The next day in the morning Volgen was waiting for them in the tavern. He was counting his coins on the bar table. "Good morning," Marcel said while approaching the bar table. "Where are the others?" Volgen asked and stopped playing with the coins. "They are still sleeping, probably" he answered and sat down. "Why do we need a guide for the districts if I may ask?". "Because there are many people who take advantage of you there, they make up laws and they will try even to rob you". "And how exactly will a guide help us in such situations?". "I know people in each district who will make sure you are safe". While they were talking Greg and Hulio were coming down the stairs. "You are already here? Should I go up and wake the others?" said Greg while rubbing his eyes. "We are not in a hurry, we can wait for them a little longer," said Volgen. They ordered something to eat and the others came down one by one. When they all finished eating they went towards the first district. This was the rich captain's district. Some houses and taverns looked from another world. The houses were decorated with gold and expensive types of wood. In this district were staying the captains that have seen their share of adventures. Some of them were known through the seas and some of them stole from others. But it didn't matter, once you were there you were part of the community. Volgen knew a couple of them that could get him out of trouble. "We should stop by a friend of mine," said Volgen ahead of the group, "He will be pleased seeing the young pirates sailing the seas" he continued. They passed by a couple of people chatting outside and they turned and looked at Marcel and his crew. "Hmph... These youngsters have a hard time making a crew. In my days a captain with a hand of steel would have had at least twenty, even thirty followers," one of the people said. Marcel tried not to pay attention to it. The person's provocation was left unanswered by Marcel and his crew, and he got angry and approached them. He grabbed Marcel's sleeve and stopped him. "What gives you the permission to walk around shamelessly... ey?" the person said with an angry tone. Volgen noticed the commotion and came from Marcel's back while leaning on his shoulder. "What permission old man? Mind your own business!" Volgen said and then turned his back. "Let us continue," he told Marcel and the others. The person recognized Volgen and did not pursue them any further. "As I have said, without a guide here you are like a newborn in the wilderness," said Volgen, "You mean naked?" added Greg. Everyone started laughing, "No, I meant vulnerable," said Volgen while laughing.

Everyone in the district was throwing menacing looks at Marcel's crew, but this time Volgen made sure to stay closer to them. After a couple more minutes of walking down the street, they arrived at their destination. "We are here," Volgen said while looking up. "Your friend sure has a big house," said Rob losing himself in the decorations of the house. "Oh no, that is not the one, I was just admiring the new additions of his neighbor," said Volgen and then pointed towards his right. "That is his house" continued Volgen while walking towards it. Everyone was shocked to see the difference. It was a small house on the verge of collapsing, with a broken fence and a hanging front door. It looked like a haunted house from the outside. "Ehm..." Fred was scratching his head. "Come in, come in" Volgen opened the door waving his hand. They went in and it looked even more terrifying on the inside. But there was something odd. Volgen grabbed a candle, "Follow me" he said while trying to light up the candle. Marcel and his crew followed him closely to another door, this one more sturdy and nice-looking. Volgen opened the door and there was a blinding light coming from inside. Although it was only a hallway, it was beautifully decorated with exotic items and trophies. Each step they took was resounding like an echo through the hallway. When they reached the end it was a big cozy room, with pelts of different animals and a big fireplace. On the couch in front of the fireplace was sitting a middle-aged man petting a cat. The man turned around and put his cat down, and immediately the cat recognized Volgen and went to his leg. "Oh Mr. Cuddles, glad to see you," said Volgen and petted the cat. The cat was purring and then slowly left towards her place. "Volgen, my friend!" the man got up from the couch and hugged Volgen. "What brings you around these places?" continued the man ignoring Marcel and his crew. "You see, these young pirates needed a guide around these parts. This is their first time in Kelen's Cove" said Volgen. "And we both know, there is no one better to guide them" whispered to the man. "Indeed! Take a seat" the man invited everyone to the table. Volgen went and helped him bring the plates and the food. "I was not expecting so many visitors, but please, make yourself at home," said the man. "Thank you for your hospitality!" said Marcel and bowed before him. "Ah... skip the honorifics, my name is Viktor" he waved his hand and continued arraging the plates. "So, what brings you to Kelen's Cove? Trading? Treasures? Hmm?" Viktor asked Hulio. "Ehm... We were helping some fellow sailors that were stranded after getting hit by a storm" answered Hulio a bit embarrassed. "I have not met any nice pirates in a while. Which one is your captain?" Viktor asked and sat at the table. Everyone pointed at Marcel. Viktor started analyzing the young man then he sneezed. "Ah... sorry for that. You are indeed a rare sight. Tell me, have you met anyone with an interesting character?" Viktor laid his hands on the table, provoking Marcel to spill the beans. "Interesting, what do you mean by interesting Mr. Viktor?" said Marcel while stuttering here and there. "I might be older than you, but my memory is not that foggy. You may skip the Mr" said Viktor while looking Marcel straight in the eyes. "Sorry!" apologized Marcel trying to shift the conversation. "And about your interesting character, let me guess if you are not going to willingly tell me. Is he sailing a ship that is out of the legends?" said Viktor while grinning. Volgen was a bit confused by their little conversation. Marcel looked the other way breaking the eye contact. "I knew it!" Viktor slammed the table making the plates in front of him jump. "There is no one else that will bring up my old allergies" he continued. Viktor got up and approached Marcel. "No need to hide it from me, young man, we will talk later about it" he whispered. Marcel's crew knew that they were talking about Captain Frown, but Volgen did not. "Now, now, enough with the chit-chat, let us feast. But before, I want to hold a small toast, for my friend Volgen" Vikotr said and they all stood up holding their cups.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

After they finished eating they sat around the fireplace and talked. "What made you want to become a pirate from such a young age?" Asked Viktor while smoking from his tobacco. "We came from a small island called Fley Harbor. It is a small fishing town and we were always fascinated by the pirate stories and after a couple more years here we are, living our dream" said Marcel while admiring the crackles of the fire. "Hmm... You are aware of the dark side of the pirates right?" said Viktor while glancing at Volgen. "We know that there are pirates that are not as friendly as you are" answered Marcel. "It is not about knowing, it is about seeing, experiencing, living through hard times. This is why many avoid exploring the world under a pirate flag" said Viktor while grabbing his cup of wine. "You see, many captains are ruthless, greedy, and will do anything to get their hands on someone else treasure. And here in this district is the best way to see their true nature. The reason why my house does not compare to any of them is that I am neither looking to compete with them. That will only bring unwanted attention" said Viktor while playing with Mr. Cuddles. "I was about to ask you why on the exterior it looks so..." Marcel got interrupted by Fred, "Unappealing". "Ah... It is mostly because of my neighbor. He is obsessed with having the biggest, better-looking house on the street" Viktor said not affected by the rude comment. "But now to the other matters, could you all please leave us alone for a moment?" asked Viktor everyone. "I need to have a word with my fellow captain over here" he continued. "We were just about to leave anyway, there are still a couple of things I want to show them," said Volgen and left together with the others. "About Frown, how did you two meet?" Viktor asked Marcel nonchalantly. "Ehm... We were looking for a place to stay in Black Lagoon and we ended up staying at his tavern. And the night we went to stay he came along with his crew" said Marcel. "That was indeed a rare occurrence. Was it a blue moon by any chance?" Viktor asked him while adding more logs to the fire. "Yes, it was, how did you know?". "I guess you could say that old habits die hard. There is far more to the story as to why he does that rather than any other night" said Viktor. "May I ask why?" asked Marcel. "You will have to ask him yourself, it is an important detail he tells only to a few people. Consider yourself lucky if you find out" said Viktor. "Then why did you mention it?" Marcel looked at him straight in the eyes. "Because I see something in you. Something I haven't seen in a long time in others" whispered Viktor. "Anyway, your crew is waiting outside. You can come and visit me whenever you come by Kelen's Cove" said Viktor and got up. "Of course, I can't wait to hear some of your stories," said Marcel and went outside.

"Where are we going next?" Greg asked Volgen. "It is getting a bit late, but I think we can go to The Slums," said Volgen while looking at the sun's position. "The Slums, what is that?" asked Rob. "It sounds bad" continued Tim. "It looks as it sounds. We came here first because I wanted to see what Viktor thinks about you, and to be honest, I am impressed" said Volgen while walking towards the next district. "The next district is the opposite of this one, so prepare yourselves," said Volgen. Ahead of them, there were some gates. "Wait here for a second," said Volgen and started talking with someone at the gates. Those gates were made so that people from other districts do not enter whenever they please to other districts. The Slum people often sneaked by the gate to steal from the rich captain's district. As Volgen said, the Slums were the opposite of what they saw. Poor people and thieves were roaming around the streets. Usually in the Slums, those who got captured as slaves were never sold at the auctions. Volgen returned to Marcel and his crew, "I got us permission in and out of the gate, but you need to leave anything you have of value here. Unless you want to risk it to take it in with you, and I would not recommend it" said Volgen. They left everything they had of value at the gate and entered the Slums. As soon as they entered the foul smell and the scenery changed drastically. There were dirty people all over the place, and flies were buzzing around. "I think I am going to throw up," said Hulio. "Try to hold it in, you do not want to see what happens after you do that," said Volgen with a serious face. "I brought you here to show you what could happen if you meet the wrong people. And you guys can consider yourself lucky to be passing by and not live here" said Volgen while holding his nose. Marcel saw two people fighting, and couldn't stop himself and intervened. "Stop doing that!" Marcel yelled at the person. "Who are you?" the person asked while sharpening his knife on his belt. "He is not from around here, please excuse him" Volgen came right before something bad happened. "Take him out of here!" the person yelled and looked around. While he was busy with Marcel the other person got up and ran. "Arh... he got away. It is only your fault" the person said, spit on the ground, and left. Volgen grabbed Marcel's shoulder and said, "Try not to interfere with other people, some will not let you off that easily. And in some cases not even I can help you". "I know, sorry, but I couldn't help myself watching someone get beaten so bad," said Marcel facing down. "We should hurry, I feel like we are being watched," Volgen said and picked up the pace. After a couple more minutes, the dark started to swallow the island and they safely made it to the gate, picked up their valuables, and went back to the tavern. It was an exhausting day for everyone, but they managed to see two different worlds of people in just a single day. They grabbed something to eat and then headed to their rooms. Marcel had difficulties sleeping and stayed on the porch longer admiring the starry sky. While he was sitting on the porch someone threw a pebble at him. But it was too dark to see who threw it. The pebble was not meant to do any harm, only to get his attention. He went downstairs and looked outside but there was no one around. Then he went back to bed. The next morning they met with Volgen in the tavern and were prepared to explore more of the districts, but Volgen gave them a map and told them how to get back to Black Lagoon. He took this decision the day before when he noticed that a lot of people were looking ill at Marcel and his crew. They were still green on the pirate world and it would have been hard to explain everything on the go.