A month passed quickly, and soon it was time to set sail again. The *Unicorn*’s smokestack belched black smoke as Charles led the newly recruited crew onto the deck.

  “Bandage, you go assign tasks and schedules to the new crew members,” Charles instructed the silent first mate beside him.

  The first mate nodded, his newly grown legs striding toward the deck with the new recruits in tow. Meanwhile, Charles and Audrick entered the captain's quarters, where the newly acquired large nautical chart was spread out on the table, clearly marking islands, danger zones, and dark areas.

  “Where is Sodom? Mark it for me,” Charles said to the vampire.

  “Um, I can’t see it. Please tell me the location of Dark Crystal Island,” Audrick replied.

  Charles placed his hand on a pin, indicating Dark Crystal Island. Audrick traced a line from there on the chart, his sharp claw lightly puncturing the paper. “Here.”

  To Charles’s surprise, the location wasn’t as far as he had imagined. “Sodom is right here? So close?”

  “It appears here sometimes, on the 6th and 25th of each month,” Audrick explained.

  Charles was taken aback. “Appear? Isn’t it an island? It moves?”

  “Yes, Captain. To be precise, it’s a ship—an enormous vessel made from the wreckage of pirate ships.”

  Looking at the marked spot, Charles quickly calculated the sailing time and supplies in his mind. Although Audrick spoke with certainty, the information was 40 years old; if nothing was there, they still needed enough supplies to return.

  “Do we have enough blood packs?” he asked.

  Audrick nodded quickly. “Yes, I’ve prepared enough for 60 days.”

  “Save some. If we encounter intense combat, I might need it.”

  “Understood. But Captain Charles, since it’s a relic of the blood clan, you should try to use it sparingly.”

  “Got it. You can go now.”

  Audrick bowed and transformed into a bat, swiftly flying out.

  In the coastal waters, Charles deliberately slowed down the ship to allow the new crew members to bond. Most of the new crew were locals from Coral Island, some of whom had met Charles before, making for a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

  On the eighth day after leaving port, the *Unicorn* slowly approached its destination, and the dark sea began to change.

  “Captain, there’s a ship ahead!!”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “I see it.” Charles peered through the glass at the distant vessel.

  It was clearly not Sodom; the ship was too small, only half the size of the *Unicorn*, and it was made of wood. Wooden ships were rare in the Geosea, as most areas capable of growing trees had been cleared for agricultural crops.

  As the ships drew closer, more details became apparent. Unlike the *Unicorn*’s turbine propulsion, this wooden ship was powered by sails.

  Given that the Geosea rarely had wind, relying solely on sails for navigation seemed like a death wish.

  “What should we do, Captain?”

  “I’ll take the helm. You go out and signal them. Tell them, per custom, left helm to left helm.”

  This was basic maritime protocol to prevent collisions due to a lack of communication.

  “Understood!” Deep, wearing his bracelet, rushed out with the flags.

  Waving the red flag quickly, the wooden ship began to turn, as if it understood the signal.

  As the two ships passed each other, Charles glanced at the old wooden ship, a flicker of doubt crossing his mind: Was that ship also headed to Sodom?

  Suddenly, a crisis erupted. The cannon ports on the left side of the wooden ship swung open, and a black cannon muzzle aimed directly at the *Unicorn*.

  With his body tense, Charles reacted instantly, spinning the wheel to minimize the ship's profile against the incoming cannon fire.

  Despite his quick response, several cannonballs struck the deck. However, the expected explosions didn’t occur; the cannonballs seemed soft, sticking wherever they landed and releasing black-purple smoke. Before long, the *Unicorn* was enveloped in the thick mist.

  “Lily! Counterattack!!” Hearing Charles’s voice, the mice on deck quickly rushed to the cannon stations, and the 125mm cannon turned toward the wooden ship.

  At the same time, shadowy figures began to drift out of the black-purple mist. Their bodies were thin as paper, with no facial features where their heads should be, wielding weapons made from the same material.

  The eerie paper figures quickly positioned themselves and charged toward the deck cannons, frantically slashing at the mice, forcing the cannon’s movement to halt.

  The crew opened fire on the strange figures, but the bullets passed through them, having no effect on their movement.

  Furrowing his brow, Charles dared not hesitate. He pulled out a mirror, ready to smear blood on it.

  The ghostly tricks of the divine wouldn’t scare him; the wooden ship was the real threat, and he needed to stop it.

  Just as he was about to bite his finger, a sudden pain shot through his abdomen. Shocked, Charles looked down to see a bloody blade protruding from his chest.

  Without a second thought, he drew his pistol and aimed at the assailant behind him, only to halt mid-trigger.

  The attacker was First Mate Deep, wearing a strange smile. A chilling voice escaped his lips, “Go on… shoot…”

  In the next moment, Charles took a deep breath, forcing himself to endure the pain as he donned the clown mask.

  With the mask on, he pulled the trigger, and Deep fell to the ground, hit by the bullet.

  Controlling his muscles to hold the blade inside him, Charles staggered out of the cockpit.

  Outside, the crew was already engaged in battle with the paper figures, clearly at a disadvantage. Aside from the enlarged James, their attacks seemed ineffective.

  Clutching his wound, Charles grasped the bat mirror and hurled it into the air. “Blind one! Shake that ship for me!”

  The bat caught the mirror and flew swiftly toward the wooden ship.

  Just as he finished speaking, a paper figure appeared behind Charles, raising a gleaming weapon to strike at his head.

  Charles quickly retreated, crashing into the figure, his black blade dancing through the air as he cut the paper figure into shreds.

  “Is that all?” Charles sneered, ready to charge into battle when his body suddenly stiffened, blood seeping from his wound again.

  He realized he couldn’t act recklessly; his condition was precarious, and any sudden movement could lead to fatal blood loss.

  Quickly, he sought another solution. He crouched down, retrieving a steel nail from a nearby barrel.

  He threw the nails with precision, pinning the paper figures to the ground, but it was only a temporary measure.

  More and more paper figures appeared, seemingly endless, and Charles’s consciousness began to blur.