Shrouded Seascape

Time slowly ticked by and the Narwhale continued on her charted route toward the boundary of the darkness.

Along the way, they encountered another returning exploration ship. After a brief exchange of information, they parted ways.

Charles learned from the other ship that they had just returned from the boundary and also gained first-hand information from that area.

Seeing two surviving exploration ships consecutively slightly reassured Charles' anxious heart for some reason.

Indeed, with the help of the maps provided by the Foundation, the explorers no longer had to gamble with their lives like before. Otherwise, who knew how many would perish on these treacherous routes?

Though explorers didn't fear death, no one wanted to die unnecessarily.

"Just two more days before we reach the boundary explored by the Foundation, right? Can't believe that half a month has gone just like that. Time sure flies," Nico remarked as he puffed on a cigarette.

Standing on the deck next to him, Charles replied, "Hmm, I heard Grace has been spending a lot of time in your room lately? How's she doing emotionally?" Charles was always concerned about the psychological well-being of his crucial crew members.

Charles' questions unknowingly opened a floodgate as Nico started to pour out his frustrations. "You need to find time and talk to that girl. She's constantly bringing these massive books and bombarding me with questions. How would I know anything about physics or chemistry? I have to start studying just to resolve her questions.

"Other than my shifts and sleep, she's taking up all of my time. See these wrinkles around my eyes? No amount of makeup can cover them anymore.

"I really want to ignore her, but the moment I look into those innocent eyes, my heart softens. Back when I was the governor of the Coral Archipelago, if I had been this diligent, I would have already occupied Whereto and the Albion Isles to become the overlord of the Northern Seas," Nico concluded in a half-joking tone.

A faint smile appeared on Charles' visage but it quickly faded as something came to mind. He let out a sigh and commented, "She was born in the wrong place. Perhaps, this is just her fate.

"Still, since she likes sticking around you, please bear with it and help me keep an eye on her. There are some things you can do but I can't."

The scowl on Nico's face gradually dissipated. He blew out a smoke ring before he said in a soft voice, "Captain, I can tell that the girl is starved for love. She tries to please everyone all the time, which means she grew up in constant fear and anxiety. She's a pitiful child. If possible…"

Nico paused for a moment before continuing, "If possible, why don't we get a replacement?"

"How would you know all that? Did you take psychology lessons from Linda?" Charles asked, turning his gaze toward Nico.

"It's simple. Because I used to be just like that. That feeling is truly horrible," Nico answered, a trace of sadness flickered across his face.

Charles contemplated for a brief moment before he shook his head slightly. "No. If we get someone new, the new person would have to readjust to the ethos on our ship and the exploration rhythm. Besides, they said she's the strongest of this batch of weapons."

Nico shook his head in resignation, "I knew you'd say that. No wonder you got into an argument with your wife. Your heart's too hard."

Charles looked down at his chest. "My heart was hard from the start. Anyway, do your job. Of course, I hope we happily found the darkness and all make it back without losing anyone. But do you really think that's possible?"

Feeling apprehensive, Nico bit down on his lips. Despite smudging his lipstick, he didn't stop. After some hesitation, he was about to speak again when his expression stiffened. At the same time, he and Charles simultaneously looked upward at the overhead gasbags.

"There's movement up there!" Charles shouted before disappearing in an instant.

Nico swiftly tossed his cigarette aside and swiftly climbed the ropes like an agile monkey.

Upon reaching the top of the gasbags, he saw Charles already standing there and was holding something in his prosthetic hand with a grim expression.

Walking closer, Nico realized that Charles was holding a half-burnt gear. The faint clink they heard earlier was the sound of this gear hitting the gasbag.

"This is from an exploration ship. See this code? The gear's manufactured in a factory on Skywater Island. An exploration ship has been attacked by something," Charles commented and lifted his gaze to peer into the darkness above with vigilance.

"Aren't we still in an area chartered by the Foundation? Since they've explored it, they would have identified all existing threats. What could have possibly attacked the ship?"

Charles shook his head in disagreement. "That's not necessarily true. Living things move around."

As soon as his words fell, the both of them turned their heads sharply upward once again.

It started "raining" from above. Individual, tiny parts, mixed with contaminated water and human remains poured down on them like a torrential downpour!

Just as those things were about to land on the gas bags, transparent tentacles emerged from Charles and with a whoosh, they batted everything away.

After the debris of an entire exploration ship had finished falling, Charles barely had time to catch his breath before he looked up. The sight that greeted him etched a look of terror on his face. Beside him, Nico's face mirrored the same expression.

Above them, a massive, mountain-like spherical object, carrying an overwhelming sense of despair, hurtled toward the Narwhal with the crushing force of an impending avalanche!

"Move! Now!" Charles hollered, his voice almost cracking.

The Narwhale's propellers spun rapidly, pushing the ship forward with all its might. However, its usual speed was no match for the colossal white sphere plummeting toward them.

Realizing that they wouldn't be able to avoid a collision at their current speed, Charles made decisive countermeasures.

"Release the gas! Hurry!" Charles swiftly located the zippers on the corners of each small gasbag and yanked them open. In an instant, the bags deflated.

With each round of feedback from explorers, the shipyard had continuously modified the fittings in response. In such scenarios, deflating the gasbags would cause the exploration ship to plummet rapidly which proved to be an excellent tactic for a quick escape.

As the giant sphere descended rapidly, the Narwhale did the same. For a moment, a delicate balance was established between the two.

Just as it seemed that this equilibrium would last, the massive white sphere began to change. It morphed from a sphere into a hemisphere, then into a flat white disk, and finally vanished into the darkness.

Standing atop the gasbags, Nico panted heavily. He had been genuinely terrified. If that thing was to hit them, there would be no survivors. "Damn it! What the hell is that thing!"

Yet, Charles had no answer for his second mate. The only thing he knew for sure was that that white sphere seemed to be alive.

Since it wasn't marked on the Foundation's map, then it must have wandered here from elsewhere.

"Whatever it is, we need to leave this place, fast."

Charles jumped down from the gasbags and made a beeline to the bridge. With a grave expression, he marked a new dot on the map.

The new dot was symmetrical to the previous one.