"What’s our current speed?" Charles asked, standing in the wheelhouse and staring at the nautical chart.

  "15 knots, Captain," Konor reported, his eyes shining as he turned to Charles. "Captain, after this voyage, there should be a long break, right? Since you’ve already claimed a livable island, my goal has been achieved. I’d like to take some time off and return to Volcano Island to bring my family here."

  "Sure. Once the Church of Light arrives, you can go back with their ship. When I’ve settled things up there, I’ll send someone to bring you back down," Charles agreed.

  Konor gripped the helm, hesitating as he looked at Charles’ back.

  "Speak up if you have something to say. Don’t beat around the bush."

  "Captain, if the Land of Light really exists, you won’t stay with us on Hope Island, will you?"

  Charles glanced at him but didn’t respond, continuing to study the chart on the wall.

  Konor chuckled awkwardly. "Actually, everyone can sense how much you want to return. The ship’s doctor said you don’t feel any attachment to this sea. You’ve always been trying to escape it."

  Charles checked his pocket watch and drew a dotted line on the chart.

  After observing Charles’ expression, Konor spoke again. "Captain, if you go up there, you don’t need to come back for me. Even if the Narwhal never sails again, you’ll always be my captain."

  "You’re not going to the surface? Why?" Charles turned to his second mate in surprise.

  "Captain, just as your world is up there, mine is here in the sea. I’ve achieved my dream. I plan to spend the rest of my life on Hope Island."

  "Haven’t you heard me talk about the surface? Why would you want to stay in this hellhole?"

  "Because I’ve become an islander. I don’t want to keep struggling."

  "Everyone up there can live like islanders."

  "That’s exactly why I don’t want to go up!" Konor’s voice suddenly rose.

  He breathed heavily, his voice filled with frustration. "I’ve worked so hard to become one of the elite. I don’t want to go to a place where everyone is equal! I want to enjoy the privileges of being an islander! I want to live the life of an islander, doing whatever I want!"

  Charles looked at his second mate with a complex expression. He hadn’t expected this to be the reason Konor didn’t want to go to the surface.

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  "Was I being too idealistic? Maybe the surface is paradise for me, but for them, it might not be so wonderful?"

  The air in the cabin felt heavy. "Captain, why don’t you just stay here as governor? You have everything you need here. Why—"

  "Enough. I don’t want to discuss this. Bring the ship closer to Monchi’s. I want to see how he’s doing," Charles interrupted.

  If he didn’t want to go, so be it. Everyone had their own ambitions, and Charles wasn’t going to force him.

  Konor swallowed his words and silently turned the helm.

  When he saw Monchi’s ship’s searchlight shine over, Charles stepped out of the wheelhouse and raised his prosthetic arm toward the nearby exploration ship.

  The anchor hook shot across and latched onto the other ship. With a mental command, the chain retracted, pulling Charles over.

  Watching his captain leave, Konor pulled out a pendant from his chest and stared at it for a long moment before putting it back. His eyes were slightly red. "Misha, don’t worry. I’m an islander now. I can take you back."

  As soon as Charles boarded the ship, he saw a grapefruit-sized purple crystal kept in a glass jar, tightly held by Monchi.

  Seeing Charles approach, Monchi greeted him. "Governor, the crystal lit up briefly earlier. I think we’re close enough to establish contact now."

  "Will this artifact fail at a critical moment?" Charles pointed at the crystal with his index finger.

  "Absolutely not. This teleportation crystal is a family heirloom. My great-grandfather found it in the belly of a large fish, and it’s been used for nearly a hundred years. It’s saved lives several times."

  Charles stared at the crystal, feeling an odd sensation that it was staring back at him.

  Glancing at Monchi’s gloomy expression, Charles took a step back. The artifact’s side effects were probably severe.

  Just as Charles was about to ask about the cost of using the crystal, Monchi squinted and pointed into the distance. "Governor, look over there. There’s something."

  Charles quickly turned and soon saw a faint white glow beneath the water in the distance.

  "Don’t look at it. Pretend it’s not there. Signal the Narwhal to change course," Charles immediately gave the most rational order.

  Whatever it was, Charles didn’t want any complications right now.

  Bright yellow flags waved rapidly, and the fleet quickly turned, moving away from the faint, cold glow.

  Just as Charles thought this would be a minor incident, the white glow reappeared, this time closer—close enough for Charles to see the barnacle-covered deck.

  It was a steamship, a ghost ship sailing beneath the water.

  The hull, covered in thick barnacles and coral, emitted an eerie, cold light, making the sunken ship highly visible underwater.

  Of course, trouble always arises at the worst possible moment. Charles’ expression darkened.

  It was clear this thing had targeted them. Without hesitation, Charles immediately ordered an attack.

  As the cannons roared, water columns over ten meters high erupted, but when the surface calmed, the ship remained unscathed, as if it were merely a reflection on the water.

  Seeing the cannons ineffective, Charles pulled out his lightning wand.

  At that moment, the ghost ship rapidly surfaced, releasing a nauseating stench of rot. A translucent green figure emerged from the ship’s cabin.

  It appeared to be a ghost, but unlike the typical attire of sea captains, it wore a crisp naval uniform.

  As everyone on the ship stared in terror, the ghost politely saluted Charles.

  "Greetings, sir. I am the captain of Transport Ship D134. I’m lost. Could you tell me the direction to East Nod?"

  Facing the eerie ghost, Charles quickly thought and replied calmly, "I’m not familiar with the place you mentioned, East Nod."

  Whatever it was, he didn’t want to provoke the ghost.

  Hearing Charles’ response, the ghost’s translucent face showed confusion. "You’re not familiar? How could you not know? It’s the place with an elevator leading to New Boundary City. Haven’t you heard of it?"