The merchant ship Pharaon arrives in Marseille under the skilled command of young first mate Edmond Dantès after Captain Leclere dies during the voyage. Owner Morrel is impressed by Edmond’s leadership and quietly considers promoting him to captain. Edmond also reveals he stopped at Elba on the captain’s orders and briefly met Napoleon. Meanwhile, the resentful Danglars begins noticing details he may later use against Edmond, setting ambition, jealousy, and fate into motion.