Lucy and Byron took cover behind a tree. They peeked as a shadow stretched over the trail from the approaching figure.

Lucy wasn't sure if there were more or one stranger in the jungle. The shadow was too big for her to tell the difference. But whoever they were, it was better to observe them before attacking them. They could be stronger than Lucy and Byron.

"Wait for my single to attack, just in case," Lucy whispered to the panther.

Byron nodded.

As the shadow came closer, Lucy placed her hand on her sheath. Her body shook, but she was ready to spring into necessary action without letting her fear cloud her judgment.

As the figure came close toward the bush, Lucy widened her eyes. "Ivy?"

The catgirl jumped with a scream, pulling out a knife and pointing it at the bush, shivering in her boots.

Lucy rose with her hands up. "It's me, Ivy! Don't panic."

The catgirl sighed, lowering her small blade. "Oh, thank goodness….." She sheathed her knife. "I thought you were-"

She paused when Byron got up next to Lucy.

Ivy pointed her finger at him. "Who'ssssss he!?"

"That's Byron from the Black Moon tribe." Lucy glanced at the panther. "Byron, this is Ivy."

Byron bowed. "A pleasure to meet you."

Ivy grinned. "You too."

"Ivy, why are you here?" Lucy asked, stepping out from the bush. "You are supposed to be watching the ship with Charles."

"I know, but he is in trouble! A group of pirate cats attacked our ship and commandeered it!"

"Where is Charles?"

Ivy directed her finger at the trail where she ran from. "They took him too! Some pirate named Walton accused him of stealing the ship. They threw me overboard and sailed away."

"Walton?" Lucy growled, remembering that kitty back at Brightmoon town. How did he find us?

"We got to go back to the ship now!" Lucy sprinted. "Come on!"

Byron and Ivy followed her.

*****

Charles heard the door open outside the brig. His old friend, Walton, stepped in while swinging keys around his finger as if he wanted to taunt the wolf.

"Are ye feelin' comfy, ole heartie?" The dwarf fuzzy Persian cat asked, grinning like he won a battle.

Charles rose off the bench and glared through the bars at the cat. "You better hope Ivy didn't drown, or else you will be swimming with the fishes."

Walton chuckled. "Don't worry, ole mate. Th' plank was close enough t' th' shore, but I can nah be sure if she will survive in th' jungle on her owns."

Charles gripped the bars. "How come you didn't push me off with her? Why not kill me now?"

"'N why would I do that t' an ole scallywag? Besides, I heard ye got a good price on yer head. 'Twould be a waste if I had scuttled ye without turnin' ye in t' th' navy."

Charles grimaced. "You wouldn't dare." His voice turned bitter.

"Call it mercy fer lootin' me ship." Walton tapped the bar. "I still 'ave respect fer ye, but I ne'er let a scallywag go unpunished on me watch. Ye best be lucky fer that."

"You should be lucky for putting me in here so I wouldn't wring your fat neck."

Walton laughed. "Enjoy th' ride, Charles. I hope they won't hang ye when we reach th' nearest Navy port."

The cat left him in the dark and closed the door. Charles sat down, feeling hopeless until he could figure a way out. If he couldn't, then he would need to rely on someone to save his life.

Ivy was a smart girl. She will tell Lucy what happened, he hoped.

*****

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

When Lucy reached the beach, her heart sunk. The Iron Maiden was already miles away. Barely visible across the ocean horizon.

At least the longboat was still on the shore, but the ship was too far to catch it. Even if Lucy try rowing to it, she would already lose the ship in the open sea.

"Barnacles!" Lucy kicked the sand, letting her frustration run through her.

No ship, no way off the island. How could Lucy explain to her new crew what happened?

"I am sorry, Lucy," said Ivy behind her. "They came from nowhere."

Lucy turned toward Ivy. "How did they reach our ship?"

"From a small boat, but they sunk it after they took over."

Lucy sighed, feeling like she had met defeat. If Charles and Walton weren't stubborn men, she wouldn't be stuck on Bengar now.

New quest offered! The Rescue of Charles Locksmith Your friend, Charles, got capture by Walton Hazel. If you don’t save him, his life might face a dreadful fate. Do you accept this quest? Aye, or nay?

Of course, Lucy accepted the quest, although she wasn’t sure she could do it without a ship.

“Is it true you stolen Walton’s ship?” Ivy asked.

Lucy sat down. “It is a long story, but I am afraid we are stuck here now.”

Byron stared forward. “I don’t believe so. Look.”

Lucy followed his gesture toward the ocean. A large ship in armored plates with three sails and a long drill at the front slowly sailed by the shore. Blue paint covered the exposed wood and a golden figurehead of a penguin hung below the drill.

Lucy widened her eyes as the ship’s status appeared.

Ruthless Peaker Type: Brigantine Level: 30 HP: 300 AP: 100 Strength: 15 Speed: 3 Cannons: 20 Crew: 1,000

While her mouth hung, Lucy pointed her finger at the vessel. “That is the ship that attacked my home!”

“Excuse me?” The panther asked.

Lucy rose, keeping her finger pointing at the passing vessel. “Long story short, there is a pirate penguin on that vessel who killed my father! I am on a quest to hunt him down for what he did! And he has stolen a map Charles wanted!” She turned to Byron. “Can you gather all your warriors so we can attack the ship before it leaves?”

Ivy held her hand over her eyes, glaring at the ship. “It looks pretty strong to me.”

“We have to take it now before it is too late!”

Byron crossed his arms. “Why now? Your friend got captured and attacking that ship could be suicidal.”

“No, listen to me!” Lucy held up her hands. “If we can commandeer that ship, we can use it to track down the Iron Maiden. It is the only ship we can get.”

Byron studied the ship until he nodded. “I will ask the chief for your help.”

*****

Captain Flipper glanced at the island while holding his map on the poopdeck. He hasn’t spotted the Ghost Island yet. It could be miles away on the other side of Bengar. But the water currents around the tropical island should push his ship quicker. He doesn’t know how many minutes he had left before the phantom island will disappear again. If he could sail faster, he should make it this time.

Suddenly, the entire ship tremored to a rapid stop, knocking Flipper off his webbed feet. He landed on fours before his peak hit the floor. “Now what?”

After he got up, he marched toward his pilot. “What happened?”

Baffy turned toward him. “Sorry, captain. We hit a reef. It is blocking our course.”

“Then back up or sail around it! The island will disappear soon!”

“We can’t, captain. Four sharp rocks are keeping our ship in place. We can’t move.”

Flipper gritted, folding his flippers into his fists. How come his navigator couldn’t see the reef before his ship hit it?

"Get the crew into the water so they can chip the rocks. Do it, quickly!"

Baffy saluted him. "Yes, captain!"

After his navigator left, Flipper marched into his cabin. His crew could do all the work without him.

*****

While laying her stomach on a wooden surfboard, Lucy paddled across the water from the beach. Behind her, Byron, Ivy, Tashina, and five hundred warriors, including the former slaves, surfed toward the stranded Ruthless Peaker. It was a good thing the vessel got stuck.

After speaking to the chief about losing the Iron Maiden and spotting the Ruthless Peaker, Paipa agreed to send an army to seize the ship for Lucy under her lead. After all, she freed half of his tribe from the slavers, and the penguin might have useful loot for his tribe.

The plan was simple. Lucy will throw her two fear bombs into the ship. After the penguins kill themselves, Lucy’s army will climb aboard and kill the rest when the gas fades away. If Captain Flipper survives, she will take care of him.

Five hundred animals against one thousand penguins would only lead Lucy to a disappointing defeat. If the fear gas works, there won’t be a lot of penguins to deal with before Lucy reaches Captain Flipper.

When she defeats him, she will get the Ghost Island map and have a ship to rescue Charles. Her personal quest will be completed, and Charles could begin his own adventure after she finds him. But if the battle doesn’t workout, Lucy and everyone else will be killed. Securing the player’s ship into her possession must not fail for the sake of everyone’s life.