As Charles looked at the crowd gathered at the dock, he licked his cracked lips. “Let’s dock first and ask the locals directly.”

  Once they disembarked from the ship, they were met by a throng of people, all staring at them with unblinking eyes.

  Just as Charles began to feel uneasy under their scrutiny, two middle-aged men in customs uniforms pushed through the crowd. One of them, a man with deep-set lines on his face, spoke up. “Who is the captain? Where did your ship come from? You can’t dock here; didn’t you know?”

  Charles stepped forward and explained the situation in detail, inquiring about the presence of a shipyard on the island.

  After he finished speaking, there was a long pause. The two men stared at him, seemingly frozen, before finally snapping back to life, their expressions shifting to one of enthusiasm. “Yes, sir! If you steer your ship east, you’ll find a shipyard there.”

  The second mate, Krona, leaned closer to Charles and whispered, “Captain, don’t you think these islanders are a bit slow to react?”

  Charles wasn’t sure but dismissed it as a minor issue—perhaps it was just a quirk of the island.

  When he finally guided the Unicorn Whale into the shipyard, he was informed that replacing the turbine would take a month.

  Though it was a long wait, there was no other option; the turbine was the heart of a steamship, and without it, the Unicorn Whale couldn’t return to Coral Island.

  After paying the deposit and stepping out of the dock, Charles noticed the islanders were still staring at them, unmoving.

  Ignoring their peculiar customs, he hurried his crew into a quiet inn for a hearty meal.

  Watching his crew eat with satisfied bellies, Charles said, “Replacing the turbine will take a month, and these locals seem a bit unfriendly. Everyone, stay safe and avoid trouble.”

  The crew leaned back in their chairs, lazily agreeing in small groups.

  However, when Charles began distributing the pay for this mission, everyone perked up.

  James, holding his echo coin, hesitated. “Captain, this mission failed, and with the Unicorn Whale needing a turbine, if it weren’t for this paycheck—”

  “It’s fine; you all deserve what you’ve earned. Take this time to rest well.”

  Having been frugal to buy the ship, Charles was less concerned about money now. After such a disaster, if he could rally the crew’s spirits with some paper currency, it would be a worthwhile investment.

  As soon as they received their pay, the crew couldn’t sit still. With smiles on their faces, they shouldered each other and headed out.

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  Charles understood exactly where they were going. For men who made their living at sea, this was standard practice, while his frugality made him seem like an oddity among them.

  That night, Charles had a nightmare. He felt himself sinking into the water again, the enormous, terrifying creature turning to face him.

  He screamed, waking up in a cold sweat, finding no underwater horrors—just the peeling ceiling of the inn.

  “Mr. Charles, did you have a nightmare last night?” Lily jumped onto his chest, her eyes wide.

  Sitting up, Charles pulled out his pocket watch, realizing he had slept for eleven hours—something he had never done before.

  As he got up to wash up, he noticed an envelope at the door.

  Opening it, he found a beautifully penned note.

  “Mr. Charles:

  The life of an exploration ship is just too dangerous. I can’t take it anymore; I’ve decided to return to shore. I’m sorry I can’t say goodbye in person.

  Former sailor, Sifler.”

  “Ah…” Charles crumpled the note and tossed it into the nearby trash.

  “Looks like money alone can’t keep people around. Some are just too scared.”

  Charles felt little emotional turmoil; it was only natural for some to leave after such an ordeal.

  After checking the time, he realized it was evening. He took Lily and stepped outside.

  The differences in the port area weren’t too pronounced, but as soon as Charles entered what was known as the Crown District, he noticed the stark contrast between this island and Coral Island.

  Here, the attire and architectural style were entirely different. Every man on the street wore suits and carried canes, while the elegantly dressed women exuded grace.

  Whether it was a trick of his imagination, the islanders here appeared more refined, with handsome men and beautiful women far exceeding the average island.

  Yet, regardless of their looks, the habit of staring at strangers remained unchanged.

  Being watched like a spectacle wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Charles stopped a man walking by and asked, “Excuse me, where is the Explorers’ Association? I couldn’t find it in the port area.”

  “The Explorers’ Association? What’s that? I’ve never heard of it.”

  Never heard of it? Charles was taken aback. From what he knew, most islands in the Sea of the Deep were discovered by explorers.

  While the association was a loose organization, it had formed a symbiotic relationship with the governors of the islands, wielding considerable influence in human settlements.

  If this place didn’t even have an Explorers’ Association, could it be that this island was isolated from others, a true solitary isle?

  While Charles was lost in thought, the man he had questioned turned and walked away.

  After pondering for a moment, Charles entered a nearby library. Inside, he quickly found various sea charts. After comparing them, he soon pinpointed the location of the island.

  He traced a line on the map with his finger, relaxing as he said, “Thankfully, while this place isn’t recorded, it’s not too far from Coral Island. Once the ship is repaired and we leave quickly, we should be back in a maximum of fifteen days.”

  After purchasing several new and old sea charts, Charles exited the library.

  Standing on the bustling street, he suddenly felt lost. The ship was under repair, and he had confirmed their current coordinates, but he didn’t know what to do next.

  If it were the old Charles, he would have likely continued to train his physique and practice shooting in preparation for future adventures.

  But thinking of the increasingly severe hallucinations, he wondered if he had been too tense. He hadn’t rested since arriving.

  “Perhaps I should try to relax; it might help with the hallucinations.”

  With that thought, Charles turned to Lily on his shoulder. “Let’s explore this island.”

  “Okay!” Lily’s ears perked up at the prospect of fun.

  Towering spires, vividly carved reliefs, and stained glass windows greeted them.

  Though Charles had little artistic sense, he could tell that the architecture here was exceptionally refined, far surpassing that of Coral Island, which had little historical depth.

  “Mr. Charles, what’s that? It looks delicious!” Lily exclaimed, pointing at a stall selling colorful pastries.