(17). Goes walking in the outskirts, looking for clues

I head further to the outskirts trying to sneak through the shadows listening and learning about this world. The musty air becomes less dense as I move through the corridors. The air feels lighter the further forward I move. Maybe clearing my head was exactly what I needed to figure out just how I ended up here. As I continue to walk, I notice some sounds coming from up ahead. Quietly I sneak around the corner and hear a pair talking as they load some cargo. My quickly catches the small symbol on the corner of the one box. It is the symbol from the crystal ball. Could this be a clue to finding out the truth? The pair continues to talk, and I overhear the word banished followed by hospital and then the second asks how they will ever find them? “That is what the bosses pay the big bucks for. We are not cheap pirates that is for sure.” I wonder if they are looking for me.

I could make my presence known and approach the pirates? (8)

Or

I could hide amongst their cargo and catch a ride to wherever they are going? (22)