(CHAPTER 8: AHOY MATE!)

They continue their hike. With the blizzard gone and the sun up high to light up their journey, they are able to reach to the peak much faster. And on the other side of the Howling peaks was the sea.

The gang slowly approaches the village located at one of the cove. The gang stopped upon seeing the road sign, which wrote "THE SUNKEN REEF HARBOUR" "I guess we restock here and continue?" Hero suggested to the other people. "And then what? Boat across the entire freaking ocean?" Norman complaint, it was true though, the sea is way too vast, and they aren't explored voyagers, who knows what kind of being and monster is lurking beneath the deep sea. "Well I don't got that much money to buy a ship." Hero rolled his eyes.

"I suppose we find a ship and hitch a ride." Rose suggested as the gang look at the ships that dock in within the harbor, with all sort of shapes, sizes and build. "Yeah I agree. " Brine nodded, "you also need time to heal your wounds too." She confronted, she is right though, although is wounds were healed, but some part of him is still aching like crazy. "Argh fine." Hero finally agree. "Let's head into to see whether anyone wanted to offer us a ride. Norman and Rose you will do the talking, me and Brine will gather some essentials for the trip." Norma made an "Ok" sign and the rest agreed. Together they headed into the harbor in search for ship that are willing to take them together on their voyage.

"Hey mate." Norman ask one of the shop keepers who is selling rations. "Any recommendation for a captain here at the harbor?" "You bet I know." The shopkeeper, a teen at his twenty smirked, showing off his yellow brown tooth with fish bone sticking out of it. "Captain Black and his crew is the best gang you can find here. That man once kill a great white with his bare hands, one punch they say." "Great, take us to him." Rose insisted, the smell of rotten sardine is almost driving her nuts. "But you know, I can't get away from my shop, if not I will lose business..." He pretended to be worry sick as he pointed at the fishes he was selling. "Argh." Norman threw out a few gold coins to him, the teen stare at the coins and smile slyly as he swipe them all into a sack and shake it near to his ears. The coin create a refreshing jingling sound as he let out a satisfied expression. "Follow me." He turn around and signal the duo to head with him. "You won't regret this."

"Twenty."

"Come on mate, that's a full set. Should've worth fifty! Forty is already a blessing!!"

"Twenty five!"

"Thirty five!"

"Thirty, that's final."

"Then that's a deal." Hero handed out the emeralds as the trader handed out a wooden crater filled with all kind of items for voyaging. Hero open the crate and check the items within it he let out a broad smile, with thirty emeralds, this is a steal. He didn't know that bargaining would be such fun, especially when you won the bargain.

"Hey girl, watch where are you going!"

Hero turn around and he saw a gang of four teaming against Brine. "You've done it girl! The Heart of the Sea is broken! You know how precious that thing is?!" One of the slender guy snarled as he pick up the broken sphere like item from the ground. He was wearing a sparrow tail coat and a top hat, giving him an elegant feel, He is carrying a hand held leather backpack which he carefully put the remain of the broken sphere in it "Sorry, I, I can't see…." Brine hung her head low and bite her lips, it was indeed her fault though, she bumped right into the people who is heading towards her.

"Pay up then." The shortest man within them interrupted. He is wearing a long brown clock, with oil stains on his sleeve. He carries a huge backpack and wears a one eye glasses and has a golden tooth fixed into his mouth and also bizarre goatee. His outfit make him look like a merchant. "I don't have….." She bit her lips again, this time harder, she could taste a metallic taste in her mouth. "Then how about your eyes." The only girl of the gang walk out of the rest and spoke with an utter sweet voice as if her throat was waxed with the finest wax. She is wearing a velvet red gown and a wine red witch's hat, there are some random potions hanging around her waist as well as some weird relic dangling around her hat, including one that looks or maybe is a bat's wing. She casually approaches Brine as she touches Brine's cheek with her sharp, blood red fingernails, and look into her blank eyes. "Such eyes are pretty-"

"Back off." Hero stepped forward as he flashes his saber and with his other arm he guarded Brine. "Leave the girl alone, she didn't meant it." "You know how much time and energy we waste for that thing?" The rest of the people let out a snarl towards Hero. "At least pay up." The merchant grumble, "That thing is really hard to get! We spent a whole month in hunt for it, and almost loose our lives! You think that you can just walk away with it!?" He took out his weapon, a short iron halberd which is twice his size. Hero have seen this kind of weapon before, a double edge heavy duty weapon, in which the user need to have a great sense of balance and utilize the weight of each tip, which isn't an easy feat considering the fact that each side weights at least a hundred pound.

"I don't have any money alright, I spend all of them just minutes ago on equipment." Hero fessed up, the thirty emerald is indeed all what he have. "A likely story." The merchant dashes towards him and strikes with his halberd, Hero sidestepped and dodged the strike fairly easily. The blow was dealt towards a barrel right beside him, which shatter upon impact.

Hero counter with his saber, in which was blocked by the merchant. The merchant deflected the attack as he leap a few block back to gain some space, but Hero seems to know his trick though, as he immediately advances right in front of him, striking him once more with his saber.

He has already found out the weakness of the halberd, which is the weight and size make it extremely difficult when it comes to close quarter combat. Just when the fight is about to come to another level, a sound boomed, stopping both of them.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!!"

The bulkiest and strongest man finally spoken. He has a huge bushy beard with white strips and a body shape like a bear. The scar or his hands mark down the journey and adventures of his. His eyes were cyan blue with a hint of navy blue, just like the sea. He seems drunk though, as he wobbled while he walk towards them. He wear a white single which is stained with blood, probably from the fish, hopefully and sea water. The huge hollow of his bibs swayed with the sea breeze as he approaches, bringing the fishy, salty smell of the sea at the same time.

"You gotta pay for what she have done boy." He approaches and stare at Hero, his voice is rough, rougher than the sea "The Heart of the Sea can save lives, and you just killed them. Now we need to head out for another, you know how much haste does that means?" "So what could we do?" Hero asked as he stares back. "I suggest you to join us." He stares back to him as he lean his head closer.

The rest of the gang seems unwilling with the decision, but one cold wave from him is all it takes to make the final decision. "This boy needs some lesson from the sea." He growls. "You and your girl here will work with us, until we successfully obtain the second Heart of the Sea from the nearest Ocean monument. Then as a repayment, we can share you half of our normal share. Deal?"

Just when he was about to say a word. A teenager interrupted them as he wave his hands and signaling the two figure who is following him: Rose and Norman. He whisper a few words to the man to get his permission before proudly present him to the duo:

"And this is the one and only, CAPTAIN BLACK!!"