The Dreamboat sailed aimlessly down the ocean, headed in no particular direction because the Cross Heart Adventurers couldn't settle on what quest to go on. Shinzo flashed the quest sheet they recently received in their faces.
"This one has the most money let's take it."
Aline frowned. "Did you actually read that?"
"Of course." The e of their currency basically shining in his irises. "It says five hundred thousand egon."
"You just read the reward," she snapped.
"Anyways, I say we pick this one," Octavius said, pointing at a quest that requested the killing of a rampaging monster. "This island is popular for their sweets."
Luna shook her head, pushing one into Paolo's hands. "We should choose this one, the rewards is a year's supply of whiskey."
"The three of you are idiots," Aline said, bringing out her own suggestion. "Let's do this one we get to protect models." She twirled around, her gray eyes glistening. "I will protect those handsome men with my life."
The four of them started fighting, objects flying above Paolo who silently looked at a quest in his hand.
"You guys."
They turned to Paolo, the captain raising up the quest sheet. "I picked a quest a while ago."
They glared at him, their irritation palpable. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
A few seconds later, Paolo rubbed the bump on his head, tears welling in his eyes. "That hurt."
"Tell us things, stupid," Aline snapped.
"I'm sorry."
Luna took the quest from Paolo's hands, reading it out loud as the four of them circled her. "A level ten quest to investigate a volcano in Vulkan Island."
Shinzo frowned, staring at the reward below. "It's just two hundred thousand egon."
"Those sweet, sweet models," Aline lamented.
Octavius did the same thing. "The sweets."
Luna sighed. "That sweet booze too."
Paolo clapped his hands, putting an end to their dramatics. "Okay guys we're heading to Vulkan Island."
.....
The Dreamboat landed on Vulkan Island, a little island located west of Manu. From the observation tower, Shinzo could see a large volcano located in the middle of three towns.
At the harbor, a woman in her thirties with naturally curly hair packed upwards waited for the adventurers to come out of their ship.
"Welcome," she greeted once they stepped out. "I am Iverem, the head of the Vulkan Island guild. Please follow me, I'll take you to your employer and explain the full details of your quest."
The five nodded, following her past the fishermen to the busy street. Iverem, unbeknownst to them, had other intentions for coming to greet them. Although, she had heard rumors about them being first newbies to pass the exam, she wanted to be sure whether they were the real deal. She turned around to examine them properly, her jaw slacking when she realized they had all disappeared to do other things.
Octavius stood in front of a sweet shop, the owner giving him some for free because he was so cute. Luna found some premium whiskey with a man seated on a mat on the road, the man pouring her a cup. Aline ogled some handsome construction workers, one flexing his muscle to her satisfaction. Beside her, Shinzo haggled a poor store seller to buy a shirt thirty percent off and Paolo's spirit of adventure led him to ask questions about the island.
They all regrouped after a few more minutes of fooling around, happy smiles on their faces much to Iverem's dissatisfaction.
Aline sighed happily, holding her nose. "The guys here are so good looking, almost got a nosebleed."
"The sweets are also pretty good," Octavius said, popping sweets in his mouth.
Luna chugged down her whiskey. "And some top tier alcohol."
Shinzo held his shopping bags to his chest. "The prices are also pretty affordable."
Iverem narrowed her eyes,
Paolo laughed. "This is a really interesting island."
The guild building soon came into view, Iverem sighing with relief that she would soon get rid of the five weirdoes. The huge two story towered high in the sky, making the other buildings look like ants before it.
They stepped into the guild, a fifteen year old boy with black curly hair running towards Iverem. "Are these the adventurers?"
Iverem nodded, turning to the Cross Heart Adventurers. "This is Wandoo, the grandson of the high priest. He is the one who made the request to investigate the volcano." Wandoo greeted them and the adventurers did the same. "Now that the formalities are over let me brief you guys on the full details of the quest.
"This island has been surrounded by the volcano for more than a hundred years. We believe it'll never erupt because of the sacrifices made to the volcano god."
Wandoo interjected. "But lately, the volcano has been causing earthquakes. The people are just pushing it aside saying they are protected by the gods and don't want to evacuate. So I asked for an investigation on whether or not the volcano will erupt."
"The investigation is scheduled for tomorrow," Iverem said. "So I'll be waiting for you by eight in the morning in front of the volcano."
Paolo nodded. "We get the gist. We'll begin investigations tomorrow."
.....
A girl wearing a long red and black skirt with two slits at the side and a tube top of the same color stepped into a dark room, her hair black curly hair packed in two buns.
She bowed her head to a man in the middle of the room. "Master, a batch of adventurers are on the island. Probably to take the quest."
The man sighed. "How annoying, that Wandoo is really persistent." He pointed at her. "Oloha, you and Onum should kill them for me."
She bowed again. "As you wish master."
The man smirked. "After four years of working, I won't let anyone ruin my hard work."