Book 4: Chapter 75: Patch 13.0: Operation: Operation

The missiles arc upward before getting too close to The Shoebill and explode in the sky, resulting in a beautiful display of colorful sparks illuminating the surrounding waters as they drift downward.

“It would seem that a certain serpent has betrayed us,” Nell says with a happy smile and excited eyes looking up at the sky, the colorful bursts reflecting in her serpentine eyes.

“Leave it to Fen,” Cassiel says, sighing happily.

The rest of the girls come over to where the two are standing so that they can get a better view of the fireworks themselves.

“Loud,” Serra says. “Now I know why I always feel them in my chest.”

“I – I’ve never watched fireworks together with anybody but my mom,” Azalabulia says.

“That sly dog,” Tabitha sighs. “Here I was expectin’ them to try and screw us over.”

“You never needed to worry,” Cassiel says. “Fen wouldn’t let Olly do anything bad.”

Meanwhile, Fenrir turns around to flick Oleander’s forehead and ask, “See? Isn’t this better? You can see them all smiling from here.”

“Hmph,” Oleander says. “I’m still upset I wasn’t invited to girls’ night… but I know. You’re right. It’s more fun to make them smile than mad.”

Corwin leans forward to wrap his arms around Oleander’s waist before giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I am glad you decided not to try and ruin their night, Olly.”

“Bros, I’m starting to doubt these saddles,” Rao says. “Shogun, you good?”

Shogun is too busy looking up at the fireworks with his tail wagging behind him to answer Rao. However, the straps keeping Shogun tied down seem to be fine.

“Think she’ll be mad when she finds out we used all our money on this?” Fenrir asks.

“Tabs will be fine,” Oleander says. “We’ll factor in this entertainment for them as part of the cost, so it’ll be fine.”

“Well, I’m sure she’ll at least wait until the night is over before getting mad at us.”

“Yeah… we’re safe tonight, but I’m not sure about afterwards.”

“Anyways, let’s get the next round ready.”

Back on The Shoebill, Tabitha says, “Dang it. I should’ve just let the deer boy join us so that he wouldn’t be one-upping us right now.”

“It’s not a competition,” Cassiel says.

“I know, but still.”

“You are as stubborn as always, Tabitha,” Nell says. “Let us just enjoy the show that they have prepared for us!”

“You can communicate with them from a distance, can’t ya?” Tabitha asks Nell.

“Hm? Yes, I can. Is there something you wish for me to relay?”

“I guess ya could say that.”

The serpent raises her head and turns it to look back at Fenrir.

“Yeah, let’s save the rest of these,” Fenrir tells her. “Make sure to hang on,” he says while looking back at the rest of those with him on the serpent’s back.

Rao is clearly hanging on much more desperately than the rest are.

The Shoebill waits in the water as the serpent swims up to it. Once she reaches the vessel, she arches her back up and pushes it against the side of the boat.

“Miss me?” Fenrir asks his girlfriends, now sitting on the serpent’s back right in front of them.

“My hero, I am rather interested to hear of how you convinced her to listen to you when I had given her an order not to,” Nell says.

“She just likes me more.”

The serpent snorts out some water.

“A-ah. Is that so?”

“Yep. Plus, I explained everything to her and promised that we wouldn’t be trying to ruin your night. Communication is key.”

Oleander and Tabitha look away, sigh, and then look at each other before both opening their mouths to speak at once.

“Sorry,” they say to one another.

While Oleander and Tabitha laugh with each other, Shogun jumps over onto The Shoebill since Rao undid the straps holding him down.

Rock runs up to Shogun with her tail wagging and ears twitching, wasting no time nuzzling her body up against his.

“We good?” Tabitha asks Oleander.

“Yeah. Sorry for being a jerk,” Oleander says. “I was just jealous and pouting.”

“It’s alright. I should have let ya come with us in the first place. If anybody here is a girl, it’s you.”

“You’ve got that right!” Oleander says with his hands on his hips and a proud smile on his face.

“Want to join us for the rest of girls’ night?”

“I’d love to if it’s okay with you!”

“Why not? Come on, get over here.”

“Hey,” Rao says. “Can I come back over? I just want to go chill in my hammock.”

Oleander and Tabitha look at each other before shrugging and beckoning Rao over.

“Thanks. See ya bro, good luck not falling off,” Rao tells Fenrir.

“I’ll try my best,” Fenrir says. “Thanks for helping me set all of this u—”

Fenrir gets interrupted by Serra jumping over and landing right between his legs. There’s not another strap for her to help her stay steady, so she grabs Fenrir’s arms and wraps them around her waist to serve as her seatbelt.

“Best seat,” Serra says.

“You really love being between my legs,” Fenrir says, kissing the back of her head.

“Lewd, but that’s why I like it here.”

“Yeah, yeah, you perverted old man.”

One more girl jumps over to join them on the back of the serpent.

“Cass?” Fenrir asks when he looks around to check on her as she straps herself into Rao’s previous seat.

“You have the fishing rods and I kind of feel like fishing,” Cassiel says. “Be-besides, I… I missed you.”

“So clingy,” Fenrir teases. “But I love when you’re clingy.”

“Only because you like my chest.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“Hm-hmph.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve had any tsun fanservice from you. Thanks for that.”

“I – I just want to fish and shoot some of these fireworks.”

“Oh, right. You girls want some of the spare fireworks?” Fenrir asks Tabitha, Nell, and Azalabulia. “We got way too many.”

“Really?!” Azalabulia excitedly asks, her hands on the boat’s railing as she leans almost halfway overboard.

Nell’s tail wraps around Azalabulia’s waist to pull her away from the railing. “Must we remind you what happened the last time you leaned so far over?” Nell asks.

“Th-thanks.”

Most of the remaining fireworks are handed over to those staying on The Shoebill, but a few stay on the serpent’s back for Serra and Cassiel.

“You wanna come, Cor?” Oleander asks.

“That’s what he said,” Serra says.

Oleander and Serra give each thumbs-ups.

“Ah, I believe that I will stay here. Riding aback this serpent is a wonderful feeling that I wish to experience for a while longer. After all, I have no idea when I may get to experience this again!” Corwin answers.

Fenrir would ask Nell and Azalabulia if they want to come, but they’re both excitedly getting to work with those fireworks they were handed.

“We might want to get going. I don’t know how I feel about Azalabulia setting off fireworks,” Fenrir says.

Azalabulia looks up at him with a smug smile.

While she might be getting teased, it is teasing involving explosions which makes it okay.

“I bet I can make their explosions even bigger,” Azalabulia says.

Oleander and Tabitha look at each other, nod, and then look at the serpent so that they can jump over and get out of here.

Unfortunately for them, the serpent and those on her have already left the doomed crew of The Shoebill.