Elemental Cats

Toz looked at the three similar villas surrounding a large greenhouse. The villas were all elegant three-story houses made from proper materials. It was vastly different compared to the city that Toz had seen so far.

The green-haired woman that Stitches called Mossboss let Toz and Stitches admire the luxurious sight of the buildings for a few moments before continuing toward the greenhouse.

"Come, I'll take you to the cap'n."

Stitches looked increasingly nervous as he trailed behind the green-haired lady like a downcast puppy.

Toz was slightly worried about walking into the middle of a pirate's nest belonging to a pirate crew powerful enough to have a base right between the upper and middle tier. However, he decided to trust the people that Stitches trusted. Even if Stitches currently didn't look like the most trustworthy friend since he was busy trying and failing to talk to his Mossboss. Every attempt was stopped either by Stitches himself since he didn't know what to say or by the green-haired woman who smacked him in the head when he finally managed to open his mouth.

Thankfully, Toz didn't have to look at their one-sided quarrel for much longer since they arrived at the greenhouse.

The green-haired woman stopped right in front of the brass-framed glass doors.

"Most plants in there are poisonous, so don't touch anything. If you do, not even Mosshead here would be of help."

The green-haired woman opened the doors and followed the cobblestone path to the center of the greenhouse.

"Ah! Hayar, you're back. How'd it go?"

"Retsy wasn't interested in what Mosshead's been up to, and there were no signs of Hammerface, only this guy."

"Hello."

Toz said hi to the middle-aged man with steel-grey hair down to his shoulders in response to Hayar pointing at him. Stitches also stuttered out a greeting.

"H-hey, Cap'n."

Captain Wulf looked at Toz for a second before turning a sharp gaze toward Stitches.

"'Hey?' That's the first thing you say after disappearing for over a year. And you say it while standing up?"

"I'm sorry, Cap'n!"

Stitches immediately assumed the same position that Hayar had put him in outside Retsy's house.

"That's better."

Wulf harrumphed at Stitches before his head turned to face Toz again.

"So, who're you, and what's your relationship with Stitch?"

Wulf seemed to have a more cordial attitude than Hayar, who had taken a seat next to her captain, but Toz could tell that Wulf's gaze was cold as steel.

Toz gave Wulf the same introduction he had given Retsy before he thought of how to explain his relationship with Stitches.

"Hurry up!"

Though Hayar's impatience prevented him from thinking too much, and Toz simply told them a brief version of how he met Stitches, Hods, and the other pirates and what happened after their raid failed totally.

"You killed Frowny? Why?"

Toz responded to Hayar's question with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you mean 'Why?' An angry-looking pirate tried to raid my home and wanted to kill me. Last time I checked, rational people don't let themselves get killed by strangers.

"Anyway, that's what happened. If you have any problems with it, I won't stop you from trying to take revenge."

Hayar looked like was about to burst due to Toz's nonchalant and disregarding attitude, but Wulf held her back by stretching out his hand.

"Can you take responsibility for your words?"

"I can. Can you take responsibility for the actions my words trigger?"

Hayar looked like she immediately wanted to tear Toz to pieces due to his arrogance and disrespect.

Stitches felt like he was about to turn green from stress and worry. He felt like he knew approximately how strong Toz was, and if the Bunglehoppers were strong enough to have a base at the border between the upper and middle tier, they possessed sufficient strength. A fight between the two parties would be far from simple and easily fixed. Stitches didn't want to see any of them get needlessly hurt. But since he felt like the Bunglehoppers had the advantage, he was about to tell Toz to calm down and show a more compromising attitude.

"Toz-"

However, Stitches was interrupted by Wulf.

"I see. As long as Stitch and Hods are alright, it doesn't matter too much. The rest of the pirates you killed were kicked out of their previous crews before trying to join the Bunglehoppers, so they were probably rotten to the core."

"But cap'n! What about his map-making? Wasn't Frowny useful enough despite his shitty attitude?"

At that, Wulf turned to look at Stitches again.

"What do you say, Stitch? Would Kart have been a great addition to our crew?"

"Honestly, sir?"

"Yeah."

"He was the worst! He didn't make a single map. He didn't even try to begin charting one. All he did was abuse everyone else. He even gave me the flag punishment for winning over him at cards!"

"No way! He was that bad?"

Hayar burst out in surprise, her anger gone like a fleeting memory.

"I'm telling you! He was so mean!"

"Not that. Did you actually win over him in cards without cheating?"

"..."

Stitches' enthusiasm at having someone sympathize with his pain dimmed like a candlelight in a storm. He looked down and resumed his position with only his forehead and feet touching the ground with a downcast expression.

"Well, if he's bad enough at cards that even Stitch won against him, he was probably brain dead. No use in a useless pirate. It might be an exaggeration to say 'good riddance,' but at least it looks like we won't have to settle any grudges, Toz."

Wulf stood up and reached for a handshake with Toz.

Toz accepted it and grasped Wulf's calloused hands while answering.

"Seems like it."

Hayar still looked slightly dissatisfied, but she wasn't going to protest her captain's decision without a good reason. And although stubborn, she could admit that it wouldn't be any good having a pirate around that bullied her Mosshead.

Wulf was about to invite Toz to partake in the snacks and tea on the table, but their meeting was interrupted by a loud shout.

"Stitch! Do you have my money?!"