The Final Desperation

The three entered the large building and found a seat in the corner near the front. Here, they could get some space and observe everything up close. 30 minutes later, the room filled with nobles having too much wealth and pirates seeking excitement. Once everyone was seated, the doors closed and a man in casual clothes walked onto the stage.

"Good evening, ladies and gents. I'm sure you all have your eyes on something, so I won't waste any more time. Bring up the first item!"

At his command, another man carried a silver tray onstage and set it on the stand.

"Here we have a ruby ring specifically crafted by a master jeweler for his wife. Unfortunately, his life was short-lived as this beautiful piece caught the eye of a passing pirate. Anyways, the starting bid is 600 gold," he announced, briefly introducing the item.

After a series of bids, the ring ended with 12,000 coins, astounding everyone at its price.

"Are there any higher offers? Going once. Going twice. Going thrice. Sold to the gentleman with the blue coat! Now please follow an attendant and pay for it. We won't bother remembering who brought what, so pay upfront," the auctioneer said, fully revealing how inadequate the auction was.

An attendant took the tray and led the buyer into a private room to conduct the transaction. It was very inconvenient, but nobody minded as they focused on the next item. This process continued until an item caught 7156's eye.

"For our next item, we have a mysterious scroll with unknown properties. We can't really tell what it does so buy at your own risk. If you're lucky, it might be a priceless treasure or a useless item. Any bidders?"

Many people were hesitant to place a bid, but 7156 knew what its true powers were.

[Scroll of Arcane Bolt]

Rating: Epic

Type: Consumable.

Effect: upon use, launch 7 arcane bolts at a target, dealing 700 damage each

Description: The treasure of an explorer from EverRealm. When he perished in this world, he left behind this item for his family.

 

The description already said everything to know about the scroll. Since it mentioned a familiar, 7156 speculated that the explorer was trapped in this world, having never finished the mission. River Stream also realized these implications and broke out sweating at this possible future.

"It's a decent item, but we don't have the money," River Stream commented, wistful at this missed opportunity. This was a good item. If he could obtain it for such a cheap price, he would have a way to protect himself.

"Wait, that's a great idea. I should ask for some consumables after this world."

The reason he didn't have any consumables was that his parents never considered it. In most cases, consumables possess a supporting role rather than an offensive one. 

Offensive variants were a dime in a dozen and required a specialist with a unique skill set. This was a strict requirement since only high-level people could afford to spend the money practicing it. Plus, why would they make consumables for the first step when they could earn so much more for people above that? They aren't doing charity, you know?

The auction continued until another unique item appeared. No, 'item' was not the correct phrase, but it described their circumstances perfectly. 

Dragged to the stage in collars and handcuffs, two scantily dressed girls with scared expressions looked into the audience. River blushed at the sight, but the auctioneer's next words made him jump to his feet in rage.

"Next, we have two carefully selected maidens. Their bodies are well-developed, and they have been well-trained. I promise they will serve you well. If you are not happy with them, you are free to kill them as you please."

Before River could cause a commotion, 7156 quickly pulled him down and shook his head.

"But that's slavery," he protested with clenched fists.

"We can't help them," 7156 affirmed, telling River to give up his naive ideas.

River knew that but was unwilling to watch two girls slightly older than him become the toys of a twisted noble. This thought distracted him, causing him to zone out for the remainder of the auction.

"And for the finale of this auction, I present the pearl of the sea, the ocean's gem, or as legends tell, the treasure of mermaids. There are many names for this beautiful crystal, but they all downplay its true beauty. For this priceless piece of art, we will start the bidding at 5,000 gold coins."

The auctioneer pulled off the cloth to reveal a silver frame wrapped around a translucent blue sphere with no blemishes or irregular parts. It was a perfect sphere that reflected all light, enhancing its natural beauty. River Stream had a hard time believing that such an artwork could exist in nature, yet here it was, before him. His mind was so enthralled by this beauty that he forgot his previous discomfort and anger.

[You found the mission item.]

7156 glanced at this before quickly turning his attention to Ed.

"How much can I trust you, Ed?" He whispered, beckoning a confused look from Ed.

"I don't have any reason to go against you."

"Answer the question."

"As long as it doesn't include fighting, I can do you one favor in light of Captain Enigma."

"Good. Do you have a way off the island?"

"Yeah. I am rebuilding my fleet in preparation for Captain to take over again."

Ed was not lying. In his month of sailing with Genji, he realized how smooth life was under the protection of someone powerful. But the main reason he was so willing to serve Genji was his laid-back nature. The guy doesn't do anything!

He just assumed the name of the captain, but all the authority remained with Ed. Was there a better deal in life? So for the sake of this future, Ed was willing to help this friend of the captain, hoping he would say some pleasantries on his behalf when they meet again.

"Good. Take River and move your boat away from the island. I'll meet you there soon."

"Okay? We will be on the east side," Ed said with a raised brow.

"Wait, what are you planning, 7156?" River asked, feeling off about the situation.

"Go," 7156 commanded.

"No. I'm not going anywhere without you-"

But before River could finish his sentence, he fainted. 7156 lowered his hand and caught the limp boy before handing him to Ed. After a short nod, Ed left without any more questions.

From 7156's questions, he knew he was planning something big, something he would rather not be involved in. Ed speed-walked up the stairs and broke out into a full sprint after leaving the building. Then he took out a horn and into it, sending a deep echo across the island.

This was the signal to gather. As Ed awaited his crew, he settled River Stream before giving his orders.

"We're pulling out to sea. Anchor there, but prepare to set sail at a moment's notice."

Although confused by the order, Ed was charismatic enough to earn their obedience. While this was happening, the bid for the pearl was reaching its end.

"17,000 going once. Are there any more bidders? 17,000 going twice. 17,000 going thrice."

At this moment, 7156 spoke up, knowing he couldn't delay any longer. "18,000."

Hearing this price, the crowd reawakened in uproar at the already insane price.

"18,100," the other contestant followed up, unhappy about the new competitor. 

"19,000." 7156 casually increased the bid, as if he had plenty of money to spare.

"19,100." The noble's annoyance began to show.

"20,000." 7156 didn't back down, instantly increasing the price.

"21,000." The noble clenched his teeth in frustration, nearing the limit of his budget.

"25,000." 7156 sensed the noble's hesitance and pushed the price even higher.

"Are there any more bidders? 25,000, going once. Going twice. Going thrice. S-"

"Hold on!" The noble interjected just before the auctioneer could strike the hammer.

"What's the matter, Count Sigmore? Are you refusing to acknowledge the results?"

"That's not the case, sir. I'm just curious about something. Does he have the money to pay for it? He's young, so I can't help but doubt his competence."

"Heroes come in all ages." 7156 replied without changing his expression.

"I know that, but hear me out. I have reasonable doubt. Since the start of the auction, I noticed that you didn't buy a single thing. Now that would normally not be a problem, but I am confident in the amount of wealth I brought. I filled up a whole ship with gold coins, after all, while I haven't seen a single coin on you. Can you show us how you can pay for all this? Or could you be making trouble and shill bidding?"

The count was convinced that this young man before him couldn't pay the quoted price and was hopeful that he could get the item at the original price.

"Fine, I'll show you."

7156 got up from his seat and walked onstage. This was a hiccup in his plans, but he would manage. As he approached the podium, he turned to the audience and reached inside his coat, pretending to look for something.

The audience watched in anticipation as 7156 brought out a rolled-up piece of paper, which he handed to the auctioneer.

"My proof is in that."

The auctioneer curiously took the paper and felt that something was amiss. It unfurled too easily as if it had been recently rolled up. As he examined the paper's content, he found it to be entirely blank. The audience interpreted the surprise on his face as validation, but 7156's next move left them in doubt. Out of nowhere, he snatched the item and made a dash for the exit.

[You have obtained: Jewel of Nereid. As you have stolen this item, you will face the consequences of your actions.]

[Your relationship with The Rogue Runners has reached hatred. Grace O'Malley and her crew will hunt you down and kill you on sight.]

[You will face three waves of pursuit. The last part of the mission will unlock after that.]

[First wave: Pirates on the island.]

[Since the Jewel of Nereid is a mission item, it cannot be placed in your storage.]

 

"STOP HIM!" The auctioneer yelled at the stunned guards.

Tiger Fury, Tiger Swipe

7156's muscles surged with immense power as he vaulted over the approaching guards. Then he wound his arm back, smashing through the wall and landing outside. Ignoring the attention he attracted, he sprinted vigorously toward the island's edge to rendezvous with Ed.

Seconds later, a multitude of people gushed out of the hall, hot on his trail. This chase continued, but 7156 his pursuers were relentless. At their current pace, they would catch up once his berserk skill wore off.

It was a risky gamble, but he had no other choice. That was his only opportunity to secure the mission item, and he was not about to let it slip through his fingers.

In retrospect, he realized it might have been easier to wait for another bidder to buy the item and then steal it, but it was too late now.

7156 approached the coast and quickly spotted a ship a few hundred meters in the distance. He looked back at his hunters and increased his speed before pushing off with all his strength.

With his current physical stats, 7156 covered one-third of the distance, making people question why he jumped in the first place. It was not like he could get that far with this distance. In fact, it would only slow him down since the waters were infested with creatures that would attack him.

But before they could think any further, 7156 stepped down onto the air, propelling himself up again.

Double Jump

With this boost, 7156 covered another third and surprised many with his physics-defying feat. 

This additional boost enabled him to cover another third of the distance. From his current position, he could see Ed, who was looking up at him with an open mouth.

"Set sail!" He yelled at Ed who gaped at him, wide-eyed. 

Ed hesitated slightly before giving the orders, choosing to trust this strange crewmate. As he was falling again, 7156 activated another skill integrated into his boots and reset the cooldown of the previous skill.

Overload, Double Jump

Then he crashed into the size of the boat, sending it wobbling wildly. The crew ignored this phenomenon and finished their preparations, unfurling the sails and raising the anchors.

In a matter of seconds, the ship transformed from a stationary vessel to a swiftly moving one. Observing this, the pirates pursuing 7156 wore constipated expressions on their faces.

[You have survived the first wave. Initiating wave two.]

[Wave two: Boats]

"Where's River?" 7156 asked as he climbed out of the hole he smashed.

In response, Ed pointed at the stirring teenager in the captain's cabin. 7156 nodded thankfully and walked over to guard the door. Then he bandaged his wounds, having used up all his consumables prior. In this slow process, he couldn't help but think back to the potion Genji gave him.

Unlike the consumables used, which barely affected his HP, that particular potion had an immediate impact. He might actually consider it after this world. Not only was it more effective, but it also occupied less space.

'The only problem is the price. Hopefully, it's not too expensive.'

Minutes later, River Stream woke up. As he recollected what had happened, he quickly got to his feet and rushed to the door.

"7156!" River breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing 7156.

"Take a rest."

7156 motioned to the room, indicating for River to return. River shook his head and sat down beside him, entering a comforting silence. There was just something about 7156 that made him feel safe. Maybe it was the time they spent on the island, but River found himself calming down any time 7156 was near.

This tranquility, however, was disrupted when River checked his unread notifications.

"Wait what! We're being chased?!"

 

---

 

Genji recovered from his hangover and rubbed his head, reflecting on the wild party they'd had. As he rose from the floor, he noticed many other pirates sprawled in various peculiar positions. Empty bottles littered the ground, rolling around with the motion of the waves, while the lingering scent of cheap rum wafted up his nose.

"Now that I think about it, that was stupid. Getting drunk in a world. Let's never do that again."

Genji took out [Jaguar] and examined its now-dull blade. It had seen its fair share of intense battles, and its durability had dwindled to about half. This was partly due to the strenuous use of his shadow flames, which significantly drained the blade's durability. It was a reasonable trade-off, as Genji favored this power over other fates, but he knew he could only employ this trump card a few more times.

Ideally, Genji hoped to avoid using his shadow flames further, as the blade had reached a point where any additional strain could cause severe damage. This weapon was formidable, and he wanted to utilize it for as long as possible.

"Man, Enigma, you can drink." Zepher groaned as he pulled himself up from the floor, still hung over from before.

"No, you just drank too much." Genji pointed to the empty barrels next to Zepher.

"Haha, that's true."

Life continued as usual for Genji over the next few days until they spotted a ship flying a flag with a scimitar and a stream of blood – the flag of The Crimson Corsair, the rival of The Flying Dutchman. This ship sailed alone, and the discovery excited the crew.

"We finally get to piss that guy off," Zepher cheered as they prepared for battle.

"Alright, boys. You know the deal. Keep as many people alive as possible, especially those bloody leeches. They provide the best souls!"

This instruction was particularly directed at Genji, who had the heaviest hand in this endeavor.

"They just need to be alive, right?"

Genji sheathed [Jaguar] and selected a regular sword from the ship.

"As long as they die on our ship."

"Got it."

The Flying Dutchman maneuvered alongside the unsuspecting boat, firing a few hooks to prevent it from escaping. Cobra threw his cutlass at the sails, tearing through them while Genji ran across the thin rope and boarded the enemy ship.

"It's the zombies!"

A pirate sporting a large hat yelled as he drew his weapon. Genji swiftly sidestepped the attack, thrusting his sword into the pirate's shoulder joint, disabling his arm. He kicked another pirate to the ground and used a flintlock to pierce the right thigh. Then to cement it, he severed their ankles and left them unable to get up again.

Afterward, Genji charged toward the other pirates, continuing his assault. A severed hand here, a broken leg there – Genji showed no mercy as he incapacitated the pirates. Many of them were displaying symptoms of severe blood loss by the end of the battle, but they remained alive. Genji picked up one of the wounded pirates and dragged him back to The Flying Dutchman.

"Cobra! We've found some slaves."

As Genji was transporting the incapacitated pirates, he heard a shout from across the rope.

"Bring them over! More souls for us!"

Soon, all the shackled people who had been held below deck were transferred to The Flying Dutchman and huddled in a corner. They watched in horror as their former captors were executed, and their souls devoured. To the slaves, they had entered a new hell after escaping their previous one. After all the pirates were killed, Zepher turned his attention to them.

At his gaze, many of them tried to retreat, but their efforts were futile. Zepher grabbed one and struck him down, causing the man to collide with a few others. Zepher ignored their rough treatment and reached for a disheveled woman. The woman resisted with all her strength, but this amounted to nothing with her malnourished body. But just as Zepher was about to slash her, Genji intervened.

"Can you give me a few minutes with her?"

Zepher shrugged and pushed the woman toward Genji.

"Taking a liking to her, eh? I never realized you were into Asian women."

Zepher gave him a you-know-what-look and wiggled his brows. Genji disregarded his friend's jesting and turned to the woman.

"Tell me, why do you give me a familiar feeling?"