Tycondrius led the group, Lone and Wroe each carrying a box and Pale insistent upon carrying two. The few Sea Wolves on evening watch nodded in acknowledgment at the familiar guild. As Tycon surmised, none of them bothered to question them.

Wroe sidled up beside Tycon as they walked, "Is there a reason we didn't put the boxes into your storage ring, Boss?"

Tycon glanced over at his blue-haired angel-blooded friend, "The boxes all have a light spatial enchantment, just like the ring."

Wroe nodded, "Ah, right. So combining them would tear a hole through time and s.p.a.ce."

Tycon furrowed his brows, "What? No. The lesser items-- the boxes, would break, at worst. The items held within would spill out, at best."

"That's... boring," Wroe grimaced with disappointment.

"As always, Mister Wroe, I question your logic. But I'm glad that facts have dissuaded you from foolishness."

Upon reaching the s.h.i.+p, Tycon cautiously observed the rotten gangplank, "Really, Mister Wroe? If this is any indication of your s.h.i.+p's condition, the Unfortunate is worse from the Elizabeth Dare."

Tycon inwardly admitted that it was only a half-step worse. All of the Sea Wolf s.h.i.+ps were in horrid condition.

Wroe smiled and tilted his head with his eyes closed, "I trust her. And she will not betray my trust."

Lone audibly gulped.

Wroe continued, "The crew cannot easily leave the s.h.i.+p. Let's get the boxes on board."

Tycon nodded warily. He did not feel at all comfortable about Wroe's comment concerning the crew, "Right... Go ahead, then, gentlemen."

Wroe and Lone stepped onto the gangplank, while Tycon watched safely from the docks. He fully expected the rotten wood to collapse... but the two made it onboard safely.

Tycon glanced over at Pale, who was carrying the 30 ponze boxes over either shoulder.

Pale placed a single step onto the moist wood... and slipped. He planted a knee into the hard-wooden docks. Tycon was able to grab hold of one of the enchanted boxes, but the other slipped and kersplunked into the blackwater below.

Tycon placed a palm onto his face, "Bucket, you must be joking."

Pale sat on his behind, rubbing his pained knee, "I'll-- I'll go get it."

« System, inquiry: Please tell me that these boxes are unaffected by their surroundings. »

[System response: The Lesser Boxes of Holding are affected by outside conditions.]

« System, inquiry: ...But they are... waterproof, yes? »

[Negative.]

Tycon felt his heart grieve. His eyes unfocused as he stared at the waning moon and performed mathematical calculations in his head. He had the System perform estimates of the market values of the box's contents... of the illegal opioid, Dragon's Breath.

Pale's face took on a shade of panic, "Boss! I-- what's wrong?"

"The contents within each box can be sold for over 1.5 million silver... with a 50% increase if we sell them illegally."

Pale's blood froze, his skin blanching, "I-- no way... but... how would we--"

"We literally have a Rogue's Guild in Merylsward," Tycon swept his arm to the side, activating his spatial ring. Tycon's halberd appeared in his hand, its blade still wrapped in oiled leathers. It was the weapon that Tycon used most when training Pale.

"Boss! I'm sorry! I just..."

"1.5 million silver, young man. Do you know how many mercenaries Invictus could hire with 1.5 million silver?"

...

Pale received intensive training until morning.

The mind is weak. The body will remember.

Departure from the Saltspray island took a few bells, but the 3 Sea Wolf s.h.i.+ps and the Unfortunate were soon on their way back to Beaurte-- in particular, to the naval base on Saint Guinefort island.

A gaggle of Sea Wolves, led by Corporal Jacque, gifted or lent Pale a smattering of superst.i.tious charms and trinkets. Though Tycon could sense no magical effects from them, Pale was able to far better handle the cutting of the Unfortunate through the waters.

...Tycon chose not to question it.

Wolfbanger continued to suffer from mana exhaustion, the resulting condition of breaking the magical contract. He was weakened, suffered severe migraines, and was generally miserable to the point of being bedridden.

Further, upon boarding the Unfortunate, he again became seasick. The weretouched boy p.i.s.sed and vomited everywhere he went. He occupied a permanent spot on the top deck, where he could expel his fluids overboard. The crew tied his waist to a mast, so he wouldn't roll overboard...

Rico and other Sea Wolves, like Corporal Jacque and Sergeant Garret, would often climb aboard the Unfortunate, likely to avoid their s.h.i.+p duties. Tycon was glad for their company, the women, in particular. Sasarame was terribly shy amongst most people. Only Rico, Eilean, and himself were able to talk to her with a sense of normalcy.

Sasarame could understand but not speak the common tongue, so Rico volunteered to teach her... It was likely a disaster in the making, but Rico proved a decent language instructor-- as one non-human to another.

As for Eilean... Tycon surmised that Sasarame did not know that the Sea Witch was actually human. He chose not to inform his tiny snake daughter of the fact.

Lieutenant Eilean walked the decks of the Unfortunate... While her main body remained on the Thalia Grace, the Sea Witch was able to project herself as a blue-translucent slime.

Upon seeing Tycondrius, she hurried over, her feet on the deck making an unpleasant suction noise. Devoid of clothing, her particular features were obscured, though her curves were accentuated. Tycon couldn't help but notice that the woman lacked a p.e.n.i.s.

"Yer laerds.h.i.+p! 'Ow are ya this fine mornin?!"

Slime-Eilean tried to go for a viscous embrace. Tycon deftly stepped out of her range. The Slime Witch compensated by hugging herself and swaying cutely.

"Good morning, Lieutenant. All is well."

The two spoke for a short while about the s.h.i.+p's conditions. Every day, Eilean would project her Water-Clone to keep Tycon informed, provide exotic fish, and to talk about nonsense.

The day would be different, it seemed.

Among their conversations was the fate of the Unfortunate once Invictus had finished with their tour. Instead of remaining as Guild Invictus' property, the s.h.i.+p would better serve being inducted into the Sea Wolf fleet. Soon, Hai-Captain Lang Hai would visit for an inspection...