The room was very quiet. Apart from the gradually receding footsteps of Hai Yin outside the door, only the faint noises from the distant pier and the sharp sound of pointed leather boots hitting the floor could be heard.
Captain Lorin of the adventure team "Sword of Vengeance" sat on the leather sofa directly facing the door. Her long legs were crossed, as they were when Xia Nan first met her, lounging one over the other.
The table in front was wide and cluttered.
In the center, taking up the most space, was a spread-out sheepskin nautical chart marked with routes and complex symbols of unknown meaning. To the right lay a tin cup with tea that had already gone cold; on the left was a shell-made ashtray with over a dozen cigarette butts collected inside.
"You're here?"
"Have a seat."
With a freshly lit cigarette held between the index and middle finger of her left hand, Lorin, her reddish-brown eyes fixed on the map before her, invited without looking up.
