Danglars' face went dark as fuck. "Sorry for interrupting, M. Morrel," Dantès said, walking over like the king he is, "ship's anchored and I'm all yours now. You called me over?"
Danglars backed up like he just got caught lacking. "I wanted to know why tf you stopped at Elba?"
"Honestly sir, I have no clue, I was just following Captain Leclere's dying wishes. He gave me a packet to deliver to Marshal Bertrand."
"So you actually met him, Edmond?"
"Met who?"
"The marshal."
"Yep."
Morrel looked around all sketchy, then pulled Dantès aside and whispered, "Yo, how's the emperor doing?"
"Seemed pretty good from what I could tell."
"Wait, you saw the emperor?"
"Yeah, he walked into the marshal's room while I was there."
"Did you talk to him?"
"Bruh, he talked to me," Dantès said, grinning.
"What did he say?"
"Asked me about the ship, when we left Marseilles, our route, what cargo we had. Tbh if the ship was empty and I owned it, I think he would've bought it on the spot. But I told him I'm just the mate and it belongs to Morrel & Son. He was like 'Oh yeah, I know them. The Morrels have been ship owners forever, and there was this Morrel dude who served with me back when I was stationed in Valence.'"
"Holy shit, that's facts!" the owner said, absolutely losing his mind with excitement. "That was Policar Morrel, my uncle! He became a captain later! Dantès, you have to tell my uncle the emperor remembered him. That old soldier is gonna cry happy tears. Listen," he continued, giving Edmond's shoulder a friendly pat, "you did the right thing following Captain Leclere's orders and stopping at Elba, even though if people found out you delivered a packet to the marshal and chatted with the emperor, you could get in deep shit."
"How would that get me in trouble, sir?" Dantès asked, confused as hell. "I didn't even know what I was carrying, and the emperor just asked me basic questions he'd ask any random person. But yo, excuse me, the health officers and customs people are pulling up." And the young man headed to the gangway.
As soon as he left, Danglars slithered over like the snake he is. "So, seems like he gave you good reasons for that Elba stop?"
"Yeah, totally satisfactory, my guy Danglars."
"Well that's great," the supercargo said, fake as hell. "Wouldn't want to think a homie wasn't doing his job properly."
"Dantès did his job," the owner replied. "And that's not even saying much. Captain Leclere gave the orders for that delay."
"Speaking of Captain Leclere, didn't Dantès give you a letter from him?"
"To me? Nah, was there supposed to be one?"
"I think besides the packet, Captain Leclere also gave him a letter to deliver."
"What packet are you even talking about, Danglars?"
"The one Dantès dropped off at Porto-Ferrajo."
"How do you even know he had a packet to leave there?"
Danglars turned red as a fucking tomato.
"I was walking past the captain's cabin and the door was cracked open, so I saw him give Dantès the packet and letter."
"He didn't mention anything about a letter," the shipowner replied, "but if there is one, he'll give it to me."
Danglars took a moment to think, looking sketchy as hell. "Yo M. Morrel, do me a solid and don't say shit to Dantès about this. I might have been trippin'."
Right then young king walked back over and Danglars dipped out real quick.
"Alright my guy Dantès, you done with all that bureaucratic bullshit?" the owner asked.
"Yep, all set."
"That didn't take long."
"Nah, I gave the customs officers a copy of our shipping manifest and sent the other paperwork with the pilot dude."
"So you're completely free now?"
"Yeah, we're all good."
"Perfect! You wanna come eat dinner with me?"
"I'm gonna have to pass, M. Morrel. Gotta see my dad first. No disrespect though, I really appreciate the invite."
"Absolutely right, Dantès. I always knew you were a good son."
"And," Dantès asked, looking a little worried, "how's my father doing?"
"Pretty good I think, Edmond, though I haven't seen him recently."
"Yeah, he likes staying locked up in his little room."
"Well that proves he hasn't been struggling while you were gone."
Dantès smiled sadly. "My father's got too much pride, sir. Even if he was down to his last meal, I doubt he'd ask anyone for help except God himself."
"Well then, after you see your pops, we'll expect you for dinner."
"Sorry M. Morrel, but after I see my dad, I've got another visit I'm absolutely desperate to make."
"Oh right, Dantès! I forgot there's someone in the Catalans waiting for you just as impatiently as your father, the gorgeous Mercédès."
Dantès turned red as fuck.
"Ha!" the shipowner laughed. "I'm not even surprised, she's been to see me three times asking for news about the Pharaon. Damn, Edmond, your mistress is absolutely stunning!"
"She ain't my side chick," the young sailor said, no cap; "she's my future wife fr."
"Bruh, same difference sometimes," Morrel said, lowkey smirking.
"Not in this house, sir," Dantès clapped back.
"Aight, aight, my guy Edmond," the boss continued, "don't let me keep you here. You've been absolutely sending it with my business, so you deserve to touch grass and handle your own shit. You need any bread?"
"Nah sir, I'm sitting on my whole bag, like three months of coins."
"Damn, you're really about that financial literacy life, Edmond."
"My dad's broke as hell, sir, that's why."
"Bet, bet, I know you're the GOAT son, so go see your pops. I got a son too and I'd be big mad at anyone who kept him from me after three months at sea."
"So I can dip?"
"Yeah, unless you got more tea to spill."
"Nah, we're good."
"Captain Leclere didn't slide you a letter for me before he died?"
"He couldn't even hold a pen, sir. But that reminds me, I gotta ask for some PTO."
"To get hitched?"
"Yeah, first that, then I'm hitting up Paris."
"Say less; take however long you need, Dantès. It's gonna take like six weeks to unload all this cargo anyway, and we can't get you ready to sail again for three months after that. Just be back in three months, because the Pharaon," he said, giving the young sailor some daps, "can't sail without her captain."
"Without her captain!" Dantès said, eyes literally glowing up; "yo, watch your mouth because you're about to make all my dreams come true. Are you deadass about to make me captain of the Pharaon?"
"If it was just me, we'd be shaking on it right now, my guy, and I'd say it's a done deal; but I got a business partner, and you know what they say, 'Having a partner means having a boss.' But we're like halfway there since you got one vote out of two. Trust me to get you that second vote; I'm gonna go absolutely feral trying to make this happen."