Persona 5 - The Jester's Point Of View

Scene 166

It felt like too much to ask yet they were running out of time. They couldn’t spend days on a guessing game in regards to where the Palace was located, let alone what the remaining key words were. So Lukanja had asked one last thing from Pipistrello. “ It’s a bit quick but pull me in there. There’s only so much time and I can’t waste another second! ”

“ Huh, I would prefer to watch you typing around. Buuut you did a good job last time so jumping a little ahead should be fine. One visit to a bald man’s ship, coming right up! ”

And that was how moments later they found themself somewhere completely different, with their attire changed fittingly. It was in a split second yet before knowing it they found themself on a ship, or rather a cruise. They took a look to the side, then to the other, and then the front. There they were met with a rather horrific sight. It was the city of Tokyo, right there yet it wasn’t like usual. No, it seemed to slowly drown beneath some waves. The water had gotten very high, becoming a dystopian sight. Everything was slowly being swallowed by water, with only the ship lasting and enduring the waves. It was almost like the famous story of the ark… Which made it even more twisted to imagine. 

The outside said everything they had to know about Shido. It wasn’t that they had always believed in his words, oh far from it. If it was up to them, they would have probably made work of him a long time ago. Mainly because of his empty, slimy words. But he managed to sway the masses by giving them what they wanted to hear and honestly? It was making their stomach turn. So this was only a confirmation for his true thoughts. Then again, not like he presented himself in a great light during his call with Akechi. There was a connection at least… A connection they didn’t understand, unfortunately. One of the many things about Akechi they didn’t understand… 

Yet that thought had been pushed aside for now, even more when hearing a familiar voice ask: “Hey, are you good?” 

They turned around, being met with the sight of Ole… Or O rather. This one had arrived, all in his humanoid glory, one hand on his hip while looking up at them. “Ah– Y… yeah! I’m fine! Glad you’re already here!”

“That thing brought me here against my will. And I had such a good nap too…” He complained with a sigh. “But nevermind that. If that happens, it has to be urgent, right?”

“Yes. Say, do you still remember Akechi–Kun’s scent?”

O looked at them right after that, as if he had seen a ghost at that point. “The boy’s? Wh… What do you need that for!?”

“Long story short, I told Officer Sato as much as possible and now I’ve been sent to get him so he can talk. He’s here somewhere and we gotta find him before anything happens!”

“You— How do you manage to get yourself into one situation like this everytime?” The cat sighed, the annoyed look on him unhidden. “You’ve become a magnet for trouble.”

“S… Sorry… But really, can you? We don’t have much time!”

“I mean I do but this place is massive. I doubt that I could make out his scent anytime soon.” That was a little disappointing to hear. It would clearly complicate things at this very moment, or at least turn the search longer than necessary. They would rather not waste their time searching but what other choice would they have at that point? But coming up with something else might take longer than anticipated. So they had no choice there. 

“So it would also take ages to locate him, wouldn’t it?” Swan decided to ask, though could already think of an answer.

“Your words dearie, not mine.” Pipistrello answered. “But chop chop. Before it’s too late for the boy.”

There was a giant ship to go through after all. At least four eyes are able to see better than two. But what use would it be once having stepped inside? The cruise was massive, a very large ship. And it was all fancy too. A massive entrance hall, an entire dining area, a pool, big rooms. Not to mention the people on board, several faces wearing a mask. Yet they were all men and women dressed in fancy dresses and suits. From the brabbling one could already judge who they were – People in power, rich folk even. And all of them were saying some stuff across the lines of being glad that they were on board with Shido here. Talk about having some high ego. The guy thought that he was super important, didn’t he? It was somewhat disgusting. 

Though there was one thing in the main hall they found interesting, a massive door with five keyholes. They didn’t take a look at it for too long but they still took note of it. No one could enter it, at least they couldn’t. But they weren’t here for that… Unless Akechi managed to get himself behind that door. Then this would be a difficult task. It’s not that they could ask Ole to just break the door open after all. It would cause quite a commotion, one they didn’t want to deal with anytime soon if at all. Or rather they were not taking the risk.

So they just kept searching on this deck, every nook and cranny, every goddamn corner they would come across. But nothing. O had even gone so far to just kick some walls in and go inside the rooms each, just in case the boy might be hiding in there. But no, nothing. Not even a trace of his presence. So when regrouping it was just the same thing.

“No luck?”

“No luck.”

It didn’t matter who said it. It was always coming out the same way. Honestly it was getting a little irritating, to say the least. Right now the two were standing in a hall and discussing the matter, more or less. It was rather about what they had not seen before, which places they hadn't visited yet. But none really came to mind. And they had no map too so any room was technically fair game. Then again, there might be one location coming to mind. Even just one… Maybe. So they had to pinpoint where to go.

Yet just as they were about to hold this discussion they heard an alarm going off. It startled them both, Swan and O, yet they wouldn’t have thought much of it… Until Pipistrello chimed in suddenly.

“ Found him~ ”