“Noix!” Label was happy to see their newly met friend is okay.

“Bonjour,” he bowed one arm in front.

“Listen, we need the boat to get going. Their ship is on the way!” Anciel pointed upstream, his face urgent.

“They said they'll start killing the crew if someone doesn't surrender soon.”

Noix crossed his arms and touched the middle of his glasses, pushing them up a bit; “Alright, we shall proceed accordingly. I will surrender.”

“What?!” Label didn't really agree.

“There's no time to explain. I'll need you to trust me. Anciel was it? You head to the engine room. The boiler needs to be heated up if we are to start the engines again. I'm sure you'll figure it out somehow.

You! You'll need to make sure they don't block the paddles again,” Noix took charge and the boys nodded. His plan was sound, unlike theirs.

* * *

“Alright, time's up!” the snake was ready to go through with it as the poor girl screamed.

“Hold it! I'm coming down,” Noix jumped from up above and landed in the middle of the orgriash group. Once his cape settled down, he slowly stood up and put his hands in the air; “I surrender. Just don't be rough to the ladies. Fair?” he smiled.

“Get him!” the snake gestured for the others to grab the pompous man.

The mean-looking bunch unsheathed their weapons and started to approach him from all sides, licking their lips in anticipation.

Some even took out small vials of pinkish liquid and dripped some of it on their blades. Poison, no doubt.

As the first one closed in, ready to slam him on the head with a spiked mace, Noix pulled his hands down in a blink of an eye and dodged the mace by a hair.

From there, he took out something from beneath his coat and pointed it at the snake's head.

BANG!

A sound almost like thunder pierced the air and the orgriash's head exploded, blood all over the woman. Its body fell on its back.

“Aaaaaaaaiiii!!” the girl screamed in horror and then ran for her life. The other hostages followed her example, using the opportunity to get away. The first orgriash that would go after them was shot in the back and fell to the floor.

“Excuse moi, fair lady. There was no way around it,” Noix whispered to his chin.
He pointed the weapons at the mace-wielding beast next.

The beast recognized the weapon and smirked.

"Nice try, but you hold two muskets and you already used one bullet from each of them. Now you're dead!"

"Ah, but these guns don't fire just one bullet ..." Noix smirked and pulled the trigger.

“Aaaaaargh! The beast growled as it fell to the floor, twisting in pain.

"What kind of muskets are these?” another one rushed at him.

“Muskets? I beg your pardon,” Noix stayed calm, lifting one arm in front and taking aim, “These are no muskets. These are called 'Pistols',” he pulled the trigger pierced charging orgriash's shoulder.

It stopped immediately, holding the wound, his face now full of fear; “B-but how? You fired twice from the same barrel? It's magic!”

“Magic? Please, don't be ridiculous. It's mechanic. This device was crafted with intelligence, unlike your savage weapons,” he then shot another charging bandit over his shoulder with the other pistol.

“'N.S. Éclair Bleu', the first semi-automatic pistol ever made. Twelve bullets, a little bit more than enough to stop any living opponent.

* * *

The boys jumped down from the roof and continued climbing down the ladders, rushing to do their part of the plan when they heard a shot.

“What was that?” Anciel looked around, “Do you think he'll be alright?” he inquired.

“I think so,” Label shrugged, “He didn't seem the type to lunge to his death.”

Anciel stopped by the corner, “I have to go this way to reach the engine room. Meet you back here when I'm done?”

“Alright,” Label looked at his friend firmly.

Anciel nodded and ran off. Label approached the fence to check the paddles; it all looked clear. It seems the float was still stuck, holding them down.

He noticed a black-winged orgriash flying around the ship thus he hid behind the corner, peeking to see what the large bird is up to.

It seemed it went up high as if to confirm something in the distance.

Could he be a scout? Maybe he's checking how far their ship is.

Suddenly, the boy got a spine chill as he felt the raven's eyes behind the metal mask looking at him.

He went quickly into one of the open doors; as quickly as possible with that huge axe, hiding there and waiting to ambush the orgriash... but the bird didn't come after him.

I must get rid of that float!

* * *

The black hair boy jumped a small fence and landed on the staircase. He then leaped across all the stairs and landed in a roll, continuing to run straight after.

His cat-like agility sure came in handy in narrow spaces.

Moments later he reached the engine room, but the doors were locked.

“S-s-stay away!” a panicking voice could be heard from inside.

“Open up! It's an emergency!” the boy was annoyed.

“N-no! I'm waiting here until rescue comes.”

“Look, an orgriash ship is coming this way. If we don't hurry, they'll most probably kidnap the crew and burn this ship down!!”

“Aiiiiiiii!!” a frightened scream could be heard from the other side and after that, it went silent.

Anciel put a palm on his face;  Great job hero...

He then put a hand on the door's lock and closed his eyes.

After taking a moment to focus, the lock clicked.

He figured it was unlocked and tried to push it, but the door remained firm.

Blocked from the other side? he started to have doubts about the incoming turn of events.

There's only one way to do this.

He grabbed the knife with two hands and aimed for the door's middle. After a good swing, one of the door's halves fell down and he entered through a hole above the blocking closet.

The person inside was unconscious and the engine was already getting cold.

Now, how does this work? he figured to put some coal, wood, and paper inside but there was nothing to start the fire with as if some tools were missing.

Ah... no choice, he crouched down and inhaled deeply.

The electric shock I pulled off on the roof exhausted me a lot already. I hope this works.

He blew into the coal as much as he could, not air but fire!

The thing almost started burning alas the fire was so strong it burned down all the paper at once.

Damn!, he inhaled again and blew with all his might, trying to get the wood burning this time.

“Alright! It's burning,” he closed the engine that started to reeve once again.

He stood up and stumbled, then suddenly fell to the floor right next to the already unconscious man.