The sun had barely risen, yet the six boys were already moving about… or almost.

Albert, crouched down with a tired look, grumbled as he picked up clothes and sheets scattered across the room, while Shadow, wobbling on a stool, tried to rehang a shelf that had fallen during the night.

Albert (annoyed): What a mess…

Albert (sighing): Trafalgar, get up already, for crying out loud…

But Trafalgar, true to himself, didn’t respond.

Lying flat on the carpet, mouth slightly open, he seemed to have fused with the floor.

A few minutes later, after quick baths and a rushed clean-up under Albert and Shadow’s strict supervision, they went downstairs to the dining room.

Alexandra was there, calmly wiping a plate.

Alexandra (smiling, standing by the sink): Sleep well?

Bass (yawning, rubbing his eyes): Pretty good, yeah...

Arnaud (looking around curiously): We expected to see more people here. Where is everyone?

Alexandra (calmly, pointing to the window): The kids went to spend the day with their friends. Solano went to the port, and Tiger’s in his room. Solano’s got a departure scheduled.

Maxime (understanding): Ah, got it...

Albert (sitting down): We wanted to ask Solano a few questions, but I guess we’ll wait then.

Alexandra (putting down the plate): Oh, but if you want to join them, no problem. Just make sure one of you stays behind so you don’t overload the ship.

Albert (raising an eyebrow): Solano said that?

Alexandra (slight hesitation): Yes… that’s what he told me.

Shadow: We want to go, yeah. But… who’s staying?

Arnaud (excited): Rock-paper-scissors?

Trafalgar (lying on the couch): No need. I’ll stay.

Bass: What?! Why?

Trafalgar (calmly): Too lazy.

Albert (raising his voice): You serious? You don’t wanna see the sea?

Trafalgar (blunt): Nope. Standing for hours, sunburned, risk getting eaten by a shark? No thanks. I’m good here.

Albert (exasperated): You’re unbelievable…

Alexandra: Anyway, you should hurry. They’re set to leave at ten… and it’s almost time.

Albert (panicking): What?! We’ll miss them!

Everyone except Trafalgar (yelling): LET’S GO NOW!

They dashed out.

Albert (catching up): Idiots! You don’t even know where the port is!

They froze.

Alexandra (laughing softly): The port’s behind the forest, just behind the house. Take some food for the road.

Arnaud (grabbing provisions): With pleasure! Let’s go, guys!

They bolted out, running through the forest, full of energy.

Arnaud, Bass, Maxime (singing): Boat, Boat, BOAT!

---

At the port, a few minutes later...

The five boys arrived, dripping with sweat.

The port was nearly empty — a few dozen ships, stacked crates, and a strong smell of fish.

A ship was slowly leaving the dock, drifting away on the waves. It was probably Solano’s.

Albert (panting): They just left… We missed them by seconds.

Maxime: Should’ve run faster.

Arnaud (frustrated): I really wanted to get on that ship…

They all watched the vessel with frustration.

---

On board the ship

Solano stood tall — tight shirt, white hair tied back, black pants fluttering in the wind.

Beside him:

An old man with a piercing gaze, grey strands under his kasa, two swords at his side, pipe in mouth, and a square staff in hand.

A younger man, calm, wearing an orange sleeveless sweater, cargo pants, boots, and bandaged wrists.

And a small scruffy boy with a bandage on his forehead, a missing tooth, an oversized T-shirt, and a metal pipe in hand.

The boy (pointing): Aren’t those your guests over there, old Solano?

Solano (amused): Looks like it.

Old man (grumbling): Weren’t there supposed to be six of them?

Solano (pushing him): You’re right, one’s missing!

Boy (jumping): Should we turn around?!

Old man (annoyed): No, we’re continuing. No time to waste.

Solano (energetic): Nah, we’re picking them up, umbrella head.

Old man: You’re the umbrella head, grrr!

They almost started bickering, but the young man raised a hand.

Young man (calm): I’ll go get them. Catch up to me.

Solano & Old man (together): OK!!!

---

On the dock

Albert: It looks like… something’s coming toward us?

Arnaud (squinting): Did he just jump?! From the ship?!

A sharp whistle sliced through the air.

A dark figure streaked across the sky and landed with a heavy thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The young man stood there, hands in his pockets, perfectly calm.

Bass (shocked): What… was THAT?!

Arnaud (panicking): He jumped off a moving ship… is he even human?!

Albert: Who IS this guy?!

Young man (smiling): I’m Izak Leinbert. I came to get you.

Shadow (suspicious): Wait… how did you jump like that?

Arnaud: Dude, that was super far!

Albert (bewildered): You’re not human...

Without a word, Izak grabbed Albert and Arnaud… and threw them.

Albert & Arnaud (in midair): WAAAAAAHHHH!

They were barely caught on the deck.

Izak (walking back toward the others): Your turn.

Maxime: You’re kidding, right?!

Bass: I’m not a ball, man!!

Shadow: I… don’t feel so good…

Too late.

They were all tossed one by one, caught by Solano and the old man.

Finally, Izak jumped himself — arms crossed — landing as if nothing happened.

Izak (grinning): Perfect, everyone’s here.

Solano: Well… except Trafalgar.

Maxime: He was too lazy. Stayed home.

Albert: Anyway, someone had to stay so we didn’t overload the ship, right?

Solano (raising a brow): Huh? Who told you that?

Albert: Alexandra. She said it was you.

Solano (frowning): Me? I never said that. The ship can easily carry six more people.

Silence.

A cold breeze swept across the deck.

Shadow (shrugging): Oh well. Not a big deal.

Solano (laughing): If I’d known, I would’ve tied Trafalgar with a leash.

Solano (clearing his throat, cheerfully): Anyway! Now that you’re all here, let me introduce my crew!

This is Izak Leinbert, the strongest man in the village — and probably the strongest around!

Izak (smiling, a bit shy): I do my best.

Solano: Then, the grumpy old man in the kasa — my little brother, Yosuke. And he’s insane.

Yosuke (gruff): Shut up, Solano.

Solano (pointing to the boy): And finally, the youngest but no less important — Bunny! He warned the whole village when you arrived! A real hero!

Bunny (jumping proudly): Hey!

Yosuke (hand on his swords, dark tone): Hmph. If I’d been at the village then, I’d have gladly slaughtered you. It’s my duty to eliminate every threat.

The five boys (shivering): …

Izak (ignoring Yosuke, enthusiastic): Anyway, Solano told us you’re the ones who put Tiger in that bad shape… If that’s true, you must be really strong! Tell me, are all people from the other world like you?

Shadow (shocked): Wait! The other world? We never told anyone that! How do you know?

Izak (sitting near the cabin): Everyone knows, Shadow.

He picked up a newspaper and tossed it.

Izak: You’re in today’s paper, actually.

Shadow caught it, heart pounding.

The five gathered around him.

On the front page, in massive letters:

“NEW ARRIVALS FROM THE OTHER WORLD AFTER TWO YEARS”

The article detailed their arrival.

Albert’s blood ran cold.

Maxime: But… how is that even possible?

Solano (serious): There’s someone in this world who can see absolutely everything that happens — every second. His name is Carl Woodward.

Arnaud (stunned): A power to see absolutely everything!? That’s… insane!

Bass (gulping): Sounds like a god...

Solano (grimly): And he acts like one. He’s the CEO of the world’s only — and largest — news company: the GLOBAL NEWS AGENCY.

His newspaper, THE WORLD, is distributed everywhere, every day.

Thanks to him, nothing escapes anyone anymore.

They say he never sleeps… that he writes while the world sleeps, and nothing escapes his pen.

---

Yosuke (spitting on the ground): Enough chatter.

Now that you know we know where you’re from… let’s talk business.

You foreigners need to find five keys hidden on the most dangerous islands in this world to return home, right?

Albert (silent a moment, then low voice): …Yes. That’s right.

The others (nodding, wide-eyed): Yes.

Yosuke (cold smile): Well, that’s not looking good for you, kids.

You’re two years late to the race for the keys.

Some have already been taken.

If you want to stand a chance, you’ll need to gain tremendous power… in very little time.

A chill ran through the deck.

The silence was heavy, suffocating.

Bass (whispering): Two years late… that’s huge.

Arnaud (shaking): Others… are already after them?

Yosuke (coldly): Not “after.” Fighting to keep them.

The five friends’ faces went pale.

Albert clenched his fists, staring at the horizon.

The sea wind whipped across his face. For the first time since their arrival, he felt the true weight of the world they had entered.

Albert (firm voice): About strength — I have a question. But first, tell us where we’re going.

Solano (pointing): Gévina Island.

Maxime: Why there?

Yosuke (pushing Solano aside): To find the five fighters who represented us in the Pangé Squad Clash.

Arnaud: Huh? What’s that?

But Yosuke was interrupted by a ridiculous scuffle with Solano.

Albert: Are they… serious?

Izak (without looking): The Pangé Squad Clash is an annual tournament. Each island sends five fighters. It’s a team battle royale.

Shadow (eyes wide): Incredible…

Izak: Our five guys placed second. But their ship got damaged. We’re going to pick them up.

Arnaud: If you’re the strongest, why didn’t you participate?

Bass: Yeah, why?

Izak: I had… things to do.

Arnaud & Bass: Aaaah…

A brief silence.

Albert (serious): How does someone become strong here? I mean… truly strong.

Silence fell again.

Even Solano and Yosuke stopped their bickering.

Bunny grinned, eager to hear the answer.

Izak (eyes on the ocean): Ah… good question.