Precious ◈ | Seongjoong/Yungi ✓

Episode 3: Inescapable Compassion ◈ Part 1

Soyeon orders ten of her ships to hold down the fort on Gimpo Island and finish the post-battle specifics. She leaves soon after, not overstaying her welcome. Of course, she urges Chan and Hongjoong to make their way toward Moomyung (No Name) Island for the massive meeting.

Taking her advice, both The Wonderland and The Circus prepare to set sail a few days later. In the meantime, the inventors work hard to install new windsails and upgrade the boosters inside The Wonderland. Wooyoung even takes a commission from Hongjoong and paints an intricate design of the man's slogan on the side.

Now, with fancy black and red sails, fortified mechanical organs, and the phrases "NO 1 LIKE ME," "Hearts Awakened, Live Alive," and "Halazia" tattooed stylishly on her body, The Wonderland is better than ever.

A memorial is built for the lost pirates in the Battle of Gimpo, including a special funeral for Choi Lia. With that, this arc in their journey concludes for now.

Seonghwa stands by the edge of the stern and enjoys a slow breeze over his face. It washes through his hair and temporarily frees his mind like a carefree bird soaring. Walking up the plank onto the deck, Yunho sees him from afar and saunters over.

"Seonghwa," he calls and taps his shoulder with a smile.

The elder returns the sweet expression. "You guys did a good job with the ship," he compliments.

Yunho shrugs, "It was mostly Wooyoung's idea. I only contributed here and there."

"Still, you both worked hard. Take a little break during our travel to Moomyung Island. You earned it."

"We've got to get back to training the recruits, remember? There's no time for breaks," the swordsman relays. He inclines his head to peek at the medic's face, reading the wrinkles in his creased eyebrows. "Are you all right?"

"Of course," Seonghwa smiles.

However, Yunho isn't buying it. Facing the elder fully, he softly reprimands, "Seonghwa, we promised to listen to each other whenever something was bothering us. I can see the cogs spinning in your brain."

Seonghwa stretches his arms. "I'm still organizing my thoughts, Yunho. I'll tell you once I'm done."

"Really?"

"Really."

Yunho still looks skeptical, but he lets it go. Seonghwa isn't the only one withholding his feelings. The swordsman still has no clue what's on Mingi's mind lately. The thought is so unusual considering how honest the prince normally is.

He's never been good at keeping secrets, but now he has his own.

"Give me that," Seonghwa snaps, snatching the eyepatch away from San before he puts it back on.

The ship is sailing now, heading back to the Bloody Sea for the first major pirate community meeting in many years. The last one was when Hongjoong first took over his mother's position about ten years ago.

San is visiting the infirmary for his eye check-up.

He whines, "Why?"

"Because you don't need it anymore, San," the medic declares. "Your right eye is working better now. Sure, the scar is still there and it's not as good as it was, but this eyepatch is nothing but an accessory at this point."

The blond puffs his cheeks in a pout. "Can't I keep it for pirate aesthetic?"

Seonghwa rolls his eyes and states, "You'll never fully adjust to your eyesight if you keep wearing it. It's only hindering the healing process."