Jack played with a pair of ivory dice in his hands. He had said what needed to be said. Stored powerful treasures were useless.
And they were a team that needed to stay motivated. A motivated crew was a functional crew. And a functional crew kept his ship afloat, moving toward their goals.
He placed a small wooden table on the quarter-deck. And put the four artifacts they had liberated from the Gilded Swan there.
"Right!" Jack said, his voice flat. "We're doing this now. Two dice. Highest roll wins. One artifact per person until everyone gets their share. No whining. No bartering after the fact. If you win it, it's yours. If you lose, well... better luck next time."
He looked at the [Tiara of Charm]. It looked like a delicate piece of silver. Inlaid with a single, shimmering pink diamond that seemed to pulse with a faint, hypnotic light. It was designed to make the wearer more persuasive. More attractive.
"First up, the [Tiara of Charm]." Jack announced. "Who's in?"
Baroness Artheim stepped forward immediately. Her eyes were fixed on the item. Mirella, the painter, joined her. Followed by the healer sisters, Serene and Autumn. The four women stood around the table.
"Go ahead!" Jack muttered. Handing the dice to Serene.
The elder healer rolled. The dice clattered against the wood. A two and a five. Seven.
Mirella went next. Her artist's fingers seemed nimble as she flicked the ivory dice. An eight.
Autumn rolled a five. Looking slightly disappointed but remaining quiet.
Finally, the Baroness took the dice. She didn't pray or shake them for luck. She simply threw them.
A six and a five. Eleven.
"The tiara goes to Baroness Artheim." Jack said. Sliding the artifact toward her.
The baroness took it with a nod of practiced elegance. She didn't put it on yet. But her grip was firm.
"Next, the [Bracelet of Protection]." Jack said.
This was a thick heavy band of copper and gold. Etched with runes in geometric patterns. It seemed to hum with a low-frequency vibration. It was a defensive piece. Capable of throwing up an energy barrier in a pinch.
"I'm out." Jack declared. "Chloe and Baroness Artheim are also out. Anyone else?"
A crowd gathered. Everyone else opted to join the rolls. This was the prize everyone wanted. Safety was an important commodity in this world after all. Reina, Leon, Barnaby, Ned, Moby, Bell, Don Donson, Argust, Mirella, and the sisters all stepped up.
One by one, the dice rolled. Reina got nine. Leon also got a nine. Bell got a seven. Ned, Moby, and the rest all rolled even lower. It looked like Mirella might take it with a ten... until Don Donson, the ship's cook, stepped forward. He wiped his hands on his apron, took the dice, and gave them a hard rattle.
Twelve. Snake eyes' opposite. The perfect roll.
"Don wins this time." Jack said.
There was a faint ripple of laughter and some good-natured ribbing. Don took the bracelet. Looking surprised.
"Nice luck." Jack commented. "Now, if the ship goes down, at least the man making the stew will survive the first wave."
Don grinned. Sliding the copper-gold bracelet over his thick wrist. Covering it with a less eye-catching cloth band. "I'll make sure the last meal is a good one then, Captain."
Next was the [Ring of Water Bending]. It was a decorative ring made of blue coral. Beautiful in color, but quite plain in shape. It wasn't powerful enough to part the sea, but it could manipulate fresh and sea water within five meter radius of the user. The extent of the manipulation should depend on the user's creativity and mental power. For a sailor, it was a godsend.
Everyone joining in the previous roll, except Don, re-joined this one.
Argust Osprey, the navigator, stepped forward first. He took the dice, gave them a firm shake and tossed them. A six and a five. Eleven.
The others followed but none get better than that. Only Barnaby the bard rolled the same eleven.
Both re-did their rolls. Barnaby rolled a four. Argust rolled a nine. The navigator got the item.
"Argust, it's yours." Jack said.
The navigator took the ring and slid it onto his finger. He immediately looked more settled. As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Having a navigator who could control the surrounding water was a tactical advantage Jack wasn't going to complain about.
"Last one. The [Earring of Danger Sense]," Jack said, holding up the small, jagged piece of obsidian hanging from a silver hook.
Its enchantment was subtle. It would vibrate when malice was directed at the wearer. Or when an immediate physical threat was imminent.
Again, most members of the previous rolls joined this one. Leon rolled a six. Serene rolled a seven. Autumn took the dice, her expression focused. She rolled a ten. The rest couldn't roll higher than that.
"Autumn takes the earring." Jack declared. He looked at the younger healer. "Pay attention to that one. If that thing vibrates, don't wait to see what's coming. Just move."
"Thank you, Captain!" She said. Smiling widely.
With the artifacts distributed, the tension on the deck dissipated. The crew felt rewarded. And more importantly, four of them were now better equipped for whatever horrors their adventurers had in the future.
Jack waved them off. Signaling the end of the meeting. "Back to your posts. Continue what you should be doing. We've got a schedule to keep."
...
The invisible Silent Mermaid cut through the waves with an unnatural smoothness. Under the hood of its enchantment, the ghost ship lived up to its name. It made almost no sound with its movement.
There was very subtle sound of the splashing of water against the hull. Even the whistling of the wind through the rigging of the tattered sails was minimal.
Jack stood at the helm for a time. Watching the horizon. Although the one controlling the ship was not actually him. But, Leon, who was currently in task, in the control chamber.
To his side, Rune hovered. Her body glowed a soft, rhythmic green. She didn't speak. But her presence was a constant, stabilizing influence on his internal map.
In his mind, the information panel flickered. His stats were solid. He knew the "Level Up" was close. But it would require more of his significant... judgement. His power source was the 'Spirit of Judgement' after all.
Reina joined him. Leaning against the railing. Her long black hair caught the wind, looking like a banner of silk.
"The crew is happy, Dear." She said. "Sharing the loot was indeed a right decision."
"Fairness would always work." Jack replied calmly. "Besides, I'd rather the crew members be well-armed and motivated than poor and resentful. Poor and resentful people make mistakes easily. Motivated ones stay alive."
Reina smiled. "We'll reach Orchard Island tomorrow afternoon, won't we?"
"If nothing unexpected happens." Jack answered.
...
The next day, the horizon began to change. The deep blue of the open sea gave way to a lighter turquoise. And the scent of salt was joined by something sweeter. The heavy, fresh aroma of ripening fruit and damp earth. Orchard Island was coming into view.
It was a large island. Almost triple the size of Crescent Island. It was dominated by rolling hills covered in dense groves. In the center, a dormant volcanic peak sat like a silent sentry.
Jack pulled out his map. The island had two main settlements. On the east side sat Elmango Town. A place of bright colors, white-sand beaches, and sprawling villas. It was a resort town for the wealthy. A place where the Industrial Revolution was ignored in favor of natural beauty and sunshine.
On the west side was Appleseed Town. It was the functional heart of the island. A trading hub where the harvested fruit was packed, processed, and shipped out.
"We're making a stop at Elmango first." Jack told Argust, the navigator.
"The resort, Captain? Planning a vacation?" Argust asked. Though he knew better.
"Not yet. Unloading cargo this time." Jack replied.
...
Once they reached a secluded beach several kilometers away from the Elmango Town, he went to his Mirror Mansion.
Inside the pocket dimension, the survivors of the Gilded Swan were still unconscious. Earl Aldenair and his remaining men were no longer heavily injured. They had been taken care of well by the healer sisters. But they were kept unconscious.
Jack didn't want to let them know who saved them. He didn't want to give them a chance to ask questions, and create problems in the future.
He dumped them to the secluded cove. He left them there on the sand. In each of their pocket, Jack dropped a small leather pouch. It contained more than enough gold to buy passage back to the mainland or a few months of decent lodging.
"Consider this your severance package." Jack said to the unconscious sailors. "Get better luck next time, gentlemen."
Jack returned to the Silent Mermaid and gave the order to sail around the southern tip of the island. By the time the Earl and his men woke up, the sea was already empty. The ghost ship had already vanished into the mist of invisibility.
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