Chapter 17: [17] The Red-Haired Menace
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"Listen up, you sea dogs!" Reynolds barked, his weathered face flushed from running up three flights of stairs. "Captain Hardy wants this red-haired scum found yesterday!"
Ensign Martinez elbowed his way to the front, pressing his nose almost against the poster. "Holy depths, look at those teeth! Guy’s got fangs like a sea monster."
"Artist got a bit creative with the intimidation factor," Petty Officer Lera muttered, adjusting her glasses.
Reynolds cleared his throat, commanding attention again. "The crew that brings this bastard in gets luxury rations for two weeks—real coffee imported from the Ember Sea and chocolate cake every night. Plus two thousand Cori split among the squad!"
"Two thousand Cori? That’s a month’s pay!"
"Forget the money, I haven’t had that coffee since my last shore leave!"
"My squad’s taking the market district—"
"Like hell you are! We called it first!"
Near the back of the crowd, a figure in a faded Navy work uniform pushed a cleaning cart loaded with mops, brushes, and buckets of soapy water. His naval cap sat low over his eyes, casting shadows across his face. The nameplate on his chest read "T. MARTIN" in block letters.