Back at Hanigang, the morning sun cleared the fog from the floating city. After parking the ship near a dock, Lucy’s crew unloaded the illegal cargo on the dock when Du Su and his bodyguards arrived. With enough crew and guards, they protected the cargo well.

The giant panda wore a heavy red robe with black sea serpent patterns across the shiny fabric. He really does like sea serpents, one of the most dangerous sea beasts in the ocean.

Du Su approached a stack and opened the box on top. He picked one bottle, opened it, and sniffed the bottle’s content.

A grin crept across his muzzle. “Hmmmmmmmm, this is well preserved.”

He closed the box and turned toward Lucy. “You have done well. Not a single bottle is broken.”

Lucy nodded with her paws behind her back. “I am sorry we didn’t have enough time to collect all the cargo. We had to leave before sunset, or else the mermaids would have killed us all.”

Du Su folded his paws within his long sleeves. “No shame. I can always request more contraband. You brought enough to fill my pockets.”

"Good, because I lost a lot of crew mates, too."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Du Su bowed his head to her. "I lost many too during a gang war. But some sacrifices must be made."

He removed his necklace and handed the medallion to Lucy. "Here is your prize. I also have five chests of gold for you at my hideout. Fifty thousand total."

Quest Completed!

You received 1,000 EXP

Lucy glanced at the medallion. It looked shiny and beautiful. She wondered how much it was worth. Maybe after she explores Ghost Island, she will add the relic to the treasure and sell it.

“Thank you, Du Su.” Lucy bowed her head with her paws together. "But you didn't have to pay us more. We only came for the medallion."

Du Su smirked. "I always pay my mercenaries in full. The cargo is worth more than the medallion. Unless-"

"We'll take it!" Walton shouted below Lucy. "We'll take the gold too!"

The panda glanced down at the cat in surprise. “Oh! I thought the mermaids ate you.”

Walton chuckled. "Mermaids are no match against me. Although they did took me eye."

Du Su glared. "Well then. I better not see you again, or else."

Walton gulped.

*****

While the crew repaired the ship, Lucy and her friends decided to tour the seaport market. They observed the vendors and the diners with fine food. With fifty thousand gold to spend, Lucy thought they should buy new gear and stay longer before their next quest. After all, they deserved a bigger treat after surviving a mermaid attack.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

While the men drank at the tavern, Lucy, Tashina, and Ivy visited a spa called the Spring of Cultivation. Strictly for females to relax and clean themselves where nobody will bother them.

The girls bathed inside a steam room and received full body massages with a happy ending. Then the female panda servants gave them manicures and pedicures to improve their claws.

When they finished, Lucy felt like she became a new lady. All the grime and foul body odor from her previous quest vanished after the spa cleansed her. Better than taking a bath on the ship with limited soap supplies.

Next, Lucy and the girls visited the tailor's shop to see what clothing and garments the pandas offered. Most of the clothes were all robes and kimonos, but the tailor can upgrade the girls’ gear for a thousand gold pieces each. Lucy spends one thousand to upgrade her white dress with enough points to lower the damages she might receive later on her next quest.

White dress (DP+20)

The next shop sold weapons that don’t restrict certain buyers. Swords, guns, bombs, and whatever can slay a sea monster or animal. Ivy brought two silver shotgun pistols and Tashina found a wooden staff that can conjure her voodoo spell attacks faster. Lucy liked her cutlass, but she brought one wooden pistol in case she needed to fire a long-range attack. The shopkeeper called the gun Little Sea Dragon.

Little Sea Dragon (Pistol AP-10)

Behind the weapon shop, Lucy found a blacksmith shop where customers can improve or craft weapons. She requested the panda blacksmith to upgrade her sword for one hundred gold pieces. It didn’t take the blacksmith long to add more attack power to her blade.

The Vanquisher (Cutlass AP-20)

Lucy wanted more points, but the blacksmith said most weapons could only reach AP-20. If he added more, the cutlass would break into useless fragments. At least her cutlass became strong enough to infect more damage.

At their next stop, Lucy entered an item shop and brought nine health potions and nine elixirs. She couldn’t carry more items in her inventory.

When their shopping spree ended, Lucy recruited thirty new crew members at the tavern. Fifty crew could man all the cannons and defend the deck.

After the day ended, it was time to return to the ship.

*****

Lucy and her friends gathered around the table inside the navigation room. The captain unrolled the map and pulled out the medallion.

Lucy glanced at the relic on her paw. "So, how do we use this thing?"

Charles tipped his finger on the map. "Put it here and watch."

Lucy nodded and placed the medallion on the map. The black spot that represented Ghost Island appeared in the east, surrounded by tiny islands or rocks.

"Now keep watching," said the wolf.

Lucy kept her eyes on the map and the medallion. "Hmmmmm, how can we tell?"

Quest Alert! The Path to Ghost Island

Now you have the medallion on the map, Ghost Island stops where it appeared. This will give you the chance to reach the island without wasting your time. However, others might find the island and claim the mystery prize there. The choice is yours.

Aye, or nay?

Lucy smiled with excitement. "Never mind. It worked."

Byron narrowed his eyes at her. "How do you know?"

"My quest notification told me." Lucy accepted the quest. "We better sail before the players find it. And whatever happens there, we must fight together."

Ivy jumped up and down, cheering as she clenched her fists. "Finally! Our true adventure begins!"

"This time I will nah hide in that dirty brig," said Walton with a grin.

"Me either," Kiki added. "Squawk!"

Tashina wrapped her arms around Byron’s left-muscled arm. "An mi sweetie beast here wi protect mi."

The panther blushed.

"And we will save my sister!" Charles shouted.

Lucy crossed her arms with a grin of satisfaction. "Then let's sail to Ghost Island now."

Everybody nodded and raised their fists in the air. "To Ghost Island!"