Don't Derail The Plot

9. Mission 1 - My Lady (4)

A/N: This is basically part 2 of the former chapter, so it's also quite short.  Like before, the POV will keep going back and forth.

Chapter Title: Warning

~~~~~~ • • • • • • ~~~~~~

When the man still didn't leave even after her bluntness, Tanzu began to wonder if she had missed something.

Why is he so sticky? Is he from the Plotline?

[No. I would have notified you earlier if he was.]

That means he's not a primary character, Tanzu mused as she stared at the man. The hallway light was behind him, so she could only see his silhouette from her position.. According to the contract, primary characters were mentioned in the Plotline regardless of an agent's Character Tier.

Is he a secondary character?

[I can only detect primary characters.]

Tanzu acknowledged 909's words while mulling over the possibility. It would make sense if he was a secondary character. He seems to be awfully interested in what she did to Emma.

[Maybe he's worried you might harm the heroine again.]

Tanzu mentally scoffed at 909's words. Then he wouldn't have played accomplice.

Still she had to admit that Emma was one of the world's protagonists. Her her halo may have unconsciously drawn him in. Otherwise how could she be so unlucky as to have an aristocrat walk in on her knocking the noble heroine out? Now that she thinks about it, she's quite grateful he didn't react like a normal person.

When she and 909 exhausted their theories on why the man kept hovering, she decided to stop wasting her precious time on him.

Nine, are the crewmen aware of the storm yet? It was a few minutes away, but Tanzu thought someone above the deck may have noticed something.

[Their behavior does not suggest that they are.]

What do you mean?

[The sailors are huddled around the boat supports and appear to be drinking liquor.]

She did not expect this piece of news. Why?

[The Captain rationed more liquor for everyone in order to celebrate the new sailors' first line-crossing.]

Oh, right. She had heard something about that earlier in the day. Apparently there trade tour cut through the equator, but she hadn't understood the implications until now.

Does this mean everyone was drunk when the bad weather hit?

[It is possible.]

Tanzu immediately wanted to warn the Captain, but then stopped herself when she remembered her task. She wouldn't get another chance to do it if something went wrong again.  Maybe she could ask this Mr. BusyBody to pass on a warning.

What's the ETA again?

[9 minutes.]

Tanzu was still on the fence about what survival plan to go with, but she was finding herself more inclined to take her chances on the ship instead of the sea. Improving the odds of it surviving the storm is beneficial to her.

As long as Emma is safe and eventually ends up with the male lead, the Plotline details are flexible, right?

[That should be the case one you complete your catalyst task.]