Jabal.

The midnight fog masked their figures as they boarded a small boat and left the harbour.

Nathaniel rowed the boat through the calming waves and navigated towards an inconspicuous ship anchored far into the deep waters.

A flag depicting a sea serpent hung on the stern of the ship. Three large masts laid atop the long vessel tinged in ebony. Sturdy cannons extended from the port and starboard of the ship.

Burly men in grey tunics inspected the waters with their sharp eyes as the small boat drew closer.

A hydra was carved at the head of the vessel, which looked like a slumbering beast ready to devour any oblivious prey at a moment's notice.

A rope fell down when their small boat arrived below the ship and slightly knocked into it.

Creak...

Grabbing the rope with one hand, Selena carried Celeste and climbed up along the vessel with ease. She then looked down at Hertha from above and smiled in mockery; Hertha stomped her foot and looked at Vincent with pleading eyes.

Vincent sighed and passed the blade strapped at his back to Nathaniel. "Alright, get on my back."

"Yes!" Hertha latched on to his back and gave a mocking smile at Selena.

"Where is the wyvern?" he asked Nathaniel.

"Already in the ship," he replied.

Vincent climbed up the rope while Hertha hugged him from behind like an oversized koala. After they boarded the ship, the sailors nodded at Nathaniel and led them towards the captain's quarters.

"Ludicrous! Why did we reserve the whole ship in the first place if you take the liberty to let in other people behind my back?"

A barrage of arguments flew out from the captain's quarters as they approached.

"Reserving the whole ship with the petty sum you lot provided, hahaha, you sure jest."

"I won't forget this!" Three cloaked figures stomped out of the captain's quarters and descended the stairs leading below the deck.

"Welcome! Welcome!" a bald man walked out and greeted Nathaniel.

A long black moustache was etched upon his squared face. An oversized coat was swathed over his stout body. His tanned chest was exposed and engraved with labyrinthian symbols portraying the skeleton of a hydra.

"So these are your people?" he asked Nathaniel.

Nathaniel nodded in response.

I am Jabal," he said and stretched out a hand to Vincent.

Vincent smiled and returned a firm handshake.

The air turned heavy as the symbols on Jabal's chest were emblazed with light. He exerted pressure on Vincent's hand as if planning to crush it within, but Vincent stood still without flinching. Time slowly crept to a halt; Jabal knitted his brows when he felt a mountain was pressed against his back.

His expression finally eased, and he released his grip, "So you are also a body refiner? Haha...people like us are rare to find."

Vincent smiled and asked, "What about you? A body refiner stooping so low as to be the captain of a pirate ship?"

"What pirate ship?" he pointed at Nathaniel. "I do honest business...most of the time anyway, heh heh."

Nathaniel handed him a pouch, "The full amount."

Jabal opened the pouch and took out a blue gem with swirling mist dancing inside.

"A First-Grade aether stone! I knew you people were not simple," he looked back at the pouch filled to the brim with gems. "Damn! You people sure are rich! Are you folks perhaps--"

Vincent's eyes flashed azure; the surrounding air froze, and Jabal felt something intangible slither around his throat.

"Nevermind, I should not have asked," Jabal said.

"A good response," Vincent said in a cold tone.

Jabal felt a chill in his spine and gave a dry laugh. "Sorry about that."

"Apology accepted," Vincent said. "I need three rooms."

"A guest of your calibre will be treated to the greatest extent," Jabal laughed and led them down the stairs. "Come come."

"What is the story behind those three people from earlier," Vincent asked.

"Don't know, didn't ask, those simpletons only gave me gold coins in exchange, gave them the worst cabins, haha," he chuckled.

"Would they be a problem?" Vincent asked.

"I will just kick them out if there is any," he reassured and led them through a wide passage dimly lit with lanterns.

They stopped at the very end of the corridor.

"These are the best rooms my humble ship has to offer, apart from my quarters, of course," he then left by saying. "Come find me if you need anything else."

"Alright, pick your rooms," Vincent said.

Hertha latched into his back, "I should stay with you."

"Whatever," he said and went inside the room in the middle.

"No!" Selena pulled her from his back and pushed her out. "Take Celeste to the next room and keep an eye on her."

"Why me…you are her mothe--" before she could finish speaking, the door closed on her face.

"Just awful!" she took the confused Celeste in her arms and went inside the next room.

Nathaniel shook his head and moved to the last remaining room.

Something moved at the corner of his eyes, causing him to halt his steps midway. He looked back at the stairs leading to the lower levels and felt goosebumps; a pair of eyes with three slits observed him before finally vanishing below the deck.

Nathaniel furrowed his brows and muttered with a voice no one could hear, "A beastkin at a place like this? or..."