The thirst for adventure grumbled inside her belly.

Lucy Longsilver stood on the edge of the dock, facing the ocean. The warm sunlight glimmered down her orange fur while the wind breezed through her long blonde hair. Her brown eyes glanced at the sun, descending beyond the sea.

She dreamed of venturing out to see new lands and meet interesting people. But that wasn't her task. As an NPC, Lucy's only role was to work at her father's bar, the Backwash Tavern.

Yes, she was an NPC (Non-player character). An advanced artificial intelligent digital life form, living inside a virtual MMORPG, called Skulls and Crossbones. The world was called Nassau, a world of islands and open vast seas. Nearly the entire world was covered in water, but there were plenty of islands to explore. 

The designers created the game for players to roleplay as pirates, anthropomorphic pirates who could do anything they want. However, not all of them were great without leveling up to increase their three-character stats; health points, attack power, and magic power. Each of them owned their own ships and commanded crews of NPCs with unique sets of skills. Too bad Lucy wasn't one of those NPCs who could join the players. 

Her purpose was serving drinks to the players and their crew. Sometimes her visitors were NPCs who also enjoyed drinking. Still, it was a boring task and her father never wanted her to leave his tavern. If she did, she wouldn’t survive in the open game world.

Lucy held up her right arm and touched her wrist. In a few seconds, her character status appeared as a small translucent screen with blue letters and numbers.

Bartender Level: 1 Race: Cocker Spaniel (Dog) HP: 10 Non-player character

Every player and non-player has character status that allowed the system to determine their strength and weakness. Lucy never had the chance to level up because NPC’s couldn’t. Only players could level up by defeating enemies and completing quests. And they could respawn while NPCs remain dead if their health points reach zero. What the players could do and what the NPCs couldn’t do was unfair.

"Lucy!" Her father shouted behind her. "Bricks oval!"

Lucy turned away from the ocean view and marched across the dock. "Coming!"

She approached the back door of the tavern where her father stood, smoking a cigar. Like her, he was a cocker spaniel. Overweight, taller, and his floppy ears were shorter than Lucy's long ears. His stomach was so fat, his white tank top could barely cover his belly. Below his snort, his yellow beard hung out long, keeping his thick neck invisible. On his head was a red durag to keep his shaved scalp from being exposed. 

"Woot doo you kelp staring art ocean, lass?" her father asked. "There bee butter things doo in brick."

Lucy kept her lips shut. She doesn't want her father to know her genuine feelings. If he does, he would try to pull her dream out of her head. "I just wanted some peace. That's all."

Her father shrugged. "Yo butter con end buffoon mine customers star riot. There bee thirsty today."

Lucy saw many players coming into the Backwash Tavern, pretending they were very thirsty as if they never brought drinks on their long trips. Maybe they really liked the tavern's cozy atmosphere and her father's delicious rum. It was the best tavern on Oyster Haven. The only good tavern in the isolated floating town. 

"I bee ate the doc," her father explained. "Newt ship mint is combing."

"Okay." Lucy was sure her father meant the new beer arriving for his tavern. All the beer and soft drinks came from islands, trading to Oyster Haven. Since her father doesn't have his own brewery, he needed to trade silver to get the drinks. At least they never ran out because the cargo ships were good at selling.

While her father left, Lucy strolled through the storage room and stood behind the bar counter inside the large dining room. The tavern has two floors; the top with extra tables near windows. A candle chandelier hung over the center of the wooden plank floor. Two stairways to the second floor stood at the back where the entrance was built. All the round tables on the first floor surrounded the empty center space. Good place for the visitors to dance or fight.

While wiping the counter with a cloth, Lucy watched the guests drink at their tables while chatting. Some guests played card games and smoked cigars. A couple threw darts at the hanging dartboard and sipping their mugs each time. Two fellows were reading a map on the table, and a fat pig snort while laying down in the corner, probably drunk out of his mind. 

How typical. Lucy wished she could hear the sea adventurers talking about treasure, legends, and their quests. But so far nobody was talking about what Lucy wanted to hear. Only casual conversations being told, boring off Lucy's head. 

This tavern needs a bar fight. After Lucy cleaned the counter, a fat raccoon wearing a black tricorne and a red trench coat approached her. "Two coconut rums please?"

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Two?"

The raccoon glared at her. "You doubt my drinking, lass?"

"Oh, no! Coming right up!" If Lucy angered the customer, her father would send her to her room for time out. He doesn't like losing customers and getting his reputation ruined.

She grabbed two glass mugs from the cabinet behind the counter. While holding the mugs under the keg, she pushed the faucet down, pouring the clear bubbling rum into each cup from the barrel. 

She tasted coconut rum before her father brewed it from fresh coconuts. Mixed with pure cane sugar, yeast, and syrup, it tasted like a tropical beach.

Lucy placed the filled mugs on the counter. "Here you go. Ten silver."

The raccoon dropped the silver coins on the counter and picked up the mugs. "Thanks."

"So, what have you been-"

The raccoon carried his drinks away, ignoring Lucy. 

She puffed her cheeks red. "Rude!"

Sometimes the players and non-players only approach her for drinks. Never bothering to chat with her, other than drinking. Or they would talk with their companions while pretending she wasn't there.

Lucy assumed the players thought NPCs weren't fun enough to talk to. But why? Because they trust their own kind more? Not all NPCs are boring people! Lucy was also a cute dog. Does anyone notice that?

Lucy picked up a glass mug and wiped it with a clean cloth. Just another boring day at the tavern. 

After she placed the mug away, she spotted a hooded fellow sitting at the counter with his head down. How did I not notice him?

He wore a heavy brown leather coat with a hood over his head. Completely covered. Leather gloves covered even his hands. His character status didn’t appear either, which was odd.

Lucy strolled toward him. "Hello, can I-"

"Sssssh!” The stranger rose his finger up and looked around. "Spicy rum is good."

Lucy bit her lip until she turned into a grin. "What's your story?"

"You wouldn't be interested."

Lucy giggled. "I'll put your drink on the house if you tell me."

The visitor glanced at her. His dark eyes glimmered above his gray-white shirt. He must be a wolf.

His lips turned to a grin. "I may have a good tale for you, lass."

Lucy leaned forward, resting her chin on her fist. "Do tell."

"First the drink, and then the tale."

"What if you don't tell me? I rarely give away free drinks here."

"I can't tell you if my throat is dry. It will be worth your wild."

Lucy narrowed her eyes until she shrugged. "Deal."

She turned around and worked her magic. She was lucky her father wasn't watching her. Giving away free drinks was forbidden in his paperwork. He would get furious if Lucy allowed one customer to get a free one. Although it didn't matter, her father was still strict about it, like one free drink could ruin his entire business. 

Lucy needed a pleasant story to listen to, or she would fall asleep on the job. One free drink won't end the world.

"Here you go." Lucy handed him the mug. "Fresh on the house."

The wolf sipped the mug and smiled. "Perfect!"

Lucy crossed her arms. "Now will you tell me your tale?"

"Sure!" The wolf drank half the rum and gasped. "Have you heard of Ghost Island?"

Lucy rested her chin on both fists. "No. What is it?"

The wolf took another sip and cleared his throat. "A place of riches and demise. In legends, one pirate named Daddy Jones found the island after he raided a hundred royal ships. He needed to hide his booty where nobody would live long enough to find it. The island became his liking, then he set up a base camp there with his pirate crew. Unfortunately, they weren't alone on the island. 

"A Zootec tribe lives on the island in their hidden city. Peaceful reptile tribe who worshiped the thunder god, Raigon. Their chief demanded Daddy Jones and his crew to leave the island, or else the god of thunder will punish them. Greedy like a snake, Daddy Jones doesn't believe in the supernatural, but he won't let a savage tribe order him around."

"So what did he do?" Lucy asked.

The wolf finished his mug and held it up. "I could go for round two if you fill me up again."

Lucy looked around and refilled the glass. She handed it back and watched the wolf drank almost half the rum.

"Oooooooh, I like this brand!" he cheered.

"Now will you continue?"

The wolf wiped his mouth. "Daddy Jones doesn't want to fight the Zootec. He knew the tribe outnumbered his crew, but he wasn’t stupid. One night, he offers his barrel of beer to the tribe as a peace treaty. The tribe drank the beer until they suddenly choked to death.”

"They're poisoned?"

"Yes, except the women and child. His crew slaughtered them all."

Lucy's mouth hung. "That's terrible!"

The wolf sat his mug down. "All pirates are terrible, but not as terrible as Daddy Jones. After he murdered the tribe, he hid his loot inside a temple beneath the tribe's city. Mountains and mountains of treasure he buried. Before he left, a strange fog engulfed the entire island, and he found his ship mysteriously destroyed."

"Ooooooooouuuuuuuuuu!"

"One by one, his crew disappeared. Then when Daddy Jones became the last pirate on the island, a thunderstorm arrived, and a figure appeared before him."

"Who was it?"

"Raigon himself. The god of thunder. He arrived to avenge the death of his worshippers. And he challenged a duel against Daddy Jones in a sword battle. If Raigon wins, he can leave the island. But if he loses, he will be trapped on the island forever as Raigon's champion. So Daddy Jones fought the god for his freedom, but as a mortal, he wasn't strong enough. The god struck lightning at Daddy Jones's sword, and Jones met his fate.

"Now Daddy Jones is the guardian of Raigon's sacred temple, and his crew haunted the island for eternally. Those who go there never return, but if they survived the ghosts of Daddy Jones's pirates, they will become filthy rich. That is why the island is called Ghost Island. It is the island of death."

"If no one can return from the island, how do you know the tale?" Lucy asked.

The wolf drummed his fingers against the mug. "Maybe one of Daddy Jones's crew escaped. I could tell you if you give me the third round."

Lucy glared. "It sounds like you're bribing me for free drinks."

"But the knowledge is worth it. Just one more drink and I'll tell you the secret."

Lucy opened her mouth until two armor suited men walked in from the double doorway. They were Imperial Navy soldiers, armed with rifled muskets. Silver kite shields rested on their backs in case they needed to take cover in a firefight. They also wore swords on their belts when they needed to fight in close combat. Their helmets covered half of their faces except for their pig snorts.

Imperial Navy Soldier Level: 10 Race: Pig HP: 100 Non-Player Character Imperial Navy Soldier Level: 10 Race: Pig HP: 100 Non-Player Character

All the Imperial Navy fleets descended from the Imperial Empire, just like the island colonies, except they enforce law and order for the empire. They tried to keep many islands under control, but only a few allowed their tyrant forefathers to rule over them. Pirates were the rebels of the sea, fighting for their freedoms although for inadequate reasons. Lucy doesn't like the Navy ordering people around, but she was smart enough to keep her words to herself. Anyone who spoke against the empire would be sentenced to death or placed into slavery for life. Sometimes nobody was that different when both sides wanted their own power.

One soldier pointed his finger at the wolf. "There he is!"

The wolf lowered his hood. "Oh, shit."

Lucy watched the soldiers approached her counter while keeping her hands behind her back. Whatever the wolf did, the Navy might not show him mercy.