The night passed quietly.
The next morning, Eli Winters was woken not by the sun or the sea breeze, but by a commotion outside his door. He had stayed up late the previous night browsing the system's marketplace, so his head still felt a little heavy when he stepped out into the corridor.
What he saw immediately brought a helpless smile to his face. Fiona's younger sister, Felina, was chasing Daipan around the deck with murder in her eyes, a frying pan still clutched in her hand like a weapon.
It didn't take long for Eli to piece the situation together. That morning, in celebration of avenging her parents, Felina had gotten up early with the rare thought of cooking breakfast for everyone. The problem was, Felina's cooking skills could make a sea king cry. After their morning training, Daipan had eagerly taken the first bite only to spit it out instantly, clutching his throat and declaring in all seriousness, "This food's poisoned!"
The words had barely left his lips before Felina erupted in fury, chasing him around the ship while hurling insults. Daipan, guilty as charged, had no choice but to run.
When Daipan spotted Eli, his eyes lit up with desperate hope. He darted behind his captain's back, seeking refuge.
Eli fixed him with a sharp glare, then stepped forward and caught Felina by the wrist before she could land another blow. "Enough, Felina. Daipan wasn't trying to insult you. He just… spoke without thinking. I'll punish him by making him scrub the ship later, so forgive him this once."
Felina huffed, still glaring at Daipan, then gave an unwilling nod. "Fine. But only because you said so, Eli." She turned back toward her captain, her expression instantly softening. "Eli, I actually made a special breakfast just for you. Come, I'll take you to eat it."
Eli's heart skipped. If even Daipan couldn't stomach it, he couldn't imagine what horrors awaited him.
Before Felina could drag him to the dining room, he quickly caught her hand and said with great seriousness, "Felina, wait. Breakfast can come later. First, as captain, I must fulfill my duty. We need to chart the course for our next voyage. Without direction, we risk drifting aimlessly, and that would be an unforgivable sin for a crew like ours!"
His voice was loud and firm, his posture straight-backed and resolute, as though he were delivering a speech before an entire navy.
Felina blinked, clearly taken in by his theatrics. "O-oh… is it really that serious?"
"Yes," Eli said without hesitation. He rushed back into his cabin and returned with a stack of sea charts he'd bought in Barutiti Town. He handed them to Felina with solemn care. "Here. You're the most meticulous navigator we have. I trust you to find our path."
Still bewildered, Felina accepted the maps and walked off to study them. Only when she was gone did Eli exhale in relief. That was close.
Daipan gave his captain a big thumbs-up, whispering, "Brilliant save, big bro."
When Eli entered the kitchen, he found three figures slumped around the table with haunted eyes Fiona, Dottai, and Simon. The breakfast Felina had prepared sat untouched before them, steam curling from bowls of unidentifiable sludge.
"Throw it all out," Eli said instantly. "Make a proper meal before we all die here."
The three of them moved with the swiftness of people on death row who'd just been granted a pardon. Soon enough, the crew was sitting down to a new breakfast, one that was not only edible but delicious.
Daipan leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "From now on, don't let Felina anywhere near the kitchen."
Dottai and Simon nodded vigorously. Fiona, torn between loyalty to her sister and relief at surviving, only offered an awkward smile.
Eli let the matter rest with a simple decision. "We'll find a real cook on our next stop. We can't live on grilled meat forever." He glanced toward Fiona. "Take some of this to Felina. She hasn't eaten yet. Once she finishes mapping out our route, we'll set sail."
By the next afternoon, Felina finally emerged with a carefully drawn plan.
"Well done," Eli said warmly. "Now then Traveling Dawn, set sail!"
The crew responded in unison, their voices echoing across the sea.
Their first stop was a small island with no particular traits beyond a modest port. They resupplied quickly and left without lingering.
The system chimed in Eli's head:
Congratulations, host. Check-in complete: Lonely Island. Reward: 177 Prosperity Points, one crate of Niulan Mountain liquor.
Eli chuckled. Not a grand prize, but the liquor was more than welcome. What was the point of sailing through this fiery, passionate world without a drink or two?
That evening, he threw a banquet aboard the ship. The sharp, fiery liquor burned down their throats like liquid flame, but soon even Daipan was laughing and singing as though he'd been born for this. Dottai and Simon loved it instantly, downing glass after glass. Fiona drank a little but stopped early. Felina, meanwhile, carefully carried her drunken captain back to his room while the others slept sprawled across the deck.
The next day passed lazily, the aftertaste of drink still lingering. When Eli finally woke, the sun was already high. He washed up and walked onto the deck to find Felina stretched out on a lounge chair with a book.
Seeing him, she smiled gently. "Eli, are you feeling better? You must be hungry. My sister cooked porridge. Want me to bring you some?"
"That would be nice," Eli said, sinking into the chair beside her. "And some lemon water, too."
She returned shortly with a tray. The porridge was simple but flavorful, a welcome comfort after the harsh liquor of last night.
Between spoonfuls, Eli asked, "Where's Fiona?"
"She's training in the practice room," Felina said without looking up from her book. "Shall I fetch her?"
"No need. I'll check on her later. For now… tell me, where's our next destination?"
Felina's eyes brightened. "Proshu Fishing Village. It'll take four days to reach. They say the full fish feast there is famous across the seas. I thought we could stay for a few days."
Eli chuckled. "That sounds perfect."
But Felina's expression softened into something more tender. "Eli… thank you. For everything. You didn't just save my sister and me. You gave us the strength to avenge our parents, and now… now Fiona finally seems at peace. For the first time in years, I can see her smile without pain. You gave us a new life."
Eli placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "There's no need for thanks between us. We're partners, aren't we?"
Felina's smile shone as brightly as the midday sun. "Yes, Captain."
Later that day, Eli sought Fiona out in the training room. He presented her with the prize from their last kingdom stop: the great blade Snowdrinker. Fiona's eyes widened with awe. For a swordswoman, a famed blade was a treasure beyond words. She held it with trembling hands, tracing the craftsmanship as though in a trance.
Eli waited for a word of thanks, but she ignored him completely, lost in her joy. He sighed and left the room, missing the subtle, proud glint in Fiona's eyes as she watched him go.
Four days later, the Traveling Dawn reached Proshu Fishing Village. As they stepped onto the pier, the air was thick with the scent of the ocean and grilled fish. Curious villagers paused their work to study the newcomers.
A bald, scar-faced man approached with several strong youths at his back. "Strangers, who are you? What business do you have in Proshu?" His gaze lingered warily on Dottai and Simon.
Eli smiled warmly. "No need for alarm, sir. We're not here to cause trouble. My name is Eli Winters. These are my companions. We're travelers, nothing more. We heard of your famous full fish feast and came to try it."
The man's suspicion lingered on the two fish-men, but his expression soon eased. "I see. Forgive me. I'm Dalton, master of Dalton's Fishery. We don't often see fish-men here, so I had to be cautious. Welcome to Proshu."
"Thank you, Dalton," Eli replied politely. "Where might we find the best fish feast in town?"
"Head to the right side of the village," Dalton said, his tone warming. "Buggy's Tavern serves the most authentic feast. You won't be disappointed."
Eli nodded, then led his crew into the village under the curious stares of fishermen and their families. They found the tavern easily enough. Inside, the owner an elderly man in a chef's coat greeted them with a booming laugh.
"You must be new here! What can I get for you?"
"Ten portions of the full fish feast," Eli said without hesitation.
The old chef puffed his chest proudly. "You've come to the right place. My feasts are so good even the Pirate King Roger once praised them!"
"Roger?" Eli raised an eyebrow.
The chef nodded. "Aye. Eight years ago, the Roger Pirates came through. Different sort of pirates, those ones. Sang and danced in this very hall. A shame about his fate…"
Eli chuckled. "Careful, old man. Best not say too much about Roger where the Navy might hear. But enough talk. Let's eat before we starve."
Soon, the table was covered with dish after dish of freshly cooked fish grilled, stewed, steamed, and fried, each with a unique aroma. The crew dug in with delight.
"This is amazing!" Daipan exclaimed through a mouthful of fish. "Big bro, let's kidnap the old man and make him our cook!"
Eli flicked his forehead. "Idiot. He's sixty years old, and you'd get sick of fish in a week."
The feast was as delicious as promised, though it cost them more than twenty thousand belli to satisfy everyone's appetite. Eli sighed. They needed funds, and he knew exactly where to find them: in the holds and bounty posters of the pirates who still prowled the seas.
For now, though, the village awaited and perhaps, a test of the sword at the dojo he'd heard whispers about.
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