Hero is a Wanted Man

The sun was high up in the sky, yet it was not all hot. The cool breeze from the sea was doing its work and cooling most of the inhabitants of the island. Yet Raiden and his partner Jackie were covered in sweat as they were waiting in line at the outpost of the Grumon Island.

"Do you reckon we could get our hands on one of those.. Slimy meat skewers we saw our way back?" Jackie asked. Although he was very a healthy man with some hint of muscles, the man was a very big foodie. And his munching habits always flare up when he is very nervous.

"Now?" Raiden asked angrily. "We have been waiting here for fucking half an hour. We are next in I am not gonna give up my place so that you could have some fucking skewers," They were both standing in front of the outpost officer tent. The people before them had already gone in, and any minute the two soldiers standing outside could tell them to go in.

"But I am hungry man," Jackie said while clutching his stomach.

Raiden simply shook his head, "Nope. Not having that again. We are going to have our papers signed, and then we are going to leave. I have things to do,"

While they were talking, the soldier outside gestured for them to go in. "You stay outside. I will get this over with in a second." And before he went, he stared into Jackie's eyes, "When I come back, and I find you are fucking missing, you better be prepared to be for ass whopping of your life,"

With papers in his hands, Raiden entered the tent to find an 8-foot-tall Fishman sitting before his eyes. This Fishman looked like a warrior, scars covered most of his green torso, with his right eye closed because of a scar. Beside the Fishman was a six-foot-long shiny long curved blade, also known as a Tachi.

I wonder if I can take this guy on. He is not a mana wielder, maybe my chances would be alright, Raiden thought. 

"Papers," the fishman grunted. Raiden staggered the fishman's table, which was made in such a way that it accommodated a person of that size.

He put down the papers on the table, and the Fishman started mumbling, "Let's see… Ship, The Corona.. Captain, Raiden Hampshire… Exporting.. Crabs and Prawns."

The Fishman looked into his eyes, "Crabs and Prawns? Why the fuck is a person from a country like United Clans of Arcane here to this small island, from some shellfish?" the Fishman leaned forward, "Long way from home, arent you?"

Raiden cleared his throat, "Well, the crabs and prawns are salty. That is why I am here," He said the code word. 

The Fishman leaned back, "So you are a drug smuggler… What kinds of things do you have in your load?"

Raiden hesitated but then decided to tell the truth, "Some devil grass.. Some white powder. And some mushrooms, they are pretty famous with Demi-Humans,"

With a smirk, the Fishman showed his pointed teeth, "Quite a brave human, you are. Telling an officier of the state straight away what you are transporting,"

Raiden nodded, "I was told that it is not wise to lie to the officer of the island,"

"Is that so?"

Raiden then stepped forward and put a pouch on the officer's desk, "Also I was told to always bring a gift to the officer-in-charge,"

Curious the officer took the pouch and shook, it to hear the jingle of the coins. The Fishman with a cold face said "You got big balls like a goblin human," and then leaned forward, with a small smirk he said, "And I like it!"

The fishman emptied the pouch in the drawer of the desk, stamped the papers of Raiden, and let him on his way…

As the gentle breeze swayed the sail of Raiden's ship, he stood at the helm looking pissed. Jackie was having skewers just by his side, and didnt dare to make eye contact with him. Eventually, Jackie mustered up the courage and tried to give one, "Wanna try? They are really good,"

Raiden finally snapped, "What the fuck is wrong with you Jackie! I told you a thousand times that you were not supposed to go out for skewers,"

"Chillax my man!" Jackie said, "We are out aren't we?" Jackie put the skewers aside and made Raiden turn around, "LOOK AT THAT!" he said, while pointing at the island that they just left, "We have thrown dirt in the eyes of those Grumon folks and snagged an ancient trinket from under their asses,"

Then Jackie turned Raiden towards him, "And when we sell it, you know what will happen?"

Finally, Raiden couldnt help but smile, "We will enter big leagues,"

"FUCK YEAH!" Jackie yelled, he then turned towards the other five men of the ship, "WE ARE GOING TO ENTER BIG LEAGUES!"

The rest of the crew started celebrating, they whipped out bottles of mead, one took a guitar, and one took out some drums. Before Raiden knew it, everyone was jumping, and dancing. Everyone wanted to enjoy it because with this job done they had officially joined the big leagues.

Raiden then turned towards Jackie, who had joined the other crew members to celebrate the occasion. Smiling he went to the man, and before Jackie could take a swig of the mead, he snatched the bottle from him, "As the vice-captain of the ship, go and man the helm. Today, I would like to enjoy,"

"WHAT! No. Dont do this to me Raiden," Jackie protested, but his protest fell on deaf ears as Raiden made his way to the lower deck…

With a bottle of mead in his one hand, Raiden stared at the wooden crate before his eyes with interest. This crate was the reason that they would enter the big leagues, but neither he nor Jackie knew what was inside the crate. It looked like a normal cargo crate to him, it had no description or any marks on it. But from the wood quality, he could tell that the crate was very old.

I wonder, what could be more valuable than the drugs that we had stacked in our ship as cover.

Curiosity could better of him and he took the crowbar to open the chest. As the wood was very old, it only took some amount of effort to open the thing.

When fully opened, Raiden couldnt understand what he was looking at. The crate contained a black cylinder, close from each end. The cylinder looked like it was made from iron, the same type used in a canon. But based on cracks on the cylinder, it seemed that it was pretty old. Not to mention there seem to be holes on the top, whose purpose he could understand.

Curious Raiden touched the old iron, only to be startled by the word manifested before his eyes..

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Host Verified

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System installation process starting…

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And suddenly darkness took over his eyes…