Shrouded Seascape

Charles hadn't informed his crew members of the recent events. The first reason was that he didn't want to burden them with worry, and the second was that there wasn't much they could do to help a situation of this magnitude.

Charles pondered for a few moments before giving Bandages a pat on his shoulder. With a hint of melancholy in his voice, he said, "Don't worry too much about it and stay on the island. If possible, just live out a peaceful life like a normal person with your family."

Confusion suffused Bandages' eyes. His voice lowered a notch as he replied, "But… I'm immortal… When my family all grows old and dies… when should I… go then?

"Maybe…I'll lose… my memory again…and start wandering once more…as I search… for my memories…"

A complex mix of emotions crossed Charles' face as he regarded Bandages. He didn't have an answer to the latter's question.

Even after such a long while, Bandages still hadn't come close to finding an answer to the origin of his immortality or his fragmented memories.

Considering that they might never set sail again, it was highly possible that those secrets would remain buried forever.

Suddenly, Bandages lifted his gaze, a firm determination flashing across his eyes. Staring straight into Charles' eyes, he said, "If that time comes… and you're still around… please… kill me."

As someone who had spent countless days and nights with Bandages, he immediately understood where Bandages was coming from.

Despite being momentarily taken aback at the request, Charles swiftly composed himself and nodded with a soft smile. "Alright, it's a deal. When that time comes, I'll see you off."

Bandages' usually stoic face broke into a rare, genuine smile. "Thank you…"

That day, the two of them sat by the old ship doctor's grave, and talked about many things as they shared the last half bottle of liquor. They reminisced about old times, and Bandages even ended up speaking much faster than usual.

When there wasn't a single drop of alcohol left in the bottle, both men were a bit tipsy. Charles draped an arm over Bandages' shoulder. As they chuckled about their days aboard the Narwhale, they stumbled their way out of the cemetery.

"If we ever get to enjoy peace, we should gather more often. We can't let our bonds weaken just because we're not on the ship anymore."

"Yeah… Sounds good!"

Just as both men reached the gate, Tobba, with his white beard, approached them with a shovel over his shoulder.

Tobba greeted both of them warmly before running over to the plot next to Lily's grave. He then started digging with his shovel.

"What are you doing?" Charles asked, puzzled.

"I'm digging my grave ahead of time," Tobba replied with a grin as he threw another shovelful of dirt aside. "I don't want anyone else snatching this prime spot. Hehe. Lucky me that I die early."

Tobba let out a hearty chuckle as though he had made a great bargain and continued digging.

On the other end, Charles was speechless at Tobba's morbid humor. He turned to leave, but just as he exited the cemetery gate, he halted in his tracks.

Charles looked back at Tobba, who was happily digging his own grave, and a thought entered his mind. Soon enough, Charles' intense gaze attracted Tobba's attention. The old man wiped the beading sweat on his forehead and flashed Charles a silly grin.

"Tobba, do you remember that ability of yours to transverse perspective?" Charles called out. "Does that mean you can affect the current reality from the perspective you are in?"

Tobba ignored Charles' question. He merely picked up his shovel and continued digging. However, Charles knew that the real Tobba was definitely listening.

Charles dashed forward and grabbed the old man by his petite frame, lifting the latter into the air. With a tense expression, he questioned, "If you're a prophet, you must know about the central computer of the Foundation, right? Can you reach its destination from the perspective you are in?"

Charles had visited the other perspective and knew that the situation there was vastly different from their current reality. Now that he was to think about it, he realized how hard it was to put that strange, surreal place into words.

But no matter how bizarre that place was, finding a way through that perspective seemed to be a better solution than trying to storm the central computer head-on in his current world.

"Heh… heh heh," Tobba merely let out a series of soft chuckles and offered no other response.

"I know you can hear me, so stop with your silly chuckles!" Charles called out as he shook Tobba, causing the old man’s bald head to bobble back and forth.

Letting out a hiccup from the forceful shaking, Tobba raised his index finger and pointed at the freshly dug hole beside them. "What do you think of this grave? Pretty nice, huh?"

Charles' brows knitted deeply together. He alternated his gaze between the hole and Tobba several times. With a hint of hesitation in his voice, he asked, "Are you trying to tell me… if you go there, you'll die? Did you foresee your death at SITE 2?"

Tobba didn't answer Charles' question. Instead, he wriggled out of Charles’ grip, picked up his shovel, and resumed his digging.

By this point, Charles was no longer in a rush to leave. He stood by Tobba's side and watched intently. He knew the "real" Tobba would surely leave him a clue through some subtle means.

Indeed, he noticed it soon enough—the rhythm of the shovel. It was irregular, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Something was off.

After sifting through his memories, a realization dawned upon Charles. It was a secret language conveyed through steam whistles, a form of communication used between ships at sea.

One long, one short, then another long and short. That signaled an agreement with the other party's request.

A surge of hope and joy rose in Charles' heart. There was a chance, after all! Tobba could attack the Foundation's central computer from an alternate perspective!

However, Charles' joy was short-lived as his gaze fell back on the hole Tobba had been digging. A myriad of emotions replaced his earlier elation. Tobba seemed to have known all along that he wouldn't be able to return, which was why he was preparing his own grave.

For the sake of toppling the Foundation, sacrifices were inevitable. But at the thought that Tobba would really die, Charles felt as though there was a huge boulder weighing down on his chest.

However, it was hard to justify if he were to pass up such a crucial opportunity.

"Thank you," Charles eventually found the words to say. "That's the only thing I can say now. Do you have any last wish you'd like me to fulfill for you?"

Tobba didn't even acknowledge Charles' words. He gleefully tossed his shovel aside and sprinted toward the cemetery gate, shouting, "I'm going to find Lily and bring her over to have a look! I want her to comment on my grave!"

As Charles watched Tobba's retreating figure, a sudden sense of unease hit Charles. He felt like he needed a more in-depth conversation with Tobba.

"Sparkle!" Charles called out.

In an instant, Sparkle whisked both Charles and Tobba away across the wide oceans. The second before, they were still on Hope Island, but now, they were on Cat Island.

Charles had no idea if this method could keep those perspective police at bay, but all he could hope for was more time to talk to Tobba.

As their surroundings continued to shift, Tobba's usual mad demeanor gave way to a more clear-minded persona.

"Charles, do what you want to do. This is the ending I saw, and it's also my final destination. You don't owe me anything."

Time was of the essence, and seeing Tobba's resolute stance, Charles decided not to waste any more time. "What's your plan? Can you really reach the central computer from your perspective?"

A sly smile appeared on Tobba's face. "It's not about what I should do, but what you should do. This time, you are coming with me."

"Me? I can't!" Charles retorted. Regardless of what was the plan Tobba had in mind, Charles' life was not his own now. His survival was tied to the fate of the entire Subterranean Sea.

"Don't worry; you won't die. I'm just an old man with no weapons, so if I go alone, I won't be able to do anything to the central computer. I need help and that is why you have to come with me."

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