"Whatever you do, don't piss off the people with chains and white cloth," Emelia told them as they went up the pier to the walkways of Windtop Cove. "They're from the faction called the White Flags. They run all of the Safe Havens in this Stage."

"Are they peaceful?" Maalia asked. If Emelia hadn't been here, Adam was fairly sure the woman would've been the one in charge. She seemed way surer of herself than Leon and Ruimin.

"They are," Emelia replied. "But they won't abide by stealing or violence. So don't piss them off. It's difficult to get back into their good graces if they kick us out. Not to mention, we might lose our airship."

Shit.

Unlike previous Stages, it seemed like the NPCs played a much bigger role here, and it was important to understand the dynamic between them, as well as what boundaries they had in place. They might be fine not being able to find shelter for the 3 days they were here, but once the Stages got longer, getting banned from safe zones would be devastating.

If the Tome Keeper is right, then these people aren't actually NPCs. They're real living beings.

Given how they often act in predictable ways or how their first phrase to me in a new loop is the same, it is hard to believe. They feel more like thinking and evolving robots than sapient creatures.

But each of them has a backstory, beliefs, personalities, and all the things that make humans what they are. Besides, why would the Tome Keeper mislead me about the reality of the Trials?

It's just difficult to reconcile, and it means what Maggie did, killing all those Elphin, was mass murder…

Emelia tapped Adam on the shoulder.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he replied.

They were following a zigzagging series of metal and wood bridges that led up to the donut-shaped building at the top of the settlement. Apparently this was where they'd get their first clue for the Godstone, as well as a map of their surroundings.

Emelia gave him a sceptical look.

"I was just thinking about something my Patron said," he admitted, unable to lie to her when he met her eyes.

"Like what?"

"He said everyone is real. All the NPCs and such."

Emelia frowned.

"What?" Adam asked.

"Arturo said that same thing before we split up the last time. It was part of the reason why he didn't want to keep going," she explained. "We have to do some pretty bad things to beat future Stages. So, even if he's right, it helps to believe that all the denizens of the Trials are no more than very convincing facsimiles."

Adam sighed. "It's hard to just switch that part of my brain off."

"I know," she replied.

The trio was already two bridges above them, speeding towards the captain's quarters in the donut building. They hadn't yet told them that completing Ruimin's quest was out of the question, and he was worried about how they'd take it, since the three had bonded quickly.

"Why is that building called the captain's quarters?" Adam asked.

"Because the White Flag's Captain lives there," Emelia answered simply. "Although, Windtop Cove used to be an airship, so that might be the main reason."

He paused and looked around. "I can't imagine fighting against a ship this size."

"That's why they're the peacekeepers," Emelia said. "And why pissing them off is a very bad idea. None of the other factions mess with them because they still bear the scars from last time someone drew their ire. You can't maintain the peace without overwhelming power."

That's one way to look at it, Adam mused.

Although, I suppose she's right. The only reason why a Third World War didn't manifest in my lifetime is because of the overwhelming power of nuclear weapons and the promise of mutually-assured destruction.

And as time-loopers, maybe that's what we represent. Overwhelming power, capable of ensuring the peace.

Maybe there's a way to leverage that power to save everyone in Stage Five?

When the Tome Keeper answered my question about how to save people from that Stage, I got the sense that he was only giving me one answer amongst many.

I probably need to be more specific with my questions, like asking what the easiest way to accomplish something is.

The way he answered my question about how to beat the Trials sounded like it would be quite difficult too, and there may be other ways. Not to mention that, even though he is very knowledgeable, he is not omniscient.

Emelia poked Adam in the cheek.

"You're doing it again," she said.

"Sorry," he replied.

"Come on, let's catch up to the others before they fuck up our introductions to the captain."

Adam grinned and brought out his barriers, hopping aboard one and offering his hand to Emelia to get on another. "M'lady."

Emelia made a face. "Don't ever say that again," she scolded him, though she still took his hand.

They flew up past the zigzagging bridges, passing by Leon, Maalia, and Ruimin, all three of whom started sprinting to catch up to them.

"Do we even need an airship?" Emelia joked as Adam deposited them on the landing right outside the captain's quarters' rounded walls and door. Two guards in chains and white cloth stood out in front, holding harpoon spears.

"I was thinking the same thing," Adam replied. "I can probably shape my barriers into a ship, if you wanna keep the aesthetic."

She laughed.

They waited about a minute for the others to catch up, then Emelia went through the door. Adam followed right behind her.

The interior of the donut-shaped building was quite peculiar. The curving walls were covered in trophies of various beasts' heads and bones, as well as weapons and scraps of armour plating from the hulls of airships. There were also small stands for treasure, such as large gems, vases, golden tankards, and other such things. Many were ordinary items, which might only be considered treasure because they were covered in gold and studded with gems. The decoration made the place seem like a museum, but then the part of the building closer to the central pillar of the settlement was filled with various plants, couches, beds, and open barrels brimming with foodstuff. The theme seemed to be 'affluent pirate with no taste'.

They walked around the interior, which had pirates lounging about and chatting loudly, as well as a dozen more guards. Many of the pirates wore different attire than the White Flags, and Adam wondered if they were from other factions.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

They reached a large desk made of bone with golden veins running through it. Behind it sat a large musclebound man. He was bald and smooth-shaven, wearing a suit of armour made from chains welded together, and a white cape fell down the back of the chair he was leaning in, his legs up on the table.

Doesn't really look like a pirate. More like a warlord.

The fact that he looked to be around fifty years old and had barely any scars or visible injuries, might be indicative of his strength, unless he'd inherited his role.

"Captain Drew," Emelia greeted the man. "My crew and I have come to the Floating Sea in search of a treasure known as the Godstone."

"Aye," he replied, his voice gravelly. "I know it."

"Can you tell us where it is?" Maalia asked.

Emelia glared at her.

Captain Drew glanced between them before looking at Adam.

"Which of these ladies helms your ship?" he asked him.

Would it be incorrect to say we all gave it a go?

"Emelia," he replied, gesturing to her.

"Then I will speak to her and the rest of you sharpen your ears and stay your tongues."

Maalia looked poised to say something, but Leon put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"We are of course willing to trade information in exchange," Emelia went on, as if the interruption hadn't occurred.

What information?

This was something Emelia hadn't really told them much about. She had said that it was normal to have to do something in exchange for learning where the Godstone might be, which would start the whole goose chase to find it.

But apparently, she uses a different strategy.

Maybe it's something that can only be known after coming here?

"Let us hear it then," Captain Drew said, folding his arms over his chest, still leaning back in his chair. It was made from chains like his armour and had a white cushion.

"The Whale Eaters' Captain has set sail with his prized ship, heading for the Drakes' territory, aiming to make a trophy of Mast-Chewer. They have allied themselves with Fallow's Fallen to gain the firepower needed for the attack."

The captain sneered. "I knew those poachers were up to something damned! Attacking the Drakes will bring the Golden Fortress into this as well… It'll be another war that the White Flags have to quell."

He took his feet off the table and got up from his chair which toppled over backwards hitting the wooden floor with a loud clunk. Then he yanked open a drawer in his bone desk, pulling out a crinkled map that he unfurled in front of them.

Adam peered down at it as the captain spoke and tapped a spot, "This island here is where they say a clue of the Godstone was found. It is some kind of mechanism. I don't know which of the factions found it, but there was a small fight over it. That's where I'd check first if I was a treasure-hunting sort."

The map was like an old hand-drawn one. It showed Windtop Cove and the small islands they'd passed by on the way here, each rendered in colour and a good amount of detail. Some islands had names, but most were untitled. There were two additional settlements on it, one to the east called Morgan's Rest and the other to the southwest called Lenny's Landing. Some islands were shaded in grey or gold, and Adam wondered if it was because of their different elevation from where most things floated, since one matched an island that he'd seen floating above them on the way here. A couple of named places had skulls on them, and a fair few had treasure chests with question marks.

No sooner had Captain Drew unfurled the map than he rolled it up again and tossed it back into the desk drawer.

We need that map!

"I will pass your news around to my boys," the captain then said.

"We are actually planning on taking on the Golden Slug," Emelia told him.

Captain Drew paused before laughing. "With that little thing you brought into my port!?"

"Yes," Emelia said, the conviction clear in her voice.

He scoffed. "You've got guts, little lady," he said. "Go visit Herrman's shop, he can upgrade your vessel. Tell you what, I'll have one of my boys show you the way there. The first upgrade is on me."

"We'll take you up on that offer," Emelia said. "Once we capture the Golden Slug, maybe we'll swing it by here to show you."

Captain Drew laughed. "I really hope you're not just talk, because that I'd want to see!"

He shouted to one of the guards and a harpoon-wielding chain-covered woman came over.

"Take them to Herrman," he told her. "This madwoman says they'll take on the Golden Slug. I say we give her ship a little upgrade before we send them off."

The guard grinned.

I have no idea what is happening other than the fact that Emelia promised him we'd take on the ship that I have the key for…

As the guard led them out of the building and down the walkways, Captain Drew went around to his guards and alerted them to what Emelia had told him. Within moments the whole settlement was buzzing with activity.

"What the hell was all that?" Maalia asked Emelia before Adam could.

"We got lucky," she replied. "There are a few ways things can shake out in this Stage. One of those ways is what I warned the captain of. I didn't expect him to gift us a free ship upgrade though. Those are usually hard to come by if you aren't paying."

"I still don't get how you knew all that," Maalia said.

"It's because of the ships that were in the port," Emelia explained. "There are three patterns, as far as I know, for how the factions end up fighting. The one we have here is the Whale Eaters allying with Fallow's Fallen to attack the faction called the Drakes. The Eaters hunt Slugwhales and Slug Dragons for their trophies, and the Fallen are basically insane pirates who just want to fight no matter the cause, so they joined up with the Eaters just because it gives them a good excuse. The Drakes basically idolise Slug Dragons, hence their faction's name, and their captain has one of those creatures as his companion. That companion is what the Whale Eaters want to slay. There's a lot more stuff underneath all that, like the alliance between the Drakes and the Golden Fortress, but the end result is just that a big war will break out in 2 days if nobody stops them. We can take down the Golden Slug airship, which will be super difficult, or we can kill the Drakes' Slug Dragon ourselves which is also quite tough, or we can do a myriad of other things to sway the outcome, etc. etc."

"And how is this connected to the ships in the port?" Maalia asked.

"Windtop Cove is the biggest settlement in the Floating Sea, and normally they have representatives from all factions here, aside from Fallow's Fallen, since those guys are insane. However, there wasn't any ship flying the flag of the Whale Eaters, because they already got kicked out by the White Flags. That's the sign that this is the pattern in play. We were very lucky that we found Windtop Cove and got this pattern. Another one would've been if we encountered two airships in the beginning belonging to the Fallen. And the third involves the Drakes' pet Slug Dragon destroying one of the settlements."

She knows a lot about this Stage, Adam mused.

"Are we going to take on that airship then? The Slug?" Leon asked.

"Not yet," Emelia told them. "First, we'll go to the island that Captain Drew told us about and once there we'll search for clues about the Godstone. I know an easy way to figure out which faction has the thing we need to go from there. After we pick up the trail, we'll do some exploration to get some Doubloons and upgrades and Relics, and maybe even do some small quests for the people of Windtop since we're already here. While we could upgrade the Creaking Madam a lot to make it capable of taking on the Golden Slug, we're better off following the trail of the Godstone to whichever faction took it and then stealing one of their medium-sized airships. That size ship will have the firepower we need, as well as the hull strength to survive taking a few hits head on. Then tomorrow we'll ram and board the Golden Slug with our stolen ship and take out its crew, stealing it for ourselves. It's of a classification called super large, so it's about twice as big as the large airship that was docked at the pier next to ours."

She really has it all planned out.

We don't really need to engage with the whole side-story thing to beat the Stage, but she's no doubt got the best plan for how to complete as much as possible to get ourselves a fat load of Points.

"But we don't need to do all that, right?" Ruimin replied. "We just have to find the Godstone and do our Patron Quests, that's it. Right?"

Emelia frowned. "My plan will get everyone at least 15.000 Points."

They all paused, and Adam grinned as he saw the looks on their faces.

"How's that possible?" Leon asked. "I barely got half that in the last Stage."

"If you let me take the lead, I'll show you," Emelia said. "We should all be able to get a lot of the bonuses. The Secret Boss and All Objectives rewards are 3.000 Points combined, and that's on top of all the kill bonuses we'll get, and the objective rewards."

"What about our Patron Quests?" Ruimin insisted. "Leon said you didn't want to do mine."

Emelia nodded. "We can't do yours. Summoning the Cloud Leviathan will make it impossible for us to do anything else."

"What if we wait until the last day to do it?" Maalia suggested.

"No," Emelia replied firmly.

"I didn't do the previous quest," Ruimin said. "The octopus told me to kill someone and sacrifice them. I couldn't do it… But I don't have to kill any other Players for this quest. If I don't do it, he said I will be punished by Nwetrou. Someone in the Tavern said he was punished for outright refusing to do something his Patron asked of him. It reduced his Health by 90%… I don't want to get that kind of weakness. I won't survive if I get it."

Emelia looked Ruimin directly in the eyes. "I'm sorry, but we just can't do it. We won't be able to clear the Stage if it's summoned."

Adam wanted to mediate the tension in the air between them, especially when he saw the looks on Leon and Maalia's faces. But he knew Emelia was doing it to protect them. If it was something even Arturo warned about, then it had to be dangerous. And Nwetrou was a kind of Absolute who definitely seemed like he didn't care about his adherents dying to fulfil his quest.

What a difficult situation…

Their guard came to a stop, having ignored their entire conversation up until now.

"Are you lot coming?" she asked, her voice surprisingly feminine despite her tough appearance and shaved head.

No one said anything else as they followed after the guard, continuing towards Herrman's shop.

I just hope they won't hold it against us.

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