Chapter 405: The Solution

Aliya blinked repeatedly at the explicit sight. She licked her finger and used that same finger to flip over to the second page, reading with relish. Aliya's eyes shone brightly as she wondered,

I can't believe something like this actually exists. It's my first time seeing this kind of book. I wonder where Boss got it from

Smack!

Aliya shuddered, and her legs went soft upon getting smacked in the back. She turned and found that Dipp had accidentally smacked her as he was haphazardly flailing his arms while mumbling inscrutable words.

An audible click echoed when the light switch was pressed. Darkness instantly pervaded the room. Time passed slowly, and when the holes in Hope Island's canopy were opened once more, sunlight descended upon the land once more, signaling the start of a new day.

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

A mechanical bat burst out of the clock in Dipp's bedroom, and it let out intermittent shrill cries in an effort to awaken anyone sleeping in the same room as it.

My head really hurts just how much did I drink last night?

Dipp woke up slowly, feeling groggy. He was about to sit up when he noticed something amiss. He wasn't wearing any clothes, and his messy bedroom was no longer messy.

Dipp recalled his wet dream last night and was stupefied.

W-was that not a dream?!

He immediately stood up and investigated his bedroom. His bedroom was cleaned meticulously, but Dipp had long become an expert at investigation. His years of experience did not betray him as he soon found a cluea strand of red hair.

Dipp sniffed it lightly and was astonished. The smell was so familiar that he couldn't possibly be mistaken about it.

"Guys! Can any of you tell me what exactly happened to us last night?"

Dipp asked his other personas.

"I don't quite remember, but it seems that we slept with a woman."

"Yeah, her body was really soft"

Unbeknownst to Dipp, Aliya was just right outside his house. She took out a bent cigarette from the pocket of her messy clothing and straightened it out before putting it between her lips and lighting it up.

Aliya puffed on it and exhaled. Then, a light smile tugged at her lips as she muttered, "That feels great"

Two hours later, all crew members of the Narwhaleaside from Charlesgathered at Dipp's house. Every single one of them cast solemn gazes upon Dipp.

Dipp had told them that he needed their help with something

really

important.

Dipp looked slightly abashed as she said, "I slept with a woman"

Everyone instantly revealed contemptuous looks, and they all stood up, making a beeline for the door. They looked disgruntled, feeling that Dipp had wasted their precious time.

"Hey, come on!" Dipp rushed forward anxiously and stood in front of them." Stay here and help me! I really don't know what to do. It was my first time, and I can only ask you guys about what I should do next."

The former Cook of the Narwhale, Frey, pushed Dipp away with his big belly and continued his beeline for the door while saying, "Based on my experience, you should give them valuable items.

"The more valuable, the better. With enough money, everything can be resolved, after all."

"If you like her, then you should propose to her. Once she gives birth to your child, you have to make sure to go home on time, or she will definitely get mad at you," the burly James said as he walked toward the door to leave the house.

"Treat her well and follow her without complaints; she'll feel your feelings for her," the vampire Audric said before leaving the house as well.

"Don't forget to visit a bookstore soon and buy a copy of

Gray's Complete Guide to Love Letters

," Feuerbach said. Flicking one of Dipp's fins, he added, "You should memorize it. Women like to hear sweet nothings even though they are it's all lies."

"Take her out to eat something nice," Planck said.

Bandages stood silently next to Dipp for a long time; he cast a blank gaze at the latter before eventually turning around and walking straight out of the house.

Soon, the living room was empty aside from a dumbfounded Dipp standing frozen all by himself. Turning to stare at the swaying door, Dipp anxiously scratched the scales on his head with both hands, crying out, "What's wrong with those bastards?! I haven't even started talking yet, but they've already left!"

Everyone had left, so Dipp had no choice but to talk with his other personas; they talked for a long time, but even the combined wisdom of three Dipps couldn't find a solution to Dipp's dilemma.

They had no idea what to do, but they knew one thing for sure: as men, they had to face the matter head-on. It was one of the lessons the Captain had taught them.

On that day, Hope Island was without any cases or incidents, so District 3 of Hope Island's police department had nothing to do. Everyone was killing time in the police stations, waiting to clock out.

Aliya with a cigarette between her lips frowned at the cards in her hand.

"Why am I getting such bad hands today? Are you guys colluding with each other against me or something?"

The men before her either scratched their heads or clasped their heads while grinning and shaking their heads at Aliya's words.

"Leader! Chief Dipp is outside, and he's looking for you!"

Aliya was overjoyed to hear the report. She slapped the cards in her hand face down on the table and waved at the one-eyed police officer who had delivered her the report, saying, "Come here, come here. I have something to handle, so this hand is yours."

Aliya walked out the door and found Dipp scratching his cheek in a corner.

Aliya took out the cigarette between her lips and flicked it to the ground. She stepped on the cigarette, extinguishing it before walking over to Dipp.

"Boss, do you need something from me?"

Dipp's expression was extremely complicated as he stared at the woman before him. His mouth fluttered open, but he struggled to speak and was seemingly at a loss for words.

"L-last night, w-w-we" Dipp stammered, trailing off.

"Oh, that was nothing much. We just slept with each other. I've slept with many men before, so treat that night as a night of bonding between us. By the way, where did you buy

that

book?" Aliya said, sounding nonchalant, but her nails were anxiously scratching her palm.

"No, I mean I can't let myself have any children. I'm a Deep Dweller, so my children are going to be Deep Dwellers as well. I can't pass this curse on to the next generation," Dipp said, looking extremely agitated.

"What are you talking about, Boss? It's not a big deal,

really.

You know I used to be a pirate, right? Things like sleeping with each other is like drinking and eating for me. I'm a barren woman as well, so I can't get pregnant," Aliya replied.

Dipp gnashed his teeth, and a dull noise echoed as Dipp knelt on one knee right in front of Aliya. Then, he took out a book with a cover that read

Gray's Complete Guide to Love Letters

and started reading it out loud.

"I yearn to have a" Dipp had just started reading the sentence when he had to stop mid-sentence. He cast a flustered glance in the stunned Aliya's way and skipped over the words he couldn't recognize to continue reading.

"Your happiness is my life's greatestI want to spend my entire life with youMarry me, and let me protect you for life!" Dipp exclaimed and threw the book away. Then, he whipped out a tiny red box containing a ring embedded with a diamond as big as a quail egg.

"All right, let's go and eat something nice!"