"By the way, how quickly do you need to get to your destination?"
The captain asked.
"A little over a month would be perfect."
Shu answered. If they arrive sooner, they would have more time to prepare, but it won't be enough to make any notable difference.
"Great! The earliest I can get you there is just over a month too."
The captain laughed.
The boat started shaking, and Alexander was surprised. Shu and Mary knew that would happen, but they were still unable to stay composed.
"What is going on?! Are we under attack?"
Alexander asked.
"Naiad is using her gift to make the ship go faster."
The captain answered calmly.
"Naiad?"
Mary asked.
"She is a bit of a recluse, so she always stays in her room at the ship's lowest level. You will see her later at dinner."
The captain explained.
"How many crew members are there?"
Mary asked.
The captain thought for a moment and then answered.
"There are seven crewmates, not counting myself."
"Muriel, the Ice Witch, is my first mate. Naiad, god's ocean. Mike, my angelic navigator and map maker. Maximus, ex-gladiator and the ship's deckhand. Theodore, the ship's doctor. Zyair, the ship's cook. Caspian, the second deckhand."
The captain counted his crew members.
Mary listened to the captain and realized something. If the captain and his ship-crew would join them, they may win.
"Captain, is it possible for you to help us during the war?"
Mary asked.
"At today's dinner, you can ask my crew what they want. I will not bring them to war against their choice."
The captain answered assertively.
********
Later, at dinner. Everyone sat around the table.
"Do you want to ask your question?"
The captain asked as he cut through his steak.
"Can I?"
Mary wasn't sure if she could interrupt during dinner.
The captain nodded his head.
Mary stood up and did a ninety-degree bow.
"Please, join and help us in the war!"
She didn't like going around and begging people for help, but as far as she saw, this was her last chance. There wasn't a more different timeline from the first one than this timeline.
The crew members looked at each other, unsure who would voice their opinion first.
"What's in it for us?"
A black-haired rough-looking fellow asked.
"The apocalypse might come if you won't lend us your help."
Mary answered what she deemed to be the most enticing reason to help them.
"What does it matter if we live and aren't paid?"
A blonde angel asked.
"What is money worth if you are dead?"
Shí Hóu argued.
"As long as this death is not my fault, I would rather die rich than live poor."
The angel explained his stance.
Shí Hóu struggled to argue with that argument as he believed that as long as he could pay his debt to the demon god, he would rather live a happy and grand heroic tale than die old and forgotten.
"Shut your mouths!"
Alexander shouted angrily and slammed his fist on the table.
"Dying rich is more important than living long enough to achieve your goals?!"
The disdain in his voice was evident, and while Shu had no clue what was so crucial to his wrathful companion, one look at Mary's understanding face made it clear that there was a good answer that he just never had the opportunity to learn in past timelines.
"Don't you dare insult me! We will let you reconsider your answer until next week."
"What if our answer doesn't change?"
Another crew member asked.
"If you make the wrong choice, you will know it."
Alexander answered. He rose from his chair and went out of the room. It may have sounded like a threat, and as much as he wanted to kill them, if they made the wrong choice, regardless of whether they joined them, the world would be destroyed.
The rest of the dinner was spent silently, with an air of awkwardness between the two groups.
********
After they finished the dinner, Shí Hóu and Mary followed Shu, who used his gift to find Alexander.
They found Alexander looking at the sea as he ate food he used his gift to create.
Shu tried looking Alexander in the eyes, but the latter kept looking ahead. There was light in that direction, and it seemed Alexander was analyzing it.
"What?"
Alexander was still angry.
"Do you know my back story?"
Shu asked.
"Born to the Redfox family, given to the demon god, raised by George Adom, and has zero potential at everything. What about it?"
Alexander summarised Shu's backstory better and shorter than Shu had expected.
"I would rather like to know your backstory too?"
Shu said, his eyes glowing brightly, and even though he had no control over his aura, it almost made Shí Hóu faint in fear, and even Mary felt light-headed.
Shu was a generally likable guy who strived to help his friends, but when he felt as if he was out of options, he usually copied his mentor and started extruding force and talking with a poisonous tongue.
"It's a long story."
Alexander tried to persuade Shu not to ask that.
In the present situation, if Shu kept asking, Alexander would be compelled to answer from the pressure the young Redfox emanated.
"I have time."
Shu answered.
"It's a boring story."
Alexander retorted.
"Sum the interesting parts for me."
Shu answered. He wanted to know what was bothering his friend, and if imitating Mr. Danniel's cunning qualities was his only way to do it, then he shall.
Alexander sighed. It seemed he couldn't get this rival of his to give up.
He did not hate being friends with Shu, but this guy's presence made an old question pop into Alexander's head- 'Why can't he ever pass the mountain?.'
This question is a constant reminder of his inadequacy and inability to achieve his goals to take over his temple and possibly defeat that damned god who let his family die.
"I was born in the dreamer god's realm. A corrupt branch of the dreamer god's temple killed my family. I was then saved, raised, and trained by the strongest member of the temple. He told me to leave when that corrupt branch took over the temple. Then they sent him to die since he was not as compliant as he was strong. I decided to take over the temple, and you can figure out the rest."
Alexander told his tale. They were all shocked. This was a lot darker than they had expected.
Mary may have been kidnapped, but she was raised rather well.
The dark parts of Shí Hóu's story were primarily about his guilt for his father's actions, and none of them knew about his past.
Shu had a sad story. But since most of the time he was cheerful, people hadn't seen it as dark. Generally, they regarded it as inspiring, not to mention it still didn't seem as dark as Alexanders'.
Emilia was the only person Mary could think of whose story could rival Alexander's.
"Why do you look so stunned?"
Alexander was perplexed. He knew he had a bad life, but was it so bad that this was the required response?
"I am content with how long I can live right now, so if I win, my wish would be whatever you want."
Shu put his hand on Alexander's shoulder.
"No need. I will surpass you, and I already know my first step to how."
Alexander said and turned to them with a cunning smile. They all heard a girl screaming and looked back in the sound's direction.
"What is this?!"
Muriel struggled, trying to release herself from the vines engulfing her.
Shu and Mary were ready to save her, but Alexander walked forward and lifted his hand to signal them to stop.
"What are y..."
Shu started asking.
"Will you agree to make a deal with me?"
Alexander asked the tangled witch.
"A deal? What do you want?"
Muriel was baffled.
"You vow to devote yourself to whatever I ask of you, and in return, I would make sure you are never in danger."
Alexander explained.
"Fine!"
Muriel answered. She didn't know what he would do if she refused. And besides, neither of them was a demon, so nothing could force her to comply.
Alexander stepped forward. Muriel stretched her hand toward him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out. He freed her while creating a fire to burn the vines. This was it. Their contract was signed.
After being released, Muriel went on the offense, but as she tried attacking him, he said one word, "Stop," and she stopped.
"What is this?"
She was appalled.
"I may not be a demon, but my gift lets me create a demon contract."
Alexander answered. She was shocked. Was there a gift that let someone create a demon contract?
"Shu, I am willing not to kill in front of you, and you can gather your followers as you like, but when the tournament ends, I won't be disregarded by the gods as one of your supporters. I will win the tournament and by my own hands."
Alexander said.
The way he looked at Shu that day. His black hair fluttered in the wind, his blue eyes gleamed fiercely, and his expression filled with rage. This was a scene Shu would never forget.
They didn't hate each other, they were friends, but Alexander needed to surpass Shu, and they both knew that.
"Next week, you will support us."
Alexander said. It was weird. Muriel didn't feel compelled to support them. Weren't the contract terms that she had to do whatever he said? Her bewilderment was showing, and Alexander chuckled.
"This is not an order. If you are not convinced that following us is beneficial by the end of the week, it won't matter whether we have that contract. For me to use it, I need you to be able to hear me."
What Alexander was saying was logically consistent, which confused her because keeping that contract while she was not around would hurt him. The agreement stated that no matter what, he needed to keep her safe.
"But wouldn't that hurt you?"
She asked.
"It won't cause I'm certain you will support us..."
The confidence with which he answered was mesmerizing to everyone there.
"And if you won't, I can always terminate the contract."
Alexander added. When he made this contract, he tied it to a sheet of paper, so he could always tear it.
Typically when a demon forced a human to make this kind of contract, they would inscribe the agreement on the souls of the humans. If the human wanted to rid of their ties to the demon, they could kill the demon or remove their soul. A soul held part of the person's memories and the ability to use magic. By taking it, the demon could acquire knowledge and power.
"How can you be so sure you can convince me?"
Muriel was intrigued.
"Shu, when will the pirate nation over there start attacking with their leader, Jacob Achab, leading the charge?"
Alexander asked confidently. He tilted his head toward the lights to their side, and Muriel was bewildered by that statement.
The reason Muriel had no clue what he was talking about is simple. This pirate nation was an island led by a pirate northern to the Nippon Mountain, and the captain's ship usually didn't travel around these areas.
Them being here now was a special occasion to help take Shu to the new lands. On the other hand, Alexander was in Nippon Mountain for the past few months and learned a lot about this area.
Shu used his gift and saw that the future Alexander guessed was accurate.
"In a day and a half."
Shu answered. Just now, when Looking into the future, he saw something that seemed quite amusing. But he would prefer to let fate take its course and not interfere with what he saw.