The moment Roy entered Kangamoore Forest, he realized something was wrong.
The Imperial Merchant ship stranded on the beach clearly showed signs of having been searched. Half-Elf crewmen should have been guarding it, yet the entire Imperial Merchant ship was now deathly silent.
The Three-Masted Sailboat, which should have been anchored at sea, was instead drifting far offshore, seemingly afraid to approach the coastline.
Roy took several swift strides onto a rock in the sea and briefly observed the Imperial Merchant ship. Seeing that it was truly deserted, he stepped into the sea and waded through waist-deep water toward the stranded vessel.
The rope ladder hanging from the side of the Imperial Merchant ship was still intact. Roy climbed aboard along it, with Woods and Lia following behind him.
Sabrina let out a piercing whistle toward the sky. A White Griffon soon dived from the clouds, spread its wings beside Sabrina, and slowly landed on the reef. Sabrina then took Moira into the air with her.
The two of them did not fly to the stranded Imperial Merchant ship. Instead, they headed straight for the Three-Masted Sailboat drifting at sea. Before long, Sabrina landed on its deck with Moira.
Roy, Woods, and Lia also searched the Imperial Merchant ship. The vessel was a complete mess, with clothing scattered throughout the corridors.
Roy found a white shirt on the floor with a large footprint stamped across it...
Woods was sniffing around the ship as well. When the two met up, they gave the answer almost at the same time:
"Orcs!"
Roy slapped his forehead. The thing he feared most had still happened.
Sabrina rode the griffon onto the Three-Masted Sailboat. Only then did the Half-Elf crewmen left aboard lower their guard and steer the ship back toward shore...
The Three-Masted Sailboat