I remember the 'Sailor' pathway's Sequence 8 is 'Folk of Rage'. Quincy's temper perfectly matches this; he's a complete 'Grumpy Old Man'. I bet even if he doesn't understand Acting, he'll quickly digest this stage's potion.
Lex had no awareness of being targeted, smiling as he looked at Quincy and the Boatswain.
Damn noble!
Seeing the smile on Lex's face, Quincy felt an urge to punch that handsome face, but his reason stopped him. Although he guessed that a noble Young Master screaming like a girl would be very funny and satisfying.
At this moment, a low but authoritative voice rang out: "You're full of spirit, recruit. What, do you think my judgment is so poor that I picked you clowns?"
Lex and the other recruits couldn't help but look at the speaker. It was a man who had walked out of the cabin. He wasn't particularly tall, appearing slightly shorter than Quincy. But his physique was very strong, giving him a very solid feeling.
His shoulders were unusually broad and thick. He wore a Taraba shirt, common in the Rorsted Archipelago, paired with wide-leg trousers, but the trouser legs were cinched by a pair of leather boots.
He had a brownish-yellow cloth belt wrapped around his waist, covered by a dark long-sleeved trench coat. However, the long coat wasn't worn on his body but draped casually over his shoulders like a cloak, secured by a silver chain to buttons on both sides to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.
His short-cut black hair, an X-shaped scar on his left cheek, one hand grasping the stubble covering his chin, and an unlit cigar clenched in his mouth.
His half-closed, narrowed eyes gleamed, constantly sweeping back and forth over Quincy.
The Boatswain immediately snapped his legs together, stood ramrod straight, and loudly declared: "Salute!"
"This is the Captain of the Wavebreaker, Lieutenant Commander Ken Angus of the Kingdom's Navy!"
Captain!
Lieutenant Commander!
Although Lex and the others didn't yet know how to perform a naval salute, they all stood straight and stiffened their backs to show respect.
The 'Thief' named 'Frank' even shrunk his body, slightly lowered his center of gravity, and adopted a highly defensive posture, a Glaint of fear flickering in his eyes as he looked at the Captain.
Waving his hand casually, Ken Angus, who seemed to have a naturally raspy voice, said in a deep, weathered tone: "No need for formalities. Also, Roger, I've told you, you need to break this bad habit."
"Stop mentioning the Kingdom's Navy. From today on, I am only the Captain of the Wavebreaker, and you are the Boatswain, not a Lieutenant in the Kingdom's Navy."
Roger shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands, saying: "As you say, Captain."
The Captain tugged at his hair and said to the Boatswain: "Go find my hat."
Then he looked at Quincy: "You seem very dissatisfied, Mr. Quincy."
Quincy said, looking straight ahead: "I'm just confused, Captain, this isn't what I imagined!"
Ken spread his hands and said: "Then what did you imagine it to be? Did you hope to serve on an ironclad? Don't even mention you, I want to too, but that ironclad isn't something just anyone can get on, not even me, let alone you."
"However, you are right about one thing; our team is indeed different from other navies."
"I imagine that before you came, you should have known to some extent that you were joining a special department. Now I will tell you, the department you are joining is called 'Black Sail'!
"It's a special operations department under the Navy System. You can think of it as the 'Military Intelligence Section 9' of the Sea."
"However, we will be targeting those great pirates, those so-called Admirals, and even those who usurp kingship!"
Black Sail?
Military Intelligence Section 9 of the Sea?
Lex narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking, it seems I've joined quite a Beyonder department.
Ken poked Quincy's chest repeatedly with a thick finger: "If we want to get relevant intelligence on the Sea, we can't wander around in naval uniforms, we can't drive advanced hybrid warships, and we can't constantly call out 'officer, officer'."
Quincy frowned but dared not protest or retreat. He could only stand there, letting the Captain poke his chest with his finger.
"On the contrary, we must change our original habits and our original tone, to make ourselves sound like Adventurers of the Sea, or perhaps some unknown pirate."
"Therefore, I chose people like you. I need people who have absolutely no connection to the Kingdom's army or the Navy. Otherwise, why wouldn't I choose from the existing System instead of recruiting you?"
"Now, Mr. Quincy, do you still have any questions?"
Quincy's dark face flushed slightly as he shouted with his hands behind his back: "No, Sir."
"Very good. However, no questions don't mean you can just stay on my ship like this."
Ken turned around and pointed at Lex and the others, saying: "The same goes for you."
"Of course, this does not include Miss Natalie. We need a 'Apothecary', and we would never refuse a 'Surgeon'."
Natalie, whose hands were covered in rings, gently lifted her skirt and curtsied.
The Captain then raised his voice and said: "Listen, the notice you received only gave you an opportunity to join 'Black Sail'. Next, you will have a test. Only those who pass the test will be qualified to stay on my ship."
"If you can't pass, even if you cry and beg me, you'll have to get out!"
"However, if you pass the test, then congratulations, you will then participate in a week-long training camp. After leaving the camp, you will receive the rank of Lieutenant in the Kingdom's army System."
"This is a privilege of joining 'Black Sail', and also an acknowledgment of your strength. You should know how many years Roger had to toil to rise from a corporal to his current rank of Lieutenant. Believe me, it's far longer than you imagine."
At this moment, the Boatswain brought a boat-shaped hat. The Captain snatched it and put it on his head.
"Now, you are free to move around, but do not leave the deck. You can give your luggage to the Sailors, and they will take it to your rooms."
At this point, the Wavebreaker's square sails were lowered one by one. Ken, holding his hat, looked up for a moment and then said: "We are setting off. By evening, we will arrive at the secret base. There, a test awaits you."
"If you want to get off the ship now, I don't care, but if you want to stay, then prepare yourselves well!"
After speaking, the Captain left with the Boatswain, leaving Lex and the others on the deck. A moment later, Sailors came to take their luggage. Thus, Lex spent an afternoon on the deck.
During this time, he interacted more with 'Poet' Edward and 'Apothecary' Natalie. As for Quincy and Frank, the former sat alone, eyes closed in meditation. The latter was nowhere to be found, no one knew where he went.
When the sun appeared on the western side of the Sea, Lex saw a Sea Island. The Hunter's excellent vision allowed him to see a sailboat moored near the Sea Island without the aid of tools.
The sails on that ship were all furled, and smoke rose near the beach, but none of that was important.
What was important was that there was a Black Sail on that ship. On the Black Sail, three skulls and two crossed swords were painted in white.
It looked like a pirate flag.