Ivy leaned over the table while her tail wagged below her. "Haigang?"

"Yes," Charles answered. "A merchant somehow got his hands on the medallion and sold it to a crime lord named Du Su. And I am pretty sure he still has it."

"My old crew visited Haigang once to trade a contraband cargo," Ivy explained. "The pandas there are nice, but they will kill you if you cross them."

Lucy’s other father said he visited the city island when he was a sailor. Maybe he had the medallion and sold it to the panda crime lord. That would make sense after he escaped from Ghost Island. If he was alive, she would go back and ask him so many questions.

She glared at Charles. “If you knew about the medallion, then why didn’t you get it in the first place?”

Charles held up his paws. “I forgot! If I didn’t, I wouldn’t care about the medallion, anyway. I could still find the island on the map. Sometimes it does reappear in the same place.”

Lucy sighed. They would have saved more time if the dumb wolf got the medallion before he met her.

“Suh wi sail tuh Haigang fi get di tricket now?” Tashina with a half grin on her face.

Her friends turned their gazes toward Lucy, waiting for her reply.

Before she opened her mouth, a quest notification popped into her sight.

Quest alert! Retrieve the Medallion Go to Haigang to get the medallion from Du Su at his bath house. Although the medallion is your option, it will help you reach Ghost Island faster. Beware, the crime lord might not accept your negotiation to get his precious item. Get the medallion by any means necessary. Do you accept this quest? Aye, or nay?

Lucy grinned. “Of course, we will head to Haigang. If the panda doesn’t give us the medallion, we’ll take it from him.”

Quest accepted!

Charles smiled with satisfaction. “Now that is the pirate way.”

Lucy couldn’t wait to see the panda city island. Her father’s description of the large trading port was vague, but seeing it herself will help her visualize it to her satisfaction.

*****

“Hello, old friend,” a sharp voice whispered.

Those words instantly woke up Walton from his catnap. He fell off his bench and quickly climbed to his feet.

Charles stood behind the bars, smiling at the short cat like a hyena. “How does it feel to be inside the brig this time?”

Walton snarled. “Ave ye come t' tease me, or scuttle me?”

Charles crossed his arms. His tail wagged behind him. “Why would I do that?”

“Cause I took me ship back 'n planned t' sell ye off.” Walton sniffed and rubbed his nose. “If ye did the same t' me, I would 'ave scuttled ye on the spot.”

“You know I am not that type of pirate. I would never kill an old friend, even if he betrayed me.”

Walton pointed his little claw at the wolf. “Ye betrayed me by stealin' me ship!”

“And you betrayed me by almost selling me off to the Imperial Navy.”

Walton shrugged. “Aye, guess that made us even.”

Both of them laughed.

Charles brushed a tear off his left eye. “Can you forgive me?”

Walton calmed himself down. “Give me back me ship, 'n then I will forgive ye.”

Charles frowned. “I can’t.”

“Why nah?” The cat glared in annoyance.

The wolf pointed his finger up. “The girl I offered you is now the new captain.”

Walton laughed. “Ye be jokin?” He coughed and cleared his throat. “Right?”

Charles glared at the cat in silence. His lips frowned.

Walton could tell the wolf was serious. “How?”

“It’s a long story… The crew can only listen to her, not me. Indeed, she is in charge of our ship.”

Walton gave Charles a wry grin. “Cause she be a computer player, savvy?”

“How did you-” Charles paused for a moment. He wiggled his finger with a grin. “She told you, didn’t she?”

“Good guess, which made me curious why ye 'ave her in the first place.”

Charles gripped the bars. "A computer player can be useful for many things, but she is only my ally."

Walton snickered. "Mighty? I know ye like t' use scallywags, Charles. If she be so useful, then why do ye needs her? Ransome? Friendship? Love?"

Charles grimaced. That wolf must be hiding something.

He licked his lips. "If you want to know the truth, please forgive me." He frowned. "We can be friends again and leave our mistakes in the past. And I apologize for stealing your ship."

Walton shrugged. "Shiver me timbers, I forgive ye. Now tell me wha' be goin' on. No lies!"

Charles smiled with anticipation.