"I don't see a boat anywhere, Red!" Robbie called. "Where could it be?"

"Here comes one now!" Aimee pointed. It was a big one, and was painted gold and shone with wealth. A Toad stepped off.

"ARRR! Hello there!" He greeted Red and the team. "What can I do for you folks?"

"We were just wondering whose impressive vessel this is!" Red explained.

"ARR!" The Toad smiled, "She belongs to Flavio, the merchant trader. He doesn't sail much anymore, but if you want to talk to him, you can find him at Podley's joint by the inn."

"Great, thanks." Red nodded. "Let's go, gang."

"Oy! You there!" A Bob-omb with a bandana approached Robbie, "You got somethin' to say?"

"Eeeeeeeeh, Ma'an!" Robbie greeted.

"Eeeeeeeeh, Ma'an to you, too!" the Bob-omb repeated. "You can ask me anythin'! I'm like an encyclopedia, I am!"

"Thanks, Ma'an!" Robbie accepted. "My friend Red here and our team were wondering how we might be gettin' to Keelhaul Key."

"Ooh. Keelhaul Key." the Bob-omb repeated. "Listen, mate. Don't ask me about that place. I got no need to get a curse from a pirate king. Sorry, but I'd better get back to these boxes."

"Thanks, Ma'an!" Robbie nodded. He approached another Bob-omb with an eye patch. "Eeeeeeeeh, Ma'an! What's your deal, Ma'an?"

"Me, Ma'an?" this purple Bob-omb was bigger than the last bob-omb they'd spoken to. He key was an assortment of bones. "I'm just workin', Ma'an. No matter 'ow hard I work, life never gets any easier, you know wha' I mean, Ma'an?"

"I hear ya, Ma'an." Robbie agreed.

"It's like, there's gotta be a way to just go…POOF! an' get rich. You know…POOF!" the Bob-omb continued.

"Yeah, Ma'an! Let me tell you somethin', it not any easier to get rich in the city, either!" Robbie explained. "Anyway, you happen to know anythin' about Keelhaul Key?"

"Pa-Patch! You ramblin' about getting rich, again?" a Sailor Toad asked.

"Zip it, Sal T!" Pa-Patch ordered. "Let me 'ave my dreams!"

"Ha!" Sal T. laughed. "How are you folks?" he asked Robbie and the group.

"Fine, Ma'an! We're just wonderin' how we'd go about getting to Keelhaul Key." Robbie explained.

"K-Keelhaul Key?" he repeated. "Rob-omb, you know about Keelhaul Key?" Sal called another Bob-omb over to the group.

"Isn't that the island where the treasure hoard of Cortez, the pirate king is held?" Rob inquired. "That's the place if you treasure, mate. But you'd better keep an eye out or the curse'll get ya!"

"Curse, Ma'an?" Robbie repeated. "Sounds dangerous. Thanks for your help, Ma'an!" Robbie waved as he caught up to the rest of the group.

"You really have a way with these sailors, Robbie." Erick realized.

"Oh, he's had that forever." Paul recalled. "The first place I met him was Inkopolis Harbour."

"Yeah, Ma'an!" Robbie smiled. "I remember that, now!"'

"Let's head to Podley's." Red reminded. "We'd better have a word with this Flavio."


"Hi, we're looking for Flavio?" Red asked the bartender.

"See that guy there with the long nose and the skull jewel on the table? That's him."

"Great, thanks." Red nodded.

"Well, let's go!" Erick began to stroll up to Flavio, until Red pulled him back.

"What are you, crazy?' Red asked. "You can't just walk up to a big-shot aristocrat like him. You've got to have an entrance!"

"Oh, you can do better?" Erick batted an eyebrow.

"As a matter of fact, I can." Red countered. "Observe." Red turned invisible, and warped right beside Flavio. "AHOY THERE!"

"AHOY!" Flavio jumped. "You scared me, there!"

"How did Red do that?" Aimee asked.

"Don't know." Gyanna agreed. "Let's listen in."

"Yes, that's me! I am called Flavio." Flavio introduced.

"Red Yoshi. Nice to meet you." Red also introduced.

"Red Yoshi, eh?" Flavio thought aloud. "You wouldn't happen to be from that ink city with all the recreational turf war there, would you?"

"You've heard of Inkopolis?" Red asked.

"I sailed there, not too long ago, lad!" Flavio explained. "What an exciting place! I almost considered buying a place there, you know, with all my riches and stuff. My riches bring me freedom, and freedom brings me peace of mind. But why is it that the richest man in Rogueport whose life is unchained longs for more? What is it my life is missing? Romance? Emotion? Thrills? Money? It tears me up inside!"

"I know how you feel." Red agreed. "Can I get a ginger ale over here?" A waiter brought him a drink. "Sorry, go on."

"What I need is a good adventure where I can get all of that in one quest!" Flavio glanced at his Skull Gem on the table. "Now that I am thinking about it, I once heard about the treasure of Cortez, the pirate king." Flavio paused. "YES! That's it! That is my answer! I can go on a quest for the pirate king's treasure! Why, that stinks of romance and emotions and thrills and maybe even money!"

"That's not a bad idea." Red agreed. "That could just what a couple of adventurers like us need. A good quest for treasure!"

"Tell me, Red." Flavio asked. "Have you heard of the pirate king's treasure on Keelhaul Key?"

"Heard some reference to it." Red recalled. "Do elaborate, Flavio."

"There's a tale that speaks of valuables beyond belief hidden there. For years, pirates and adventurers alike ventured there for the treasure, but not one has ever returned…at least alive!"

"Ooh." Red gasped. "Riveting."

"Legend says that Cortez attacks all who seeks the treasure. How dangerous!" Flavio explained. "But that will not stop Flavio! He seeks the treasure that lies undiscovered! The treasure is there, and I will prove it, lad!"

"That's quite similar to my group's quest for treasure." Red added. "We're looking for stones known as the Crystal Stars, and the map leads right to Keelhaul Key, too!" Red showed Flavio the map.

"Yes, that's Keelhaul Key indeed!" Flavio agreed. "There is talk that there is a star-shaped stone in Cortez' stash of treasure. That's it! We can venture together to Keelhaul Key! With your power and my ship, we will travel there in search of the legendary treasure!"

"Brilliant!" Red raised his glass, smiling at his team. "That's my team over there, Flavio."

"My, what intimidating folks!" Flavio commented. "That look of determination could scare even Cortez! You and your friends would be stupid to not accept my offer of sailing alongside me!"

"I think we have a deal, Flavio!" Red smirked. "Put her there!" They exchanged a hearty handshake of agreement.

"Meet me at the dock, Red!" Flavio ordered. "From there, we sail to lands unknown!"

"It's a deal!"


"Let me introduce the crew, Red." Flavio instructed. "Over here, we have Pa-Patch, Sal T, Rob-omb, Harr T, Scare T. and Four-eyes."

"AHOY!" They all cried.

"We just need to finish loading a few things up, and we're ready to go." Flavio instructed. "All right, crew! Let's finish loading!"

"Do you think I should pack my Generator, Sal?" Pa-Patch asked. "I may need something to power my radio if the batteries may die."

"Why are you bringing that silly thing?" Sal asked. "What do you think, a hurricane is gonna hit us while we're there?"

"A good sailor always prepares for the worst!" Pa-Patch testified.

"Four-eyes, did you finish loading all the cannons an whatnot?" Flavio asked, checking his clipboard.

"Oops, forgot. Sorry, Flav!" Four-eyes realized. "And with that…POW! I'm gone!"

"Hold it, pal!" Red stopped Four-eyes. "That's Lord Crump's catchphrase!"

"So what if it is?" Four-eyes asked. "It's not like I'm him or anything."

"Yeah, but do you really want to talk like that loser? C'mon, you're on a boat, not 'Rogueport's biggest loser.' Try like, 'I'm out!' or something." Red smiled.

"Thanks, I'll do that." Four-eyes ran off.

"Red, can you do me a favour?" Flavio asked.

"Anything, Flavio! What's up?" Red inquired.

"We have no navigator. Our navigator ran off, the dog!" Flavio explained. "Now here's the problem. We need someone who can steer the ship through the treacherous waters of Keelhaul Key, something we don't have. Now, I've heard of a famed sailor living in Rogueport here. What I need is for you to go find Admiral Bobbery. He's the only one who can steer us through those vile waters."

"Sure thing." Red nodded. "Aimee, come with me. We have to locate Admiral Bobbery."

"Sure, Red!" Aimee giggled. "I love it when it's just the two of us…"

Red turned to Robbie; "You're in charge of the Inklings while we're gone."

"No prob. Good luck, Red."