Chapter 13 Returning to Hong Kong

On the dark sea, the corpse of the monster drifted with the waves. Just as it was sinking and about to fall into the bottom of the sea, a steam ship two-thirds larger than the Mouse passed by it.

The great net with its barbs was thrown from the deck, covering it with ease.

"Boss, look quickly, I caught a big squid! The tentacles are still moving."

"Squid? Pete, are you blind, boss, it's a starfish!"

"It's all spread out, what a big octopus looks good, um~ it looks delicious, Pete, send it to the kitchen so the chefs can make it better."

"No problem, boss!"

When Charles woke up again, he felt a sharp pain in his head. When he let go of his hand, the empty wine bottle fell to the ground and fell to pieces.

Charles didn't bother to take a look at the shards of glass all over the floor, so he pushed open the door and walked out.

When the crew of the Mouse ship saw Charles with an indifferent expression come back again, they all breathed a sigh of relief. The captain still felt safe with this expression.

"Captain, we have returned to a safe route. According to the current speed of 15 knots, we will arrive at the port in a short time." Dipper, who was at the helm, reported to Charles.

"What about the bandage?"

"His wound healed quickly, and he didn't have a persistent fever. Although he was still in a coma, he should have survived."

Hearing the news, Charles' depressed mood rose slightly.

"Don't let your guard down, I'll go see him."

In the entire Mouse, only the captain has a private bedroom, and the first mate lives in the crew lounge like everyone else.

When Charles came to the cabin, he saw the bandage slowly opened his eyes, and he took a few steps to rush over.

"Don't move, lie down, your injuries haven't recovered yet." Charles held him who was struggling to sit up.

"Captain... Anna is a monster... she's going to eat me..."

Hearing this, Charles felt pain in his heart, and comforted him with a forced smile on his face: "Don't worry, that thing is dead, everything is over."

"Then... that's good..." The bandage, which was relieved, slowly lay back.

"Have a good rest. We'll be home soon, and you can finish your mission."

Glancing at the empty trouser legs under the bandages, Charles knew that his sailing career was probably over. No matter how good the steering skills were, no ship would have a first officer with only one leg.

"Oh..." Bandage stopped talking.

Charles tried to comfort him, but he wasn't very good at it, and finally he patted the bandaged shoulder and walked out.

The rest of the voyage was uneventful, and the Mouse returned to the Coral Islands safely.

It seems that the followers of the Fortan religion have the ability to foretell. Before the Mouse entered the port, Charles saw Hook leading a large group of believers standing there waiting.

"Captain Charles, have you got the relic?"

When he saw the golden statue of Fortan coming out of the wooden box, he couldn't control his excitement for an instant, and after dancing, he led the believers to bow down to the statue.

"Where's my money?" Charles asked.

The excited Hook quickly stood up, and tremblingly took out a piece of paper from his arms.

"This is the original contract, hurry up! Give me the holy object!"

Charles took the paper and threw the golden statue over after confirming that it was correct.

Seeing the ecstatic hook about to leave with the golden statue in his arms, Charles frowned. "Hey, did you forget something?"

James, who was tall and burly behind him, came forward with a bandage in his arms.

"My lord deacon...I'm done...completed the task..." Weak Bandage reported to the hook.

As if not hearing Bandage's words, Hook's eyes fell on his leg. "What happened to your leg?"

"Eating by... being eaten by monsters..."

With a look of disgust on his face, he raised his chin, and the two believers behind him walked towards the bandage, trying to bring him back.

"Well done, Bandage, and you will have the honor of being a sacrifice next prayer day."

"Many... Thank you, Master Deacon..."

"What? Sacrifice?!" All the crew members of the Mouse had horrified expressions on their faces.

Charles raised his hand suddenly and stopped the two believers. He stared at the hook and asked, "Is this how your Fortan sect treats your own people?"

Charles didn't want to meddle in the affairs of these lunatics, but at any rate, he was born and died with the bandages. This slow-moving guy can be regarded as a half-friend. He can't watch his friends being thrown into the sea to feed the fish.

"Captain Charles, being a sacrifice in this religion is an honor in itself."

"Why don't you want this kind of honor? The bandage is my first mate, and he can't leave for the time being. He needs to explain things." Charles gave James a look, and the big man retreated holding the bandage.

Hook looked a little anxious, as if the statue was more important than anything else. After taking a deep look at Charles, he hurried back.

"Forget it, a cripple, if Captain Charles wants it, I will give it to you."

Seeing them leaving the pier, Dipper was the first to run to the bandages and yell.

"Mr. First Mate, what are you thinking? He threw your plan into the sea to feed the fish, yet you still thank him?!"

Bandage was silent.

"Do you know what it means to be sacrificed to God Fortan? Why did you agree?" Charles walked up to him and asked.

If the bandage uttered the nonsense of Fortan's teachings, Charles' next step was to send him to a mental hospital for treatment.

"I... I don't know, I seem... I long to be sacrificed, I forget a lot of things... I don't remember..." Bandage gave an unexpected answer.

After wandering back and forth for a while, Charles stopped at his feet, looked at the eyes hidden behind the bandages and said, "Don't say anything, my new ship needs a first mate. Are you coming?"

Bandage was silent for a few seconds, "But I don't have legs..."

"It's just that there is one missing. It's not a big problem. Pressing a chair can also steer the helm."

When he saw the bandage and nodded, Charles showed a relieved smile on his face.

After recruiting a new first officer, he raised his head and looked at his crew. After considering it for a while, he said, "I don't know, we will have an exploration ship, an exploration ship that is much bigger than the Mouse!"

Hearing the captain's shout, everyone's faces were filled with excitement. Not to mention the benefits of exploring a residential island, in terms of salary alone, the difference between a cargo ship with the same job and an exploration ship is almost three times the difference.

As for the danger that matches the huge benefits, the men who live by the sea have never been afraid.

"Then captain, shall we go to the shipyard now?" Dipper just asked when he saw his captain shaking his head.

"I'll solve the ship's problem. You have your own affairs. James, you are the chief engineer of the new ship. During this time, find a way to recruit the first and second engineer."

The burly man with his whole body was frightened and shook his head again and again, "No, Captain, I can't... I really—"

"Don't tell me you can't find it. There is a professional employment agency in the port. You just have to go and pick it. This is your task."

Charles didn't listen to James' explanation at all, and said to the young man who was about to move: "Dipper, you are the boatswain, go recruit 4 sailors."

Hearing that he had to manage so many sailors, the boy was not stage frightened at all, but very excited.

"Now I can manage 5 people! It's exciting!"

"Frey, there are so many people, you can't handle the kitchen by yourself, so find a helper."

"No problem, my captain."