"It's December 6, 13 years ago. The Narwhal is returning to port. Two things rushed out of the water and caused some confusion. Other than that, everything is normal."
"The navigation mark has appeared on the sea. We will soon return to Hope Island. But what worries me is Feuerbach."
"He never woke up and remained in a coma. Even though I don't know anything about medical treatment, I know this is not a good sign."
"It's not just him. The loss of personnel on this voyage is quite large, including the death of two sailors. The second-engine manager died, the assistant cook broke his left hand, and the cook broke his right leg."
"Coupled with the completely insane navigator, the entire ship needs a major replacement."
"All this cost is the clue to the key. I don't know if it's worth it. If the key is really there, then it's possible that the next adventure will be my last adventure in Earthsea."
Just as Charles was about to continue writing, there was a knock on the door. "What's wrong?"
"I'm Linda, Feuerbach is awake."
Upon hearing the news, Charles was shocked all over. He was so excited that he put on his coat, opened the door and rushed out.
"I replaced all his blood and used some special experimental chemicals. His life has been saved, but his organs will be affected to a certain extent." Linda reported to Charles while hurrying on the road.
"As long as I'm alive, it's better than anything else." A smile appeared on Charles' face.
The two men quickly rushed to the medical room. As soon as they pushed open the door, they saw Feuerbach, who looked like a mummy, tremblingly holding a wrinkled cigarette between two fingers and putting it to his mouth.
"No smoking!" Linda rushed over, snatched the cigarette and threw it away.
Feuerbach's face showed extreme pain, and he said in an extremely weak voice: "Dear, please, let me take a breath, just one breath."
"You know your own physical condition very well. Your lungs absolutely cannot bear any more burden right now. If you keep talking nonsense, I will give you an injection of anesthesia."
"Of course I know my body. I don't want anything else right now. I just want to have one."
Looking at the fluently speaking Feuerbach, Charles breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his second mate was fine.
"Stop smoking. Smoke one day less. You won't suffocate to death." Charles walked over, took his black blade from his hand, and stuffed it into his prosthesis.
Seeing Charles coming over, Feuerbach stopped pestering Linda and turned to Charles and asked, "Captain, how are my sharks? Are my babies hurt?"
"Only three of them died. Your fish run fast. If they really run, the sea otters can't catch up with them."
"What, three?!" Feuerbach was about to sit up excitedly, but his whole body froze and he fell back with a painful expression, as if he was about to faint again.
“Which… which three…?” Feuerbach asked with his dying breath.
"Your sharks all look the same, how would I know which three they are? By the way, I'll give this back to you."
Charles said as he pulled a small black pistol from his pocket and handed it over.
It was a pistol only the size of Charles' palm. Although it was small in size, it was extremely powerful. One shot could have pierced Charles' shoulder. You have to know that his body is now bulletproof.
The most special thing about it is its appearance. It is not a revolver or a flintlock, but a modern pistol with a safety.
"Isn't this thing yours? I saw it fell at your feet."
When Feuerbach saw that thing, his expression changed slightly, and then a forced smile appeared on his weak face.
"This is my life-saving treasure. I originally intended to use it against powerful enemies that the other party could not handle. I did not expect to use it on the captain. But I had no choice before because you were crazy at that time."
"Yeah, next time, just aim and make me lose my combat capability. I'm a little curious, where did this thing come from?"
Just as Feuerbach was thinking about how to answer, Charles put the pistol on the bedside table beside him and smiled slightly.
Charles reached out and patted him on the shoulder, then prepared to walk outside.
"By the way, Captain, what is our next goal? Have we found any key clues on that island?"
Charles, who was walking towards the door, paused, turned around and said, "You are so seriously injured, so don't go on the ship. Stay on the island for a few more months and wait until your injury is completely healed."
Feuerbach was immediately anxious when he heard this. "This injury is nothing. I can handle it. Don't worry, I will be back to normal before the next voyage."
"Don't let your family worry, just have a good rest." Charles said, turning around, pushing open the door and walking out, followed closely by Linda.
Staring blankly at the closed door of the medical room, Feuerbach turned his head to look at his coat.
After a lot of effort, he finally put a cigarette in his mouth.
He took out a match, struck his face hard, and then lit the cigarette.
The cigarette was not smoked. It was held in Feuerbach's mouth and slowly burned out. The white smoke lingered in the air above the medical room for a long time.
————————
Under the gaze of everyone on the shore, the bumpy Narwhal slowly arrived at Hope Island Pier.
Seeing this scene, Leonardo, who was standing straight, seemed a little surprised.
"It seems that the Governor has suffered a bit of a loss this time. I hope he is okay." He said to himself.
Charles, standing on the deck, looked at his ship with heartache. He knew that an overhaul of the Narwhal was necessary. The casualties were heavy, as were the ship and its crew.
"Hey, guys, let's work together." Charles patted the bow with his hands, turned around and started to get off the boat with the crew.
When Leonardo saw Charles getting off the boat, he quickly adjusted his bow tie with his hands and went to meet him, but this time someone was faster than him.
It was a mother holding a little boy. She rushed forward excitedly and looked at each other among the crew members.
"Governor, where is my husband?"
Dipper rushed over and whispered in Charles' ear: "Captain, her husband is a sailor under my command. He was torn to pieces by those sea otters."
Charles nodded in understanding. He looked at the woman in front of him and said, "I'm sorry, he died in the line of duty."
The woman couldn't accept the news immediately and collapsed to the ground, her eyes dimmed in an instant.
"Don't worry, I will double his pension, and because of your husband's heroic act, I will also give you a house in the center of the island to ensure that you and your son will have no worries about food and clothing in the future."
Charles This caused the people around to talk about it. They wished that it was their own people who died. Everyone knew what such a pension meant.
It can be said that in the entire Earthsea, no one is as generous as Charles, and no one would be dissatisfied with such compensation.
"I don't want money! I don't want a house on the island either!! I just want my daddy!!"
The one who finished speaking was the child next to the woman. He was holding a wooden boat with trembling hands, staring at Charles fiercely with tears in his eyes.
Charles looked at him, said nothing, and turned to walk towards the car next to him with its door open.
40-1=39
(End of this chapter)