"Captain..."
"You can't surrender!"
"That's right, we can still fight..."
Maisy glanced around at everyone present, offering a gentle smile that felt cold to the bone.
"If you want to fight, then go ahead. But whatever you choose to do has nothing to do with me—or with the others."
"That..." The young man who had objected earlier immediately stammered, unsure of what to say.
Silence fell over the group. The atmosphere grew heavy and oppressive.
The young man clenched his teeth, wanting to speak, but realized he had no words.
Just then, someone suddenly stood up, let out a long sigh, and said,
"Captain, I think we should at least give it a try. If it doesn't work, then let it be considered the sacrifice of a few so the rest of us can reach our goal."
"What do you mean?" Maisy frowned.
"It's simple," the young man continued: "Ekko wants to fight, doesn't he?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at the young man who had just opposed Maisy's decision.
