Saltwind's streets were busier near the docks.
Order was visible now.
Not peace—
Control.
Kevin stood near the edge of the main road.
His eyes fixed on the harbor.
"…They're moving."
Carina turned slightly.
"…Who?"
Kevin replied.
"…Marines."
Kuina's gaze sharpened.
"…Approaching?"
Kevin nodded once.
"…Yes."
A small Marine patrol unit entered the town.
Three soldiers.
Standard equipment.
Searching.
Observing.
Carina sighed.
"…Of course they show up when I'm eating less than five minutes."
Tashigi watched them closely.
Her expression changed slightly.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
Something more complicated.
The Marines stopped nearby.
One of them scanned the crowd.
"…Report any suspicious swordsmen or pirates."
Carina muttered.
"…That's literally half this group."
Kuina stepped slightly forward.
Calm.
Unmoving.
Tashigi noticed.
"…Wait."
The Marine patrol turned slightly.
Their gaze landed on Kuina first.
Then Tashigi.
A pause.
"…Two sword users."
One Marine muttered.
Another stepped forward.
"…Identify yourselves."
Carina sighed.
"…Here we go…"
Kevin remained silent.
Watching.
Kuina answered first.
"…Travelers."
Simple.
Direct.
No extra detail.
The Marines narrowed their eyes.
"…Travelers do not match wanted reports."
Tashigi stepped forward slightly.
"…We are not pirates."
Her tone was firm.
Clear.
One Marine frowned.
"…State your origin."
Tashigi hesitated slightly.
Then answered.
"…I trained at sea. I was attacked by pirates and rescued."
That immediately caught attention.
The Marines looked at her more carefully.
"…You are the survivor from the east route incident?"
Tashigi blinked.
"…Incident?"
Carina whispered.
"…Oh no. They already labeled it…"
Kevin finally stepped forward.
Just slightly.
"…We are passing through."
The Marines turned to him.
Studying him longer.
"…You are the leader?"
Kevin answered simply.
"…No."
He looked briefly at Kuina.
Then Tashigi.
Then Carina.
"…We are traveling together."
The Marine leader narrowed his eyes.
"…This group is suspicious."
Kuina's hand shifted slightly toward her sword.
Tashigi noticed immediately.
"…Wait."
Carina whispered.
"…Please don't start a fight in the middle of the market…"
Tashigi stepped forward.
Her tone changed slightly.
More serious.
"…We are not criminals."
The Marine hesitated.
But still uncertain.
Kevin spoke quietly.
"…We are leaving soon."
A pause.
The Marine finally responded.
"…We will monitor you."
Then they withdrew.
Slowly.
Still watching.
Silence returned to the street.
Carina exhaled loudly.
"…That was way too close to becoming a problem."
Kuina lowered her hand.
"…They are cautious."
Tashigi looked after the Marines.
Quiet.
Thinking.
"…They judge quickly…"
Kevin replied calmly.
"…That is their system."
A short silence followed.
Tashigi spoke again.
"…Is that justice?"
That question lingered in the air.
Carina blinked.
"…That got deep fast…"
Kuina looked at Tashigi.
"…It depends on who uses it."
Kevin added quietly.
"…Systems do not define truth."
Tashigi didn't respond immediately.
She just watched the direction the Marines left.
Something inside her was shifting.
Slowly.
And Kevin noticed it.
This was the beginning.
Not of conflict—
But of perspective change.
Carina stretched.
"…Can we go back to food now?"
Kuina turned.
"…Training continues later."
Tashigi nodded slightly.
"…I will join."
Kevin looked toward the harbor again.
"…We leave tomorrow."
And with that—
Saltwind's chapter was already ending.
But something deeper had already begun inside Tashigi.