Shrouded Seascape

Feeling everyone's gazes, Lily hesitantly parted her lips and answered, "I don't know. Mr. Charles did wish to return home back then. Since he had made that wish, then now he must be…"

Lily's words trailed off as the reality of the situation hit her. The thought that Charles had truly returned to where he belonged overwhelmed her with sorrow. She could no longer hold herself back as tears welled up in her eyes. She buried her face in her arms on the table and burst out in sobs.

Seated next to Lily, Linda gently patted the former on the back while offering quiet words of comfort.

However, Lily's sobs had only served to deepen the somber mood in the room. Sadness painted the faces of everyone present.

Every one of them had survived life-threatening dangers together aboard the Narwhale. In many ways, the bond they shared with Charles was closer than family. But Charles' sudden departure without any possibility of seeing him again almost felt eerily similar to death.

It would be a lie if they were to say that they were not the least bit affected. Most just weren't as outspoken as Dipp to express their emotions so openly.

"Disperse…" Bandages announced. He stood up and walked toward the door of the Governor's Mansion. His actions had clearly expressed his opinions—he was against Dipp's resolution of using Hope Island's resources to search for Charles.

When Charles had said to decommission the Narwhale previously, Bandages had long suspected that this day would come. Now that Charles had already left, then there was no use to cling onto him and chase after him.

However, he understood Dipp's struggle to accept the present reality. After all, he had spent so many years as one of Charles' closest and most loyal crewmates. But he, Bandages, as the next chain of command over Hope Island, had to consider many more aspects than their personal attachment to the captain.

Charles's departure had shaken both Hope Island and those outside. And the utmost priority now was to maintain stability and order.

With the first mate leaving the room, the others stood up and followed suit. Eventually, Dipp was the only one left in the room.

None of them agreed with Dipp's proposition. There was no evidence to support his theory, and it felt like a reckless decision to set sail and risk everything over a mere hunch.

Each of them had their own lives now, and they couldn't afford to forsake everything to accompany Dipp on a meaningless expedition.

As he watched their back views disappearing from sight, Dipp clenched down hard on his jaw.

"Fine! If you guys won't go, I'll go alone! Don't forget who gave you this good life you're enjoying now!" He shouted before storming out of the Governor's Mansion.

The moment Dipp reached home, he rushed into his bedroom and started packing his belongings.

Just as he finished tossing his clothes and his weathered journal into a suitcase and was about to zip up his bag, the door swung open. His wife, Aliya, entered the room and remarked, "Linda told me that you're planning to set sail."

Dipp scratched the gills on his neck with apparent frustration. "Don't waste your breath trying to persuade me out of it. I'm going, no matter what!"

Aliya gently flicked her fiery red hair back as she stepped into the room. "I'm not here to stop you. But, Dipp, you need a plan. Since you believe that Charles is still out there, then where do you plan to begin looking?"

Dipp's movements slowed down upon hearing Aliya's question. His hand hovered over his luggage as the frustration and anger on his face were gradually being replaced by uncertainty and confusion. She was right. If Charles hadn't left, where could he possibly be now, and why hadn't he reached out to them?

Aliya gently tugged Dipp to sit beside her on the edge of the bed.

"Dipp," Aliya called out in a gently yet firm voice. "Whatever choice Charles made, that is his own decision. No one forced him. Even if you find him, what then? What can you do?"

Dipp's head drooped, the fins on his scalp flattening against the scales on his body. He sat in silence for a long while before he finally spoke, "Aliya, I'm not like the others. Captain's like the only family I've ever had. We had always been together for over ten years. He means more to me than anyone could understand."

"I know, I know. But Dipp, even children grow up and leave their parents. That's the same for you too. You can't stay by his side forever."

Dipp clutched his head with both hands, a pained expression appearing on his face. "I wasn't thinking of staying by his side forever! I just want to know where he is and if he's okay! I…I'm worried about him. Really.

"If he had just clearly stated where he was going when he left, I would never think of going to find him!"

Aliya gently wrapped her arms around her husband and offered words of consolation. "He went home, didn't he? Back to where he truly belongs."

"No!" Dipp shook his head, his gaze filled with certainty. "I'm sure he didn't. If he was really going home, he would have told me! Ever since Captain destroyed the Foundation, I have seen him always thinking about something. Something is weighing on his mind. I still remember what he was like back then when he wanted to go home so badly. But now, that look…that isn't right!"

Dipp lifted his head and turned toward Aliya with a solemn gaze. "What if he had encountered some danger? What if he has been captured like what happened before? If no one is helping him, then he only has me to rely on!"

"You're giving yourself too much credit. Charles is even stronger than Julio now. If there's something he can't deal with, do you think you can possibly handle it? And don't forget that monster daughter of his. With her ability to teleport at will, it would be a piece of cake for her to save her father if she wants to easily."

Dipp's eyes lit up with a spark of hope. "That's right! I can go and find Sparkle! She definitely knows where her father is!"

"Alright. If it's true to your words, Sparkle does know where Charles is, then do you know where to find her? Do you even know where she usually stays?"

The hope in Dipp's eyes swiftly dimmed again. Indeed, they hardly interacted with Sparkle to know anything. He only knew that she was the Captain's daughter and possessed incredible powers. But beyond that, none of them really knew much about her.

Who knows Sparkle and who might be in contact with her? Dipp sat in silence as he racked his brain over the question.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Hope Island, in a cozy little villa with azure blue walls, Lily was quietly sobbing while Grace and Linda sat on either side of her to offer what comfort they could.

"Lily, don't cry anymore," Grace said as she gently placed a cup of hot tea in front of the young woman. Seated on the right side of Lily, she wrapped her arms around the girl and continued, "You've been crying every day. Your eyes are already so swollen and red."

Strictly speaking, this was Grace's home and Lily was just staying here temporarily. Though she had lived in the Governor's Mansion before, she hadn't returned there even once ever since Charles's departure.

There were so many rooms in that place and yet she was the only one staying there. She was afraid; even with the countless swarms of mice to accompany her, she was still scared.

Under the comforting words of both Linda and Grace, Lily's tears finally began to subside. With her voice still choked with emotions, she asked, "Mr. Charles left without even telling me. Does that mean he never really cared about me?"

"Of course not."

"Yeah, that's just how he is."

Both Grace and Linda answered at the same time but gave two completely opposing answers.

Grace shot Linda a look. "Miss Linda, don't be like this. If Charles really didn't care about Lily, why would he help her become a human again?"

Linda didn't answer Grace's question. Instead, she turned her gaze onto Lily and asked, "He has gone back to where he belongs. Then what about you?"