Chapter 294: May I Ask You Something?
Several dockworkers were bare-chested, their shoulders darkened by the sun, their backs wet with salty sweat. They unloaded crate after crate, tossing them onto their shoulders with rough movements, the sound of wood slamming adding to the symphony of noise in the air.
Aoki paused for a moment in front of a wooden cart selling dango. The food vendor, a chubby man with a buzz cut, was busy blowing on the embers of a charcoal grill. The man's face shone with hot oil.
Aoki pulled out a few bills from a small cloth pouch at his waist. His hands trembled slightly from the cold sea breeze.
"Four skewers, sir," Aoki said briefly. His voice sounded calm, but his eyes scanned left and right, on guard for any mischievous hands reaching into his pockets in the crowd.
The chubby man nodded, his plump hands deftly placing four warm dango skewers onto a wide banana leaf. Steam rose slowly, carrying the sweet aroma of red bean paste freshly brushed with soy sauce.
Aoki handed one to Tetsu, who accepted the food with a silent nod. Ajisai stared at the skewer in her hand as if it were a foreign object, then the girl bit the end slowly, her cheeks puffing out slightly.
Mei glanced at Aoki, her gaze softening for a moment, her lips moving slowly as she whispered, "Thank you..." Almost inaudible, Mei's voice was drowned out by the roar of the sea wind.
As they ate, they continued walking. The wooden planks of the dock creaked beneath the soles of their shoes and straw sandals. In the distance, the silhouettes of wooden ships began to appear, their hulls large, mooring lines swaying at the pilings.
Some crew members shouted, lifting crates, pulling a giant fishing net from the stern. The sound of seagulls screeched in the sky, competing for leftover fish thrown into the sea by the crew.
Once they arrived at the shipyard area, the air thickened with the scent of salt, wood oil, and wet ropes. The wind made the small flags at the top of the ship's mast creak, producing a vibrating sound.
Aoki gazed at the line of ships before him—at least five wooden vessels appeared still seaworthy.
The cream-colored sails were faded, with several patches visible here and there. Some workers were seen hammering boards onto the hull, splinters and sawdust flying around.
Near a docked ship, an old man stood with his back to the pale shimmering sea under the afternoon sun. The old man's shoulders appeared slightly hunched, as if bearing the weight of the salty wind that constantly slapped against his back. A dark blue captain's coat wrapped around his frail body, though the fabric on his right shoulder looked worn and the threads were fraying.
His black trousers were wet at the ends, perhaps just brushed by a mischievous wave crossing the deck. The old man's hair was black, short, but messy as if he hadn't had time to comb it since morning. A captain's hat that looked slightly oversized covered part of his forehead, almost drowning out the old man's dim yet watchful gaze.
Aoki stared at the old man for a few seconds, took a breath, then stepped closer. The remaining dango skewer in Aoki's hand was only half, which he then gripped tightly as if holding back his nervousness.
"Excuse me, sir... may I ask you something?" Aoki inquired. His voice sounded muffled by the wind, but it was clear enough for the old man to hear.
The old man turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Aoki's face. The old man's gaze was sharp yet cool, like someone who had long been accustomed to sailing through storms for years. The man's lips moved slowly, forming a small smile, though the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes emphasized that the smile was not one of joy—more of caution.
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A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
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