My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 137: A Quartermaster's Ambitions

"Sir, are you really going through with this?" Mr Thomas asked with concern in his voice.

"Do I have a choice?" Raven sighed as he looked at his last surviving officer. 'I should have never have dragged them into this.' Captain Raven was currently sulking while downing a glass of rum. 

His eyes wandered to the sights that were outside of his window. Not that there was much to see. A dark city filled with darker personalities. How could it compare to all the colour he had witnessed during his centuries of travel on the open seas. 'I guess I won't be allowed to do that anymore.' He sighed with a heavy heart. He was a man that loved his freedom. Now he was like a bird trapped in a cage.

"You always have a choice, sir. I've never seen you give up before." Joshua looked at his captain with a hopeful expression. 'As long as I try, she will give me what she promised!'

Mr Joshua Thomas had spent most of his life as an ordinary crew member on a lot of different ships. Going from one to the other in search of greener pastures. He had finally settled down on board the Freedom and had loved every moment of it. When he was named as the Quartermaster, he felt as though he were finally getting what he deserved.

This was a short-lived glory for him, though. Not long after that, basically, the entire crew was wiped out, and his new position was worthless. Unless, of course, he got the captain out of here and he started a new crew. Then there was definitely a chance of becoming his right-hand man!

This was one of the reasons he had agreed to Celia's request. The other was the reward she promised just for trying. Joshua was no fool, though. He knew that if he failed, it was akin to hush money. If he told anyone about this, he could imagine that Celia's head would be decorating a choice corner of the castle in no time.

He did have his reservations about the reward. She had warned him that it was not guaranteed to succeed, and if it failed, he would die. When she had first proposed it, he had thought she meant to turn him into a vampire or a half-breed like the captain. He was ecstatic that an opportunity like that had fallen into his hands. Just to do something that he wanted to anyway.

However, that apparently was not the case. If she turned him into a type of vampire, the queen would know that she was responsible just from his new smell. Instead, she planned to attempt to convert him into something that had long been considered banned within their society. That was because of the difficulty surrounding how to deal with them.

Joshua was not concerned, though. After witnessing the fight in the arena, he wanted more from this life of his. Did he not deserve it? 'I can't wait to see how strong I'll be when we return. Maybe I'll even get my own ship someday!' These thoughts were the only thing spurring him on.

"Sir, with all respect. If you don't want to stay here, isn't it better if we at least attempt to escape? The wedding date is getting closer, after all." Joshua decided to poke at Raven's weakness, hoping it would provoke him into taking action.

Raven almost shattered the glass in his hand when he heard this. It was no secret that he was against marrying Sonja after everything she had put him through. There was one issue, though. Where would they go? He could probably find out to activate the gate they arrived through from this end. But then they would have to deal with Yul. 

Even if they somehow got around him, they would have no ship, and he harboured doubts that the heroes would leave the island alone. No. That was definitely a suicide mission. He owed it to his men to just accept his fate. Then with his new influence and Sonja's promise, he could at least get them home safely.

"I can't." He replied solemnly. "Don't worry, though. I'll make sure the others and you don't share my fate. You'll definitely return home."

Joshua's eyes narrowed on the captain. It was commendable that he was willing to sacrifice his future for them, but this was not the result he wanted. Along with Celia's reward, he still wanted to learn from Raven. He had not spent much time with him as an officer so was still uncertain on the best way to run a crew.

'Plus, he still has a reputation. He could easily gather new members. Whereas I'm virtually a nobody. Why would anyone sign on with me?' Joshua sighed in his mind. Shaking his head, he played with a new ring that graced his finger. This was, of course, something given to him by Celia.

It was enchanted to allow the wearer of its counterpart to listen in on what was being said. It was a handy tool for spies and those who specialise in gaining intelligence. 'She better not back out on me.' Joshua thought as he continued to stare at Raven in silence.

Meanwhile, in a deserted room of the castle...

Celia threw a vase off a nearby wall in frustration. Another plan had failed. What was worse was that she would have to provide the compensation despite that. For a woman who was usually so calm and composed, this outburst was entirely unusual. It was as though there was even more at stake if she failed than just the matters surrounding the nobles.

She continued to curse and break anything that she could lay her hands on. All the while shouting out loud about how the wedding had to be stopped at all costs. She had no fear of being overheard. This entire area of the castle was her own accommodations. She had specifically commanded that nobody was to enter this area during this time.

A pair of eyes watched from the shadows with a glint of interest as they listened to Celia's mad ramblings. 'I should inform the Lord of this...'