When Cillian steps aboard the ship, I feel my serengthen. I feel stronger, smarter, and a tad bit more flexible.

  This must be the [Captains Authority] passive. I didn’t notice it before, but now that I’m level seven, it’s a noticeable boost.

  The first thing I notice is that the deck of the ship seems quite a bit smaller on at of the ballistate taking up so much space. The hing I notice are a bunch of bolts with differing runes on them.

  I raise a paw towards the metal rods. “Is that runed ammunition?” I ask Cillian.

  “Myers says it is. No idea what they do, though.”

  “We’ll o figure that out before we leave.”

  As roach the entrao the ship's hold, Myers walks out with a ledger in hand and a smile on his face. Theices me and his smile weakens somewhat to ral, though there is an inkling of a grin still present.

  “Quasi, you’ve finally returned.”

  “I have. I had to deal with a little war, but now it's done and my gaus are plete.”

  Cillian raises the equipment in his arms.

  The old man raises an eyebrow. “Six ruhat's exceptional quality. Not bad, not bad at all. They should hold you until you bee an expert.”

  “That's level fifty if I remember. Do experts have better equipment than exceptional?”

  Myers clears his throat. “Exceptional has two categories. Low and high. Low is six or seven runes which is the most on. High is nine or ten. Expert csses wear several pieces of exceptional equipment and rarely might have a piece or two of epic equipment. If they do, it is usually in the form of a on.”

  As Myers says that, his hand rubs against the handle of his e, which just so happens to have a sword hidden within.

  “Right. As iing as this is, I heard there were a bunch of ges on the ship because of ying.”

  At my words, Myers struggles not to grin. “Required modifications. Installing Buxon-make destroyer ons on a frigate isn’t possible without heavy modifications. Same with the ballistate. I’d say the Timbergrove is arguably the most dangerous frigate in terms of firepower in this part of the world.”

  “This part of the world.” I repeat.

  His mirth weakens somewhat. “Yes. There are heavily runed light-frigates owned by [hat are superior, albeit at several dozen times the price.”

  “Like that Leonidas guy.”

  Myers rubs his beard. “Yes and no. Leonidas ship is a light-frigate, but it is a ship built for speed and maneuverability. The legendary on rip-terror is what gives him the ability to take down far rger targets at rahat ons struggle to hit.”

  “Fluffy.”

  Out from the ship's hold runs Cy with a gleeful grin. The child rushes up to us and quickly halts with arms spread forward.

  Seeing what the kid wants, I hop off of Cillian’s shoulder and nd in the child's arms.

  “You’re so fluffy now.” The child rubs his cheek in my fur.

  “Yes, with my new level, I am now far fluffier. My fluffiness is at a level that few mortals will ever have felt. So be proud Cy, for this experience is wholly unique.”

  “I missed you. Grandpa doesn’t let me leave the ship anymore. He doesn’t eve me talk to Boriss.”

  Myers crosses his arms. “I found out what happened.”

  “Not my fault!” I say. “It’s the crazy Russians idea. I’d never needlessly put a child’s life in danger. Speaking of which, where's Boriss?”

  “Buying food with Irmgard.” Cillian interrupts. “When that Daveed kid gave me the sack of Tris and told me to pick up the gaus, Irmgard figured we’re about to set sail, so she went out to buy fresh food. Speaking of which-” Cillian stares at the gaus. “I fot to ask but why’d you call me to pick these up? Couldn’t you have made Daveed do it?”

  “I could, but you’re my [Quartermaster]. The more tris you ge hands with, the faster you’ll level. At least that's what Janice expio me.”

  The Scot slowly nods. “That makes sense. I leveled several times i two weeks- all of which right after I gained or spent a lot of .”

  “Early levels in [Quartermaster] are easily gaihrough excessive transfers of tris. It will bee slower and more difficult at advanced levels,” Myers adds.

  “We still have a long way to go before leveling bees difficult.” I look at Myers. “I heard we also did a bit of stru on the inside of the ship?”

  That muted giddy smile resurfaces on the old man's face. “Yes. Since we were doiernal stru, I reended internal ges as well. Allow me to show you.” Myers starts walking into the hold and my current mount follht behind.

  Entering the ship, I immediately notice that the wooden walls are and repaired. I also notice that the deg furniture is repced with new ones.

  Myers clears his throat and begins talking wheer the smaller mess hall. “The number of jobs a [Captain] is able to offer his crew is based on the [Captains] level and the size of the ship. What jobs he offer is based oernals of the ship.”

  He raises a hand and points at one of the doors. “This room has a desk, bed, and an armory. Having all three unlocks the [Security Chief] job.” He points towards the redesigned kit. “The kit is smaller but the pantry was expao house a desk ahat unlocks the [Head Chef] job. One floor below we have a small sickbay and a room ected to it with a bed and desk. That unlocks the [Chief Physi] job.”

  “Really? You designate a space, put a room with a desk and bed, and that’s all it takes to unlock the job?” I ask.

  “Yes and no. The armory will o have ons and armor. The pantry and kit o be stocked, and the sickbay o have medie and surgical equipment.”

  I nod slowly. “What other jobs have you unlocked?”

  “[Chief Carpenter], [Artillery Chief], and a space left for a job of your choice.”

  “When I sleep, these jobs will be avaible to me, right?”

  “They should. They’re superior to the base jobs, though require more spa a ship to bee avaible. Sihe Timbergrove is a cored ship that requires less crew, then the space for crew be sacrificed for superior job quality.”

  Cillian crosses his arms. “We could have a rger hold for trade instead of all these extra jobs.”

  Myers sighs as though he’d had this versation several times before. “The Timbergrove is in a prime position to transport expensive products instead of cheaper bulk.”

  “Cheaper bulk is easier to sell off than expensive shite.” Cillian ters. “Finding buyers for expensive ass ons and armor takes too long. If not for Quasi finding a buyer, I’d still be struggling to sell it for profit.”

  “Profit?” I interrupt. “What do you mean profit? We got the ons and armor for free.”

  Cillian waves his arm. “I meant above market price. I’m not going to sell brand new, unused ons and armor for the price I could buy on the market. I’m going to sell it for more and profit from that.”

  “My god yreedy,” I tell him.

  Cillian walks into the kit. He opens a cupboard to reveal bottles and bottles of alcohol. He takes a bottle. “I worked with some of the worst society has to offer. You learn to bleed them dry or they’ll do the same to you.” He pops the cork and takes a rge swig. He grimaces. “Cheap shite.” He takes another swig. “Last time I let’er buy the drinks.”

  Seeing that Cillian wants to be left aloh his drink, I return my attention bayers. “So, you said there’s space for another jht?”

  “Correct. The [Captains] quarters were made smaller. The extra space was allocated into a room for whatever major job you wish to create.”

  A sense of dismay falls over me at the thought of a smaller room for myself, but I suppress those feelings with cold hard logic. As a cat, I really don't hat much space.

  “There's a good ce I’ll be obtaining a [Ruh] soon. Is there a job for someoh such a skillset?”

  Myers squints. “[Ruh]?” Then he realizes. “Afinov’s daughter?”

  “Yup, I think she wants to join and I don’t mind. I’m expeg her to show up either tonight or sometime tomorrow.”

  The old man starts stroking his beard. “That’s a bit more plicated. Gemma ships have entire fes installed within their hold to unlock the [Femaster] job.”

  “So we o install a fe. Is that even possible?”

  Myers shakes his head. “Not for any ship made pletely of wood. I believe the best option avaible is to have her as [Chief Carpenter]. She’ll level detly if you have her add ruo the ship.”

  “I was already pnning on having her do that- starting with some pantry cooling runes. Speaking of which.” I look at Cillian and find the Scot reag for another bottle. He freezes as we make eye tact. “Whaaat. It’s cheap.” He grabs another bottle, pops the cork, and takes a chug.”

  I snort. “I see why she bought cheap drinks. Speaking of her, do you know when she will return?”

  “Be’fore naight.” he slurs.

  “Damn. I’ll have to have her buy milk tomorrow. I guess I’ll wait. Cy, mind showing me around the ship?”

  “Okay!” the child yells before whiski of the kit.

  _________________________________________________________________

  Early in the m, Afinov and his daughter set out from their home with a cart packed with supplies. Using his strength, he pulls the cart dowreets of Breston at a pace that most would struggle to keep up with. But femma, their race is graced with stamina. Pulling the cart all the way to the docks is stant and effit.

  During the walk, both he and his daughter bask in plete silehey have already pnned and talked all of yesterday. More words would only get in the way.

  When they arrive at the Timbergrove, two men are waitihe ship. When they lock eyes ohey rush to the cart.

  “What are you guys doing here?” Emma asks in surprise.

  “Us? Quasi is paying us to haul freight,” Carrion expins. He points at the cart. “What are you doing here with all this?”

  “I’m joining Quasi’s crew.”

  Carrion frowns. “You accepted? Without telling me?”

  “It was st minute.” Emma flushes. “I spent all night preparing. I figured I’d have time to tell you once everything is unloaded. What do you mean I accepted?”

  Carrion scratches the side of his head. “Quasi asked me and my brother if we want to join his crew. We deed.”

  “I deed,” Daveed adds. “You only deed because I did.”

  “You’re my little brother. I’m not going to just leave you alo Breston.”

  Emma raises an eyebrow. “You wao join Quasi too?”

  Carrion grins. “He pays very well and is strong.”

  “And crazy.” Daveed says.

  “I wouldn’t call that crazy. More bloodthirsty than anything else.”

  Daveed practically goes cross-eyed. “He sughtered aire building and then made us loot all the corpses.”

  “We got a good cut out of it.” Carrian shrugs.

  “I don’t care. I’m doh violence. If you want to join his crew, go ahead. I’ll be fine alone.”

  The older brother folds his arms. “I’m not leaving you on your own. Not again.”

  Afinov parks the cart o the ship. Then he looks at the three.

  “Boys,” he points at the boxes on the cart. “Unload. Emma, follow.” He starts walking up the pnk to the ship.

  “I’ll talk to you both ter.”

  She rushes after her father and they move to the deck. Just as they arrive, they find Boriss covered doing pushups with a cat sitting on him.

  When they arrive, Boriss stops doing pushups.

  “I didn’t say stop,” The cat warns.

  Boriss tinues.

  Both Gemma look at Boriss. The man is covered i with bags under his eyes. Every pushup is a struggle with arms stantly shaking.

  “Is he alright?” Emma asks.

  “He’s being punished for putting a child's life in danger.”

  “So you’re making him work out? Is that even punishment?”

  “We started yesterday before night. He’s yet to stop.”

  “That is effective punishment.” Afinov excims. “He will remember this pain if the situation arrives again.”

  “That still seems extreme.” Emma says.

  “Your mother cut fingers off as punishment. This is very humane in parison.”

  “Boriss isn’t evil, he’s just an idiot with messed up morals. Anyway, I’m guessing you accepted joining my crew?”

  “I have.”

  “Perfect. I’m making you [Chief Carpenter] until I find a way to install a fe on this ship, et a ship with a fe.”

  “This ship ot withstand a fe,” Afinov says.

  “Yea, Myers says the same thing. I kind of want to prove him wrong, but whatever. That’s iure. Afinov, I believe you have the fatherly spiel you o give me in front of your daughter. Don’t fet the threats.”

  Emma looks at her father.

  Her father steps forward.

  “I am leaving my daughter in your care. Use her, protect her, help her level. If anything happens to her, I reend you are also dead, otherwise I will use everything in my power to make sure you are.”

  “Short and sweet. That's perfect. Emma, anything to say to your dad?”

  “Um,” she looks up to him. Her father stares down at her with pride and sadness. She also see a hint ret, but that is overshadowed with determination.

  She steps forward, spreads her arms, and gives him a hug. “I’ll level. I’ll live. I’ll find mom. Then we’ll meet again as a family.”

  For the first time in her life, her father raises his arms and s them fortably around her. Quasi’s ears twitch at the sound of stone grinding on stone.

  “I will diligently wait for that,” He says.

  After several more seds, the two step away. Afinov looks to Quasi again. “I will now take my leave. Have the two boys bring my cart back when they are done.”

  He turns and starts walking away. As he does, a tear falls down his cheek. A tear hidden from his daughter as she watches her father disappear down the pnk and into the streets of Breston.

  Even after he left, sileretches food miil Quasi breaks it with a yawn.

  “Well, the rest of my crew should now be awake. Time for introdus.” Quasi stands up on his hindlegs with front paws spread. “You may carry your fluffy captain into the hold.”

  Emma snorts. She picks Quasi up in a cradle position.

  “Boriss, your punishment is plete.”

  Boriss’s muscles give way and he falls face-first onto the deck. After a few seds, his breathing slows as the Russiao sleep.

  “Is he alright?”

  “He’ll be fine when he wakes up. , let's go inside.”

  Entering the ship's hold, they are quickly beset by the smell of roasted meat. Both Gemma and cat follow the smell until they arrive at the packed kit. Wearing a flowery apron, Irmgard sets the food oable with the grace of a housewife. Around the table is the rest of the crew, all eagerly awaiting to eat. Except for Cillian. The mans already sipping on a gss of what is probably some kind of alcohol.

  “Good m,” Quasi calls out. He taps a paw on the side of his mount's head. “This is Emma. She’s our new crewmember. Emma, this is our misfit crew.”

  Irmgard points a dle at ay chair. “Sit a” She says.

  Emma looks at me.

  “You heard her. Go sit.”

  “I already ate.”

  “Then you feed me. Go, sit.”

  Emma does as told and takes a seat. Quasi hops out of her arms and takes a seat oable.

  “Alright. It’s introdu time. Our current [Cook] in all but job is Irmgard. She’s my [First Mate] and sed in and. The short plump guy is our resident alcoholic who just so happens to be my [Quartermaster]. The old fossil guy with the beard is Myers and the grandsoo him is either has a job, but Myers funs as both [Navigator] and [Helmsman].”

  “Lastly, you’ve already met Boriss. He’s my [Security Chief].”

  “Will he join us for breakfast?” Irgmard asks.

  “Probably not. He’s sleeping right now. Though I bet he will be ravenous when he awakens.”

  Emma lowers her head. “It is o meet you all. I am Emma, and I’m a [Ruh]. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

  Irmgard removes her apron and takes a seat at the table. “Emma, you fight?”

  “N-no. But I want to learn.”

  “Then I will train you,” Irmgard excims.

  “Later.” Quasi interrupts. “We need refrigeration first.” The cat g Emma. “You do that, right? Make a room cold?”

  She nods. “I . My dad gave me everything I need for runeing.”

  “Perfect. Irmgard, I’m going to need you to buy a lot of milk.”

  “The process will take several weeks.” Emma adds.

  “Fuck. cel that. I ’t stay here any longer. I o level ao the towers as soon as possible.”

  “Towers?” Emma asks.

  “Yea. I have to reach all twenty-oowers as soon as possible while leveling rapidly. I ’t exactly do that here. Myers, you said there is a tower nearby?”

  He nods. “Two weeks out.”

  “Perfect. The sail tomorrow m.”

  “So soon?” Emma asks.

  “Yup. I suggest you say goodbye to the boys tonight. You won’t be seeing them for a long while.” Quasi stands up, pushes away the ptes and utensils in front of Emma, and then ys down on his back. “Now, I’m hungry and sleepy and I want to deal with the prior and then the former. So, you may begin the process of feeding. Start with the meat. Meat is good.”