“Do you think I’m an idiot? If I hadn’t intervened, you would’ve died just now. Is that a minor issue?” Elizabeth’s words left both men speechless.

  At that moment, Finn stepped forward, saying, “Mr. Charles, I think I have a solution. Perhaps we can resolve your conflict.”

  With both Charles and Elizabeth’s eyes on him, Finn continued, “I can create two potions, each capable of making one of you disappear. You just need to randomly choose one to drink. Problem solved.”

  “Betting our lives? Why would I gamble with this guy? This body is mine!” Charles retorted.

  “Come on, let’s just take the potions and get out of this hellhole first. Maybe a psychologist outside can help us merge. That way, no one has to die.”

  “Ha! What you’re saying now is completely different from what you did earlier.”

  “Because I’m hypocritical and shameless. Is it fun to argue in front of your woman? I’ll ask you one question: do we want to go back to the surface, or do we just want to keep entangled here?”

  Seeing the concern on Elizabeth’s face, Charles suppressed his anger.

  Sensing Charles’s shift, Richard quickly added, “You make those potions as fast as you can.”

  Finn immediately complied, not caring who lived or died; he just wanted his five percent.

  As Finn began to chant an incantation, his hands moved rhythmically, and various bottles around them began to stir. Colorful liquids intertwined in the glass containers, creating a strangely beautiful sight.

  Meanwhile, Charles had regained control and dropped to the ground, his expression serious as he bent down to pick up the revolver.

  “Buddy, I still feel something’s off. You don’t seem like the type to easily commit suicide. Why were you so impulsive just now?”

  “Shut up!”

  “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything. You’re in charge now.”

  With a cold expression, Charles approached Elizabeth, watching as Finn prepared the potions.

  After a few seconds of silence, he tore off the clown mask from the struggling figure nearby, swiftly drew the black blade from his boot, and wrapped it in the man’s coat.

  The bronze liquid began to swirl in a circular vessel as Finn pulled out a golden page from his pocket. A white magic circle emanated from it, hovering in midair.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Finn’s incantation deepened, and the white circle enveloped the liquid in the vessel. A piercing sound echoed as the round glass container twisted into shards like the one that had shattered earlier.

  Charles pocketed the two identical potions floating towards him without saying a word and turned to leave.

  As he descended from the crimson ship, Elizabeth followed him in silence, both of them walking forward without speaking, the atmosphere heavy.

  After a moment of hesitation, Elizabeth finally asked, “Which version of you have I been interacting with?”

  “It’s always been me. That other guy is just a counterfeit created by the remnants.”

  “How can I tell you two apart?”

  “You don’t need to. It’s not your concern. If one of us survives, it will definitely be me.” Charles’s tone was resolute, and Richard remained unusually quiet.

  They continued walking along the dimly lit dock, and just as they neared the exit, Charles asked, “When are you and Finn leaving for that island?”

  “Tomorrow. We were supposed to leave earlier, but your other personality made us stop.”

  “If the island is established, let the refugees from Shadow Island move there.”

  Charles’s statement caught Elizabeth off guard. Was this related to what had happened before?

  “Safe travels. I’m leaving.” Charles pushed off the wall with his feet, leaping onto the rooftop toward the Bat Inn.

  In the following days, Charles resumed his usual routine, but things had changed. Even Lily, who was oblivious to everything, sensed a shift in the atmosphere of the room.

  This betrayal had completely severed ties between the two personalities. If they had previously been annoyed with each other due to their different natures, now they were outright enemies, despite being the same person.

  Richard seemed to feel guilty and rarely emerged, truly adhering to his word to compensate for Charles’s losses.

  However, Charles didn’t view it that way. Now, besides wanting to return home, he added a new goal: finding a way to eliminate the other version of himself and reclaim full ownership of his body.

  Initially, Charles thought this would be a monumental issue, one he would need time to fully digest. But the arrival of something else made him push this matter aside—Kade had finally returned.

  The once amiable old man looked disheveled this time, deep dark circles under his eyes that even his reading glasses couldn’t hide, his gaze appearing dazed and obsessive.

  Facing the nautical chart on the table, he was visibly agitated, trembling hands brushing over it before he suddenly looked up at Charles. “Is it… really true? The ladder to the realm of the Light God is on this island?”

  “There’s a ninety percent chance it’s this island.”

  Upon hearing Charles’s words, Kade burst into tears like a child, embracing the nautical chart tightly.

  Though Charles understood Kade’s excitement, seeing him wipe his nose on the chart was somewhat disgusting.

  “Alright, stop crying. We need an exploration ship to check out the supply island. Should your people go, or should I?”

  “No, no, no! We must go together this time. The more people, the better. We’ll set off from here.” Kade pointed emphatically at the supply island on the map.

  “Are you sure? The pirates from Sodom likely get supplies from here too. Acting rashly could lead to trouble.”

  Kade’s expression turned fierce as he pounded the chart. “I don’t want to either! But the Archbishop of the Western Sea has already noticed something’s off here. I suspect he’s already sent a ship. If he discovers what I’ve done to the Coral Island base, I’ll be finished!”

  “Stop being paranoid; calm down.” Charles regarded Kade as if he were a madman.

  Kade lunged forward, gripping Charles’s collar tightly. “Do you think I’ll be fine if you die? The Archbishops are always harsher on enemies than on their own! If they capture you, you won’t have time to regret it!”