The ice surrounding the ship was already starting to sink. Before long the crew found themselves standing on top of a large Caribbean ship.
The Caribbean ship was so large it could fit 300-400 people at once. It also carried 15 cannons on each side.
Sky looked at his ship, with the ice melting the ship was slowly sinking and soon it would reach the bottom of the ocean.
This wasn't his first ship, he stole it from a slave trader from the false Warlord. It wasn't a valuable ship, nor was Sky too attached to it yet he felt sad watching it sink.
Jericho and Jules didn't feel anything for it. Jay however placed his hand over his heart and gave a slight prayer to it.
Boris walked over to Sky and patted his back.
"You know I've heard of the saying "a captain must go down with his ship" but honestly I never really understood why that is, and I don't know why I'm saying it to you but I thought this was a good moment for that quote."
"..." Sky.
{Bloodlust detected}
Sky could sense some bloodlust behind him and it wasn't directed at him but someone else in his crew.
The Caribbean men were staring at Sky and his crew. They were all glad to help his crew. But most of them hated non-humans.
Most Caribbean men join because of the pain and suffering criminals, mermaids, and fishmen have caused them. They all had a purpose in mind to arrest and kill any non-humans and criminals, to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Boris turned behind to face his crew. The ship could fit hundreds of people at once but he only had a crew of 80 people.
"Everyone, treat these civilians… kids like any other civilian. We make our way back to God's Paradise."
"Ay, Sir."
The ship turned around as everyone began working. They all had stats in the hundreds yet managing the ship still required much effort.
Sky was thankful for the system after seeing the hard work it takes to navigate a ship. Just by relying on his system the ship runs by itself, and he can use the system's map to navigate anywhere he wants.
Boris grabbed Sky's wrist and Jules' as well.
"Now, you two, come with me to my quarters."
Boris dragged both to his own quarters. Jericho and Jay could not do anything but were guided to another part of the ship by other officers.
Once they were in Boris' quarters he let them go and he sat on his chair behind his wooden desk. Using a piece of paper and some ink he wrote down something quickly and handed it to Sky.
"Everything I wrote here say it to her face." Boris pointed to Jules.
Jules was looking around looking for any traces of her brother.
Confused, Sky read the paper.
"She's under contract which is why I know she'll do anything you'll say. That piece of paper has some commands I want you to give her and read them word-per-word. Don't add anything and don't skip out on anything." Boris said sternly.
Boris did not mention it would be easier to force Sky to relinquish his right as her master by simply saying it, but he won't do it unless Sky gives him a reason to.
With a defeated sigh Sky looked at Jules and read the paper.
"From now on, you will tell everything to this… handsome gentlemen?" Sky looked at Boris confusedly. He did not see a handsome gentleman anywhere in the room and did not see a mirror either.
"Don't look at me, look at her!"
"You will treat him exactly as if he is your master. Do I make myself clear?"
Jules gave him a slight nod.
"Good, that'll be all."
"Wait, where's my brother?" Jules asked worriedly.
"Him? You want to see him?"
Jules nodded.
"I'm all for familiar reunions, believe me I used to have a family, but your brother is back at God's Paradise for questioning."
Jules sighed. At least she knew her brother was alive, but his fate was still unclear to her.
"Wait, how exactly did you find us? We were far away from the island." Sky asked.
The ocean was vast and that left Sky perplexed. It wasn't possible to find him in such a short amount of time on a boat.
"We have our ways." Boris smiled and lied back on his chair.
"Okay, let's go, Jules."
"Actually, she's staying here, I have some questions for her. You can go now."
"Hey, why is that?" Sky asked.
"Why? You know damn well why."
"We have a deal: I am lending her to you in exchange for some slaves and ships and you haven't completed your part of the deal."
Boris stood up and slammed his hands on the desk angrily.
"This is something a kid shouldn't meddle in. She knows something people are willing to go to war for and the sooner we get to it the better."
"So? We made a deal or are you not going to honor it?"
Boris appeared before Sky towering over him and even letting out some of his mana out enough to intimidate him but not injure him.
Sky knew Boris could do anything he wanted. But he needed to delay to figure out a plan to stop Jules from exposing the nightmare sword location
Sky wasn't too keen on obtaining the sword, but he was afraid that if people did find the sword it could spell trouble for him and his crew.
Everyone believes the nightmare sword is long gone. But would the Caribbean find ways to silence Sky and his crew if they suspected they knew of the sword's existence? If they could, they'd rather the existence of the sword be kept secret from everyone.
He knows that's what they'd do because it's exactly what he would do.
"You might be more foolish than I thought, Sky Rouge. I am only doing this for you because I want to. Heck I can even arrest you for delaying something important."
"I know. You know how you were quoting something from me before?"
"Yes? That happened five minutes ago. What's the point?"
"Well I have another quote: The walls have ears. How do you know someone here isn't listening in on this conversation?"
Boris wanted to say something but didn't. He looked around staring at the shadows everywhere, he turned to Sky and said, "You have a point. If she has the information I seek then it's best I do it somewhere no one will hear. Both of you go."
Sky left with Jules and they were guided by an unwilling officer who hates mermaids. They were brought to the crew's quarters; it was at the bottom of the ship filled with hammocks. Jay and Jericho were both sitting on a hammock at the corner of the ship.
Jay and Jericho were happy to see both of them still alive and healthy.
"Master, thank you-"
"Sshhh…" Sky covered Jules' mouth and whispered, "remember, the walls have ears, don't say anything about it, got it?" Sky looked at Jules and his crew.
The Caribbean in the quarters kept their distance while staring at the crew like they were outsiders.
Jules nodded and everyone else nodded.
Sky sat down on a hammock and rested as various thoughts came over his mind.
His eyes widened as he sensed a presence moving close to them. But he pretended not to feel it.
'Curse of blindness, healing, strength…' Without wasting time Sky continued practicing his curses.
The shadows beneath them were moving ever so slightly and Sky could sense it but nobody else noticed.
The entire day the crew kept their distance from the Caribbean. They barely spoke to each other which was a strange feeling to them as they are the rowdy kind.
"Here, for the three of you." An officer handed them trays of food.
They were brought food and drinks, but they purposely gave nothing to Jules. The entire crew knew it was on purpose.
Sky kept hordes of food in his inventory but could not take it out and expose his ability.
Jules, who thought she would go hungry for the day, was given food from Sky, Jericho, and Jay, they shared part of their rations with her.
"Take it and eat it. This will be the last we'll see each other for a while." Sky said.
Unable to go against his orders, she ate the food given to her.
For some reason Jules started to tear up but made no sound as she ate part of their rations. She still hated being a slave and hated them but she was touched by their gesture.
For the rest of the day Sky did nothing but lie on his hammock while staring at the wooden roof. It wasn't until much later when the presence beneath him was gone.
'Finally.' Sky said. He looked at Jules, who was lying beside him, and he said, "Jules, from now on I am your ancestor. In private refer to me as ancestor but in public I am your master, got it?"
"???????" Jules thought she either heard wrong or Sky was smoking something.
"Ances-"
"Don't say anything. Just trust me. Good night."
Sky ignored her for the time being but smiled as his plan was put to action.
Boris, who was sitting at his desk, awaited the report of someone.
"Sir."
"Ah, you're back. Come out of the shadows."
Out of the shadows emerged a man. It was a skinny man with long hair that covered his face. It was a dirty man as he did not like to shower, and wore a Caribbean uniform.
The ability this man has wasn't rare at all, one could find it in a red scroll. It's called shadow sneak.
"Did you hear anything or see anything?" Boris asked.
"No, sir. They were quiet most of the time only talking about what games to play. But I did see something rare."
"What?" Boris asked, intrigued.
"You see, the officers did not give the mermaid food, so the other crew members gave part of their food portions to her and the mermaid wept."
"Oh, really? No wonder he was adamant to protect her. Still I know there's another reason he's stalling for her." Boris said to himself.
Boris sent out an officer to eavesdrop in case Sky gave Jules any unnecessary orders. To think he would hear that they cared for a mermaid slave.
"Keep eavesdropping on them in case they do say something, especially that curly-haired kid."
"Aye." The man disappeared into the shadows again.
Boris sighed. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Sky was right. Someone could be lurking in the shadows listening to him and he would have no idea.
There were shadows everywhere on the ship and that's how people with that ability can infiltrate places, using the shadows. Which is why Boris plans to take Jules to a special place no one could eavesdrop on them.
It isn't just humans that eavesdrop on them.
Night fell and the entire ship was eerily quiet.
Sky could not sleep and neither could his crew. It was hard to sleep when they were surrounded by strange powerful people.
Jay stood up from his hammock.
"Where are you going?" Sky asked.
"Bathroom."
Using the light of the moon that was peeking through the windows Jay made use of it to navigate his way through the ship without hitting anything.
'Curse of… wait a minute.' Sky sensed something moving in the waters.
Sky stood up from his hammock. He could sense they were moving so slowly it was almost hard to tell and they were somehow hiding their presence. It was difficult to tell what they were.
Looking out he saw a mist was enveloping the area.
"A mist? That never happens… identify?"
{Magical mist: Cannot sense or see others inside the mist}
Sky quickly pulled Jericho and Jules away from their hammocks which left both confused. He knew he recognized this mist, he read in a book, it's a purple grade skill, magical mist.
"Sky?" Jericho asked softly.
"Go to the top of the ship now. Jules, take Jericho with you now and protect her and take Jay as well."
Jules followed his command and dragged Jericho with her by the wrist. Sky followed behind them.
Just then the ship stopped abruptly and every officer fell to the ground.
"What the hell?"
"Did we hit a reef?"
Everyone was confused but they all stood up and looked for answers.
Sky could sense something enormous that appeared from nowhere and it was as big as the Caribbean ship itself, and it was alive.
Just then they saw out of the windows giant tentacles were wrapping themselves on the ship. There is only one monster alive of that size that can be summoned…
"KRAKEN!"