They arrived in the northern part of Acante's mainland, where a smugglers' den was located. Gin knew that if there were one place Enzo would be, it would be there with his crew--Reynar and Mari. He only hoped Enzo hadn't sold the documents yet, but it would be difficult to find a high buyer on such short notice.

They needed to act fast to retrieve the documents. Something valuable like that could cause a civil war in the Draga Isles.

They docked the Opal on a beach and walked up a hill that guarded a small valley from the shore. Tall grass grew around them as they looked for a good spot for Ria as their shooter. They found a ledge where she positioned herself and noted that it was good.

Gin held out a rifle to her. "No sleeping bullets this time, princess," he said.

Ria hesitated, but she took the gun and nodded nervously.

"Aim for the shoulders," Gin added. He knew Ria had not killed anyone before, and he didn't want her to. But she volunteered to be here and help out as best as she could. She was a good shot, so they could use her talent to cover their backs. And staying on this hill with Sam and Reno, away from the den, would also keep her safe.

Gin looked at the valley below. A walled area with a rectangular structure rested at the center of the valley like a lone warehouse, but to those who knew, it was a smugglers' den.

"Gin," Ria spoke.

He looked at her and saw the worry in her blue eyes. "You'll be alright."

"I'm not worried about myself." Her face filled with something sweet.

Gin smiled. "We'll be alright. Those smugglers are going to run when the fight starts. Enzo probably has a few Acantians with him. Not more than twenty."

"You're always so cocky." She tilted her head to the side.

Gin grinned. "Eyes on me." He wanted to give her a kiss then, but he settled for a smile before he turned and walked up to the others.

Migal was staring at him with a grim look, lips set and jaws ticking, making his smile fade.

Gin wondered what Ria had told Migal to anger him this much. Migal hadn't said a word to her since the day she found Gin in the galley.

Gin tried to shake away the thought. Whatever was going on between Ria and Migal was not his business.

Gin, Migal, Juli, Captain Zalez, and Rodri made their way down to the valley below.

The crew had been here many times before, so they knew some people here, and some people knew them, too. It should be easy to get in. It's a sort of black market where one could find all kinds of smuggled items, both living and non-living.

The plan was to enter through the gates and find Enzo and his crew inside. They were so sure that when the gunfighting started, the rest of the smugglers inside were going to turn their heads and save their bottoms.

But when they reached the gate, the guards pointed their weapons at them.

"Sorry, but we've been waiting for you," one of the guards said as a couple more came on them, patted them down to take their weapons, and bound their hands.

The guards dragged them into the courtyard, which was mostly empty. It was different from what Gin remembered. The place used to be bustling with dirty business, but now stalls were empty. Enzo had turned the smugglers' den into a fortress. The smugglers were gone.

Gin looked to the warehouse-like building and saw Ezno come out. Reynar and Mari were at his flanks.

The guards forced the crew of the Opal on their knees at the center of the courtyard. They pointed their guns at them.

Gin turned his bond brittle, waiting for the opportunity to lunge at Enzo. He could simply kill him, but that would mean gambling with the crew's life as they were defenseless against the men with the pistols.

Enzo, Mari, and Reynar walked up to them.

"I knew you'd find me," Enzo said to Gin. "I'm surprised you all came here without anyone watching your back." He looked to Migal. "So, is the princess already back in the safety of the palace?"

Migal growled. "I'll kill you for what you did to her." He struggled with his bonds.

Enzo laughed.

A gunshot rang in the air. One of the guards with a gun fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding shoulder.

Gin grinned, knowing that was Ria's shot and her hit was perfect. He broke his already brittle bonds and jumped at one of the guards, taking him down. Another gun fired, and another guard went down.

Juli also jumped, bonds broken, wrestling a girl with a knife. She tackled her and looped her arms around the other girl's neck, squeezing until she fell unconscious.

Juli took the knife and helped the rest of them get free.

Enzo, Mari, and Reynar ran into the building. Gin, Migal, and the captain ran after them while Juli and Rodri were left in the courtyard to deal with the rest of the Acantians.

"They're getting away!" Migal roared, and he hurried.

The captain jumped onto Reynar, tackling him to the ground. They grunted and wrestled each other as Gin and Migal ran by, going after Enzo and Mari into the building. They came to a corridor where Enzo tried to smash vases and toss chairs to block them. They slowed them down.

Mari and Enzo ran into a room and locked the door. Migal smashed into it once and twice before the lock broke.

Gin saw Ezno holding scrolls, coming from a table, and running to the other side, where Mari opened another door.

They came into a hallway that opened up into a water canal behind the building, where a motorboat floated.

Mari started shooting, and they ducked.

Mari pointed a pistol at them. "Don't follow," she shouted, and they stopped in their tracks, raising their hands.

"Enzo, we'll find you before you can make anything of those documents." Gin threatened, but Enzo didn't listen, untying the boat from the cleat on the dock.

A gun was fired, and everyone ducked their heads. Gin checked himself for bullet holes and found nothing. He looked to Migal, who seemed to be all alright. When he looked at Mari, the girl dropped her gun and clutched at her bloody arm, backing away and surrendering in a corner.

"I've come to pay you back," Ria's voice came from behind them.

Gin turned and saw her with her raised rifle, vengeance in her eyes.

Migal ran to Enzo, landing a punch to the boy's face and knocking him out. He picked up the documents and checked them before picking up the pistol Mari dropped.

Gin walked up to Ria and placed a hand on the rifle. "It's over," he said.

Ria looked at Gin, and she slowly lowered the weapon.

Bang!

A shot rang in the air, and pain exploded Gin's back. He fell to his knees. His ears rang, and he heard Ria's voice calling his name as he completely fell to the ground. He turned on his back despite the pain and looked toward Migal, who raised Mari's pistol at them.

"No! Gin!" Ria shouted, pressing her hands to his shoulders. "Why?" she asked Migal.

"I waited for you, Ria." Migal's sneered, and Gin thought he would shoot her, too.

"R-Ria," Gin struggled to say her name. "Run." He tasted blood in his mouth, and his back turned damp. He saw Migal lower the weapon and jump on the boat.

His vision darkened, and the last thing he heard was Ria screaming for help.