Chapter 1380 Stowaways

Chapter 1380 Stowaways

Jack coughed into his hand as he tried to hide his embarrassment, but there was nothing he could do about it now. The giant bear was deader than dead. Looking at it objectively, all of this was the bear's fault to begin with.

Why hadn't it just shrunk down instead of growing the Jolly Rancher? Now, not only did it not get to ride the shop, but Jack and the rest were inconvenienced as well.

"Everybody, form up! I want to see you all in a line. Form up. I have an important speech to deliver," Jack roared, his loudest yell a quieter than Tiny-Sparkles lowest whisper. But it didn't matter.

His pirate crew suddenly lined up in front of him, though why did there seem to be a few extra members?

There was, of course, first mate Tiny-Sparkles, and Ollie. The baby crystal alligator was there, as well as Bob. But why was there a gnome lining up as well? And why was the gnome's beard 8 feet (2.4 meters) long while the gnome himself was shorter than 2 feet (0.6 meters)!?!

As if that wasn't enough, right beside the gnome was a small bear cub, dressed in the robes of a monk, even going as far as wearing monk beads around its neck! Was this... was this cub related in any way to the massive bear Jack had just killed? Logic dictated that as the most likely answer, but the cup bore no ill will towards Jack, the fairy could sense as much.

But even more than the bear cup, the sudden new addition that attracted Jacks attention the most was the final one! A regular sized hamster, that stood on its one hind leg as well as wooden prosthetic, and was dressed like a buccaneer, looked Jack right in the eyes as if there was nothing suspicious about his presence there whatsoever.

"You guys... we're not really hiring. What are you doing here?" Jack asked, pausing from the rousing speech he was about to give.

"Someone crashed the island where we were imprisoned- I mean, our home fell from the sky!" the gnome said abruptly.

"We wish to see the universe," the monk bear said. "My teacher told me monks eat lots of meat and meet lots of women. As such, I have decided to stain myself with the red sands of the mortal world, and witness such things for myself. Safe passage would be appreciated. I can pay in honey."

Jack looked at the two, and then finally looked at the hamster who looked like a hardened criminal who had lived a long life.

"Kill me or take me, I'm not leaving this ship," the hamster said, and then spit at the ground. But instead of spit, it accidentally spat out one of the nuts it had been hoarding in his cheek. But he was too embarrassed to go pick it back up, so instead he just looked away, his bulging cheeks hanging on either side of his face.

"That sand is red from blood," said the gnome.

"Don't be ridiculous. Blood would start darkening after so long," said the hamster.

"Don't you be ridiculous. How can cultivators' blood darken? That is the blood of mortals that does that."

"Who said cultivators' blood can't darken? If mortal blood can be oxidized by mortal air, then the immortal air of this realm can oxidize the immortal blood of this realm."

"It's hard to argue with that logic," murmured Tiny-Sparkles.

"Oh lawd-" Bob began, but this time Jack stuffed a jawbreaker into his mouth.

"Whatever it is that's causing the sand to turn red, it's clearly coming from there," Jack said, pointing to a massive, gaping hole in the sand far away. "As responsible pirates- I mean, as responsible good guys, it's our job to restore this natural ecosystem and set things straight. Full speed ahead!"

While the whole crew discussed the red sand, down below the deck, in a room, Ollie was glaring at the baby alligator.

"Don't you dare," the Shadow Talon threatened, hiding a treasure chest behind himself. The room was littered with countless crystalized treasures already, each of them emanating a powerful spiritual energy, enough to entice even immortals. But neither the Shadow Talon, nor the alligator cared about those.

They, instead, were focused entirely on the last treasure chest.

The alligator snapped its jaw, as if complaining that it needed a chew toy. It was, after all, teething, and wanted something to scratch its gums with.

"I'll scratch your gums with a dagger if you come close," Ollie threatened.

The two continued to argue, unaware as the lid of the treasure chest behind them slowly opened, and a golden goose peeked out, to see what the situation was like. Upon seeing that the other two were distracted, the goose carefully lifted the lid of the chest, and stepped out.

The entire process was soundless, but the moment the goose touched the wooden floor, the wood started to turn into gold. Up above, Jack, who was connected to the ship, immediately noticed something awry.