After the next few days of sailing, Victorian came to one conclusion. Baise was as useful of a captain as he was powerful against Elena in a fight. In other words, the captain of the ship was useless. Instead of doing his duties, which Elena did in his place, Baise would always be on the upper deck of the ship and staring up at the sky or falling asleep with the breeze.

The rest of the crew were of a similar, laid back attitude. Yuto would be meditating near the stern. Alzono and Julius would have their daily fights only to be stopped by Elena. Kiyiya would see it as an opportunity to joke as he treated them around only to end up with an injury thanks to Elena. Morgan would be in the cabin figuring out the next course of plan and she believed to see something in the Crow’s nest.

“So what do you want to do after we dock?” Thomas asked. He made it his job as the youngest to accompany the new member.

“I’m not sure. Do you have plans? I can follow you? Or I can stay on the ship. It doesn’t really matter.”

“Hey Tori, come here,” Baise said and he gesturing frantically with his fingers.

Victorian headed up to where Baise had woken up from his nap and immediately, he attacked her hair, analyzing the braid she did.

“This is cool, how do you do this?” Baise asked.

“I just realised you have red hair. That’s only the third time I’ve seen it,” Thomas noted.

“She has grey eyes too,” A voice beside Thomas said.

“Ah! L’Roo! When did you get here?” Thomas asked L’Roux after he calmed down from the scare.

“I was in the Crow’s nest as usual. Then I saw people gathered here so I came too in case you forgot about me again.” Which they totally did. “So I guess I can confirm that you did forget about me because of Maes’ scare. And look at you now greeting the people who joined after me and you’re ignoring me.”

“So with Mr. Captain’s bounty and Miss Tori’s hair, we can live well for a few months,” Julius, who just joined the crowd, said. “How much do you need your eyes Miss Tori?”

Victorian’s hands went to cover her eyes for protection after Julius’ comment. His comment was also the start of another fight between him and Alzono.

“You should never scare a woman like that!” He shouted while he flying midair posed to give Julius a flying kick. “Senorita, are you alright?” His demeanor quickly changed as he dropped on one knee to kiss the back of Tori’s hand.

“You Stupid Fox then make yourself useful and get us some food or money.” Julius returned the kick with another.

“You Useless Chef,” Alzono aimed for the chest this time, “who told you to use up our food so fast?”

“I said no more food for the night. If you had listened instead of being head over heels for Miss Tori you would’ve of known.”

“Well unlike you I’m being a gentleman since we finally have a woman on board.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been womanly enough for you,. Elena gutted the words out as she threw a knife at both Julian and Alzono scrapping their cheeks. “But I’d appreciate you two to stop fighting since we’ve almost arrived.”

Off in the horizon, an island twice the size of Alphenrose could be seen. The crew members, expect for Baise who kept playing around with Victorian’s hair, prepared to arrival.

“Shouldn’t you, the captain, do something?” Victorian asked.

“I will after you teach me how to do this braid.”

The crew eventually docked and the crew met in the dining hall for a meeting. There were crates hauled near the door and four of the members were geared for departure.

“Tor do you want to stay on the ship or do you want to get off? We have to deliver the goods and shop for food. So if you get off you’ll join Maes for shopping.”

“I’ll get off. I’ve never seen Hibhiscus.”

“Wait,” Elena said. She then threw a hat at Victorian, “wear that or else you’ll catch unwanted attention. Don’t make eye contact with anyone either. Just help Maes carry stuff.”

“That’s not a job for a lady I’ll help her,” Alzono said but stopped after a glare from Elena.

“You’re working the job.”

“Yes ma’am,” Alzono said with a salute.

With the tasks decided, the crew temporarily split up. Baise, Elena, and Alzono went to finish their job and Victorian went with Thomas to find new ingredients. The trio left first and as the duo was about to leave, they were stopped by the cook.

“Okay Mr. Maes make sure you boy the local delicacy and do. Not. Eat. It. This. Time.”

“Got it Jules.”

“Oh Maes-boya,” Morgan said. “Can you get me more paper-boya? I’m out of that and ink-boya.”

“Why don’t you come along?”

“Tora, our navigator may have a sixth sense when we’re sailing but there’s a reason why he usually stays on the ship.”

“Why’s that?”

“It’s because, actually you know what. Mo why don’t we show her?” Maes asked with a wink. “Tori, when we get off the ship, watch him carefully.”

Morgan ended up joining the duo as they left the ship. Things went smoothly with Thomas leading the way, Morgan second, and Victorian watching him carefully as the younger boy suggested. Tori followed Morgan the whole time that she didn’t realise that they lost their leader. When she stopped for look for him, she realised that Morgan continued to wander off.

There’s a reason why he usually stays on the ship.

“No way,” Victorian said to herself. “Did I get lost?”

Thomas finished buying the ingredients when he remembered that he left the ship with two other people. He turned around and it was no surprise that he was alone. While Morgan was renowned for his ability to navigate any sea, he was a fish out of water when he left the ship.

Thomas continued to look around, knowing that the other two were probably look for paper and ink. When he arrived at the store, low and behold he found their directionless navigator bargaining with the owner.

“Hey Mo, where’s Tora?”

Morgan stopped bargaining and looked around him. As he looked around, Thomas’ face started to fall.

“Wait, did you lose her?” Thomas slowly asked.

Morgan did one final check before staying, “I guess so-boya.”

“This is bad isn’t it?”

“Yeah-boya.”

Victorian realised she should have stayed put when the locals who offered to help her, brought her even more into the country than towards the port. She really realised that she should have stayed put when they offered her a drink and food. She realised her hindsight was perfect when she woke up tied and gagged to a chair.