Winds of Freedom

Chapter 40: Battle for Angel Island

Chapter 40: Battle for Angel Island

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Shang Tu Island - Pangu Lagoon, Noon Hours

The sun hung low, casting golden light across Pangu Lagoon, nestled in the heart of Pangu Forest. The tranquil beauty of the lagoon was undeniable, its calm waters reflecting the towering trees that surrounded it. Ancient, crumbling structures lined the edges of the water, remnants of a civilization long since vanished. Moss clung to the weathered stones, and some of the ruins were partially submerged.

The serene silence was shattered by the rumble of an approaching engine. The Marvelous Queen came into view, the vehicle hovered before slowly descending onto the grassy ground near the ruins. With a hiss, Fang the Hunter leaped out onto the grass, landing with a thud.

"Ugh, finally!" Fang groaned, stretching dramatically. He stomped toward the ruins, his frustration evident. "Feels like we've been going in circles for ages!" He threw his hands up in exasperation before shooting an accusatory glare at his radar.

Behind him, Bark and Bean followed. Bark crossed his arms and raised a skeptical eyebrow at Fang, as if to ask, Are you sure this is the right place?

"Of course it is!" Fang snapped, shaking the emerald radar in his hand. "The fat man fixed the stupid radar himself! See?" He pointed to the pulsing purple dot on the screen. "Mook! It's right here!"

Bark only grunted in acknowledgment, though his narrowed eyes suggested he was still annoyed by how long it had taken them to get there.

"Oh, please!" Fang scoffed, rolling his eyes. "We could've gotten here sooner if you hadn't been all friendly and cuddly with that town's dock and its people. Seriously what's the deal with you and that deer innkeeper, huh? Her kids, too? You want to say something?" His tone was dripping with annoyance.

Bark leaned back slightly, a sweatdrop forming on his brow as an embarrassed blush crept across his face. Fang wasn't entirely wrong. They'd spent the previous day in Shuigang's snowy town, taking a detour that, in hindsight, had delayed their job.

But Bark couldn't bring himself to regret it. The townsfolk, despite their hardships, had been kind and welcoming. The innkeeper, Anni, and her two children, Ridi and Miri, had gone out of their way to make the Hooligans feel at home. Bark had spent hours listening to their stories, their resilience in the face of their kingdom's turmoil leaving an impression on him. It had been hard to leave them behind, especially knowing they were struggling under Prince Dail's erratic behavior. And Robotnik... Ugh. He remembered their employer's dismissive response when asked about the situation.

"What? How should I know, you idiots? Just do your job like I hired you to do!" Robotnik's words replayed in Bark's mind. Somehow, after spending time in that town and seeing the people's plight, Bark wasn't so sure about Robotnik's intentions. But Fang would never listen to that kind of talk, so Bark kept his thoughts to himself.

Meanwhile, Bean had wandered off a little, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the ruins. He took a deep breath, exhaled dramatically, and suddenly turned his head toward...nothing. Or perhaps something no one else could see. "Been a while since we've seen each other, huh?" he said to the air, his tone conversational as he talk to someone or perhaps to multiple people?. "Yeah, that's what happens when a novice writer crams too many characters into one story. Too much to juggle, ya know? I mean, seriously, the Hard-Boiled Heavies? Really?" He stuck out his tongue mockingly, wagging it at nobody in particular.

Fang and Bark both froze, glancing over at Bean with mutual expressions of bafflement. They exchanged a look that screamed, He's doing it again, before choosing to ignore him entirely.