7

With Leona's guidance, Irene and Buggy ventured deeper into the island's terrain, navigating through dense forests and hidden pathways. Leona moved with a quiet confidence, her knowledge of the island's flora and fauna apparent with each step. As they walked, she shared more about the resistance and the key figures involved.

"There's someone you need to meet," Leona said as they emerged from a thicket. "Her name is Elara Maris, known as 'The Tempest.' She's our best navigator and a skilled fighter. If anyone can help us, it's her."

Intrigued, Irene and Buggy followed Leona to a secluded beach on the eastern side of the island. The shoreline was dotted with large rocks, and the sound of waves crashing against them created a rhythmic backdrop. In the distance, they saw a figure practicing combat maneuvers with a pair of daggers, her movements fluid and precise.

As they approached, the woman turned to face them. She had long, wavy auburn hair tied back in a ponytail and sea-green eyes that seemed to reflect the ocean itself. Her athletic build and confident stance conveyed both strength and agility. She wore a practical, form-fitting outfit consisting of a sleeveless blue tunic, brown leather trousers, and sturdy boots. A tattoo of a compass rose adorned her left shoulder.

"Elara," Leona called out, waving. "I've brought some new allies."

Elara sheathed her daggers and walked over, her expression curious but cautious. "Leona, who are these people?"

Leona introduced them. "This is Irene and Buggy. They've come to help us fight against Drake and Renard."

Elara studied them for a moment, her piercing gaze assessing their intentions. "You're willing to risk your lives for our cause?"

Irene nodded. "We've seen the suffering Drake and Renard have caused. We're here to help liberate Salacia Island and bring justice to its people."

Buggy added, "We can't stand by while tyrants like them oppress innocent people. We'll do whatever it takes to help."

Elara's demeanor softened slightly, and she extended a hand. "Welcome to the resistance. I'm Elara Maris, but most people call me 'The Tempest.'"

They shook hands, and Elara led them to a small camp hidden among the rocks. As they settled in, she began to explain the current state of the resistance.

"We've been struggling to keep our operations under the radar," Elara said, her voice steady. "Drake's soldiers are everywhere, and Renard's network of spies makes it difficult to move freely. We've had some success with small raids and sabotage, but we need a more coordinated effort to make a real impact."

Leona nodded in agreement. "Elara has been our guiding star. Her navigation skills have kept our supply routes safe and our people hidden. But we can't keep fighting in the shadows forever."

Irene listened intently, her mind racing with ideas. "We need to gather more allies and find a way to disrupt Drake's operations without putting the entire island at risk. Elara, do you have any contacts who might be willing to join us?"

Elara thought for a moment. "There are a few retired pirates and fishermen who might be persuaded. And there's one more person who could be crucial to our efforts – her name is Aiko, a skilled blacksmith and weaponsmith. She has connections with the underground market and could help us acquire the weapons we need."

Buggy's eyes lit up at the mention of weapons. "We should definitely talk to her. Where can we find Aiko?"

"She runs a small forge on the outskirts of Port Salacia," Elara replied. "It's well-hidden, but I can take you there. She trusts me, and if we explain our cause, I'm sure she'll be willing to help."

With their plan set, Irene, Buggy, Elara, and Leona made their way back through the island, heading towards Port Salacia. As they navigated the dense underbrush, Elara shared more about her background and motivations.

"I was born and raised on this island," Elara said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "My father was a respected fisherman and navigator, and he taught me everything I know about the sea. When Drake took over, he tried to stand up to him, but..." She paused, her expression hardening. "Drake made an example of him. Since then, I've dedicated myself to freeing this island from his tyranny."

Irene placed a hand on Elara's shoulder. "We're here to help you achieve that goal. Together, we can bring down Drake and Renard and restore peace to Salacia Island."

Elara nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. "Thank you. With your help, I believe we can do it."

As they reached the outskirts of Port Salacia, the group moved cautiously, aware of the ever-present threat of Drake's soldiers and Renard's spies. Elara led them through a series of narrow alleyways and hidden paths, eventually arriving at a modest forge nestled between two large buildings.

Elara knocked on the door in a specific pattern, and a moment later, it opened to reveal a woman with strong, calloused hands and a determined expression. She had short, dark hair and wore a leather apron over her clothes, smudged with soot and ash.

"Aiko," Elara greeted warmly. "We need your help."

Aiko's eyes flickered with recognition and concern. "Elara, what's going on? Who are these people?"

Elara quickly explained their situation and introduced Irene and Buggy. "We're building a resistance to overthrow Drake and Renard. We need weapons, and we need your connections."

Aiko listened intently, her expression thoughtful. "It's about time someone stood up to those tyrants. I've been waiting for the right moment to strike back. You've got my support. I'll provide the weapons and reach out to my contacts. But we need to be smart about this. Drake's soldiers will notice if we start moving large quantities of arms."

Irene nodded. "I can use 'The System' to coordinate our efforts and keep track of our progress. It will help us stay organized and ensure we're always one step ahead of Drake and Renard."

Aiko raised an eyebrow. "The System?"

Irene briefly explained that it was her power to see the future of course she lied, and Aiko's eyes widened with interest. "That could give us the edge we need. Alright, let's get started."

Over the next few days, Irene, Buggy, Elara, and Leona worked tirelessly to gather information, recruit allies, and devise a plan to take down Drake and Renard. Aiko provided them with a steady supply of weapons and introduced them to several key figures in the underground network.

One evening, as they sat around a campfire, Elara shared her thoughts on their progress. "We've made a good start, but we need to strike a significant blow to weaken Drake's hold on the island. I suggest we target his supply lines. Without resources, his soldiers will be vulnerable."

Buggy grinned. "Now you're talking my language. Sabotage and disruption. Let's hit them where it hurts."

Leona nodded in agreement. "We should also find a way to expose Renard's network of spies. If we can turn some of them against him, it will create confusion and weaken their surveillance."

Irene activated "The System" and reviewed their current quests. A new quest had appeared: "Sabotage Drake's Supply Lines." Rewards: unknown

She accepted the quest, feeling a surge of energy and determination. "Let's do this. We'll need to move quickly and strike hard. Elara, can you guide us to the key supply points?"

Elara nodded. "I know just the places. We'll need to split into smaller groups to cover more ground and reduce the risk of being caught."

With their plan in place, the group divided into teams and set off to carry out their mission. Irene and Elara took one route, while Buggy and Leona took another. Aiko remained at the forge, coordinating with her contacts and preparing for any counterattacks.

As Irene and Elara navigated through the dense forest towards one of the main supply depots, they moved with stealth and precision. Elara's navigational skills ensured they avoided Marine patrols and reached their destination undetected.

The supply depot was a large warehouse near the edge of the forest, heavily guarded by Drake's soldiers. Irene and Elara observed the area from a hidden vantage point, assessing their options.

"We need to create a distraction," Elara whispered. "If we can draw the guards away, we can slip in and sabotage their supplies."

Irene nodded, her mind racing with ideas. She activated "The System" and selected the Craft tab, using the materials they had gathered to create a makeshift smoke bomb. Once it was ready, she handed it to Elara.

"Throw this towards the other side of the warehouse," Irene instructed. "It should create enough chaos for us to slip in."

Elara nodded and carefully aimed the smoke bomb, tossing it with precision. As it hit the ground, a thick cloud of smoke erupted, sending the guards into a frenzy.

"Now," Irene whispered, and the two of them moved swiftly towards the warehouse, using the cover of the smoke to remain unseen.

Inside, they worked quickly to sabotage the supplies, cutting ropes, puncturing barrels, and setting small fires that would spread slowly and cause maximum damage. As they worked, Elara kept an eye on the entrance, ensuring they weren't discovered.

Once their task was complete, they slipped out of the warehouse and retreated into the forest, the sounds of chaos and confusion echoing behind them.