she had felt from waking up early vanished instantly.
The wind is so strong...
Just as Violet was mentally complaining, Jhin, as if he had suddenly gained the ability to read minds, raised his hand and blocked Violet's head.
Besides the windbreak service that surprised Violet, Jhin's carry service has also improved significantly compared to before, and can even rival Marco, who is a professional at carrying others.
Did he practice secretly? But why would King practice this? He seems to disregard everyone except Kaido, who has the ability to fly.
Jhin's fleet was anchored in the waters next to Ghost Island. When Jhin carried Vale onto the deck, his long-standing prestige meant that even when he did something that could be described as a collapse of his public image, not a single crew member dared to ask him a single question.
"sail."
He said coldly, and the crew, who had already received orders, immediately lowered the sails and took the helm.
Violet, still hanging from Jin's waist: "..."
Violet looked up at Jin: "Um, shouldn't we... shouldn't we put me down?"
Jin pretended not to hear and continued to walk around most of the ship with one arm around Violet before finally leading her to the captain's cabin with satisfaction.
Jin: "There are two places on the ship for you to stay in: my captain's cabin and the interrogation room that was just vacated a couple of days ago."
Vera: "...It was vacated a couple of days ago?" Vera didn't really want to know why the previous owner of that room had "vacated" it.
Vera: "Then, the captain's cabin it is... but where will you sleep?"
Jin replied calmly, "Captain's cabin."
Well, fine, we can't just let the owner live in the torture chamber while she lives here.
After finishing speaking, Jin pointed to a box not far away: "Inside are all kinds of feather care tools."
Why did you tell her this? Violet didn't ask this question aloud because when Jhin said this, his gaze fell directly on her. Although he didn't speak, Violet understood Jhin's meaning very accurately.
Helping him groom his feathers was the "ticket" that allowed Violet to hitch a ride on the boat.
Although she could easily build an armored ship to follow her, the thought of Jhin's warm, fluffy wings still made Violet's hands itch.
"good."
The plan proceeded as scheduled, and Jin nodded in satisfaction, as everything was under his control.
"Please guide me on the journey ahead."
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This concludes the side story! A bonus side story is coming soon: everyone from the original world travels to the Don't Starve game and adventures with Violet. Stay tuned! [shy]
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