"This is the last time we board a boarding ship," Shinzo said, watching the ship leave port.
Luna nodded. "We'll have our own ship."
Aline turned to the street in front of them, exhaust fumes jutting from every chimney. Every corner had some sort of factory, most of the businesses dealing with handcrafts.
"The biggest industrial island in the East Sea," Luna said. "It really lives up to its name."
"I want to sightsee," Paolo stated.
Aline's hand hit the back of Paolo's head heavily and glared at him. "We came here to get an engineer, not play around, idiot."
"This island is too cool to pass up," Paolo said, his voice giving no room for argument. "Let's sightsee first."
"But-"
Before Aline could complain, he already sped down the streets, notebook in hand to jot down his thoughts on the island.
"That idiot."
.....
"Paolo aren't you tired," Aline snapped as they came out of another blacksmith shop.
He shook his head in disagreement, closing his notebook. "This island is just so fascinating. I've already taken so many notes."
Aline sighed. "This isn't why we came here. We have less than two weeks till the exam. What if we miss it?"
He waved his hand dismissively. "Then we wait till next month."
Shinzo and Aline both slapped the back of his head, their fury burning through the spot they hit. "Hell no."
He rubbed his bruising head while Luna laughed hysterically at the skit. "You guys are a riot." She cleaned the tears in her eyes turning to Paolo. "Where do we find Festus' Engineer's anyways?"
They all stopped walking abruptly, the sudden question putting them completely off.
"You're our navigator, you're supposed to know," Aline said.
Luna shook her head. "Well I don't."
Both Shinzo and Aline exhaled shakily, their suppressed anger begging to be let out. Before they could talk, Paolo interrupted.
"Let's ask around."
He took a step forward, but ended up hitting someone holding a pile of books. The books tumbled to the ground, hitting it forcefully.
Paolo bent down to pick up the books before looking up to face the person. "I'm so-"
His mouth glued shut, staring at the person in front of him. He had scattered blond with a stubborn strand pointing to the sky, a pair of huge glasses over a pair of baby blue eyes and was the most adorable thing Paolo had ever seen.
The boy's height didn't even reach Paolo's shoulder, having the body of a ten year old. He wrinkled his nose, pushing up his glasses.
"Ah… sorry," Paolo mumbled, rising from his crouched position.
The boy pushed up his big, round glasses. "You should watch where you're going next time."
He tried to reach for the books, but Paolo raised his hand. "We'll help you. It must be heavy."
"Not really."
"No need to be humble. I feel bad for making you drop them. Let me help."
The boy sighed, not planning to argue with him. "Fine."
"Where are you going with so many books, little boy?" Paolo asked.
The boy glared at Paolo, making Paolo and the others want to coo so hard. "I am not a little boy; I am nineteen for Pete's sake."
Their eyes widened in disbelief, his height not reflecting his age.
"There's no way you're nineteen, you should be like nine," Shinzo stated.
The boy not caring about the fact that they were strangers, stepped on Shinzo's foot, hard. Shinzo retracted his leg immediately, a yelp escaping his lips.
The boy scoffed. "Show respect, just because I'm a bit short doesn't mean you can push me around."
Shinzo rolled his eyes, his toes still throbbing. "Alright, alright."
"So where to?" Paolo asked.
"I'm going to Festus' Engineers," the boy said.
"Ah that works out then, we're headed there too," Luna said.
"What's your name?" Paolo asked.
The boy paused, wondering if he should say his name before talking. "Octavius, the names Octavius."
.....
Festus' Engineers turned out bigger than they expected, multiple buildings encased behind a huge gate with Festus' Engineers written on it.
Octavius led them inside, dropping his books on the secretary's desk in front. A woman with blonde hair with a pencil in her bun, looked up. "Octavius you're finally back." She pushed up her glasses. "And I see you brought customers."
Paolo moved forward. "We came to buy a ship and also get an engineer to maintain it."
She smiled. "Octavius here can show you our ships as for an engineer you have to meet our owner." She turned to Octavius. "Mr. Festus is in building one, take them there."
Octavius nodded. "Let's go."
He led them behind the main building to the one of the numbered factories. As they walked to the one labeled with number one, they walked past incomplete contraptions scattered everywhere, everything ranging from ships to a bicycle with rockets at the back.
They stepped into the factory, three men in overalls working with heavy machinery. Once they saw Octavius, they stopped what they did.
"Cecil, Fido, Cyprus, where's Festus," Octavius asked. "I have customers, they came to get an engineer and a ship."
"He went out," Cyprus, a bulky man with cropped blonde hair said. "They'll have to wait a while."
Octavius nodded. "Will do." He turned to Paolo, pointing at Cyprus. "That's Cyprus." He then pointed at another one with black hair and taller than the two. "That's Fido." He pointed to the last one, shorter than the others. "And this is Cecil, they are the Fedal brothers. I'd recommend them."
"I want to see the stuff you've made," Paolo said. "We saw stuff on the way and I'm very interested to see more."
Cecil smiled. "We don't mind."
"How many factories do you have?" Luna asked.
"Fifty and counting, this is our number one factory and the central office where the four of us plus my dad work," Fido explained. "Octavius here is our most popular engineer."
The four adventurers blinked, turning to the younger boy. Aline was the one who voiced their opinion. "You work here?"
"Why do you think I'm here?" he snapped.
"Well…" Luna dragged. "We thought you were an errand boy of some sort."
"Well I'm an engineer and one of the highly rated ones at that. If you don't believe me, I'll show you all my work alongside my customer requisition."
They all just nodded, more enraptured with his cute babbling more than what he actually said.
Cyprus smiled "Then follow us, let's show you his already done products."
They all followed him out of building, down the back to the other factories. They got to a location with inventions scattered round the area, the scent of oil and metal lingering in the air.
Paolo went towards a scooter with a jet behind it, tracing his hand down the contraption. "This is amazing."
"I made that," Cecil said. "A customer sent us their broken scooter, so I fixed it and created the rockets to let it go faster. We also have a water scooter."
"I want to see," Luna said.
He pulled out a scooter that had no wheels, but a bunch of wheel like paddles at the side with an engine embedded in it. On the handle was a red button.
Paolo turned to Shinzo. "Can we -"
"No.
Paolo pouted. "But it's so cool."
Shinzo clenched his fists. "I'll punch you."
"Oh you guys are here." Festus, a man in his huge overalls with grime stains resembling the ones of his rugged face, moved towards them. "Are they customers?"
Cyprus nodded. "They came here to hire and for a ship."
Festus smiled. "Welcome to Festus' Engineers, I'm Festus."
Paolo shook his hands, they felt coarse, the roughness making Paolo's hand feel like mush. "I'm Paolo."
"So what do you need a ship for? If we know, we'd be able to give you one that suits you."
"We're soon to be adventurers who need a ship."
"Adventurers huh." He turned to Octavius. "How about the ship you're working on?"
Octavius hummed. "It depends if they'll like it."
"Then we'll show it to them and for the hire, Octavius, why don't you go with them."
Octavius frowned, lines forming on his brow. "I don't need to go on some adventure, I'm busy training my skills as an engineer."
"You may not know it, but engineers need to seek problems in the world, so they can solve it with their inventions," Festus said, a smile on his face. "That's the whole reason Festus' Engineers exists in the first place."
A worker ran towards them, interrupting their conversation. "Master Festus, another gang of pirates have come pestering us for a ship."
Octavius sighed. "These pirates are getting annoying." He turned to Paolo and his crew. "I'll show you guys the ship later."
They pulled away from the factory buildings, moving towards the gate. A bunch of angry pirates stood there, the men at the factory trying to stop them from entering.
"We want a ship and we want it now," one of the pirates growled.
"If you want one, pay for it like a customer," Octavius said, standing in front of the pirate.
The pirate glared at the shrimp who dared challenge him. "What's a little kid doing here? Go somewhere else, the adults are talking."
He clenched his fists, his anger palpable. "Don't mock me because of my height."
"You guys should leave or Octavius will have to get dirty," Festus said, pointing at Octavius.
The pirates laughed, not taking the threat seriously. "This cutie, no way."
"Is he going to be alright?" Luna asked Cyprus.
Cyprus snorted. "I feel sorrier for the pirates than anything."
"You must be idiots if you underestimate your opponent," Octavius said. "You might get hurt."
The captain glared at him. "What did you say?"
"I called you idiots."
The pirate's fists stretched forward to make contact with his chin, but he dodged it, grabbed his arm and flipped him on his back.
The pirate let out a strangled cry, his back making heavy contact with the ground and cracking it. The crew's eyes widened and the pirates gasped, the sight too unbelievable.
Octavius put his hand in his short's pocket, pulling out a lollipop, peeling off the wrapper and placing it between his lips. "Who's next?"