A black-sailed ship was anchored near the northern shore of Kuro Island. Its black flag, with a skull that seed to be hysterically laughing, rippled in the wind.
On the lower level of the three-masted ship, hunching behind a large wooden barrel, Seth waited nervously for the pirates to leave for the island.
However, they never did. He had already been waiting a couple of days, yet they didn't seem to be planning to go anywhere anyti soon.
'I thought they were going to participate in the gathering. What's taking so long?!' Seth anxiously thought.
He was already tired, hungry, and frustrated.
It was just a matter of ti before he was discovered. He was lucky that the lower levels were infested by rats and spiders, so no one wanted to co here willingly unless absolutely necessary.
'I'll need to find out what the hell is going on up there.'
Seth left his hiding place. He crept cautiously down the lower levels, the hanging lanterns lighting up his way.
The lower level had a musty sll that made his stomach churn. It was filled with old crates, so broken furniture, and dust-covered cobwebs that hung from the ceiling.
'Here must be sothing I can use.'
Seth opened so barrels, then crates, and searched through the contents, hoping to find sothing useful. It was just old junk.
However, from his third opened crate, he found so old clothes-pirate clothes-that were either torn, blood-stained, or battle-worn.
It was exactly what he was looking for.
He quickly changed his clothes-a loose-fitting linen shirt, a richly colored vest, and knee- length breeches with leather boots-and it made him look like a true pirate, ready to set sail on the high seas.
However, the glasses on his nose were not very pirate-like. It reduced his nacing appearance.
Seth realized it and quickly removed them before pocketing them in the vest pocket.
He didn't have a weapon on him. He tossed away the tutorial's pitchfork the mont he arrived in Driftwood.
So would think it was foolish to get rid of his only weapon, but it made him think of his rival, Adam.
He would rather be weaponless than use sothing given to him.
Seth found a belt in the crate. It was a loose belt, but it would have to do. He fastened it around his waist.
He steeled his expression, then crept across the lower level until he arrived at the ladder of the hatch. He climbed it up, shoving the hatch door open and erging onto the deck of the ship.
A cold wind whipped against his face, stinging his cheeks with icy fingers. It was very early in the morning; the sun had yet to rise over the horizon, and the sky was still a dark shade of blue.
Seth turned around and accidentally bumped into a muscle-chested man who towered over him, glaring down with a scowl on his face.
"What were you doing there?" Edwardius demanded an answer.
Seth's words got stuck in his throat. This must be the most intimidating man he's ever seen. He felt like every lie of his would end in failure.
Thus, he didn't dare to speak.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Edwardius asked, his piercing gaze never leaving Seth's eyes.
Seth shook his head. He could feel the lump forming in his throat, making it impossible for him to respond.
"That's because I had it," Edwardius said, bringing out a sun-gazing tool. "The captain was looking for this, wasn't he?"
Seth slowly nodded. He didn't know what tool that was or what he was talking about, but he still nodded because he thought it was the wisest thing to do at this very mont.
"Go on, take it to the captain." Edwardius shoved the tool into Seth's hands and left to bark orders at the rest of the crew.
Seth looked down at the tool in his hands-it was light and oddly-shaped; it resembled binoculars, but with just one lens.
'Sun-gazing tool...'
He looked over the upper floor of the ship-there were two stairs leading up there-and there was a single door that led to the captain's quarters.
Seth steeled his nerves and made his way up the right stair, gripping the railing tightly. His footsteps were silent, as he didn't dare to make a sound.
By the mont he arrived at the door, his heart was pounding in his chest.
"Co in."
A voice ca from inside.
He didn't even have ti to knock on the door.
Seth opened the door with his free hand, while the other was holding the sun-gazing tool, and stepped into the room cautiously.
The room was dark and musty, with a single candle flickering in the corner. There were maps of different areas of the sea nailed to the walls, clothes hanging from pegs, and a large
wooden desk covered in papers and nautical instrunts.
"You look afraid; do I frighten you, kid?" Aemon asked, sitting behind the desk.
Seth's legs almost buckled underneath the weight of Aemon's aura. It was suffocating and overwhelming, consuming every breath he took.
Aemon just chuckled and returned to examining the maps spread out in front of him.
Seth's fear wasn't suspicious. Every man and woman on this ship were afraid of the mad
pirate.
Aemon had black hair-like night itself with handso facial features sharp enough to cut through steel. He was dressed in an open-front vest, a billowy white shirt underneath, brown trousers, and tall black boots.
There was also a brown tricorn hat on his desk, but it was mostly unworn as he didn't like wearing hats indoors.
'He looks sowhat familiar.' Seth thought with a frown. 'But far more scary...'
Aemon's face resembled a certain face found on a coin.
"Bring my tool," Aemon said, pointing at the spot beside the tricorn hat.
Seth stopped by the desk, placed the sun-gazing tool beside the hat, and stepped back to the door. With a bow, he planned to leave the room.
"Now, I don't rember having any new recruits." Aemon tore his gaze off the map. "Who are
you?"
Seth's heart skipped a beat. The fear creeped inside him like icy tendrils wrapping around his
chest.
"You are too weak to be an assassin," Aemon chuckled. "Who are you?"
"N-na's Seth..." he stamred, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Why are you in my ship, Seth?" Aemon asked, adding extra weight to the na "Seth".
"T-the Gathering..." Seth whimpered. "I-I wanted to participate in the Gathering." "Who doesn't?" Aemon laughed. "You do have balls; I give you that. Still, you're an innocent and foolish pup. A brat who doesn't know more about the world than a frog in the well."
"W-why..." Seth gulped. "Why haven't you gone to the island?"
Aemon chuckled and went to the window, opening it enough for the island to appear.
"rcenaries are dealing with stuff on the island. Pirates are on the water, ensuring that if
there are so Blac... Chaosbeings that escape, we take care of them."
'Damn it...' Seth cursed inwardly and asked. "W-what'll you do to ?"
"No worries, we'll spend more ti together," Aemon laughed and shouted. "Ed!"
The door opened, and the muscle-chested, giant of a man, Edwardius, stepped into the room.
"Take the imposter and throw him to the brig."
"Gladly." Edwardius grabbed Seth by the back of his neck, as if he were a disobedient puppy, and took him away, while Seth tried to resist the tears that welled up in his eyes. Aemon's smile froze over. He coldly looked out of the window, towards the island and all the way to the town of Kuroshima.
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