Job offer

'Before we finalise our plans to go on a dungeon date tomorrow, I have a question for you. Have you ever fired a mana cannon before?'

'A mana cannon? Yes, once, when I was being forced to work on the pirate ship. Why?'

'Would you like to fire one again?'

'That would be fun, yes, but I don't understand why you are asking me.'

After she took me to Pops's shop, my mind was already made up. I want this girl! I want her to be my woman and my crewmate. I want her to be the first member of my crew, made up of a harem of women.

I have decided to take full 100% advantage of this world and everything in it. I want to become monstrously strong, I want to become unfathomably rich, and I want to enjoy myself as much as possible while I can. I want my own sky island!

I want to hunt pirates, explore dungeons and ancient ruins, and build a fleet of mercenary ships strong enough that I never have to bow to any entity. That is what I want. And it all starts here, it starts with her.

'I am in need of a crew. Right now, I am the only person aboard my ship. You have some experience sailing the skies, and you have experience in dungeons, so I think you would be a good crewmate.

I've only known you for a short time, but providing that you would like to, I offer you the position of gunner.

You obviously don't want to stay in this city anymore. Aside from Pops, it seems nobody else here treats you well, either.

I am offering a monthly salary of 500 gp, plus a small percentage of all earnings the ship makes. I will provide you with all necessary living arrangements, food, equipment, clothing, a warm bed, washing facilities, etc.

You will be able to join me on my epic journey to become filthy rich, hunt pirates, build a harem of beautiful and strong wives, and a fleet of badass proportions!'

'Are you serious? You want me to be a member of your crew?'

'Absolutely! I fully intend to rule the skies one day. I will need a capable crew.'

'And you have been referring to our time together as a date because you want me to join your Harem as well?'

'This and that are separate things. I will win you over eventually, but being part of the crew is good enough for the moment, as long as my attempts at flirting don't worry you too much!'

'Actually, I don't mind the flirty banter at all, but that doesn't mean you have already won me over! This isn't some kind of joke? Are you really inviting me to join your crew? I can finally leave this wretched place?'

'We can grab your belongings and have the skyfarer's guild draw up a contract for you as a crewmember right now if you like.'

'What would I have to do?'

'Basically, you would be responsible for controlling the ship's weapons, while I pilot it. We will eventually need to get a navigator too, and other crew members. But you will act as gunner on the ship, and a combatant off the ship if we go into dungeons or ruins or something similar.'

'When can we leave?'

'When the ship is stocked and ready to go. I would like to upgrade the weaponry on the ship as soon as possible. I imagine that will take a few days, so during that time we will be diving into the dungeon with the sole goal of increasing our combat power and learning to fight together as a team.'

'As long as you promise not to use your authority as captain to force me into your bed, I accept.'

'I promise I won't do that. I'm sure you will choose to do that all by yourself hehehe. Welcome aboard, my foxy gunner!'

'We'll see about me doing that of my own accord. Thanks for having me, Captain!'

'Let's go collect your belongings, and then we can stock up the ship, check out the firepower upgrades, and get you a contract. I will need to register you as a crew member from now on.'

With a huge smile on her face and a frantically wagging tail, we make our way to the part of the city where Kaelin lives.

When we arrive, I can clearly see that she has been squatting in an abandoned building. The windows and doors are boarded up, and she enters the building by pushing aside a loose plank and climbing in through the opening it creates.

She returns 5 minutes later carrying nothing more than a small sack, which supposedly contains all of her belongings.

'Tomorrow I need to return to Pops's shop so I can pick up that ring, while we are out, we can get all of the essentials you will need for life on the ship. Clothes, necessities, and any upgrades you need for your combat gear.'

She nodded along in agreement, but I can tell that having to show me the conditions she has been enduring so far is quite embarrassing for her. It's obvious she has had a particularly difficult time in this city, I am sure she will be glad to see the back of it.

We make our way from her residence towards the dock, and she takes me into a store that deals with ship supplies.

The shopkeeper gives her the same dirty looks everyone else has done so far, but says nothing, realizing that she is there with me.

The ship already has frozen food and dried goods on board, so I want to get some other things to make life for us a little more comfortable. I pick up a selection of dried fruit, oats, nuts, smoked and preserved meat, cheese, citrus fruit, smoked and preserved fish, soap, salt, wine, ale, rum and other essentials. Enough for 6 months' worth of supplies. It costs around 700 gp in total.

Next, time to buy some big guns!