In the dining hall of the Starlight, the sailors, having listened to Brook's story, couldn't help but recall the ghostly pirate ship's decrepit appearance. It was hard to imagine how Brook had managed to survive alone in such an environment for decades. Out of pity, the sailors' initial aversion to Brook's identity as a pirate began to soften. Only Karslana maintained a displeased expression, though she refrained from speaking up out of respect for Portia.
"If you're willing, you can board our ship and leave this sea," said Joey Fello, after a moment's thought. He then glanced at William and his companions, who were leaning against the dining hall window. "We already have three outsiders on board; one more won't make much of a difference. But you'd better curb your pirate habits. From what I can see, you're quite capable. If we encounter any battles along the way, you'll need to pull your weight."
Brook froze with his teacup mid-air. After a couple of seconds, he sighed, set the cup down, and stood up. He looked around at the sailors seated in the dining hall, who had been listening intently to his tale, and spoke sincerely, "I want to thank you all. This has been the most sumptuous and lively meal I've had in over forty years. However, I must decline your offer. I cannot simply leave. I still wish to repair the ship that belonged to me and my companions. If possible, may I borrow some tools and materials?"
Joey Fello frowned at this. "I don't mean to discourage you, but your ship is already beyond repair. Without several skilled shipwrights, it's impossible to fix. You mentioned earlier that only the rudder was broken, but have you seen the state of the sails? They're practically shredded. Even if you fix the rudder, that ship won't make it out of the Florian Triangle, especially after taking a few cannon hits just now."
By the time he finished speaking, Joey Fello looked a bit embarrassed. This was part of the reason he had invited Brook to board the Starlight. Brook's plight was already tragic enough, and the Starlight's crew, out of misunderstanding and fear, had fired on his ship. Joey Fello and his crew were neither ruthless pirates who killed without remorse nor Marines tasked with upholding justice. They couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt toward Brook.
"But I don't want to leave my companions' remains in this dark, eerie place," Brook replied firmly. Though his skeletal face made it difficult to discern his emotions, his tone carried unmistakable resolve.
"We only have one shipwright on board," Joey Fello said honestly, "and there's no way he can stay on your ship to help with repairs. Besides, the materials needed to fix your ship are far more than what we have on board."
Portia seemed about to say something, but Karslana grabbed her wrist. When Portia turned to look at her, Karslana shot her a meaningful glance, silently urging her to stay quiet.
In truth, the simplest solution would be to transfer the remains of Brook's companions onto the Starlight. After all, decades had passed, and like Brook, his companions had long since become skeletons. There was no risk of disease or contamination. However, such a suggestion could only come from Portia, the ship's owner. Based on Brook's earlier account, his crew had been quite large. The Starlight's space and carrying capacity were limited, and bringing Brook's companions aboard would mean discarding some of the ship's cargo. This was a decision only Portia could make.
Moreover, while the sailors sympathized with Brook's story, the thought of sharing a ship with a pile of skeletons for an extended voyage was something they might not easily accept.
As a Marine, Karslana had an additional layer of concern. Brook was, after all, a pirate. She didn't want anything to jeopardize Portia's voyage, into which her friend had invested nearly all her wealth. Joey Fello's impulsive invitation to Brook had already annoyed Karslana. If Brook himself chose not to board, that would be the best outcome.
"It's fine. I can slowly work on the repairs myself—fix the rudder first, then the other parts. I've waited this long; I don't mind waiting a bit longer," Brook said optimistically, oblivious to the silent exchange between Karslana and Portia.
No sooner had Brook finished speaking than the ship suddenly lurched violently. The abrupt motion caught everyone in the dining hall off guard, leaving them sprawled across the floor. After a moment, the ship stabilized.
Though William, Gin, and Selkirk mimicked the other sailors by stumbling and acting as if they had lost their balance, their expressions carried a subtle but unmistakable seriousness.
Portia, under the protection of her bodyguard Clark and Karslana, was unharmed save for her pale complexion. Joey Fello, however, was less fortunate. The teacup Brook had set down earlier had spilled its contents onto his pants, leaving him looking rather disheveled. But Joey Fello had no time to dwell on such trivialities. He quickly rushed out of the dining hall, only to freeze in place upon stepping outside.
An island had appeared directly ahead of the ship. Its perimeter was surrounded by crumbling walls, and through the gaps in the ruins, a forest could be seen. Beyond the forest, perched on a hillside, was a manor that loomed faintly in the mist.
What shocked Joey Fello the most wasn't the sudden appearance of the island but the fact that none of the crew stationed on the deck or in the crow's nest had reported it to him.
"What are you doing up there? A whole island just appeared, and you didn't make a sound!" Joey Fello shouted toward the crow's nest.
But no response came from above. Moreover, despite the ship's violent shaking earlier, none of the sailors on deck had come to report to him. Something was clearly amiss.
Joey Fello felt a chill run down his spine. By now, the others had also exited the dining hall. Joey ordered someone to climb up to the crow's nest to check on the lookout, but Brook volunteered instead. With ease, he leaped up to the crow's nest and discovered the lookout unconscious, clearly having been struck down by someone.
Hearing Brook's report, Joey Fello immediately grew vigilant. He organized search teams to scour the ship for intruders and issued a stern warning for everyone to stay alert. He then led a group toward the foredeck.
William and his companions followed closely behind. Upon reaching the foredeck, they found several sailors lying unconscious, just like the lookout.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. While William and his group had some idea of what might be happening, the rest of the crew were at a loss, unable to fathom the identity or motives of the intruder. As the search teams returned with their findings, Joey Fello's expression darkened further.
The ship's rudder had been deliberately sabotaged. Worse yet, the ship's doctor, who had been resting in the infirmary instead of joining the others in the dining hall, had been attacked. His injuries were far more severe than those of the sailors on deck or in the crow's nest. When he was found, he was lying in a pool of blood, barely clinging to life.
Despite their thorough search, the intruder was nowhere to be found. It was as if the one who had infiltrated the ship, caused such destruction, and vanished without a trace was an invisible ghost.
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