The Pirate's Treasure is Thicker than Water

Whenever I go through these doors I get the feeling of being home. This tavern really is my home away from home!

Come on, Aldo, have a drink with me!

No, I'm fine thanks. But you feel free to have one.

I hate drinking alone. I'm always...

Oh! Interesting! Could it be a confession of love from a young damsel?

What? Hahah! Now this is interesting! How exciting!

Aldo! We need to get back to Baruoki! It's a treasure hunt!

Denny! Why, shiver me timbers, you came back!

Hey there, gramps. How's it going? I thought you'd have croaked a long time ago.

Hah! Rude as always, aren'tcha! But it's good to hear you've been worrying about me!

Denny, who is this?

Oh, sorry. Let me introduce you. This old man right here, he taught me everything I know about ships. He helped me out back before I knew the first thing about the sea. He's the world's greatest sailor.

He must be important indeed for you to give him such an introduction, Denny.

That's enough now. I'm just another plain old man. Though I used to be a pirate.

...... So? Where's the treasure?

Oh, right. Well I'm getting too old for standing around like this, so let's talk about it over a drink at the tavern, like real pirates.

Barkeep! A fire water and two ginger ales!

Hm? I'm okay with just a ginger ale, why order two?

One's mine, of course!

Ah, still with the kiddie drinks, huh?

Right. I've never felt seasick in my life, but anything stronger than ginger ale makes me hurl.

But you know that never stopped you from loving the tavern as much as the next pirate... You were the complete opposite to Old Tom. Loved the strong stuff, but never enjoyed the tavern.

Old Tom, now that takes me back.

Oh yeah, you two were basically like brothers, weren't you?

Yeah. We used to get into so much trouble together, annoying all the young ladies in town. I remember hearing years ago that he was lost at sea.

I doubt he's survived...

I guess not. He always was a fool. I never thought any of you would go before me.

I'm sorry, Denny.

Thanks. A pirate's life is often all too short. We're all ready for whatever comes.

Anyway, I found a note in the room that Old Tom was renting. It seems that he hid a map to his treasure in a well in Baruoki.

Old Tom's treasure...

In that case, we absolutely have to find it!

Right. Thanks, Denny. What better way to say goodbye to Old Tom.

There are a few wells in Baruoki. I'll show you where they all are.

Okay! Where are you, treasure?

Let's split up and look for anything suspicious!

Damn! There's nothing here! Not here either! Where is it?!

There are other wells, let's go try another one.

Okay! Where are you, treasure?

Let's split up and look for anything suspicious!

Damn! There's nothing here! Not here either! Where is it?!

There are other wells, let's go try another one.

Okay! Where are you, treasure?

Let's split up and look for anything suspicious!

Damn! There's nothing here! Not here either! Where is it?!

Huh?!

There's something in here, between the stones.

There's a bit of parchment. A hand drawn map?

This handwriting... So messy, there's no doubt! This is Old Tom's! "The location of my greatest treasure is here on this map."

According to this map, it should be in the Moonlight Forest.

Now it's getting exciting! Let's go! I must find my brother's treasure!

Based on this map it should be around here somewhere.

Aldo. This bit of soil here, it's a bit softer than the surrounding ground.

You're right. Maybe because someone's been digging?

Do you think? Then it must be here. My brother's treasure, at last! Okay! Let's start digging! Come on, help me dig!

So this is Old Tom's treasure... Heheh! This is the greatest treasure of one of the greatest pirates of all time. What could it be?

Huh?

A zombie?! What's it doing here?

That...sword...I know that sword! It can't be...

That sword! It belonged to Old Tom! Old Tom, is that you?!

......

It's your brother, Denny! We made a blood pact to always be brothers! Surely even in that state you can see! We may not be blood relatives, but we're still brothers!

......

Brother!

Grgggh, none shall have my treasure!

Brother! Damn! He doesn't recognize me!

It's no use, Denny! Your brother is dead! This is just a zombie!

Grgggh...none shall have... ...None shall have my treasure...

Gagh, damn it! I'm sorry, brother! Looks like I'm going to have to be the one to stop you!

......

Hey, Denny? I know this must be tough...

What is it, Aldo? You don't need to worry about me. I'm fine.

This is just the life of a pirate. Old Tom knew it, just as I know it. We all have to be ready for when the time comes. You never know when Davy Jones will come calling.

Okay, enough serious talk. Let's get that treasure!

What the...all that work for some rusty old knife? Damn that Old Tom. This is his most prized treasure? Some treasure this is!

Wait.

Hahahah! Now I get it! Now I see. This is treasure indeed!

......

Come with me, Aldo! Let's get back to the old man and we'll tell you the rest of the story!

...I see. So Old Tom had turned into...

Yeah, he got turned into a zombie, all to protect this knife.

Is there something special about it? It just looks like a normal rusty old knife to me.

It is indeed just an ordinary knife. It's not bejeweled in any way, nor is it particularly sharp or strong.

But this is the knife we used to seal the blood bond between us that made us truly brothers.

I see. So as long as you have this, your bond with your brother lives on.

What do you mean?

When we made the blood pact to become brothers, we used this knife to cut ourselves and mix our blood. The brotherhood survives as long as I have this knife.

Foolish Old Tom. He became a zombie, just to protect this.

He really was a fool. To go to such trouble, for the sake of his treasure... Such... Such a fool!

......

Anyway, time to party! I'll make enough noise for the both of us, brother! Drinks are on me! Let's celebrate the life of Old Tom!

Barkeep! A fire water and two ginger ales! And some food!

Aldo! How about treating us with a merry song?

What?! I thought this was a wake?

This is a pirate wake! We laugh, sing, have fun! Pirates have no time for tears! You'd better get your dancing shoes on, this party's going on until dawn!