Lucy watched the sunrise over the edge of the sun, resting her arms on the railing at the poopdeck. Although she had some rest after they left Blackmare Island, her head still felt a little fuzzy. Sometimes it took time for NPCs to wake up clearly.

With Captain Roof's help, they carried half the treasure back and forth to Turtle Chain town. Sure, they encountered bandits on the road, but Roof called more crew from his ship to protect the procession. The mob from Tarren reached Turtle Chain to confront Lucy's crew. Thanks to Roof, he bribed the annoying goat priest to leave Lucy's crew alone. The goat disgusted bribes, but he took the share to raise money for his church. After they loaded their share, Roof left the port to find more treasures to raid before his bedtime.

Although Lucy got one million pounds of gold, she didn't recruit enough crew for the ship at Blackmare. Roof wouldn't split his crew, and nobody in the town wanted to join Lucy’s crew. Maybe the town didn’t have enough sailors willing to leave for a dangerous adventure.

With luck, Tashina stated she knew an island where they could find worthy men who could become crew members for the Iron Maiden. They called themselves the Black Moon Tribe, a community of wild panthers on the island of Bengar. Tashina uses to visit there to collect ingredients for her witchcraft experiments, and she enjoyed the tribal men there for some love and comfort. Lucy kept that image out of her head, but she did accept Tashina’s suggestion. After buying supplies and trading what they didn’t need, the Iron Maiden set sail for a two-day trip to Bengar. With plenty of food and rum, should keep the small crew from falling into cabin fever.

Lucy yawned and stepped back. I better check my character status.

She blinked her eyes, opening up her status screen.

Lucy Longsilver Level: 17 Race: Cocker Spaniel (Dog) Class: Pirate HP: 160 MP: 0 Experience Points: 0/1,700 Proficiency Points: 7 Strength: 5 Speed: 3 Intelligence: 3 Charisma: 6 Computer Player Skills: Crafting Scent Sheath Fencing Equipment: White dress (DP+5) The Vanquisher (Cutlass AP-10) Health potion Elixir x 2

Lucy hasn't spent her proficiency points yet since she left the swamp island with her crew. And she gave one health potion to Charles to heal him up. Inside the cargo hold, she has plenty of health and elixir potions to keep her in good health. They should all last for ten days.

While observing her attributes, Lucy decided her speed should go up more with her strength. The faster she could move, the more attacks she could avoid. Her charisma hasn't worked so far. The NPCs on Blackmare had higher levels than her attribute. If she wanted to attract new crewmates and avoid conflict with enemies, her charisma should keep up.

For Intelligence, she has encountered none hard puzzles to solve. Because it was low, Boogaloo's spirit was strong enough to possess her body. If she doesn't want to get possessed again or cursed, she adds a little more to Intelligence.

Strength: 7 Speed: 6 Intelligence: 4 Charisma: 7

Lucy drew out her sword and swung it around. It felt lighter, and it moved a bit faster than before. With a seventeen attack, Lucy could fight stronger opponents. Whatever was on Bengar Island, they won't be easy as the fiends on Blackmare.

Lucy climbed down to the sterncastle deck and glanced up at the main mast. Ivy was sitting inside the crow's nest at the top of the main mast, watching the sea through a spyglass. Her boyish ponytail waved through the wind just like the black pirate flag above her head.

"How are you doing, Ivy?" Lucy shouted.

Ivy looked down and waved to her. "Absolutely great! I feel so much alive up here! It has been too long since I stood in a crow's nest! I am so happy to be up here!"

Lucy smiled, feeling the same joy as Ivy.

"Don't catch a cold up there!" Charles shouted while steering the ship behind the wheel.

Ivy giggled. "I never do up here! I am the goddess of all lookouts!"

Lucy laughed. The tomboy truly enjoys looking out for the entire ship. She said being in the crow's nest made her felt like she was on top of the world. Unlike most girls, she enjoyed heights and climbing regardless of how dangerous they were. That was why she liked being a lookout.

"Keep your eyes peeled!" Lucy shouted. "We are not ready to sail into other pirates in battle."

Ivy saluted. "Aye aye, captain!"

"Hold on! I'm the captain!" Charles shouted, tapping his chest.

Lucy tilted her head toward him with one eyebrow raised. "Who said you are the captain?"

Charles padded the wheel. "This is my ship. I stole it back from Walton."

"Oh." Lucy figured that was the case, but both of them were still working together to find Captain Flipper. After they get a good number of crewmates, they will be ready for the penguin pirate. "I will check on Tashina to make sure she didn't start a fire."

"I hope she doesn't cook us food." Charles spun the wheel to the left. "Ivy said to avoid whatever she makes."

"Then who else can cook for us?"

"I can," Charles grinned, "I can be a fine cook."

"Rrrright." Lucy stepped down to the quarter deck. "I'll be back."

She headed into the orlop deck and approached the infirmary door at the back of the ship. Strong charcoal and spicy scent reached her nose from the door, sending a tremor into Lucy's stomach.

Oh no! She is burning something! Lucy cleared her throat and knocked on the door.

"Who there?" Tashina shouted behind the door.

"It's me! Are you burning something in there?" Lucy asked.

"Ongle mi incenses! Dem safe!"

"Can I come in?"

"Eff yuh dare. Heeheehee!"

Lucy and Charles agreed Tashina could have the infirmary. She could sleep there and craft her witchcraft for the crew. As long as she doesn't curse the crew or turn them into toads, she could heal them and provide unique potions to support their adventure. Witch doctors do make a pirate crew stronger than their enemies with unique effects.

Lucy opened the door. A fog of smoke with wildberry smell slapped her face as she entered the room.

Before Tashina moved in, the infirmary was an average chamber with four beds, one desk, and a cabinet full of medical equipment. Now there were shrunken heads hanging from the ceiling, skulls on a shelf, black herb vines on the walls, and god knows what Tashina placed inside the cabinets. Since there were no windows, the quarter was very dark. However, candles were lit around the chamber as if nightfall has never passed.

"Wah yuh want?" Tashina was pouring two glass tubes of red liquid into a small cauldron on her desk. A spellbook laid open next to the pot among powder and plant pieces. The cauldron smoked, releasing a musty sulfur stench into the air.

Lucy grimaced at the smell. "I wanted to check up on you. See how you are fitting in your new home."

Tashina dropped an eyeball into the mini cauldron. "Nuh much like home. But dem seh home weh di heart."

"Mi admit it betta dan being struck inna dat cave," Boogaloo exclaimed from inside his hyena skulk, sitting on the writing desk near Tashina's bed.

Lucy stared at the talking skull and smiled. "And how are you today, Boogaloo?"

The skull chattered his teeth. "Nuh get friendly tuh mi, girl! Eff mi free mi wud return inna yuh bady an kill all yuh friends! Yuh should still be fearing me!"

"Oh shut it, grandfatha!" Tashina shouted. "Yuh nuh ave di powa tuh hurt even a fly."

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrr-stop crying mi yuh grandfather! Wi nuh related!"

Lucy beamed her eyes at the skull and glanced at the witch. "Geez, he still doesn't believe you are his granddaughter?"

Tashina crunched two leaves and sprinkled them into the cauldron. "Him a stubborn old fool but him ave no powa ova di of every. Mi wi always be fi him granddaughta til di day mi dead."

Boogaloo laughed. "Mi cyaa wait fi si dat happen!"

Tashina picked up a spoon and pointed it at the skull. "Den yuh ago bi stuck inna dat skull foreva, fool!"

"Wretch!"

Lucy stared at the cauldron. "What are you making?"

Tashina stirred the spoon inside the cauldron. "A potion tuh kip yuh awake fi a few days. Gud tuh kip di crew working widout rest. Wa fi try it?"

Lucy frowned while feeling an apple dropped down into her stomach. "No thank you. I still need some rest during the trip."

"Oh, mi insist." Tashina dripped the spoon into the cauldron and held up a spoon full of the strange potion toward Lucy. "Jink it."

Lucy shook her head. "I can't….. I-"

"Jink it! Jink it! Jink it!" Boogaloo shouted.

Tashina grinned. "Wah him seh. Yuh wa mi fi get angry?"

Lucy remembered her father told her to never anger a witch if she ever encountered one. If you do, the witches will curse you for the rest of your life. Sometimes you just have to obey them and hope you will live long enough to tell the tale.

Lucy sighed and took the spoon. "Sure, what kind of harm would I get?"

When Lucy sipped the potion, a sour taste exploded inside her mouth, but she swallowed to make it stop.

Suddenly, her head went dizzy, and she fell straight to the floor.

Tashina rose and stared down at Lucy. "Oh dear."

Boogaloo laughed. "HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yuh kill her! Now mi wi consisa yuh as mi granddaughter!"

Lucy closed her eyes, falling into the void of darkness. No wonder Ivy told her not to drink anything from Tashina.