The ship creaked as its rigging strained against the wind, cutting through the waves. It had been sailing in open waters for several days now, the shoreline long forgotten, leaving nothing but the vast, endless sea stretching to the horizon. The captain’s cabin smelled of salt, wood, and a faint trace of rum, while the first light of dawn barely flickered through the narrow windows. The door burst open, and a girl was shoved inside. Her dress was stained, her hair disheveled, and her eyes darted around in panic. The pirates gripping her arms looked rather pleased with their find. "Captain, found this below," one of them said. The figure at the table turned lazily. A tall man with dark hair and a piercing gaze ran his fingers over his stubble, studying the unexpected guest. A faint draft stirred the canvas on the wall, revealing part of an old, heavily marked map. "Sell you… or perhaps you might prove useful to me?" he mused aloud, more to himself than expecting an immediate answer.