Onset of Revelation

After nightfall had descended, Fein strolled through the desolate ship, hands snug inside his cuffed trousers pockets, carrying Alaister II on his back. This marked the eve before the vessel's scheduled arrival at Watcher's Island the following day—the solitary window for uncovering the truth. His focus was unwavering, dismissing any concerns about his personal well-being.

Before commencing his solitary investigation, he engaged in a brief conversation with Kuina.

"I secured the keys from Ludic Boseman, the usual caretaker," she informed him.

"As expected," Fein replied, rubbing his eyebrows before fixing his gaze on her. "Did you find his behavior suspicious?"

"Yes. He exhibited odd behavior and hesitated to hand the keys," Kuina shared.

"Anything else?" Fein inquired.

"Nothing noteworthy. He spent the day inspecting rooms along the passage to the engine room, finding nothing amiss," Kuina responded.

Fein pondered, Why only there?

"Thank you for your diligence, Kuina," he acknowledged.

He meticulously recounted the nuances of his recent conversation. Interestingly, the anticipated disturbance in other words the beast failed to materialize once the investigation commenced. Knowledge of the investigation was restricted to a select group of six individuals aboard the ship, with singular key management falling under the responsibility of a sole individual Ludic Boseman. Evidently, there was collaboration in aiding the calamity's covert presence within the vessel.

From the outset, Ludic Boseman harbored skepticism, maintaining an emotionally detached demeanor irrespective of personal discord with Fein. A contemplative query arose in Fein regarding Ludic's apparent aversion: Did Boseman fear a loss of control over unfolding circumstances?

Did he actually fear me?

Upon entering the cabin, intently left unlocked by Kuina, Fein methodically illuminated the space and directed his attention to a shelf bearing alphabetically arranged letters. Notably, the order had been disrupted, suggesting hasty interference. Fein deduced, with a single glance, that the intruder possessed a stature no greater than his own.

Anomalies in the file logs seized his attention; purportedly containing 27 pages, the file now contained no more than 15. A deduction unfolded as he contemplated the night's fiery spectacle.

Does that mean.. those flares that I saw that night…

"Shit!"

The papers likely reduced to residue within that charcoal burner.

Expressing frustration audibly, Fein delved further, uncovering blood bags and a concealed chest that, by heat emission, betrayed its true nature. Proximity revealed an unsettling odor of raw flesh. His fright ruled over him suggesting him to ignore the hideous truth hidden inside. Despite an aversion to acknowledging the source, Fein, guided by a sense of curiosity, uncovered a locked freezer.

It may be opened by fiddling with the lock for some time. But who cares..

Preferring brute force over lock picking, he unsheathed his blade, intending to unravel the mysteries concealed within.

With a swift and calculated motion, he deftly sliced through the lock, granting Fein access to the hidden contents within. As the lock fell away, he pulled the lid open, revealing a tableau of raw meat and fish clustered on two sides. However, amidst the supplies, a striking navy blue belt drew Fein's attention.

"Fu…. Fuck!"

It belonged to a fucking human!

A wave of shock and nausea overcame him as he examined the belt more closely. A realization struck him like a blow – it belonged to a fallen comrade, a victim of the dockyard battle whose name was immortalized on the glass wall of honor.

His exclamation of frustration underscored the gravity of the discovery.

Fein began to piece together the puzzle. The doctor, he surmised, was intricately involved, feeding an insidious beast. He made his way to the cabin exit, armed with a crucial piece of evidence that implicated the doctor but left the true orchestrator shrouded in mystery. And the only way to find him was to inspect the engine room properly.

Descending with urgency to the engine room, Fein was met with a scene that he was already familiar with. A puddle of blackened blood near the furnace, a pile of charcoal off to one side, and the ominous glow of a blazing fire set an eerie atmosphere. His trained eyes quickly spotted a new addition – a lone mark of a shoe sole.

The realization struck him as he inspected the mark closely; it was deep red, unmistakably fresh blood. It hadn't been long since someone had met a violent end in this very spot. Sensing the imminent danger, Fein discreetly surveyed his surroundings, yet the absence of a corpse puzzled him.

Had the body been dragged away to some hidden recess inhabited by the elusive beast?

A sudden surge of apprehension gripped him as his mind raced through the possibilities.

Considering the freshness of the blood and the time consumed to drag the corpse…

The deduction hit him like a lightning bolt as his crimson eyes widened–

The culprit is still here!

Likewise he realized the culprit, indeed was still lurking in the shadows, poised to pull the trigger at any moment. The urgent need for caution etched across his face as he grappled with the unfolding mystery, knowing that danger was not only imminent but potentially closer than he dared to imagine.

Amidst, the sudden blare of the emergency alarm, a resounding announcement resonated through the ship,

"All the passengers inside the ship are hereby requested to evacuate to the lower section. A cyclone core has been created in the middle of the Indian ocean. The ship will now enter the Reinhardt territory. Please store necessary dry food, medicines and equipments. Please do not panic or engage in a battle with the dragons currently residing in the aforementioned territory. I repeat.."

Fein, upon fixing his gaze on the ceiling speaker heard the proclamation, he swiftly retraced his steps. Recognizing an opportune moment, he decided to capitalize on the chaos and evade potential detection by the perpetrator. Exiting the basement room, he joined the throng of evacuating individuals.

In the midst of the hurried exodus, Fein encountered Kuina, who was busy preparing her weaponry and personal effects. He inquired about Yulia Orks, the person he sought,

"Where's Yulia Orks?"

"I'm not sure i know that. If you need her for anything maybe i can pass on to the message to her." She mumbled. "Unless you want to meet her..."

Fein stared at the distance between them and the others who were busy evacuating.

Seizing Kuina's arm, Fein spoke,

"That will do."

"Wait…" Kuina panicked. "Why are you leaving without your necessities?! You know we're short on supplies!..."

Ignoring the urgency of supplies and her ranting, he continued to make his speech.

"Tell Yulia. There's a freezer in the doctor's cabin that contains human raw flesh. And also a hidden room in the northwest side of the engine room. After you do, at around 11 in the morning be ready with multiple members at the section 3 deck balcony. I'll leave a note in case she doesn't trust you."

Kuina, overwhelmed by the sudden influx of information, struggled to comprehend Fein's instructions. "What?"

Undeterred, Fein emphasized,

"Please remain prepared from around 11. The later it is, the more grievous it will be."

Kuina gazed up at those crimson eyes of his, always looking at something she couldn't see.

"Tomorrow. Before the ship arrives at the Watcher's Island… I'll reveal all the secrets."

Making his final statement, he melded into the crowd. Kuina was left in a state of bewilderment, his promise to unveil secrets resonated, leaving her with a sense of concern.

In a silent plea, Kuina extended her hands towards Fein, expressing her anxiety. But like always, he was out of her reach. She could do nothing but fervently wish for his safety. The specter of past losses loomed in her thoughts.

Please don't die, Fein..

Her brows winced out of worry and sorrow.

Please don't leave me like Rufel… like my parents did!