Roseus found that sleeping on the hard wooden deck whilst drifting on the waves was something he would have to get used to, because that night, he felt like he hardly caught a wink of sleep.

Maybe that was because he had only had a few hours to shut his eyes before he was woken up by a strange sensation that fluttered through his mind and body. It urged him to wake up.

Pushing himself to a seated position, he saw that the sun beamed down through the door that led below deck.

He was the first awake of those that shared a shift with him. The others were up above, probably eating.

Roseus didn’t have time to focus on that right now. His mind kept drawing him to that strange feeling in his body, begging him to give it attention.

So he did.

That same information gifted to him by the seas before appeared to him, however this time, there was something new.

[Sailor System Awakened]

[Ship Management increased to Rank II]

[Sailor System skill awakened: Efficient Metabolism (Lv.1)]

Roseus wanted to leap to his feet and cheer, but he didn’t want to wake the others up yet.

He started wondering whether he had truly been blessed by the gods, as after only one night spent in the First Ocean, he had awakened his Sailor System.

Kruger did say it was easy...

With eagerness, he focused on the starter skill he had awakened alongside the Sailor System. Once he did, the description was given to him.

[Efficient Metabolism (Lv.1)] - Crew members require slightly less food and water to remain nourished and hydrated.

As soon as he learned the description of the skill, Roseus tried to see if he could notice the effects on his body. He wanted to revel in the fact that simply by existing, his body was granted powers that made him more than human.

However, there was no noticeable effect on the way his body worked.

So, he rose to his feet and made his way over to one of the small crates below deck. It was labelled hard cheese, which was an easy, long-lasting source of protein whilst out at sea.

He picked up a block of cheese and broke a bit off before stuffing it into his mouth and eating it.

...

The effect wasn’t much, but he could definitely notice it. Such a small snack should have hardly done much to satiate him. Yet it felt like with just that one bite, he wouldn’t need any more breakfast. Although he already was a thinner man, who didn’t each much.

He then made his way over to the water cask and scooped up the fresh water with his hands, funnelling it into his mouth.

Just one handful, and his thirst was quenched.

Incredible... Long term, I can only imagine what sort of difference this would make for the crew. Could a higher level of this skill let us live without needing food at all?

...

Roseus tended to his needs and started to head upstairs to meet the crew that was awake out on the deck.

There he saw Dawn controlling the wheel, the athletic Pip up high in the crow’s nest keeping lookout, Lucas One-Hand trying his best to navigate with the compass, following the orders that Silius had given him the night before, Adriana sitting and showing her rifle to Lyna the medic, and Petyr going through fencing drills with Lavender.

Seeing his crew all together like this, it was hard not to smile, even with the dangers that awaited them out at sea.

He made his way over to Dawn and greeted her.

"Isn’t it great, Rose? Being out at sea," she said, staring out at the currents with her only eye.

Roseus couldn’t help but agree.

He slithered past the woman, nodding at each of his other crewmates as he passed them, then he climbed the ladder leading to the crow’s nest, the highest point of the ship.

Once up there, he found Pip staring out at the sea with her eyes as wide as could be, and her jaw slightly agape.

Roseus placed a friendly hand on the girl’s shoulder. He understood.

"Feels unreal, doesn’t it?" he asked.

Pip never responded or looked back at him.

Instead, her arm raised, and a finger pointed out far into the distance behind them.

"The Navy." Was all she said.

Roseus felt his stomach lurch as he looked out at where the young girl was pointing.

It was hard to make out, but he certainly saw it. It became even more undeniable when he used his spyglass.

Far in the distance, tailing after them, was a small white ship with golden edges, slightly larger than their own.

It had the colours and design that every pirate had learned to fear and avoid.

Roseus roared at the top of his lungs.

"The Navy!"

Immediately, footsteps could be heard below deck as those who were still asleep hurried up to the upper deck.

Roseus spent a few more moments confirming that the navy were heading towards them. After he was certain, he climbed down from the crow’s nest and landed on the deck.

His crew were all looking at him expectantly, or out at sea towards their pursuers.

Dawn cursed as she turned to the steering wheel, but Silius was already up with the compass in his hand. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"No," the navigator said sternly. "If we steer left, we head towards a navy patrol route. Right, and we’ll end up back towards the land. We have to continue on this path."

"But the ship!" Dawn replied. "Their ships are steam powered. If we keep heading straight, there’s no hope for us. We are better off trying to find a unique location to lose their trail."

"No."

Roseus, who was thinking on the sidelines, joined the conversation. Everyone looked at him.

"There is hope." He then turned to Silius. "If Silius can awaken his Sailor System before they catch us, he might gain a skill that can help us lose them."

"B-but captain, we don’t know how long it might take for him to awaken," Lucas One-Hand added.

Roseus nodded his head. He knew that.

"You’re right, but if he’s as lucky as me, he could awaken at any moment. This morning, I was given my first skill."