Sparrow opened the chest and meticulously examined the unearthed treasure.
He popped open the first coin pouch, a shower of golden glints reflecting in the cavern's dim light. Seven pouches in total, each overflowing with gold coins – way more than the gold coins they previously acquired.
Then came the gemstones, nestled in three smaller pouches. Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires winked up at him, catching the light with their facets. More wealth, they should be enough to be traded for a decent ship.
Sparrow grinned. They were in the 'Pirates and Treasures' realmgate after all. It would definitely be a waste if they didn't take a ship and traveled the sea in this setting.
He set aside the coins and gems, his gaze drawn to the next item, an Ancient Map. The leather felt strangely supple beneath his fingers, not like any hide he recognized.
Unfurling it carefully, he revealed a meticulously drawn chart of the Madrollean Sea, a spiderweb of islands scattered across its surface. Each island was labeled with a name or symbol, and marked with strange annotations.
Sparrow felt a thrill course through him – this was more than just treasure; it was a key to untold adventures.
The treasured weapons followed afterward, each radiating a palpable aura of power. Sparrow invoked [Greater Appraisal], his right eye shimmering with emerald light.
The first was the Redviper Ropedart, a wickedly elegant weapon crafted from a dark crimson rope and reddish razor-sharp metal blade tip.
"This one's for you, Syrup," he said, handing it to Caith.
Caith's amber eyes widened, a mischievous glint sparking within them. "Ooh, cool! A rope-dart! This will be handy for mid-ranged combat. Thank you, Big Spark Darling!"
"It'll take practice, Syrup," Sparrow cautioned, his voice retaining its usual calmness. "Don't hurt yourself during real fight."
The second weapon, according this appraisal, was called the Moonlight Karambit, a curved blade forged from a metal that seemed to absorb light. It was small and deadly, definitely designed for close-quarters combat.
Sparrow gave it to Canary. "For emergencies, Tweety. But stick to ranged combat whenever possible."
Canary nodded, accepting the karambit. "Got it, Birdbro. This will be my tiny, stabby friend when things get really messy."
The Silverfire Axe was next, its head intricately engraved with swirling patterns. The metal was cool to the touch, nearly radiating light. It looked too fancy for a weapon.
"Decorative," Sparrow murmured. "More suited in an art exhibition than an actual battle." He put it in his backpack.
The Dragonpearl Sceptre was the final weapon. A smooth, arm-length ivory staff topped with a swirling orb of iridescent pearl. It hummed with latent energy, practically begging to be wielded by a magic user.
"This one would be wasted with us," Sparrow concluded.
Canary giggled and commented, her voice clear like a wind chime. "It will be useful if we recruit a magic user later, won't it, Birdbro? It is impossible to go on sea adventure only with the three of us after all."
"That's true," Caith chimed in.
Sparrow nodded in agreement too. It would be very hard to do sea exploration on a ship without enough crew members. He didn't plan to have too many crew members though.
Sparrow's focus moved back to the treasure. It was finally the last item. It was another leather backpack that looked very much the same with what they had.
This particular backpack was emanating a peculiar feeling that tugged at Caith's {Blessed Luck} impulse though. "Big Spark! You should appraise this. Quickly!" She urged Sparrow.
Sparrow immediately focused his [Greater Appraisal] on the bag. His eyes widened slightly. "This," he announced, "is incredible."
"What is it, Birbro?"
"It's a Runic Spatial Backpack," he explained, "It has a warehouse-sized capacity inside. It's definitely the most valuable treasure we got."
There was a deafening silence for a few second. Then... A wave of excited chatter erupted from Canary and Caith at the implications of warehouse-sized space.
After a brief discussion, they agreed that Canary should wield the Runic Spatial Backpack. Her role as a ranged combatant put her in the best position to quickly retrieve items from the seemingly bottomless depths of the bag during a fight.
With their newfound riches secured, the three realmgate divers left the treasure cave. Their next destination: Dawnlight Town.
...
The journey to Dawnlight Town passed without incident. As evening approached, they arrived at the bustling port town, a vibrant hub of activity under the flag of Sherland Kingdom.
They checked in to the most reputable inn they could find, indulging in the luxury of hot baths and fresh linens.
After a hearty dinner, they ventured into the bustling seaside marketplace, a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and smells. They stocked up on essential supplies: spare clothing, sturdy utility knives, needle and thread for repairs, basic toiletries, and several other things.
Their next stop was the largest equipment store in Dawnlight Town, the 'Dawnlight Armory'. They browsed the selection, replacing their makeshift armors with sets of high-quality leather armor and additional equipment.
As dusk settled and they began to make their way back to the inn, their path was blocked by a group of sailor-thugs. Rough-looking men with scarred faces, smelling strongly of rum and cheap perfume.
"Well, well, well," sneered the leader, a burly man with a missing tooth. "Look what we have here. Some pretty little things wandering around alone."
"Would you leave us alone, please?" Sparrow sighed. He didn't expect to have a cliche encounter of fantasy story in this realmgate.
The leader chuckled. "Or what? You gonna cry to your mommy?" He stepped closer, reaching out a grimy hand.
That was his mistake.
Sparrow moved with blinding speed. A precise strike to the pressure point behind the thug's ear sent him collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
Canary, not wanting to be left out, launched a swift kick to the groin of another thug, sending him reeling in agony. She couldn't even bother to use her ranged weapon against these weak opponents.
The remaining thugs hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. A few more well-placed strikes and kicks, and the entire group was sprawled on the cobblestones, groaning and clutching their injuries. Sparrow and Canary were quite efficient and merciless as they realized they needed to establish their reputation here.
Caith, meanwhile, leaned against a nearby wall, watching the scene with an amused smirk. "Showoffs," she teased.
Sparrow remained silent, his gaze sweeping the surroundings for any other potential threats.
Canary, however, couldn't resist a playful jab. "Just making sure a superstar, like you, is safe, Red Sis!"
...
The next morning, the trio headed to the docks, intent on acquiring a vessel of their own. Dawnlight Town was renowned for its shipbuilding, and the harbor bustled with ships of all sizes and designs.
They spent hours touring the various shipyards, each one was enormous in size. They inspected everything from sturdy merchant brigs to sleek military frigates. They were all too big for their purpose though.
Finally, after a long search, they found what they were looking for: a small, relatively new explorer caravel. It could be operated just by three crew members, and could accommodate up to ten people, just exactly what they needed.
The ship was named the 'Surreal Mystery', a name Sparrow found truly odd, fitting, yet a bit ominous. After all the three of them were agents of mystery power. And they were now exploring a realmgate, the product of surreal entities.
The ship's previous owner, a seasoned adventurer, had met an unfortunate end during a tavern brawl. The ship was well-maintained, with sturdy sails, a reinforced hull, and a surprisingly spacious interior.
The price was steep though, draining almost a third of their accumulated gold coins. But the freedom and independence it offered were worth the cost.
With the 'Surreal Mystery' under their command, the Madrollean Sea was now their treasure chest to open.
---ooo---ooo---ooo---
Sparrow, Canary, and Caith settled into a corner table at the Kraken Tavern. The salty air was thick with the smells of brine, cheap rum, and frying fish.
Before diving into this particular realmgate, Sparrow and Canary had done their homework. They'd devoured the 'Encyclopedia of Surreal Realmgates' in the Secret Library.
One entry, in particular, had captured their attention. The Dawnlight Town, where they were in, was the home of Elstorm Drake and Helena Nova, a couple renowned for their exceptional talents. A realmgate diver with an Oracle as his mystery class had called them the children of destiny in this particular realmgate.
Many had tried to recruit them, seeking to harness their gifts, but all had failed, leaving a trail of frustrated divers in their wake. The Encyclopedia hinted at the couple's favorite haunt: the Kraken Tavern, a boisterous establishment nestled somewhere on the island.
Sparrow and the two girls were trying their luck at the moment. They were waiting for Elstorm and Helena at the tavern, trying to see whether they could recruit them or not.
Sparrow, ever vigilant, surveyed the room with his dark-green eye, the other concealed beneath his eyepatch. His {Eye of Wisdom} sought the telltale bluish aura, the sign of protagonists within this realmgate.
It wasn't long before they arrived. A man with short, dark hair and piercing dark-blue eyes strode in, followed by a woman with long, ponytailed blond hair and sky-blue eyes. Elstorm Drake and Helena Nova.
Sparrow's [Greater Appraisal] confirmed it. The bluish aura pulsed around them like a hidden heartbeat.
Elstorm, despite his youthful appearance, radiated a rugged competence. Sparrow's appraisal revealed surprising mixture of expertise: Elstorm was a master chef, a skilled fighter, and a competent surgeon.
This protagonist character had somehow acquire the legendary cutlass, the Dragonslasher, which was hung casually at his hip. An epic shotgun he called Annihilation was strapped across his back.
Sparrow widened his eye in amazement. That guy was truly the child of destiny. The weapon he had was a shotgun. A shotgun. In the era of flintlock rifles.
Sparrow's further appraisal showed him that Helena was equally impressive. She was a brilliant navigator and a formidable fighter, armed with the legendary rapier Needlepoint and a flintlock pistol named Passion.
Intriguing, Sparrow thought.
He subtly shifted his focus of appraisal. He had to determine what would entice them to join their crew.
There was nothing at first, but then a stream of information seeped into his mind. The Uncharted Island. The whispers of its existence, the rumors of untold riches and forgotten knowledge, were a siren song to adventurers in this world including Elstorm and Helena.
It also happened to be a secret mission provided by the realmgate itself.
Sparrow tapped his temple, giving a sign for Canary to initiate a [Mind Contact] that link their thoughts together. The sudden connection tightened the space between the three of them, a mental huddle in the crowded tavern.
'They're the ones,' Sparrow projected his thought. 'Elstorm Drake and Helena Nova. They do have the aura of this world's protagonist. The Uncharted Island is their driving force. Let's try to recruit them by discussing about it openly here.'
Canary's cheerful voice chimed in within their minds. 'The one mentioned in the secret mission? Got it, Birdbro! Let's reel them in.'
Caith's mental presence was playful, yet focused. 'Alright, Big Spark Darling. Lead the way.'
Sparrow cleared his throat and, keeping his voice low but audible, began to speak, directing his words towards the center of their small group to ensure they would reach the nearby couple.
"This ancient map… it's remarkable, isn't it?" Sparrow began, casually unfurling the parchment they'd acquired from the treasure cave. "But the key is what's not on it."
Caith, ever the performer, leaned in dramatically. "Exactly! The Uncharted Island. If it was on any map, they wouldn't call it uncharted, would they?"
Canary, her eyes sparkling with real excitement, asked, "Why do you think the island in not charted, Red Sis?"
Caith immediately replied, "I guess it's probably a drifting island. You know... an island that floats on the sea. As it is not rooted to the bottom of the sea, it will be impossible to be charted, right?"
"Drifting island?" Canary's eyes sparkled even more. "Imagine that! No wonder people haven't been able to find it."
Sparrow chimed in with calm tone, adding to the theatricality. "Which makes it incredibly difficult to locate. A normal compass is useless against a moving landmass."
He paused for effect. "Luckily, I possess an artifact that can point toward it, the Wishcompass. It's a compass that points to your deepest desire... or the location of an uncharted island, whichever you set it to."
"But," he continued, injecting a note of strategic concern into his voice, "it only functions accurately for five minutes before requiring an hour to recharge. Navigating the seas with such limited guidance... well, it's a challenge."
Canary picked up the thread. "And besides," she said, "... navigating such a vast and dangerous sea with only the three of us on the Surreal Mystery? I don't think it will end well."
The bait was set. Elstorm and Helena, seemingly engrossed in a quiet conversation of their own, had subtly shifted their positions. Their ears clearly strained to catch every word. The subtle glances they exchanged confirmed Sparrow's assessment, they were hooked.
After a moment of tense silence, Elstorm stepped toward them, his piercing blue eyes meeting Sparrow's.
"Uncharted Island. That's what you ae talking about, isn't it?" A playful grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "And you intend to find it with… only the three of you?"
Helena stepped up beside him, her sky-blue eyes assessing Sparrow and his companions with a sharp intelligence. "Sorry. We couldn't help but overhear. Your undertaking sounds ambitious. Perhaps even… reckless."
Sparrow met their gaze, his own expression unreadable. "Perhaps. But the greatest discoveries are often born from a touch of recklessness."
Elstorm chuckled, a warm, genuine sound. "True enough. Tell you what… Helena and I have been searching for a reliable vessel and a crew with a like-minded goal. We may be able to offer our services."
Helena nodded in agreement. "Elstorm's cooking skills are quite good, and my knowledge of navigation is… extensive."
She allowed a rare, small smile to touch her lips. "Consider it… a mutually beneficial arrangement. We provide our expertise, and you provide the ship and the direction."
Sparrow maintained his stoic façade, but a flicker of satisfaction sparked in his dark-green eye. The trap had been sprung.
"Then it's settled. Welcome aboard the Surreal Mystery." He extended his hand to Elstorm, then to Helena.
As they shook hands, Canary squealed with delight, and Caith winked at Sparrow, the trio sharing a silent moment of triumph. The crew of the Surreal Mystery had just gained two valuable members, and their hunt for the Uncharted Island was about to begin in earnest.