Chapter 43
The afternoon dock was filled with cargo and shouting.
"Hurry!"
"We need the warehouse filled before sunset!"
"Oil barrels in the back!"
"Grain in front!"
It was the final day of unloading after two days of work.
Workers with their sleeves rolled up constantly moved along the cargo ramp.
The warehouse beside the dock slowly filled with supplies pouring from the ship.
And in front of that warehouse...
Scratch. Scratch.
A boy slowly swept the ground.
Theron.
Officially...
He had been assigned to clean the area in front of the dock warehouse.
Of course...
The assignment was not an accident.
The section leaders managed the duty boards.
Since yesterday...
Theron's name had appeared only on jobs near the dock.
Kren's order excluding him from dangerous training had become the perfect excuse.
Instead of hard training...
Simple labor.
Nobody found it strange.
Scratch. Scratch.
The broom moved across the same place.
But Theron's eyes never stopped studying the ship.
Thirty steps from the cargo ramp to the warehouse.
Whenever cargo comes out, I can see inside the hold.
Two ladders.
Three levels.
They're loading the water barrels back onto the ship.
So those must be for the return voyage.
One detail after another was nailed onto the map inside his head.
Until last night...
Theron had been building that map from Roud's reports.
Now...
He was confirming every detail with his own eyes.
At that moment...
Two workers sat down in the shade beside the warehouse and wiped away their sweat.
Theron's broom naturally moved closer.
"Ugh, my back."
"This damned island tries to kill me every time we come."
"Just survive today."
One worker laughed.
"We leave with the morning tide tomorrow."
"When's the tide?"
"Around dawn."
The worker wiped his neck.
"The captain's excited too."
"We're apparently carrying some valuable cargo back this time."
"Valuable cargo?"
"They're taking a few of the children."
"Sounds like they're worth a fortune."
The other worker laughed.
"Ha. Lucky bastards."
"They get to ride a ship and see the continent."
"Lucky?"
The first man snorted.
"They're being sold."
Both workers laughed and stood again.
Theron's sweeping never changed.
Departure is at dawn.
The hourglass in his mind turned over.
If they moved at midnight...
They would have five or six hours until sunrise.
More than enough time for the ship to disappear from sight of the island.
Theron rapidly organized the information.
Then...
"You."
A rough voice came from behind him.
Theron turned.
A black uniform.
An Executioner.
"What are you staring at?"
...Of all people.
Theron had run into one of the more difficult Executioners.
Still...
His expression remained calm.
He pointed toward the ship.
"...I've never seen such a large ship before."
"What?"
"I've only read about ships that big in books."
Theron lowered his head.
"Seeing one in real life was incredible."
"Sorry for getting distracted."
The Executioner looked him up and down.
He had already been irritated because of the Inspection Delegation and had been looking for someone to vent his anger on.
But...
Of all trainees...
This one had to be Theron.
If only I hadn't been ordered not to touch him...
The man clicked his tongue and jerked his chin away.
"Get lost."
"Stop wandering around here."
"Yes, sir!"
Theron quickly picked up the broom and moved away.
But...
Even while leaving...
His mind continued drawing the map.
The sun slowly sank beyond the horizon.
Nearly four hundred trainees gathered at the training ground once again.
They stood in rows according to section.
An instructor holding a board stood on the platform.
Behind him...
Kren and the officials from the Inspection Delegation watched.
After a moment...
The instructor stepped forward.
"Anyone whose name I call..."
"Will report to the dock tomorrow morning."
"..."
The training ground became silent.
Nobody spoke.
But the trainees' expressions had changed.
"The important people from the central authorities have highly praised your talents."
The instructor looked across the formation.
"Consider it an honor."
Honor.
Several faces stiffened at that word.
By now...
They understood perfectly how these people saw them.
Still...
The instructor began reading.
"Section Five."
"Theron."
Theron's name came first.
Every gaze immediately turned toward him.
But that was only the beginning.
"Section Three."
"Ren."
The names continued.
"Section Nine."
"Kadin."
Every name changed another face.
Some lowered their heads.
Others clenched their teeth.
Finally...
The instructor finished the last name.
He folded the board.
"That is all."
"Dismissed!"
The formation broke.
Trainees began returning toward their dormitories in groups.
Nobody spoke.
From the instructors' perspective...
It looked completely ordinary.
Theron walked among them and slowly glanced around.
Their eyes met.
Everyone knew.
If they missed tonight...
There would never be another chance.
Theron raised his head.
Dark clouds covered the sky.
Almost no moonlight reached the island.
His eyes narrowed.
The heavens themselves seemed to be helping them.
Tonight...
Everything on this island would be overturned.
Lights-out ended.
The dormitory was dark.
But not a single trainee was actually asleep.
Everyone remained beneath their blankets...
Waiting for the appointed time.
In one corner...
A bed trembled slightly.
The curly-haired boy from Section Five.
One of the three who had still failed to remove the Death Sigil.
"...Hey."
Perka whispered from the neighboring bed.
"Stop shaking so much."
"I..."
A trembling voice came from beneath the blanket.
"I really don't want to die..."
The boy clutched the left side of his chest.
"The Death Sigil is still there."
