"Old Snake."
"Oliver, is that how you greet an old friend you haven't seen in years?"
Upon entering the captain's quarters, the trinket seller headed towards the captain, who was sitting at his desk with a smile that split his old face.
"Stop acting. I know you're here for money."
The captain was a young man in his twenties with skin tanned by the sun, but the most distinctive thing about him was the green scales covering parts of his skin and his attire, which reminded one of 18th-century French noblemen's clothing.
Oliver's dark-skinned face looked at the trinket seller with annoyed eyes.
"You're really lucky I didn't throw you overboard last time."
"Hey, don't get stuck in the past. This time, I really came for your benefit. I found a customer who wants to cross the sea, hence the ticket, my dear friend."
The trinket seller smiles an aggrieved smile while pointing his finger at me.
"A customer? More accurately, an excuse to ask for money."
Oliver laughs a mocking laugh while ignoring the trinket seller and turns to me.
"So, you're the one who wants to go to the Dead Giant Island?"
I feel a bit tense as I meet the cold gaze of the pirate captain.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Do you have two silver coins or twenty copper coins?"
Oliver extends his hand towards me while asking for the money.
"Yes."
I take out two silver coins from my bag and offer them to him.
After taking the money, he nods at me and throws a silver coin to the trinket seller, whose smile widens exaggeratedly.
"Well, since you paid your fare, we'll take you with us. But you should know there are some rules on my ship that you must follow if you don't want me to throw you into the sea."
"First, any kind of sexual relations on the ship is strictly forbidden, or I will castrate you and throw you into the Sea of Pain."
"Second, getting drunk is forbidden. Drinking is allowed, but not to the point of drunkenness."
"Third, stealing or fighting under any circumstances is forbidden."
"Fourth, gambling is forbidden."
"Fifth..."
As I listen intently to the rules coming from Oliver's mouth, I feel a strange sensation that something is not right.
'Isn't this a pirate ship? Why are there all these rules?'
"And finally, no one is idle on my ship. Even if you paid for your passage, you are still required to help with ship chores."
After finishing listing the ship's rules, Oliver looks at me coldly.
"Understood?"
"Yes."
I nod my head seriously. I have no problems with these rules; in fact, I liked them.
"Good. Now you may go. The lads will show you to your sleeping quarters and such. It will be a long journey."
Upon hearing this, I sigh in relief.
"Thank you for accepting me on your ship."
"No need for thanks. It was a transaction, after all. You paid for your passage."
"As for you, old snake, stay here. I need to talk to you about something."
The trinket seller's expression, who was preparing to leave with me, turns into one resembling crying as he stays in the captain's quarters with Oliver.
After leaving the captain's quarters, I wander through the wooden corridors of the ship,
staring in every direction with amazement.
"I feel as if I've suddenly been transported to a Pirates of the Caribbean film."
As I gaze in awe at the ship's structure like a child boarding a wooden ship for the first time in his life—which is what's happening—I hear someone calling out.
"Hey, who are you? It's my first time seeing you here."
I notice the appearance of a crew member looking at me with strange looks.
"Oh, hello, ummm... I'm a traveler. I agreed with the captain to take me with him to the Dead Giant Island. He told me to look for a crew member to show me where to sleep."
I try to explain myself as quickly as possible, which makes my words come out disjointed and random.
"Oh, I see."
"Alright, come with me. I'll show you where you can stay."
"Thank you."
I proceed to follow the crew member through the narrow wooden corridors of the ship while admiring its details and the lanterns hanging everywhere.
'What suitable atmospheres for shooting a horror film.'
I try to suppress my random thoughts as I focus on following the crew member.
"We've arrived."
After a short while, we reach what looks like a prison cell with several dilapidated wooden beds inside.
"This is where you'll stay. It's not the best place on the ship, but there's no other option. The other rooms are full of crew members, and there's no extra space. And believe me, this place is a thousand times better than sleeping with ten sweaty men."
After showing me my sleeping place inside the ship, the crew member bids me farewell and leaves.
Focusing on the cramped room, I notice there are already two people inside.
A beautiful girl with short black hair wearing a dark blue Daoist robe. As for the other person, it was a middle-aged man wearing a coarse burlap robe with an appearance that reminded one of a beggar on the side of the road.
Noticing their looks towards me, I smile embarrassedly.
"Ummm, hello."
I smile an embarrassed smile as I greet them.
_________
I know it's a short chapter, but circumstances dictate that I'll have to publish it early because I'll be busy most of the day. But don't worry, I'll try to make up for it when things get better.