Chapter 408: First Mate

Charles fell silent at the Pope's blunt remark.

There was a high chance that the Pope wasn't lying to him, but it wasn't because Charles believed in the Pope's words. Charles had faith in that black marker, the relic he used to write the contract between him and the Pope. For some reason, however, Charles felt an indescribable feelinglike there was something amiss.

Upon seeing Charles' odd expression, the Pope immediately knew what the former was thinking. The Pope put his hands behind his back and said, "My child, you're being suspicious of me again. Isn't it about time you start being suspicious over your suspicion?"

Charles was stunned. "Suspect my own suspicion?"

"That's right. You have no evidence, and there's no reason for you to suspect me, anyway, as we've signed that contract using that relic of yours. Why are you even doubting me?

"Now that I think about it, there's something terrifying inside your head. In other words, there's technically no difference between you and us, the Divine Light Order."

Charles was instantly reminded by Anna's tentacle in his head, and he hurriedly said, "No way! Anna would never do what you're implying."

The Pope smiled lightly and asked, "How come you have such immense trust in her? I'm sure you know that Dioites are experts at manipulating minds. Could it be that your decisiveness was born from a 'suggestion' from her?"

"What do you even know?! If it hadn't been for this tentacle in my head, I would have remained a lunatic even now!" Charles exclaimed.

"You're no longer a lunatic, so why don't you take it out? Are your thoughts at the moment really

your

own thoughts? What if the tentacle in your head has been putting thoughts inside your head all this while?"

Charles' eyes briefly revealed panic, but he quickly calmed down and said, "You're changing the topic here."

"Yes, I am changing the topic, and it's all because I care about you. We're suspicious of each other, yes, but we're still of the same species.

"As for the mind-controlling Dioites Haha, if you want to learn more, then go ahead and start asking about what happened to Arclight Island in the Southern Seas."

Charles gazed deeply at the Pope before turning around and walking toward the rope ladder. "It's useless to sow discord between us. I have absolute trust in Anna."

"And that's the question: where did that absolute trust come from? Was it born from your own thoughts, or was it born from the false memories being created right inside your head?"

Charles didn't respond to the Pope's question. He had no time to waste talking nonsense with the Pope. The handover was done, and it was time for Charles to leave.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Charles grabbed the rope ladder with one hand and slid back down to the ground.

When Charles finally returned to the wedding reception, he found that the buffet dinner had ended long ago. Everyone sat in front of a large round table; they were laughing and chatting while playing cards, painting a joyful atmosphere.

Charles pulled out a seat to sit down when Elizabeth glanced at him and said, "You're going out to sea again, aren't you?"

"How did you know?" Charles asked, looking a bit stunned.

"I could see it on your face, so I didn't even have to guess. Anyway, we've stayed with each other for quite a while now, so it's about time I leave.

"If I were to stay here any longer, I'm afraid you'd get tired of me," Elizabeth said, patting Charles' thigh.

"Sorry, I noticed that I've been making you come over to visit me. I'll definitely visit Elizarles Shorles the next time I have enough free time," Charles replied.

"Forget it. I prefer to visit you rather than the other way around. I'm afraid you'll feel uncomfortable upon seeing my new wives," Elizabeth said.

Charles' gaze landed on Dipp just then, and he saw Dipp staring at him with an arm around his wife. Dipp had keen ears, so he definitely heard Charles and Elizabeth's conversation.

However, Charles didn't really have any intentions of concealing his plan, so he tapped the white granite table with his steel prosthetic. The murmurs and laughter vanished instantly in response to Charles' tapping.

"Everyone, I know this is on such short notice, but the Narwhale will sail again in five days. The Pope is too unreliable, so we have to find a way to open that colossal door in the sky ourselves."

The crew members had long gotten used to this, so they didn't seem too surprised by the announcement. They exchanged glances and nodded at each other before continuing with what they were doing earlier.

Time passed slowly, and the crew eventually left the backyard decorated with flowers. Even Dipp had left with his bride, but there was someone who had chosen to stay all by himself.

It was none other than Weister. Weister stared blankly at the glass of wine in front of him. More specifically, he was staring at his own distorted reflection in the clear glass.

The Governor's departure didn't attract too much attention.

However, it attracted the concern and attention of a certain individualElena.

On the day of Governor Charles' departure, Elena gently pushed open the door to her son's room. Upon seeing the familiar back of her son, Elena sighed in relief and closed the door slowly.

The operational halt on the harbor district of Hope Island was lifted as well, allowing the harbor district to regain its vigor. The docks were bustling once more, and there were ships everywhere, along with half-naked manual laborers earning their livelihood.

Charles was on the Narwhale's deck, examining the new crew members. Charles had to hire new crew members to replace those who were unfortunate enough to go missing in the previous voyage.

The crew members before this batch of new crew members were now veterans, and the cycle would start anew once Charles had to replace the deceased veterans with new crew members.

The new sailors on deck were both excited and nervous. They were aware of what happened to the crew members that they had replaced, but none of them resisted the temptation of an attractive salary.

In addition, Governor Charles himself had issued a new decree stating that he would evenly divide a newfound habitable island among the crew members without any catch.

Of course, the new crew members were aware that everything still depended on their luck. If they were unlucky, they would end up becoming fish feed. Otherwise, they would become a part of a habitable island's upper echelons or perhaps even the governor of that island.

Charles stood on the anchor machine, picking his teeth with the Dark Blade while examining the demeanors of his new crew members.

A familiar set of footsteps echoed just then. Charles turned around and saw Weister climbing up the rope ladder while wearing the signature green uniform of Hope Island's mail carriers.

Weister stood on one side of the deck, while Charles and the other crew members of the Narwhale stood on the opposite side. The two sides stared at each other for a while.

Soon, a brief whirring noise echoed as the Dark Blade retracted into Charles' prosthetic limb. Then, Charles asked, "Who are you right now?"

Instead of responding, Weister whipped out fresh, white bandages and wrapped them slowly around his head until a new Bandages was born right before everyone's eyes.

"I am the Narwhale's First Mate Bandages."

The veteran crew members of the Narwhale smiled in relief.

Charles walked over to his First Mate and punched the latter's chest lightly before saying, "You really scared me, you know that? I was really afraid that you wouldn't come with us on another voyage. Anyway, welcome home!"

"I still have memories to seek I seem to be immortal I want to know what exactly happened in the long time I was gone"

"Great!" Charles snapped his fingers. "I'll help you seek your lost memories. Sailors on deck; weigh anchor! Turbine team; full speed ahead! Narwhale; set sail!"

Hooonk!

The Narwhale's steam whistle fleeted across Hope Island, and the Narwhale's smokestack belched out thick, black smoke as she left the port slowly, eventually sailing once more into the dark, inky expanse of the open sea.