Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 77. The Narwhale's Crew

Just as Charles was about to yank the Dark Blade from the lifeless corpse, a gruff voice sounded, "Does killing help alleviate your symptoms? How interesting."

Charles turned around to see Laesto beside him. The old man was holding onto a notebook and jotting down something.

"What brings you here?" Charles asked.

"Your pet mouse dragged me here in such a rush. I thought we ran into some huge crisis, and this is it?" Laesto commented as he casually stepped into the pool of red blood with his metal leg.

He fished out a packet of powder and scattered the contents onto the bodies on the ground. With a fizzling sound, the corpses rapidly disintegrated.

Soon after, the crew returned to Charles' room, smelling heavily of fresh blood. Dipp couldn't stop toying with the Clown Mask in his hands. An excited glint flickered in his eyes as though killing a few lives was insignificant. Moreover, those individuals were not even worth acknowledging.

Overwhelmed by his emotions, James stood up and bowed deeply to everyone.

"Thank you to everyone for helping," James said.

Charles helped him up with his transparent tentacles.

"Couldn't you have dealt with them yourself?" Charles asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

With the power of the Purple Pyramid, James had the ability to deal with the Razor Cartel or the police who arrested him. Charles had been curious why his Chief Engineer had waited for them to intervene.

"I...." James had no answer, and his face turned beet red.

Charles knew James' personality all too well by now. To phrase it nicely, he was kind-hearted, or if harshly, he was a little wooden. He never joined the other crew members to indulge in drinks and women. He strictly followed his late mother's instructions and saved up all his money to buy a house and get married.

People risked their lives aboard an exploration vessel, but James treated it like a nine-to-five job.

"We might not pick fights, but that doesn't mean we allow others to take advantage of us. Remember, we are not civilians on the Coral Archipelago. We are not bound by the common laws established by the Governor."

For those who disregarded their lives, they couldn't possibly value the lives of others. This was why the islanders held both discrimination and fear toward seafarers.

A complicated expression appeared on James' countenance upon hearing Charles' meaningful words. He had always thought of his job to be the same like any other on the island. In the same manner, he traded labor for money. But from the way it seemed, it was completely different.

"Captain...would killing so many people get you into trouble?" James hesitantly asked.

"It's alright. We're in the harbor district and it's just some useless trash that died. They won't disturb those in the central island over such a small matter. The matter's over now. Take your wife and head home," Charles said as he patted the burly guy on the shoulder.

James awkwardly bade his crewmates farewell and left the room with his wife.

"Wait," Charles called out.

James stopped immediately.

"Find a blacksmith. Make an armor and a weapon for your enlarged form. That will greatly boost your attack and defense in battle."

"Al-alright." James nodded with a strained smile on his visage.

On the desolate streets, Mosicca and James walked side-by-side. They remained silent, each harboring heavy thoughts in their mind. The recent transpired events had dealt them a huge shock.

Mossica cast a glance at her husband and spoke softly, "Can you leave the crew? My bakery can sustain us, you can—"

A look of hesitation appeared on James' face and he immediately shook his head. "Captain has saved my life. Unless he chooses to not voyage anymore, I will never resign."

Seeing how her usually submissive husband turned down her request with resolute, Mosicca dropped her gaze. After being together for so long, she knew that her husband had a gentle temperament but was obstinate. Once he made a decision, there was no swaying him.

"Then...Is your job dangerous?" Mosicca asked, her voice laced with apparent worry.

Sensing a hint of compromise in Mosicca's words, James hurriedly explained, "No. It's not dangerous at all. I just operate the turbines, there's nothing risky about that."

James then pulled Mosicca into his embrace. Mosicca didn't resist his display of affection and reciprocated by wrapping her arms around his sturdy body.

"I don't care what you do. I just want you to come back safely every time. Our child can't be without a father..." Tears trickled down from the corners of Mosicca's eyes.

"Okay, I promise," James whispered as he leaned his face in.

Clang!

Suddenly, James was jostled by a man from the back.

"Get a room if you want to kiss! What are you trying to do on the streets?" Laesto grumbled with a wine flask in his hand. He shot them an icy glare as he limped past them toward the inner island.

The matter with the Razor Cartel seemed like a small episode that caused no disruption to the peaceful equilibrium of the island. Not that it would matter to Charles. Even if the incident had blown up, he could always move to another island.

But of course, there were still changes. Whenever he stepped out now, he could feel the fearful gazes from those around him. When he walked on the streets, people around would instinctively keep their distance from him.

After the incident had concluded, Charles was plagued with the same question once more: how to rest. The Landing Festival didn't happen daily.

In the end, he decided to relinquish the control of his body to Richard and let the latter do whatever he wanted.

Initially, Richard was ecstatic. He visited every entertainment venue available, but after a week, he also got tired of them. He spent his days rolling around in bed and complained about his boredom.

After all, both of them were Gao Zhiming. Despite their different personalities, both yearned to return home and didn't want to spend their time in this place.

As he contemplated his options, Charles suddenly recalled the acquaintances he made at the Explorers Association. He immediately turned and headed in the direction of the Association. He was also hoping that they might know how to lift the curse of the divinity.

***

"What? They have all gone out?"

Seeing the startled expression on Charles' face, the staff at the Association nodded. "Captain Elizabeth of the Black Rose found a livable island. She invited all captains she knew to form a fleet to conquer the island. They've all left."

Charles exited the Association with a scowl of frustration on his face. The feeling of helplessness was utterly vexing.

"Hey, do you have any ideas?" Charles asked his alter-ego in his mind.

"Let's go find the old man. He said rest was the best medicine for the hallucinations. Since he's a doctor, he should be clearer on his treatment instructions."

Charles concurred with Richard's point of view and veered towards the heart of the island. Laesto had once told him an address. Very soon, he found where the old doctor was at—an old inn.

Laesto appeared rather annoyed at Charles' presence. Holding a couple of wires in his hand, he grumbled with visible irritation, "What is it now?"

"Are you trying to charge the black mirror?" Charles asked.

"None of your business. Why are you here?" Laesto threw the wires aside.

"How much longer do I need to rest? I think I've rested enough."

Laesto leaned his hideous face closer and observed Charles' eyes for a brief moment. Then, he fished out a slab of smelly, viscous slime from his pocket and instructed, "Swallow this."

Charles inhaled a deep breath and swallowed the thing whole. Instantaneously, murmurs filled his ears like deafening bells, and everything around him began to distort and warp.

The situation persisted for three minutes before his surroundings gradually returned to normal. Laesto shook his head as he watched Charles panting heavily.

"No, you haven't rested enough. Continue resting. In a week's time I'll go and find you with some conditioning concoctions."

"Old man, what counts as rest? I can't figure out how to rest! I want to get back out there!" Richard raged, having taken control over the body.

"As an Explorer Captain, you don't know how to play? Joyfruits, alcohol, gambling, women, hallucinogenic mushrooms, or you can even be like that blind vampire and paint daily. Stop bothering me, I'm busy!"

The door slammed shut in Charles' face.

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