Several days later · Offshore near Faris Valley Town, Kikraze Island
"Captain! Island spotted ahead!"
"Good. Same rules as always—lower the pirate flag and prepare to dock."
Two hours later, the Swordfish slowly sailed into a bustling harbor.
Unlike the eerie calm of Rongrong Island, the scene here was lively and vibrant.
This was Kikraze Island, home to the Kingdom of Astria.
It was classified as an Autumn Island, yet unlike most autumn islands, its land was scattered with numerous ancient volcanic craters.
Most of these volcanoes had long fallen dormant. Only a few still showed faint signs of activity.
Over the years, rainwater and seawater seeped into the sleeping craters, forming deep, crystal-clear lakes.
From above, these blue sinkholes looked like stars embedded in the earth.
This was why Astria was known as "The Kingdom of Stars."
The volcanoes had also blessed the land with incredibly fertile soil.
Harvests were abundant year after year—especially high-quality coffee, fruits, and agricultural products.
The town where Sami's crew docked—Faris Valley Town—was a prosperous settlement focused on agriculture and trade.
Merchant ships came and went at the docks. Warehouses lined the harbor.
The air carried a blend of coffee aroma, fruit sweetness, aged liquor, and sea breeze.
"Wow, this island is lively!"
"Totally different from the last one!"
"Stay alert," Isaac reminded them. "This is a World Government member nation, and a major trade hub. Plenty of guards and informants around. Don't draw attention. Finish your purchases and get back quickly."
"Got it, Brother Isaac!"
"Hey—Doctor Hiriluk, want to come check out the market with us?"
"Sure! I was planning to restock some medicinal supplies anyway."
Adjusting his glasses, Hiriluk happily joined the procurement group.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dock, Alberto suddenly sniffed the air.
He waved a hand in front of his nose and made a drinking gesture toward Sami.
Sami chuckled.
"Boss, looks like Alberto has caught the scent of good alcohol," someone said. "What do you think—should we go check it out?"
"Good alcohol?" Sami grinned. "Of course we can't miss that. Aldo, Feiqi—let's go grab a drink."
"Haha! Boss, I've been waiting to hear that!"
As they disembarked, Aldo shouted loudly back toward the ship.
"Hey! Bowlegs! Looks like you're on ship duty today!"
Marcus, who was cleaning his sword Chaos Blossom by the railing, froze.
A vein popped on his forehead.
"You bastard… want to die?! Get lost already!"
Aldo burst into laughter and jumped down the gangplank, turning around to make a mocking face.
"See ya~!"
Following Alberto's nose, they passed through busy streets and arrived at the town square.
It was even more crowded than the docks.
Shops surrounded the plaza. Street vendors filled every corner.
Shouts of sales, bargaining voices, and children's laughter blended into a lively urban symphony.
But the most striking thing was the fragrance of alcohol hanging in the air.
The aroma drifted from every direction.
Even without Alberto's extraordinary sense of smell, anyone stepping into the square would instantly be captivated by the rich scent of this town of liquor.
"Whoa…"
Aldo closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
"What kind of place is this? Did I fall into a barrel somewhere and wake up in heaven?!"
Feiqi laughed and slapped his back.
"Stop daydreaming, drunkard. The boss already went inside."
"Huh?! Damn it! Why didn't anyone tell me?!"
Aldo snapped back to reality and saw Sami and the others entering a rather luxurious tavern at the edge of the square.
He hurried in after them.
The tavern was even livelier inside.
Wooden tables were filled with customers of all kinds.
The air smelled of liquor and hot food.
Sami and his companions had already seated themselves at a long table near the window, each holding a wooden mug.
"Hey! You guys are too fast!"
Aldo squeezed in and dropped onto the bench with a thud that shook the table slightly.
He waved his hand boldly.
"Bartender! Bring a barrel of your best rum!"
The bartender approached and handed him a drink menu.
"Welcome! Which rum would you like, sir?"
"I just said rum—why are there…"
"Sir, we have more than twenty types of rum from different regions, vintages, and flavor profiles."
Aldo glanced at the menu once and his eyes widened.
"What the hell… there are this many kinds of rum?!"
The text was densely packed.
Scratching his head, he shoved the menu back.
"Forget it—I can't read this! Just bring me a barrel of the most famous rum you have!"
"Of course! I recommend our signature rum—Zabad Al-Bahar Special White Rum. It's brewed locally using selected sugarcane and volcanic spring water filtered through basalt rock layers. Crisp taste, perfect for hearty drinking."
"One barrel?"
"Bring it on!"
"Excellent choice. One barrel of Zabad Al-Bahar coming right up!"
Feiqi raised a hand.
"I'll have a jug of the same."
"Very well, sir. One barrel and one jug coming immediately!"
Soon the drinks arrived.
Aldo eagerly poured himself a full mug and downed it in one gulp.
"Ha—! That's the stuff! This place really is heaven!"
Sami gently swirled a darker glass of wine in his hand.
Through the window, he watched the bustling square while listening to his companions laugh and clink mugs.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Kikraze Island…
Looks like this will be a good place to resupply.
"Boss, what are you thinking about?" Aldo asked after finishing another drink. "This rum's great! Should we buy some before we leave?"
"Sure," Sami replied casually. "Tell the supply team later. Considering our ship's capacity… buying about eighty barrels should be fine."
"Long live the boss! Cheers to the boss!"
Aldo raised his mug again.
Just as he was about to finish his second drink, voices drifted over from a nearby table.
Several merchants seemed slightly drunk, and their conversation carried across the room.
"…So after this trip, I'm planning to rest for a few months."
"Rest for months? Old Charlie, that doesn't sound like you. Isn't this trade route usually profitable?"
Charlie sighed.
"Profit's nice—but only if you're alive to spend it."
"I've got some connections in the Marines. Ran into one of them at sea recently. He quietly gave me a warning."
"Warning? Pirates?"
"He didn't say much. Just said this sea's getting dangerous lately."
"What kind of pirates could make the Marines warn people?"
Charlie shook his head.
"Apparently some group pulled off something big somewhere and made the Marines suffer a loss."
"So he suggested I stay away from this region for a few months."
"I trust him. That's why I'm stocking up on goods this trip and then staying on land until things calm down."
"Wow… that serious? Even the Marines say to avoid them? Got bounty posters?"
"Actually… yes."
Charlie carefully pulled out a stack of folded papers from his inner coat pocket.
"My friend slipped these to me. Said they're just for reference—so I can stay cautious."
"I glanced at them earlier…"
"The bounties are pretty high…"
----------------◇ Bonus Chapter Reward◇-----------------------
Every 10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ Every 100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
◇ You can read 60 chapters ahead on Patreon if you're interested:
patreon.com/Luna023
Your support helps the story grow and motivates faster updates.