A few days after Victor left Salazar’s house,

  Victor was heading toward the city of Cetos, where there was a port. He wanted to see if any ship was sailing to Luphanna. He walked for two days until, on the horizon, he spotted the city—filled with ships, dazzling houses, and covered in mist. Victor caught a smell coming from the city and said:

  “Ugh! This place reeks of dead fish and seaweed.”

  He continued walking toward Cetos.

  When he arrived in the city, he saw a tavern called The One-Eyed Shark. His stomach began to growl.

  Grrrrrrrrrhhh.

  Victor: “Yeah… it’s time to eat something. Good thing that mustached old man gave me some money.”

  (He was referring to Salazar.)

  Victor then entered the tavern. The place was filled with shark heads and sea monsters hanging on the walls, crowded with sailors, fishermen, and all kinds of people.

  Victor walked up to the counter and saw the tavern owner: a bald, burly man with earrings in his ears, jagged teeth, and blind in one eye.

  Victor said, “Ah, now I know why this place is called the One-Eyed Shark. What happened to your eye, old man?”

  The tavern owner replied, “What did you say, brat? You must be pretty brave to talk to me like that. Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

  Victor said, “No, I’m not.”

  The man stared at Victor for a few seconds. Victor stared back. Then both of them burst out laughing.

  Tavern owner: “Hahaha! I like you, brat. I’ll tell you how I lost my eye. I was hunting a gorilla shark that was destroying fishermen’s nets and sinking boats in the area. It was me and two friends on a small wooden boat. I spotted the shark and tried to hit it with a harpoon, but I couldn’t land a hit. Then it rammed the boat, I lost my balance, and fell into the sea. The shark came straight at me, and I had no choice. When it got close, I grabbed it with my hands and crushed it to death. But at that exact moment, the idiot friend of mine threw a harpoon and hit my eye, leaving me blind. And that’s how I lost my eye.”

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  Victor: “Damn, old man… that sounds like a lie.”

  Victor gave a sarcastic smile.

  Tavern owner: “No, it really happened. Look at the gorilla shark’s head hanging there.”

  Victor looked at the enormous, hairy shark head.

  Tavern owner: “By the way, my name is Butcher the One-Eyed, but you can call me Butch.”

  Victor: “Nice to meet you, Butch. My name is Victor.

  By any chance, do you know of a ship heading to Luphanna?”

  Butch: “Luphanna? You really don’t fear death, do you, brat? That place is full of unknown dangers, terrifying monsters, and murderous tribes. Do you really want to go there?”

  Victor: “Yes. I need to go there.”

  Victor made a serious expression.

  Butch: “Well, for your luck—or bad luck—a ship captain left a notice here at the tavern. They’re looking for deckhands for an expedition to Luphanna.”

  Victor: “Really? Show me that notice. What’s the name of the ship?”

  Butch: “Here, take a look.”

  Victor read:

  The Harpia

  Deckhands wanted for a journey of one month and a few days to the continent of Luphanna. We offer food and fair payment. We will remain in Luphanna for an indefinite time. Departure in two days.

  Victor: “I need to find this ship. When did they leave this notice, Butch?”

  Butch: “Just yesterday.”

  Victor: “Phew, there’s still time. I’ll go after the Harpia.”

  Grrrrrrrrrhhhh!

  Suddenly, Victor’s stomach growled.

  Victor: “But first… what do you have to eat here, Butch?”

  After filling his stomach, Victor headed to the port. There, he found the ship called Harpia—a large caravel with golden sails and a harpy carved into the prow.

  He boarded the ship and asked the sailors where he could find the captain. They pointed toward the captain’s cabin. Victor knocked on the door, and a short, grumpy-looking old man with a thick beard came out.

  “What do you want, boy?”

  Victor: “I came about the notice. I want to—”

  Butch: “We want to be deckhands on the expedition.”

  Captain of the Harpia: “Well, that’s excellent! I thought we wouldn’t find anyone. A pleasure, lads. I am Captain Finch. Welcome aboard the Harpia.”

  Victor: “Thank you, Captain.”

  Butch: “Thank you, Captain.”

  Captain Finch: “We depart in the morning.”

  Then the captain returned to his cabin and closed the door.

  Victor: “Butch, what are you doing here? Why did you come?”

  Butch: “Boy, I smelled adventure—and I couldn’t let that pass.”

  Victor: “You must be crazy, old man. Hahaha.”

  Butch: “Hahaha.”

  The next morning,

  Captain Finch: “Prepare yourselves, lads and ladies! We are heading toward the unknown. Perhaps this journey will be remembered in history forever…

  To LUPHANNA!”