The rest of the evening at the Reef was uneventful, though unease was shared by all. War wasn’t exactly bad news for pirates – and war on a grand scale offered more opportunities – but everyone seemed to realize that the problem was growing. Andros wasn’t involved yet, but it probably would be. What would happen to small-time pirates when Andros started shipping supplies to its allies in armed convoys?

I made my exit with a safe margin of time left and returned to the sea. I was disappointed that my Vision skill didn’t extend to night vision in dark alleys, only working underwater or on the surface. I made my way by the clearest, best-lit streets to avoid any underhandedness.

I was also disappointed I couldn’t summon my ship to me, and there seemed to be a range for calling it to the surface or sending it below. Remote Operations was a skill that seemed to expand my range and allow me to sail my ship without direct control, but it wasn’t worth the XP cost right now.

I sailed my dinghy below the waters until I found a secure spot to “make camp”. I’d remembered too late that the bedroll and blanket I’d purchased to make my arrangements more comfortable was in my spatial bag. Oh well, I’d been sleeping like this for the last few days, and in much more dangerous areas to boot. I arranged my dinghy to offer me some concealment and protection and went to sleep.

When I awoke I wasn’t disoriented at being underwater. I was getting used to it. My internal clock said it was sometime in the morning, but it wasn’t until I’d peeked my head above the surface that I’d gotten a good fix on the time from the sun’s position. I made my way to town and Mama Jo’s shop – then passed by. I decided I didn’t want to risk her wrath by showing up too early to check on things.

Smitty’s Salvage was on a different side of town. During my walk, I got the impression that I was in different territory yet couldn’t put my finger on what or why. The shops weren’t in any worse shape, there was no change in the smells of the air, and a surprisingly average type of clientele was out purchasing goods.

Seeing groups of ladies shopping in this place – a pirate town! – had shocked me at first, but shopkeepers and salesmen had been pandering to them. I guess even pirates needed a place to sell their goods and bring their families. The conversation I overheard between one woman and her young boy left no question piracy was normal in the household.

“When can I join da at sea?”

“You’re not leaving shore until there’s an opportunity for you to join the trade that won’t see you squashed! The boy king’s been promising to knuckle down on us, and he’s going to follow through any time now …”

Just another boy longing to grow up like his da.

When I made my way to Smitty’s Salvage headquarters, I hadn’t expected a warehouse named ‘Smitty’s Emporium’. I knocked and entered into what looked like a secondhand shop. The clerk was a blonde young woman who looked like she’d been hired for her beauty alone.

“Hello! Welcome to Smitty’s Emporium! Is there anything I can help you find today?”

“Uh, yeah. I’m looking for Smitty?”

“Mr. Smitty is in his office right now, what is your business with him?”

“I’m looking for a job in salvage.”

“Oh,” she said, and dropped the over-the-top friendliness down to ‘polite’. “Mr. Smitty!” she yelled over the warehouse floor. “New hire looking to meet you!”

“Send ‘im back!”

The clerk pointed out the direction to me. “Back right corner of the warehouse, you can get within sight if you stick to the right-hand side.”

I thanked her and quickly found ‘within sight’ meant navigating around piles and piles of equipment, supplies, and salvaged goods. Some of it looked like it had been placed there this morning, some looked like it never moved. It took me a moment to traverse the labyrinth and I cheated a bit by clambering over a stack of crates instead of finding a way around.

Smitty was hard at work writing a letter – or letters – and open ledgers lay about his desk and closed ledgers about the rest of the small office. He wasn’t the man I’d pictured. I’d pictured a man who’d poured everything into Endurance, Agility and Strength to be a great diver. Instead, he looked like a wizened little man. Appearances could be deceiving, but stats didn’t lie (often) …

Name

Smitty

Age

Race

Human

Profession

Accountant

Level

XP

,035

Health

Mana

Stamina

Strength

Agility

Dexterity

Constitution

Endurance

Intelligence

Wisdom

Charisma

Luck