Captain Flipper stepped out from the cabin on the fishing sailboat. The boat was a small schooner, not strong enough to battle an enemy ship. No cannons or armor plates to defend itself. Only nets, hooks, and harpoons to catch anything for the fish market. But at least the mini ship could sail faster than a behemoth vessel.

When Lucas logged back into the game, he returned to Matlock where he usually leave his ship at. Since an NPC stole his ship, he has to find it himself. To do that, he high-jacked the schooner from two walrus fishermen. He doesn’t care, they were only NPCs.

After two hours, he spotted his ship near an island in the open sea. The sun began to set toward the horizon sea level as the sky turned orange.

With excitement, Flipper steered the boat directly toward the Ruthless Pecker. However, he has to remain in stealth in case the damn NPCs were still aboard.

He couldn’t believe a low-level NPC defeated him before he could reach Ghost Island. He may have underestimated her, but next time he won’t go easy on her. As a player, he must adapt to conquer his enemies.

He only has one day left before he has to go back to school. When that time comes, he might never get the chance to find Ghost Island.

I’ll kill them all! Flipper lowered the sails and docked the boat next to his ship.

He opened his tiny ear holes and heard only the silent wind and the rocking salt water. The NPCs should have known he was coming. So why didn't they fire the cannons or fire their muskets? They wouldn't be asleep before dusk.

Flipper climbed up slowly to the main deck. When he reached the edge, he pulled out his cutlass and leaped over the railing.

He landed on his finned feet and swung his blade around. "Ah-ha!"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He paused when he realized nobody attacked him. "Huh?"

The entire deck was clear. Not a single crew member in sight.

Flipper frowned. There has to be someone left to satisfy his vengeful bloodlust.

He looked around, checked the lower deck, the quarters, and his cabin. Nothing, as if his vessel became a ghost ship.

At least they didn't take all his cargo, but something was missing. He raced back into his cabin to search for it.

He checked his bed, dressers, cabinets, map shelf, and chests inside the closet.

"Blasted!" He dropped to the floor, feeling his head boil. They have it! They have the map!

He tossed his bicorne hat at the wall. If they have it, then they could be heading to the dungeon already. On what ship?

Flipper grabbed his hat and strolled to the poop deck above his quarters. He scanned the sea outside his ship.

There was only an island close by. Black Dog Island.

Flipper knew the island had cannibal NPCs and nothing else. Players usually go there to level up by killing all the savages. The cannibals don't actually eat anyone. However, the game designers programmed them to act scary. Flipper couldn't go there because his level wasn't high enough yet to survive on the island. All the cannibals were at level fifty, and they would devour him before he could earn a single point. Definitely not a good time to sail there.

Flipper thought and remembered the level growing NPC commandeered his ship so she could rescue a friend. Maybe her friend marooned himself on cannibal island, or someone kidnapped him aboard another ship. If she went to the island, she wouldn't survive at all. Taking her entire crew and leaving his ship behind would be incredibly stupid. Worse, the map will be left on the island for any stronger player to find it.

What if there was another ship near the island? They could have commandeered that ship and left with the map. Clever move if they were aware he could track his ship anywhere.

Since going to the island will be suicidal alone, Flipper must assume the damn NPC pirates abandoned his vessel for another ship. Or he could come back with a strong crew and siege the cannibals to find the map. But the other options sounded better.

Flipper will sail his ship back to Matlock and build another crew first. After that, he will hunt the NPC to get his map back. Even if it will take him all day and all night to reach Ghost Island.