Shrouded Seascape

"Look! There's a giant bat in the air!" An alarming cry from outside the pub caught Dipp's attention. Accompanied by the other sailors attempting to drown their sorrow with booze, he dashed out to witness the spectacle.

"Hmm, why does this bat look so familiar?" Dipp held a bottle of liquor in his hand and scratched his neck with the other.

As the bat disappeared into the distance, the sailors gradually returned to the pub. Only Dipp remained outside. He suddenly recalled the blind vampire's words about the captain having acquired a new relic that granted him the power to transform into a huge bat. That bat in the air was highly likely to be his captain, Charles.

"Is Captain experimenting with his new relic? How cool. I want a relic of my own too…" Dipp muttered under his breath, his words laced with envy. It was hard to not feel envy especially when Dipp watched his captain utilizing various powers due to the relics he possessed.

Just then, a lightbulb lit up in his head as he clasped his hand together in excitement. "I have saved up some Echo, didn't I? I can buy a relic too!"

Glancing at the cacophony of noise coming from the bustling pub next to him, Dipp rushed in once more. A heat wave washed over him. He was once again surrounded by the loud laughter and bragging of drunken sailors and scantily clad women brushed past him. The atmosphere was extremely lively.

Dipp jumped onto a wooden table and shouted over the noise, "Hey! Does anyone know where I can buy relics in the Coral Archipelago?"

Silence took over for a moment before a fat, red-nosed old man with a toothless grin let out a chuckle and words of mockery. "Look, a young brat who can't even grow a proper beard wants to buy a relic. You must be tired of living. Hahahaha!"

The pub erupted into fits of laughter and the atmosphere heightened. At a table in the corner of the room, where the crew of the Narwhale was seated at, they stood up with a loud clang of their bottles, instantly silencing the mocking laughter.

The onlookers swiftly turned their gazes back onto the wine cups in their hand. After all, no one dared to find trouble with those from an exploration vessel.

Sensing that the atmosphere had dropped to an icy low, Dipp snapped his fingers in the direction of the bartender, "Buddy, a round for everyone. On me!"

The sailors in the pub erupted into cheers as they raised their glasses, wanting to offer a toast to the young lad who had been the butt of their jokes.

A topless sailor took a huge swig from his glass and loudly said, "My friend. Try your luck in the Hooded Alley. Some items that could never see the light of the day would be sold there. But watch out for the police dogs. Transactions there are illegal."

"Thank you!" Dipp jumped off the table in excitement. He waved to his companions in the corner before he rushed out of the pub.

"Should we follow that kid? He's not going to get into trouble again, right?" Conor asked the others.

"Nah, it's fine. He survived that trip to Dark Crystal Island. What's there to be afraid of here? If anyone dares to find trouble with him, we will just off them and toss 'em overboard," Frey answered nonchalantly and flirtatiously caressed the hostess serving their table on her butt.

The other crew members nodded in agreement as they continued indulging themselves in the pub.

***

Dipp was already pretty familiar with the harbor area of the Coral Archipelago. Enduring the potent fishy smell, he made his way through the fish drying area, and arrived at the eerily quiet Hooded Alley.

Like its name suggested, everyone in the alley wore black robes with a hood over their head. Dressed in his sailor uniform, Dipp stood out like a sore thumb.

He swiftly squeezed into the crowd and watched with interest as the hooded figures retrieved hidden assets from underneath their robes and engaged in hushed conversation.

"Hey, does anyone have relics? Is anyone selling relics?" Dipp's shout immediately caught the attention of the others in the alley.

A petite figure approached Dipp and whispered in a low voice, "Kid, how much do you have?"

"Erm… 30,000 Echo?" Dipp revealed his savings.

The hooded figure turned and left immediately as he spat his last words, "Trying to buy a relic with 30,000 Echo? Do you think they are like fish in the sea?"

Dejected, Dipp scratched his neck. He had a larger saving initially but the vampires at Dark Crystal Island had robbed him when they kidnapped him.

"Do you want a relic?" A voice suddenly sounded from behind Dipp.

Startled, Dipp turned to see a plump, hooded figure standing behind him.

"I mean, I wanted to. But I only have 30,000 Echo."

"It's a deal. 30,000 Echo it is." The hooded figure took out a silver bracelet with a thick layer of calcification from his robe.

"Really? You are willing to sell it to me for 30,000?" Dipp was taken aback. The previous hooded figure had scoffed at him, saying that it was far from sufficient.

"Do you want it or not? If not, I'm leaving."

As the figure pretended to walk away, the sixteen-year-old Dipp didn't think too much into his actions and hastily agreed to the transaction. "Yes, yes, I'll take it! But first, tell me what the powers of this relic are."

"Upon wearing it, your strength increases. The tradeoff is that you get thirsty easily."

After testing the relic out and finding the hooded figure's words to be true, Dipp coolly paid for the item. His heart was brimming with joy that he had gotten himself a good bargain.

The hooded figure left immediately upon receiving the money. Navigating through the twists and turns within Hooded Alley, he then knelt down on one knee before a door. "High Priest, the item has been delivered. I confirm that he's a member of Charles' ship."

The wooden door opened as Sonny walked out with a smile. "After they set sail, give the other bracelet to that man. Since he isn't willing to be on my side, I'll make sure that he can't work for Kord either!"

***

"Captain! Captain! Are you in there?" Dipp relentlessly knocked at Charles' room door in excitement.

Creak.

The door opened. It was one of Lily's brown mice.

Dipp's gaze instantly fell on Charles who was sitting on a chair in silence. He was shaking, his expression twisted and his fists were clenched as though he was trying to hold back from something.

"What's the matter?" Charles' voice sounded unusually hoarse.

Dipp might be young but he was far from being stupid. Clearly, this situation was unfitting for him to show off his new relic.

"No-nothing. Please have a good rest." The moment Dipp wanted to turn to leave, a bat flew into the room with a crimson packet in his maws.

The bat rapidly transformed into Audric as he nervously held the bag of blood before Charles. "Captain, this is from the hospital."

With trembling hands, Charles swiftly snatched the packet from him. He sank his fangs into the packet and greedily sucked on its contents. Crimson blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. Currently, his appearance made him look more vampiric than Audric, an actual vampire.

Dipp crept toward Lily who was standing at the corner. Unable to hide his curiosity, he asked. "What's the matter with Captain?"

Fear was evident in Lily's voice as she answered, "Captain went to find that big sister… When he came back, he was like this. He almost bit me just now too."

Just then, Dipp noticed a pained expression appearing on Charles' visage and his lips were quivering as though he was muttering something.

Charles pushed Audric away and stumbled to his desk. He pulled the drawer open, fished out a gooey green jelly and stuffed it into his mouth.

Drenched in cold sweat, Charles' breathing slowly returned to normal. Looking utterly exhausted, he gestured at his crew members. "I need to rest. Please leave."

Dipp and Audric immediately exited the room. Looking at the closed door behind them, Dipp turned to Audric. "Why is the Captain always so depressed? He already has an exploration vessel at this age, what could possibly upset him? If I had a ship of my own, I would be laughing even in my sleep."

Audric shook his head as he tried to move by feeling the route with his hands on the walls. "Who knows. But if Captain continues on like this, he might not be able to withstand it much longer. Don't you think he's starting to resemble those lunatics on the streets?"

Dipp shot a glare at Audric. "What nonsense are you spouting! Captain Charles is formidable so that's not possible! If you keep belittling him, don't blame me for being mean!"

Saying his final words, Dipp turned and briskly walked toward the staircase.