[EXCLUSIVE] - Gaia Gear Ch.04 (Full)

Chapter.04
SEA JACK

1

　"Truth!"
　As Everly brushed past him, Affranchi broke into a run.
　"Affranchi, you embody the pureblood myth! I can't stand a woman who doesn't understand the importance of that, approaching you like some subservient dog, tail wagging!"
　Truth's voice echoed in Affranchi's ears, enraging him.
　"That's just your prejudice! It's unforgivable!" Affranchi shouted back, his anger even more intense than Truth's, and his arm shoved the man away.
　"Affranchi!"
　In the sunlight, Truth's eyes, hidden deep within the shadows of his sockets, quivered.
　"Your expression of emotion reveals a twisted subconscious!"
　Affranchi's words were not those of an island youth ignorant of the world. He crouched beside Everly, who had collapsed on the pier's planks, gently touching her shoulder and waist.
　"Ah!"
　Affranchi's consciousness marveled. In the sunlight, her body, clad in a modest dress, accentuating her firm, voluptuous curves, radiating brilliantly.
　She exuded the intoxicating aroma of youth.
　"To be frank, it's a tool employed by women to lure in men."
　This assertion stems from the fact that "female humans resorted to utilizing their sex appeal every day of the year due to being in more perilous circumstances than other creatures."
　Tick...
　The familiar sound within Affranchi resounded once more, ringing clear.
　Nevertheless, such a backdrop should no longer be relevant in contemporary times. Humanity had surpassed mere sexual desires.
　And yet, they still acknowledged sex.
　The chasm between reality and perception...
　"Why did you come here?"
　"I want to go, too."
　Everly's eyes, contrasting Affranchi and the man standing behind him, trembled.
　"He's a friend. Just a type we haven't known until now." Affranchi didn't have the confidence to explain it any better to her.
　"You ought to choose a woman as well! One suitable for you!"
　Truth hurled another venomous phrase.
　"I've grown weary of your prejudice."
　"Is that what you say to the one who educated you!"
　"Affranchi has been liberated; that's the precise meaning. 'Fran' signifies freedom itself, and the Franks is a term originating from the Gothic language, encompassing the Germanic sense of superiority over Latin and Slavic people. Furthermore, the meaning of the Franks shifted to denote a privileged class and later became a derogatory term for Christians in the Arab world. It's not uncommon for the meanings of words to be detached from their etymology and used freely. It's laughable to try to construct logic and speak of truth based on such words."
　"…?"
　At Affranchi's words, the philosopher opened his mouth wide in surprise and stepped back.
　"Despite knowing all that, you still listened to my story?"
　"I was forced to listen, and then I remembered... that's who I am."
　"Hahaha... Is that so? I meant to explain it as a story about what your godparents thought when they named you. The prejudice lies with the parents who gave you the name Affranchi."
　Affranchi no longer wanted to engage with the man.
　"Thank you. These two days have been an intriguing and stimulating experience. I am grateful."
　Affranchi, embracing Everly's waist, turned his back on the man.
　"I have no interest in such a young man either!"
　Receiving those words from Truth Stronger, Affranchi directed his steps towards the gangway of the scheduled ship.
　"Can I come with you?"
　"No, it's not a good idea."
　Affranchi responded firmly.
　"Affranchi!"
　Everly stifled her words and halted.

2

　To Affranchi's surprise, he managed to resist his persistent inner cravings for intimacy and reject Everly, just as he had before.
　"Affranchi!"
　A voice called out distinctly from over his shoulder.
　"I had a hunch it was you."
　Affranchi caught sight of his friend, Carey Howe, standing across from the regular ferry's gangway. He had just climbed up after mooring his boat below the pier.
　"Can't you take her with you?"
　Carey Howe inquired tentatively.
　People swarmed around them, readying themselves to board the regular ferry. Indians, Vietnamese, Chinese, Whites, Blacks, and Middle Easterners were all present—every race remaining on Earth frequented this small island.
　"Does this place serve as proof that it's an experimental region on Earth?"
　Affranchi remembered Truth Stronger's words.
　"Carey, I need you to take Everly back to the island with you. Consider it almost an order."
　Carey Howe stammered as he prepared to reply. Feeling sorry for his friend, Affranchi continued.
　"You know I have a mission to fulfill. I must return to where I came from, a truly dangerous place. I love Everly and don't want to put her in harm's way by bringing her there."
　Affranchi let go of Everly.
　He broke contact with her, emphasizing the gravity of his words. However, he found himself dumbfounded by his own statements.
　"Where I came from?"
　"A mission?"
　"A dangerous place?"
　"Everly getting hurt?"
　These were all unverified notions.
　"Affranchi... I understand your point, but it's unfair to Everly. That's why I brought her to you. I believed that with you, she would avoid the storm..."
　Carey Howe spoke, rubbing his body as if distressed.
　"Affranchi, is what you just mentioned true?"
　"It is..."
　"Will you always be gone?"
　"I can only return if it's for you, Everly."
　"Oh, Affranchi Char! In that case, I'll wait. I'll wait for you forever?"
　Naturally, her willingness to do so would bring him immense joy.
　"Had you told me earlier, I wouldn't have chased after you."
　"You know I couldn't ask you to do that. Even you have the right to live freely and enjoy your life..."
　"That's not true! To me, Affranchi, you are everything!"
　Everly wrapped her arms around Affranchi's neck and embraced him with all her strength. Affranchi reciprocated by holding her waist firmly.
　Looking past Everly's shoulder, Affranchi locked eyes with a disheartened Carey Howe.
　He shrugged his shoulders and a forced grin.

３

　Affranchi leaned on the handrail and waved goodbye to Carey Howe and Everly as they stood on the pier. At first, Everly raised her hand in response but then buried her face in Carey's shoulder, shaking and overcome with sobs. Affranchi couldn't help but notice the apologetic look on Carey's face.
　"Carey, promise me you'll watch over Everly!"
　He shouted out to them.
　"Take care of her."
　Those vague words held a multitude of meanings. Their shared apprehension for the unknown future and potential transformations that awaited... Did it concern Carey and Everly, or was it something else entirely? Affranchi couldn't be sure, but it was alright not to have all the answers. Such ambiguity was life's most reliable response to its inherent unpredictability.
　"Even though that's the truth for life, in my case, it's embodied in the name Affranchi..." he mused, disgusted.
　Vrrrrrrn!
　The whistle blew, and the regular ferry departed, casting waves to collide with the dock and the vessel's hull.
　"That ambiguity… it's a veil that preserves the dignity of existence and conceals the folly of humanity," Affranchi mused internally.
　Affranchi borrowed a hammock and stretched out on the crowded deck, letting the sea breeze wash over him. The deck was so packed with cargo that scarcely any room remained to stand.
　The island's fruit fetched a high price in Hong Kong, not for its uniqueness but because local produce was celebrated as cultural fare.
　He didn't know how long he slept, but Affranchi sensed an uneasy ambiance even in his sleep.
　"Eek!"
　"Pirates!"
　"They've taken a hostage!"
　It wasn't long before such cries reached his ears with absolute clarity.
　"A hijacking?"
　Affranchi sat up in his hammock, wide awake. Passengers amid the cargo had moved to the left.
　Bang! Bang!
　The sharp, out-of-place sound echoed from the starboard side, cutting through the humid atmosphere.
　"..."
　Affranchi leaned over the handrail. A cruiser was positioned in front of them, about to make contact.
　"We've got a hostage! Let us board, or we'll kill her!"
　A man with a bullhorn yelled from the helm of the cruiser.
　"A hostage?"
　Two men appeared on the vessel's port side, gripping a bound girl between them.
　"Everly?" he whispered, his heart dropping at the sight.
　"Is she really a hostage? Isn't that girl part of the gang, too?" a crew member on the ferry's bridge retorted.
　"How could you even joke about something like this?"
　The man with the bullhorn gestured, and one of his accomplices pressed a gun to Everly's temple.
　"I'm not one of them! Please help me!" Everly shrieked.
　"If she dies, it's on you!" The man threatened.
　"Go ahead and try!" a hot-headed captain retorted from the ferry's bridge. He seemed like a hot-headed man.
　"Stop it, Captain! She's really being held hostage! She's my friend!" Affranchi hollered as he sprinted along the ship's edge towards the bridge.
　The man on the cruiser spotted Affranchi running and said, "Captain! There's a friend of the hostage among the passengers! Ask that man!"
　As the amplified voice reached him, Affranchi scrambled up the ladder leading to the bridge.
　"Captain!" He vaulted over the restricted access barrier that connected the upper deck to the bridge.
　"Are you one of them too?!" he asked, bewildered.
　Affranchi was incensed by the captain's unanticipated accusation.
　"What are you talking about?! That girl is my fiancée!"
　"Really...?" The captain hesitated.
　"Don't think islanders are stupid! Don't shoot her! She's my future wife!" Affranchi's words were met with roaring laughter from the men on the cruiser.
　"Affranchi!"
　Life returned to Everly's expression.
　"Eva!"
　"Don't move! I mean, what are the chances her man happens to be here, Captain! If you don't let us on board, we'll just have to have our way with her!" One of the men threatened.
　"Heh! Hehe! It's a lesser sin than killing her!" One of the men holding Everly hitched up her skirt.
　"Stop it!" Everly fought back, only to be met with a slap across her cheek.
　"Ouch!"
　"Eva!"
　Affranchi tried to climb over the handrail.
　"Wait, young man!"
　The captain stopped Affranchi and addressed the men on the cruiser, "Get on board! But don't you dare harm the girl!"

4

　"Make sure you tow the cruiser properly, got it?"
　"We're doing it! What do you think this hijacking is for?!"
　The crew, threatened by the two men, went to the stern to secure the ropes that connected the cruiser.
　In front of them stood three men.
　The one who appeared to be the leader wielded a compact machine gun.
　"You'll find out when we get to Hong Kong. In the meantime, radio operator! Step forward!"
　When the leader-like man found the radio operator among the lined-up crew members, he said, "We intercepted the radio message you sent to the police," and struck the radio operator with the butt of his machine gun.
　"Ugggh!"
　"You've got some nerve!"
　The radio operator crumpled onto the deck, receiving kicks from all sides.
　Everly, forced to stand across from the man, had her arms twisted so harshly that her elbows nearly met. Her captors showed no mercy in binding her; instead, they appeared clueless about proper procedure. She was simply restrained, haphazardly and brutally.
　"Change course and head for Hong Kong. The police won't catch us. Isn't that right, Captain?"
　"Got it. There's no valuable cargo on board anyway, you know that, right?"
　"Hmph! We're not pirates," the man said, letting out a laugh, "You said you're name was Affranchi, yeah? You've got quite a pretty girl with you."
　The man with the machine gun, swung his hips back and forth, eyes darting back and forth between the two.
　"Heh, hehehehe!"
　"Do they want something from me?" Affranchi thought to himself.
　"We've got time. Guess I'll have my way with the girl later, won't I?"
　"Just try it and see what happens..."
　In an instant, the man's machine gun barrel collided with Affranchi's side.
　"Ungh!"
　Affranchi doubled over in pain.
　"You won't act so tough when I put a bullet in you. Got it?"
　Affranchi gradually straightened up, clutching his side. It didn't hurt as much as he pretended.
　"Affranchi, right? That's you, isn't it?"
　"What if it is? What does it matter?" Affranchi responded coolly, having no memory of being targeted by this man.
　"What does it matter? If you're Affranchi, this is what you get!"
　The man swung the machine gun at him, aiming for his solar plexus. Affranchi shielded himself with his elbow but still absorbed the impact.
　"Agh!"
　"Next is the jaw," Affranchi thought as the man used the butt of the machine gun to strike.
　"Simple, huh?!"
　Affranchi absorbed the blow to his jaw somewhat but mostly deflected the man's force and fell. For a moment, the man appeared baffled, likely because he didn't feel the expected impact. Affranchi grew slightly uneasy.
　Moreover, he was surprised at his ability to predict everything that was happening in such a spontaneous situation.
　"Hahaha! Just like Truth said, you're a weakling! Mikhail!"
　The man standing before Everly applauded, and the man who had struck Affranchi regained his confidence, smirking.
　"It's just a side job. Is this good enough?"
　The man said, poking Affranchi with the barrel of the machine gun.
　"Truth? Michael? No, he said Mikhail, right...?"
　"Alright, men, toss them in the cargo hold!"
　Affranchi shut his eyes. He and Everly would be held captive separately!
　"Get over here! You want to die?!"
　The machine gun glinted. Affranchi could see the determination in the eyes of Mikhail, the man issuing orders to his accomplices flanking Everly.
　"An ordinary person can be manipulated like that... I need to be careful."
　Affranchi observed the men's actions with a composed demeanor, even as he worried about Everly. A conviction grew within him. The men's overconfidence provided an opening for him to exploit.
　The man who had been standing behind Everly turned his back and stepped forward to face the crew. Mikhail, wielding the machine gun, attempted to move behind Affranchi. The man holding the end of Everly's rope tried to push his way between crew members.
　Pretending to be in pain and clutching his stomach, Affranchi staggered towards Everly. He then lunged at the man holding the rope and seized the gun from him.
　Tick!
　The sound of the gun firing in Affranchi's hand and the sound that rang in his mind coincided.
　"Agh!"
　Blood splattered on Mikhail's shoulder.
　"Next!"
　Affranchi's handgun shattered the advancing man's hand and then kicked up Mikhail's machine gun as he tried to recover his poise.
　"Ugh!"
　The crew members pounced on the men, and Affranchi embraced Everly.
　"Ha!" A sigh of relief escaped Everly's lips.
　The entire episode transpired in an instant. As the moment faded, both the crew of the regular liner and the hijackers stared at Affranchi, tense.
　"W-what the hell? This isn't what we were told..." One of the hijackers whimpered.
　"Are you some kind of pro? Or a soldier?" The captain asked Affranchi while helping restrain Mikhail.
　"No... I wouldn't have fought back if they hadn't used a woman as a tool. Call the two who are preparing to tow the cruiser," Affranchi said, making sure a crew member was untying Everly's ropes.
　The captain and the radio operator picked up the guns dropped by the young men and forced them to the ship's stern.
　Seeing their three comrades surrender, the remaining two men also dropped their guns.

5

　"Mikhail Kinzey, huh? He says he has no background?"
　"I don't really understand. What does that mean?"
　"I don't have the ability to investigate nor the desire to do so. We just need to hand them over to the police, right?"
　"Doesn't it bother you?"
　"Either they're petty thieves or part of an anti-Earth Federation government movement. Either way, it's quite common."
　 "I see. So it's quite chaotic, isn't it?"
　"Yeah, it is," the captain said, opening a can of juice.
　Affranchi and Everly were in a spacious cabin of a first-class stateroom.
　"I understand how you feel, but even if we inform the police, they won't come. They'll just say to bring them to Hong Kong. That's how the current Federation bureaucracy is."
　"I see..."
　"Oh, and I want to clear up a misunderstanding. I don't want you to think I have any sort of prejudice. When I thought you were one of the hijackers, it was because you were dressed like them. It's difficult to judge a person by their appearance alone. I hope you understand."
　"It's okay. What happened, happened."
　"No, there's something more important. You possessed the same intensity as the hijackers. Power. A spirit that radiates strength. In reality, you single-handedly defeated the hijackers."
　"It was just the adrenaline rush of seeing her taken hostage."
　"I served in the military myself. Your performance was on par with that of a trained soldier. I was impressed."
　"Thank you."
　"Um... Please, relax. Until we reach Hong Kong, you two are this ship's VIPs."
　"Isn't that kind of treatment a form of discrimination?"
　"Not at all. You're still young, aren't you? Is it because of someone's abilities that they are treated with hospitality? It's just common courtesy, and it's not the same as discrimination."
　"Courtesy, huh...?"
　"If there's anything that sets humans apart from animals, it's this."
　Affranchi remembered that there was another way of thinking about this matter. However, he didn't feel like discussing it with the captain, so he just smiled and nodded.
　And then, the room was just for Affranchi and Everly. Affranchi gently caressed the rope marks left on Everly's arm.
　"Oh, Affranchi, if we could have moments like this, maybe we wouldn't have to part ways in Hong Kong."
　"I can't say for sure," Affranchi replied, feeling a pang of pain at Everly's selfless words.