Lucy and Ivy sat down on the bench while Walton waited in front of the desk with his hands behind his back. He crossed his fingers and bit his lower lip. He looked nervous.

Lucy couldn’t tell how long they waited. A chill ran down her spine.

"If anything goes wrong, get ready to run," Lucy whispered.

Ivy shrugged. "I can fight."

"But someone has to warn the others if something happens. Reinforcement is very important."

Ivy grinned. "Aye, captain."

After a few minutes of sitting and listening to Walton tap his feet, the female panda attendant returned, holding a stack of white woven robes.

“Du Su will see you in his private bath chamber.” The panda held up the stack. “Remove your clothes, weapons, and put these on. The fee will be on the house.”

Lucy glared at the folded bathrobes. Leaving her gear behind will make her feel naked inside the bathhouse, even if she puts on the bathrobe.

“Take 'em,” Walton ordered in a soft whisper.

Without complaining, Lucy took the first robe on the stack.

Walton took the last robe. He rolled the robe out and frowned. "Ahoy, this gown be too big fer me!”

“I’m sorry, but we only have large sizes,” the attendant explained.

Walton grimaced. “Do ye at least 'ave a towel?”

The female panda nodded with a grin.

*****

After they changed their clothes inside separate dressing rooms, the party followed the attendant through the corridor. Lucy tucked her robe, trying to cover up her cleavage, but her robe was too tight. Did her soft breasts grow big after she leveled up? Still, she needed to get stronger before they reach Ghost Island.

Ivy’s robes weren’t too tight. They fit on her slender body pretty well and covered her flat chest. People could still mistake her for a cat boy.

Walton wrapped a small towel around his wrist. It hung beneath his fat gut like a loincloth. Two golden rings sparkled on his nipples, and he has a black cat skull tattoo on his smooth belly. Only his black eyepatch remained over his left eye.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Lucy doesn’t want to see what else the cat hid under his clothes.

The attendant pushed the door open at the end of the corridor. White misty steam bursts through.

They stepped into a marble room, full of wooden bathtubs that looked like giant buckets. Fat panda bears sat in the tubs without their robes on. All males. Some smoked pipes and others slept like walruses. A few female pandas massaged their customers’ shoulders and carried baskets with flowers and ornaments.

Lucy wasn’t sure if the bathhouse was for male pandas only since no other species relaxed with them. And the females were the only ones serving the customers. A very male-dominated establishment indeed.

In the next section, they entered a large white steam room with one boiling pool. Within the pool, a giant male panda rose from the water. The dampness dribbled down his muscled arms and round stomach. A black beard soaked around his head like a lion’s mane, and sea serpent tattoos coated his large arms. Pink scars deformed the right side of his face like something tried to rip his flesh off. No wonder he doesn’t have a wife yet.

Around his thick neck, a golden necklace hung with the medallion compass. Right in front of the party’s eyes. If Du Su has it, did he also know he could control the island?

“Leave us,” the giant panda ordered after he sat down in his pool.

The attendant bowed and strode off after she closed the shutter door. Lucy, Walton, and Ivy stood alone with the beast.

Du Su picked up a small tea cup and sipped it. He lowered the cup from his wet lips and grinned. “Ah, yes. My old friend. How long has it been?”

Walton bowed to the panda with his paws together. “Hard t' say, ole matey. Sailin' a lot can make ye forget about time.”

“Indeed.” Du Su sipped his tea again and placed it down on a small table near his pool. A tea kettle stood next to the cup. “And who are those females?”

“Jus' bodyguards. When ye become wanted, 'tis safe t' 'ave some protection.”

Du Su glanced at Lucy. His eyes studied her. “Hmmmmmm, and I thought you only liked cat women.”

Walton shrugged. “Dogs 'ave the best sense o' smell 'n hearin' t' do the job. I give her bones t' keep her obedient. Hehehehehe.”

“True.” Du Su grinned, returning his focus to Walton. “Now, shall I ask why you are here?”

Walton cleared his throat. “I would like t' make a personal offer fer ye.”

"What kind?"

Walton pointed his finger at Du Su's board chest. "Ye know wha' be?"

The panda glanced at his necklace. "This?" He rubbed the green gem on the medallion. "A token from a pirate who sold it to me."

Lucy’s eyes widened. Could her other father be the one who sold it?

She wanted to ask, but the stupid cat doesn't want her to talk. He better get the medallion, either way.

"I heard 'tisn't jus' a medallion from an ancient civilization. Tis a key t' an unimaginable loot I be huntin'. I'll trade ye somethin' if ye hand it t' me."

The panda's dark eyes glared. "No."

Walton dropped his mouth. "Wha?"

Du Su leaned forward, dripping water over the edge of his pool. "You came into my bathhouse and expected me to trade you my precious possession? You never sent me a message or visited me for a long time. Why should I listen to you now?" He growled under his breath. "Maybe I should kill you and your friends here, right now."

Lucy’s body shivered. She could see murder in the panda's eyes. Even Walton’s little legs shook beneath his gut.

Obviously, the giant panda wasn't happy to see Walton’s face. It looks like this negotiation won't go smoothly as planned.

Perhaps Lucy should do the talking.