LogFAQs > #904133501

Entry 2: Honeyflower's Revenge

As before, Captain Punch felt his talents were being heavily underutilized. Yes, he had a real name. No, it didn't matter what it was. Everyone had been calling him Punch since the old days. And when his reputation had raised and he'd brought enough men under his command, it had become Captain Punch. He'd lost his ship recently to Sirens, but there was nothing to be done for that. That was an enemy that was difficult to punch.
The expedition to Cain's lands was seen for the former ship captain as a way of making some quick start up money in order to buy a new ship and hire a new crew. These land lovers didn't understand things. He'd been told many times that he didn't understand how the world works, but that was always by dry folk. In his mind... they were the ones who didn't understand. The sea was a dangerous place. Far more dangerous than they could ever know. A place like this was nothing compared to that.

Instead of being sent to the front lines, Punch was given the job of escorting the damn photographer. He had no intention of babysitting that kind of weakling. But, at the same time, he was the type of person who respected the chain of command. He might grumble about it, but the last thing he wanted as captain was a mutiny. And he wouldn't be doing that to someone else while they were in charge, either.

"Don't piss on someone if you don't want to be pissed on," his mum had always told him. Course, they had grown up in a pretty filthy and poor section of one of the bigger cities on the coast. That kind of place absolutely had strange folk who enjoyed being pissed on. But Punch wasn't one of them.

Punch glanced back over his shoulder to make sure the short, round man was still following him. The guy was clinging to his camera tightly but hadn't stopped to take any pictures. Of course, the way those things worked, it would require some time to set it up and gain focus for the shot. Just what was he hoping to capture in a place like this. "Keep up, will you?"

"Aye aye, sir!" A voice came from behind.

That was the first time that Punch noticed the kid following them.

"You-" Punch almost did a double take. His eyes grew wide. Then, he rounded on the brown-haired boy and pointed a finger at him. "Just who the hell are you, kid? And what do you think you're doing?"

"Name is Tristan," the kid replied. "You're the legendary Captain Punch, aren't you?"

"Well, something like that," Punch said. He'd heard the term 'infamous' far more often. "Will you go home already? This isn't a place for kids."

"Don't worry, I'm sixteen. A legal adult," Tristan assured him. "Besides that I already signed on with the Golden Group. I have every right to be here."

Punch scanned the area with his eyes. Where was that damn Golden Group agent now? And why in the bloody hell had they accepted the contract of a sixteen year old boy? Okay, sure, having a cabin boy to help keep the ship clean was one thing. But sending a lad into a den of danger was purely reckless and immoral. "Why don't you go find, er... what's his name... and..."

"Sorry, sir, but I must stick by your side," Tristan responded. "I'd surely regret it if I missed this chance to see a hero with my own eyes. I want to-"

"Okay, okay. I get it," Punch said, cutting him off. He couldn't handle much more sincere praise like that. "Just stay near the wimp and try not to get in my way."

Owen, who had been silent during this exchange, flinched as he realized who the wimp was. "...me?"
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~* Now I only see your dull imposter ~*
https://imgur.com/tdhOSKc