Charles grabbed a bucket and sat on it in front of Walton’s prison. He told the cat how he met Lucy and the incident at her home. Charles planned to rob her father to get the map, but the authorities caught him before he had the chance. Because Captain Flipper got the map, he had to team up with Lucy to hunt the player across the sea. They needed a ship and a crew so they can fight the player. Charles knew Walton would never allow anyone to burrow his ship, so he had to play dirty by using Lucy.

After stealing the Iron Maiden, they visited Blackmane and reached Bengar Island where they freed slaves from the World Islander Trading Company. Right before Walton took back his ship and kidnapped Charles, Lucy became a pirate captain after she successfully commandeered Flipper’s ship and defeated Walton while an evil spirit possessed him. The cat admitted he broke the skull while raiding Tashina’s quarters. He didn’t know the skull was cursed. Keeping a malignant dungeon boss ghost was bad luck to anyone who keeps it. But Charles said Lucy was a lucky dog girl, and lucky dogs do bring good fortune to people around her.

Walton laughed. “Fer all this foolish trouble, why? Wha' be so special on the black spotted phantom island fer ye? Loot?”

“Not just loot…” Charles took a slow breath. He should have told everyone about what he was truly going after on Ghost Island. He felt like a fool, keeping secrets from allies could he trust now. Now that they got the map, there was no point in keeping his secrets. “Loretta…”

Walton crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Yer half-sister? Be she on the island?”

Charles nodded.

“Then why did ye ne'er tell me instead o' takin' me ship? I could 'ave helped ye! She's a fine lass! Nah me type, but she be one o' the best!”

Charles scratched his left ear. “I’m sorry. Loretta still has her name on wanted posters across the sea. The navy and players are still hunting her down. I feared if I spoke too many words about her whereabouts, the rumors might spread fast. I had to keep her secret for the sake of rescuing her without obstacles.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Walton rolled his eyes. “Ye shall know I wouldna betray her too. She be like a big sister t' me. Aye, she spotted up, but I wouldna betray her fer the big price on her head.”

Charles grinned. “Really?”

“Ye also 'ave a price on yer head too, Charles. No one would ever find yer sister without comin' through ye. Trust yer hearties, mate. We shall nah betray ye.”

Charles pointed his finger at the cat. "But you almost betrayed me."

Walton shrugged with his paws out. “Aye, but ye betrayed me first without tellin' the truth. How else did ye expect me t' react?”

“Fair enough.”

“So wha' be yer next move, Charles? Ye 'ave everythin' ye wants now t' rescue the lass.”

Charles crossed his arms. “Not everything. There is a medallion compass that can keep the island in one place. Our next stop is Haigang where Du Su owns a bath house. He has the medallion in his possession.”

Walton snickered. “Du Su be difficult t' negotiate. If ye wants the medallion, let me out. I can natter t' 'im without startin' a fight.”

“Why do you think you can talk him into giving the medallion to us?”

“I'm 'n I knew each other fer some time. Aft I helped 'im scuttle one o' his competitors, we shared drinks 'n laughed together. Jolly ole good times we had.”

Charles pointed his finger up. “Alright, but it isn’t up to me to let you out. The captain is the one who makes the choices.”

Walton grimaced with a nod. “Aye aye, I understand. But make sure the lass doesn't make the wrong decision. Releasin' me be the only choice t' get the medallion. Twill be a disgrace if we all go down wit' the ship 'cause o' her.”

“No problem.” Charles stretched his arms up. “I will keep a leash on her like the other women I dealt with. If she succeeds, then everybody will be rich.”

Walton glared. “No more tricks, or we shall ne'er see Loretta again.”

Charles gulped. Although he respected Lucy, he won’t let her ruin his mission for the sake of his sister. A mutiny is only necessary if the captain endangers the crew. But in his heart, he does trust Lucy. Or could it be love?