As Charles stepped into the Explorer's Association, he was taken aback by the unexpected scene. The usually quiet hall was now bustling with activity. Sofas and coffee tables were scattered about, and groups of men and women in various nautical attire were chatting animatedly.

  Among the crowd, he noticed several individuals who clearly weren't seasoned sailors, whispering among themselves about the captains. As he made his way through the throng, the sounds around him revealed that these newcomers were here to commission tasks.

  “Hey! Charles! Over here!” William, looking unusually exuberant, waved a bottle of liquor in the air, surrounded by a few familiar captains.

  When Charles glanced over, Elizabeth huffed and turned her head away.

  As Charles approached, William enthusiastically threw an arm around his shoulder. “My friend, that knife of yours is amazing!”

  The pungent stench emanating from William made Charles uncomfortable, prompting him to shrug off William’s arm. “Is it a powerful relic?”

  He recalled selling William two unidentified relics previously. It seemed that William had struck it rich.

  “Absolutely powerful! It couldn't be better! I pretended to gift that knife to my enemy, and guess what? He ended up killing his entire crew! Hahaha!!!”

  Watching William laugh uncontrollably, Charles felt a sense of absurdity. Was that really how relics could be used?

  A nearby rotund man bumped into Charles with his elbow. “I heard you went back to sea again? Did you encounter anything interesting? Spill the beans.”

  Charles instinctively recalled the hand that had reached up from the depths, forcing a strained smile. “Nothing much to say; some crew members died, and the mission failed.”

  “Come on, come on! You came all the way here and won’t share? Why not just go to the casino and win big instead?”

  Unable to resist their curiosity, Charles eventually recounted his recent adventures: the giant butterfly, the hand, and the Dark Crystal Island.

  As he spoke, the other captains expressed their astonishment at his luck in surviving such perilous encounters.

  “Ah~ Stark wasn’t so lucky,” the rotund man remarked casually.

  “Who’s Stark?”

  “If that kid knew you didn’t even know his name, he’d probably be furious. He’s the one who helped Elizabeth tie you up. Don’t you remember?”

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  Charles suddenly recalled the cheerful, burly man, his pupils dilating. “He’s dead?”

  The man nodded, taking a bite of a blue fruit. “Death is just a part of life, isn’t it? This month hasn’t been too bad; only seven died.”

  Scanning the faces around him, Charles noted the lack of sorrow. They chatted as if discussing the weather.

  He understood the grim reality behind their casualness—life was cheap in this world.

  After a moment of silence, Charles addressed the other captains. “Everyone, what do you know about the city of Sodom?”

  This was his main purpose for coming today; he had only heard the name before and needed more information.

  As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes turned toward a dark-skinned man in the corner, his face adorned with an eagle-like hooked nose.

  “Charlie used to be a pirate; you can ask him,” William said, tilting his head back to drink.

  “I can only tell you that place is chaotic. If you’re weak, you’ll be looking for death if you go there,” Charlie’s voice was as low and gravelly as ever.

  “Have you heard anything about someone selling sunlight there?”

  At Charles’s inquiry, Charlie shook his head.

  “No?” Charles felt a twinge of anxiety.

  “Not sure; maybe yes, maybe no. In that place, if you have money, you can buy anything. When you get to Sodom, ask the bartender at the Anchor Tavern. Just tell him you were sent by Sea Dog; he’s my friend.”

  “Thank you,” Charles replied, grateful for the information. Most wouldn’t know such details, and Charlie’s willingness to share was a favor.

  The rotund man nudged Charles with his elbow, whispering, “He’s got his eye on you. Anyone who can encounter a ‘deity’ and come back alive has a bright future ahead.”

  Charles chuckled dryly. Who could say for certain? In this treacherous place, no one could guarantee they’d survive to the end. He was just an ordinary man trying to scrape by.

  The lively atmosphere returned as Charles joined the others in drinking and snacking, feeling closer to them.

  He picked up a round cake from the table and took a bite. The soft bread combined with sweet cream was surprisingly delightful. After years in this world, it was his first time tasting such exquisite food.

  Just as he finished his snack and considered leaving, a nondescript young man approached. “Captain Charles?”

  Charles turned to assess the newcomer. The man wore a red robe, and a bright white triangle was painted on his forehead, his attire starkly different from the other captains.

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is Sonny, and I’m an explorer like you.”

  Elizabeth, who had been ignoring Charles, cleared her throat and dipped her finger into her drink, drawing a few lines on the table.

  Upon seeing the signal indicating danger, Charles’s alertness skyrocketed.

  “I heard you’re searching for the Land of Light, Mr. Charles? Why haven’t I seen you at the church services?”

  The Church of Light? Charles lost interest immediately and stood up to leave.

  In the next instant, Sonny’s body flickered, blocking Charles’s path.

  “Mr. Charles, are you a radical Protestant? You’ve misunderstood the sun god’s oracle. The original doctrine is the truth. The Land of Light is a void that cannot be found. We must sincerely pray and hold frequent ceremonies for the sun god to return.”

  Listening to such absurd claims, Charles was at a loss for words. He had no idea where these people got their so-called oracles, but he was certain they didn’t come from that big fireball in the sky.

  “Sorry, I’m not part of your church. Please step aside.”

  Sonny looked surprised. “If you’re not a member of the Church of the Sun God, why are you searching for the Land of Light?”

  “I’m not looking anymore. Goodbye.” Charles replied, trying to sidestep Sonny toward the exit.

  Sonny’s forehead marking glowed, and a semi-transparent, bluish fluid rapidly enveloped Charles. “How about we chat somewhere else?”

  Charles’s expression hardened, his revolver already pointed at Sonny’s head.