He took a big swig of wine, the liquor dripping down his coarse stubble.
Wiping his mouth, his entire demeanor changed.
The captain of the Golden Sail Commerce Association, who had been so careful and measured before the lord, vanished.
In his place was the old sailor who had braved the monstrous waves of the endless sea for years.
"Tricky? My lord, in the deep sea, the word 'tricky' doesn't even begin to cover it."
Sea Wolf's voice took on a singsong, bard-like cadence.
He looked around at everyone present.
"Some things... they aren't just part of the rules. They *are* the rules."
Barrett lowered the cup he had just raised. Ola stopped his subconscious stroking of his beard. Even Tristan, who had been buried in his work, looked up from his pile of parchments.
"The Storm Giant Squid."
"And I'm not talking about the kind you hear about from coastal fishermen—the ones that can capsize a fishing boat."
