Greg and Tim were loading up the ship with some supplies while Marcel was looking at the map that Volgen gave him. "I am sorry it had to be this way, but it is better for both of us," said Volgen. Marcel was silent and nodded his head. "I wish you the best and hope we will see each other healthy and strong," said Volgen and left. When everything was ready for their departure they heard some noise in the ship. They went to check what the noise was and found nothing. Above them, on the deck, they heard someone running and then a loud thud. Marcel and Greg went ahead of the others and saw someone on the ground. "Ouch, ouch," she said trying to get up. "Are you alright?" Marcel helped her get up. "Yes, I am fine" she replied. "Who are you, and why were you on our ship?" Greg asked her. "Ehm..." She was thinking of something to make up when someone noticed the commotion and came to see what was happening. "You? Again? What have you stolen this time?" the person asked the girl. "Nothing, nothing. I swear" she said panicking. "Empty your pockets!" the person yelled at her and Marcel went in front of her. "Leave her alone, she did nothing wrong," said Marcel. "That means you don't know this little rat. She always goes from ship to ship stealing valuables and going back to the Slums to sell them" said the person pushing Marcel away. "You come with me, you are not getting away this time!" the person grabbed the girl's hand and dragged her to the ground. She tried to escape but she couldn't, his grip was too strong. Greg and Marcel stopped the man and freed the girl. "She is with us, so leave her alone," said Marcel. "You will do everyone a favor getting rid of this rat!" said the man and left. "Thank you!" said the girl and kneeled before Marcel. "Thank you so much!" she continued. "What should we do now?" said Greg, "We can't just leave her here". "Hmm... Would you like to join our crew?" said Marcel while scratching his head. "We could use someone with your particular skill in the future" he continued. "Particular skill? How can you!" the girl said revolted. "But... I will accept your offer. You seem like a good person," she said. The others came and met her and she asked them if they could wait for a couple of minutes. She wanted to go back to the Slums to let her brother know she would go away from the island for a while. They waited for her and when she returned she asked Marcel if they were in the Slums the day before. They answered her and she thanked them once again for saving her brother from the other captain who was abusing him. "I have not yet introduced myself. I am Anna, nice to meet you all," she said. And one by one Marcel and the others introduced themselves as well and then they set sail for the Black Lagoon.

"Where are we going?" asked Anna. "We are heading back to the Black Lagoon," said Greg while changing the direction of the sail. "What are you doing there? Hm?" she asked while running from one end to another of the ship. She was full of energy and couldn't stay in place for a second. "We will stop by our tavern and leave the treasure, then head back on another adventure," said Marcel rotating the helm. "Hm... Treasure? Adventure? Booooring!" Anna said and went downstairs. "How can she be so energic?" Greg looked at Marcel and asked. "I have no idea, I guess we were the same at her age," said Marcel. "She never told us her age, but she indeed looks younger" continued Greg and went after her downstairs. She grabbed some supplies from the barrels and began to cook something. Greg was watching her walk from right to left grabbing and putting things in the soup she was preparing. She noticed Greg but said nothing and continued with her soup. Greg went back on the deck with a smile on his face. The others asked him but he said nothing. He signaled them to not make noise and go downstairs. After a couple of minutes, Anna came back on the deck with the pot filled with soup and gently hit the edge of the pot with the spoon. "Lunch is ready!" she yelled. Greg was curious about the soup she made and was the first to taste it. "You must say the prayer now" Anna chuckled and said. "Prayer?" Greg asked looking at her amused face. "Back home the first to jump on the food had to thank the Gods for the food they provided," said Anna while kneeling. "This is an interesting tradition to keep from your home place," said Marcel. "Let us pray" he continued and signaled Greg to take the lead. After they finished the prayer they took their spoon and tasted the soup. Anna was watching them and waited for their response. One by one their faces changed and their lips curled up. Marcel coughed a couple of times and said, "It is a bit salty". "A bit? A bit?" said Fred revolted and Greg punched him in the shoulder. "Yes, a bit, now go ahead and eat it," said Greg despite the taste of the soup. They looked at Marcel and he was also eating the soup. Anna was a bit sad and said, "I will do my best next time, I swear". "Don't worry!" said Marcel and patted her head gently. They drank a lot of water in the afternoon, but at least they did not hurt Anna's feelings. In the evening Hulio and Tim were helping her prepare the dinner. This time the food was a lot less salty and Anna also learned some secrets of preparing food. The night passed quickly and they were almost in the Black Lagoon port. They noticed a lot of ships passing by in the morning. "We are getting close," said Marcel turning the helm. "I can see it," said Rob from the crow nest looking through the newly purchased telescope. It was small and light but it did its job.

When they got closer to the shore they noticed that the port was almost empty. "I wonder what happened," said Greg while looking around. "What do you mean?" asked Anna. "This port is usually filled to the brim with ships and people, but for some reason now it is not" answered Fred. They slowly approached the port, but they noticed nothing out of the ordinary. The person asking for permission pass came towards them and said. "Sorry, but the port is closed until tomorrow morning," he said while trembling in fear. "But why? There are only seven ships docked here" said Fred. "Please, please just come back tomorrow morning" the person continued begging them to leave. "Ey... Let them come!" a familiar voice yelled from the shore. It was Jose, he noticed the wrecked old front of the ship. "They are with me, you forgot?" continued Jose grabbing the person's shoulder and applying pressure to it to the point he kneeled. "Come, come, we have a guest," said Jose waving his hand. Marcel and his crew left the ship and followed Jose to the Night's Vow. Right before they entered Jose told them to not worry about a thing. While the streets were empty, the town was like a ghost, and Jose felt like he was home. When the door opened the inside was smokey and the smell of wine was flowing through the air. A couple of seconds later the smoke began to dissipate and the whole tavern was filled with pirates. "Meet the crew of Green Beard!" said Jose while welcoming Marcel's crew. The pressure they felt was astonishing. Each glance felt like a thousand-kilo rock. "I told you many times, it is not green, it is turquoise! Argh... you little..." the captain turned around slamming his cup of beer on the ground. "Come here!" and he approached Jose hugging him. "How long has it been brother?" said the captain. "Far too long brother" answered Jose. "Who are your green friends over there? They seem a bit frozen in place" said the captain. "Eh... It is their first time, give them a while to get used to your crew. After all, you are the most infamous captain of the Flakin Sea" said Jose while looking back at Marcel. Marcel and his crew carefully entered the tavern so as not to disturb the other crew. But their captain as infamous as he was, towards his friends was nothing more than a slice of cake. "Come, come," the captain said, "Take a seat, you are welcome, don't worry about the others. They are friendly" and the whole tavern started laughing. "Well... friendly with whoever I consider a friend" he continued. Marcel and his crew sat at a table and the captain along with Jose sat with them. "So what brings you back so soon? Finished with the treasure hunting already?" asked Jose with a straight face. "Yes, in fact, we discovered another map and some interesting markings," said Marcel with a sparkle in his eye. "May I see it?" said the captain beside Jose. "Of course!" Marcel pulled out the map and laid it on the table between the cups of beer. "Don't you dare spill a drop on this map" said Jose to the captain. "I won't!" he looked at Jose and laughed. The atmosphere changed little by little, from the scary and heavy looks to the welcoming and friendly smiles and cheers on the other crew members' faces.

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When they looked at the map and the markings they knew this will take them further into the sea. "And are you planning to go after this treasure as well?" asked Jose. "Of course, we are here to leave the treasure to the tavern and then we will be on our way," said Marcel. "Would you mind if I would accompany you on this one?" said the captain. "Of course, the gains are all yours, I just never found something this interesting in ages" he continued. "Why not?" said Greg while looking at the others. "Of course you can come with us" Marcel gave his answer. "Great! Let us drink to this!" said the captain and almost spilled the beer on the map. Jose took the map from the table and gave it to Marcel. "I also noticed that your ship took a hard hit, what was it? Pirates? A whale? Perhaps a mermaid took your senses and drove you into a rock?" said Jose while he tried to hide his smile. "No, a wave hit us during a storm," said Fred. "Ah... the old story with the storm. At least you made it out safely" said the captain. "Many don't have this kind of luck. I experienced it first hand" he continued while drinking from his cup. "We helped someone that got hit worse and took them back to Kelen's Cove," said Marcel. "How nice of you," said the captain. "Kelen's Cove?" Jose asked shocked. "Don't tell me, have you met Volgen and Viktor by any chance?" continued Jose while sitting on the edge of his chair. "Yes. Do you know them?" asked Marcel. After Jose heard the affirmative answer coming from Marcel's mouth he fell off his chair. "Are you alright?" asked Anna. "Oh... I am fine, thank you lady!" said Jose and got up. "I haven't seen you around," said the captain. "She is part of our crew," said Greg. "I am sorry, I couldn't help but hide because of the pressure," she said. But she was pickpocketing everyone in the tavern while they were talking. "I just remembered, your slave has recovered," said Jose while positioning himself better on the chair. "Those are good news," said Marcel. They continued to share the stories and adventures until late at night when most of the captain's crew passed out. Jose and Marcel's crew went back to their tavern. In the morning Marcel and Greg went to grab the wooden chest they plundered and took it back to the tavern. Anna and Hulio prepared breakfast for everyone. When they all woke up the tavern was so lively. Marcel noticed someone looking at them from upstairs. "He is still a bit shy," said Jose while taking a bite from the bread. "I will go and talk to him" Marcel got up from the table. He went upstairs where the person he saved from slavery was waiting. "Hey... Why are you not joining us?" said Marcel with a warm tone. The person was looking at him and shrugged. "Come, we are all friends here!" Marcel extended his hand towards him and he grabbed it. They both went downstairs and everyone started cheering. The person hid behind Marcel. "It is fine, they are just happy to see you" Marcel explained. Anna approached him from behind and hugged him. "Got you!" she said. The person turned red and fainted. "Oops... Maybe that was too much" she said and everyone started laughing. Not after long he woke up and joined everyone at the table. "I... I am sorry" the person mumbled. "Hmm... sorry for what?" said Marcel. The person was facing down. "You don't have to overdo it now, take your time to get comfortable around us," said Greg. "Yes, if you would like to join our crew and leave with us tomorrow, you are more than welcome," said Marcel. The person nodded, cleaned the plates, and went back upstairs. The others spent the rest of the day gathering supplies for the journey and also trying to decipher what was the riddle about this time.