The boss and Roger had changed. The boss walked at the lead, wearing ornate System-armor shimmering with blue-lifeforce. On his wrist was the bracelet embedded with a red origin crystal taken as a prize from the dead guard, containing the [Regeneration] ability. Roger wore a rich royal-purple cloak made from a velvet-like material with one arm hidden from view. It shimmered with pink-lifeforce, indicating that it was also a System-item. The pair's most distinctive change was that the subtle glow under their skin had risen in intensity and could be easily seen. There was also a faint light coming from their hair. Roger's was the most eye-catching. It was blue laced with intricate moving patterns of gold, while the boss's was purely a green colour.

Avery leisurely swaggered a step behind the pair using his trademark walking cane to lean on, dressed immaculately in a white shirt unbuttoned at the top with his coat slung casually over his shoulder. He was followed by Uncle Joey and the rest of the surviving crew.

Uncle Joey still wore his stained white apron and bandana but now carried an ornate pair of cleavers on his back. Their hilts were in the shape of decorative eastern dragons made from black-lacquered wood. One shimmered with green-lifeforce while the other contained orange-lifeforce. The oarsmen behind him held an assortment of other System-items, but Noah wasn't familiar with any of their names. Less than five remained of the once-large crew.

Louis was initially obscured from view behind the rest of the group but pushed through them to run toward Noah. It was now clear that Louis was a girl while crossing the distance between them. Her long and lustrous blonde hair streamed behind her and shimmered in the light as she ran. She wore a strangely-styled cross vest, held closed by a sash that showed off her curves with a pair of loose-fitting black trousers. The outfit's materials were alien to Noah, looking almost like silk or satin, but different. He assumed that it was more System-items. The crew had been busy.

"Noah!" Louis cried out as she slung her arms around his neck in an embrace.

"Hello, Louis," Noah replied as he awkwardly adjusted Lyn to give her a one-handed hug.

"It's Louise now. Since Avery spoiled my disguise and I have the strength to protect myself now. There's no point in hiding it anymore," Louise informed him.

"Louise, huh? That's not much of a change," Noah observed.

"I'm not much for creativity," Louise replied as she stepped out of the way for the boss and Roger to approach.

「Fishbait, you survived. 亅

The boss spoke in strange tones while Noah was mysteriously able to understand him. He could feel it resonate with him and draw his attention to every word he said. The boss initially spoke the words in his native language of Afrikaans while a second voice overlapped it inside Noah's mind to translate.

"So did you, miraculously," Noah replied. The boss laughed as he clapped a familiar hand on Noah's shoulder in response.

「I was equally surprised, believe me. My father rescued as many as he could from the water, but the forest and its monsters took many. I woke up in a pit of sand with Richard eating that disgusting goop created by Uncle Joey's ability. It seems he acquired a taste for it, and it is his good fortune that he did. He gained the ability of the crocodile, which died with me.亅 the boss said as he indicated an oarsman at the back of the group. Noah vaguely recognized him.

"So Roger is your father and also the captain now?" Noah asked.

「It is strange to call him father aloud. He did not know that I knew who he was from when the man my mother called my father left with another. He told me of my origin. My mother feared that he was impotent when he did not desire her. She travelled from the city to meet with a witch doctor for a remedy. After he revealed that he preferred more masculine company, he arranged with Roger. I was acknowledged as the man's son while Roger secretly sired me to carry on his family name. Then the world changed. Laying with other men became accepted, and that was when he left my mother and told me the truth. Now Roger is our captain, without a boat. 亅 The boss answered with a heartfelt chuckle of amusement.

"I will take a ship from the man known as the Tyrant. He will not notice the loss, do you agree, Basil?" Roger said, his voice was overlapped, similar to the boss despite speaking in English.

The mouse pushed itself out from where it hid under Roger's cloak to squeak in response to his question animatedly. The movement revealed Roger's ruined right arm's charred remains as he laughed in response to Basil's words.

"It is extraordinary to be able to speak and understand animals. This is a gift of the ancestors," Roger said.

"Why is your arm still ruined? You are wearing a System-item, which is far more expensive than even a grade two healing potion. Then the boss has the [Regeneration] ability which you could use," Noah asked.

"This is a trophy from a worthy adversary. It would be a dishonour to its spirit if I repaired it. I carry his power inside my cloak. It is a fair exchange," Roger replied.

「This is as it should be. We killed many monsters inhabiting this place, gaining much Merit, but there are no survivors here. 亅the boss said.

"They've all gone to escape with the Sisters of the Sea. Ronan is coming here with the Fallen Citadel. That's what they're calling their ship now that it can fly. It's harnessed the power from the whale we followed," Noah said.

"Hmmm, then we do not need to find him for your vengeance. This is good. We will wait," Roger said as he stroked his beard with his intact hand.

"This isn't your fight. You don't need to help me. I have a plan to get on board. Him," Noah said as he pointed toward Josh.