"And as you can see from my clothes, I'm a pirate," Saem declared proudly, his chest puffed out.

"Why’s he being so smug about it?" Kiana muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing. ‘Pirates are scummy people who hunted my kind. Heh, luckily they drowned.’

"So, you’re proud of robbing people now?" Aurianna mocked, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"I only rob the rich to help the poor," Saem replied, his expression serious, as if this statement alone justified his actions.

"Oh, how noble of you. Should I clap?" Aurianna shot back, her voice tinged with mockery.

"No, I’m just doing what I believe is right," Saem responded, smiling as if her sarcasm didn’t faze him at all.

"Nobles hoard wealth while the poor starve and die. I’m willing to risk my life to help those in need," Saem continued, his face set in a determined expression.

"I see," Aurianna replied, her tone flat, though her mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

‘I really can’t stand people like this, always so self-righteous. But I suppose it shows he has a good heart. Still, I don’t see the point in risking your life for people who didn’t do enough to change their own fate,’ she mused, letting out a quiet sigh.

"I’m totes surprised he’s still alive, pulling stunts like that," Avriel chimed in, her voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

"Oh, Captain Saem makes sure we have solid plans and carefully evaluate the enemy before robbing them!" Dami, a towering demi-human bull, bragged, his voice booming with pride.

"Ever been in an extremely dangerous situation?" Jugi asked, his curiosity piqued.

"A few times, but Captain Saem miraculously saved us every single time and we always returned safely!" Dami continued, but as he realized he might have been too bold, he shrunk back, resuming his meal in silence.

"Oh? How many ships have you robbed so far?" Aurianna asked, her curiosity now fully engaged.

"One hundred and seven," Saem declared with a broad grin, pride radiating from him.

"That’s... a lot," Aurianna admitted, a bit taken aback by the number.

"Yes, as expected from someone like me," Saem boasted, pointing at himself with his thumb, his eyes sparkling with self-assurance.

"Hmm, want to play a game of chess with me?" Jugi offered, his voice calm but with a hint of challenge in his tone.

"Why?" Saem asked, tilting his head slightly, intrigued by the sudden offer.

"Just a way to pass the time. Plus, I’d like to see if you’re as sharp as you claim to be," Jugi replied, pulling out a chessboard from his space ring. The board was strangely designed, unlike any ordinary set.

"Jugi, what are you up to?" Aurianna whispered as she leaned closer to him, her suspicion evident. Hadina, sitting on her other side, glared at Jugi, clearly displeased with the attention he was getting.

"You mentioned looking for capable people, right? I’m a strategist. If this boy manages to beat me, he might prove to be a useful asset to us," Jugi explained his intentions, and Aurianna, seeing the logic, released her grip on his shirt.

"True, I suppose. But I’d rather have a hero in another ruin," Aurianna grumbled, crossing her arms with a hint of frustration.

"That’s true, but no one person knows all the ways," Jugi replied with a smile, his confidence unwavering.

"Chess? In the middle of dinner?" Saem asked, a mix of surprise and amusement in his voice as he looked at the board.

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‘I wonder what they were whispering about,’ Saem mused, curiosity gnawing at him. For several minutes, the hushed conversation between Aurianna and Jugi was out of his earshot, leaving him to speculate.

"I'd rather finish my food first," Saem said, reaching for a dish of fish and vegetables and taking a hearty bite. The rich flavors melted on his tongue, momentarily distracting him from the mysterious exchange.

“Damn,” Jugi sighed, his shoulders slumping in disappointment.

"You could always eat while playing," Jugi suggested, a hopeful tone creeping into his voice.

"I need full concentration," Saem replied, his nervousness evident as he glanced at the elaborate chessboard.

"Alright, after we’re done eating then," Jugi reluctantly agreed, though his eagerness was still palpable.

“Hmm, fine. I guess playing while eating won’t be so bad,” Saem finally conceded, causing a broad grin to spread across Jugi’s face.

‘He looks like an old man trying to convince someone to play with him,’ Kiana thought, glancing at Jugi’s excited expression. She quietly continued eating, her eyes flicking between Jugi and Saem.

"Great!" Jugi beamed, eagerly setting up the chessboard. As he opened it, the board illuminated, projecting a holographic image of two kingdoms across the table. Jugi’s side glowed red, while Saem’s side shimmered in white. The miniature castles and figures were intricately detailed, giving the illusion of a grand battlefield right in the middle of their meal.

"Jugi, why does the game boards look like two castles?" Aurianna asked, noticing how the projections of the castles and their surrounding lands seemed to overlap with the dishes on the table. Despite the strange overlay, the food remained perfectly visible beneath the illusion.

"Well, that’s because this version of chess is called the Game of Kings," Jugi explained, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

"I always hated that kind of chess. Who knew you still kept it," Avriel grumbled, her tone laced with mild irritation.

"Oh, this is an ancient version," Saem chimed in as he studied the board pieces, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The chess pieces appeared humanoid, crafted with a level of detail that made them almost lifelike despite being made of wood—or rather, their projected forms resembled wood, though they were merely illusions.

"There's a new one? I should’ve expected that after all this time," Jugi remarked, slightly embarrassed as he scratched his head.

"Yes, but unfortunately, I don’t have it with me. Too expensive for common folk like us to afford," Saem replied, shaking his head with a resigned sigh.

"Captain Saem, could you explain this game?" Idina, a young elf with short blonde hair and mesmerizing green eyes, asked, his curiosity piqued by the elaborate setup before him.

"Certainly," Saem said, leaning back in his chair as he began his explanation. "This version of chess is known as the Game of Kings."

He pointed to the projection. "The board pieces are placed on a large table, creating an illusion of two kingdoms. Each player is given a total of 50 pieces. The most important ones are the king, queen, and their children. Then, of course, there are the usual ones like knights and soldiers."

As he spoke, he gestured to each respective piece on the board. The king and queen were the most prominent, towering over the other figures in terms of height and they had a crown on their head. The knight pieces, mounted on their horses, flanked the king.

"The kings lead their armies, while the queens are tasked with defending the castle," Saem continued, his finger tracing the line of soldiers that stood at attention. The miniature figures seemed to come alive under his touch, their tiny swords and shields gleaming.

“Kings have dual roles,” Saem began, his tone serious as he pointed to the towering king piece on the board. “They can both kill and protect. However, their protection doesn’t extend to the Queen or soldiers. Knights, on the other hand, have the power to eliminate five soldiers, but it takes five soldiers to bring down a single knight.”

He gestured towards the knight pieces, which stood taller than the soldiers yet still shorter than the figures of the king and queen.

“At the end of the game,” Saem continued, “the side with the most children pieces is declared the winner.” He pointed to the small, innocent-looking figures that represented the children. “The trick lies in protecting them, while also strategizing how to destroy your opponent’s forces. After all they say. Children are a country's future.”

Jugi nodded in approval, clearly impressed by Saem’s knowledge. “Players don’t state their intentions out loud during the game. This game is connected to your mind, allowing you to play using your thoughts alone. You simply take this device,” he held up a small, sleek circle, “and place it against the side of your head. It forms a mental link with the board.”

Saem took the device, examining it briefly before placing it by his temple. “So, it’s all about strategy and keeping your plans to yourself,” he mused.

“Exactly,” Jugi affirmed, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And an excellent explanation, Saem. I see you truly know the game. My apologies for doubting you earlier. One more thing—at the start of the game, neither side’s kingdom defense systems will be revealed until five minutes in.”

Jugi raised his hand, spreading his fingers to emphasize the point. “Five minutes to set your plans in motion before the true challenge begins.”

Saem nodded, a spark of determination in his eyes. “Understood.”

“Now, let’s begin!” Jugi declared, his voice filled with excitement.