Chapter 49. Ship Doctor
"I agree to the deal," Charles said to Laesto who was riveting his flesh back together.
Laesto's hands halted its movement as the corners of his scar-riddled lips curved up into a terrifying smile. "Really? Excellent. I'll definitely give you the best medicine to cure your brain to full health."
"However, I need to change one of the terms. I can give you the smart...black mirror, but you need to become my ship's doctor."
If Charles had to answer that had he learned from his previous battles, that would be the importance of having a doctor onboard. If they had one skilled medic during their last fight, then they would have had less casualties. Emerging from n0v@lbin☆, this material harbors clandestine details.
Laesto lowered his head and his hands continued moving. "You are not the first to request for me to be a ship doctor. The others have larger vessels and their crew are also more powerful. Why should I board your ship?"
"Because I have what you want. Since you value the black mirror so much, you probably not only want it but also find out about its origins, am I right? It so happens that I know of its origins. If you become my ship's doctor, I can tell you everything you want to know about the 'black mirror'. Assuming that you will trust what I say."
After riveting the flesh back together, Laesto took a step back and stared at Charles' visage as though trying to glean the latter's intentions.
"Let me have a look at the black mirror again."
Charles tossed the smartphone over. Laesto tenderly caressed the black screen. A look of gentleness that was starkly out of place appeared on his harsh features.
Watching the doctor, Charles was burning with curiosity.
Could he have had a smartphone before as well?
Bang!
Laesto slammed his metal hand on the bedside table.
"Two years! I'll stay on for two years. Tell me everything you know."
"Deal! That thing is yours now. Once you are on board, you can ask me anything about it anytime."
With Laesto onboard as the Narwhale's doctor, Charles was assured that the smartphone would not end up in the hands of others. Also, two years was more than enough time for him to understand the man better and plan his next steps.
nglui mglw...nafh...
The murmurs in Charles' ear sounded again. The doctor before him rapidly distorted into a grotesque creature. Charles' hallucinations seemed to have become more severe this time. He felt as though his consciousness had been thrown into a washing machine, tumbling ceaselessly and threatening to tear apart at any moment.
Laesto's monstrous face leaned in again with his trembling eyes fixated on Charles.
"I can suppress the symptoms you are experiencing. However, that's only temporary. If you wish to live, you need to figure out a way to lift the curse. That's not my area of expertise."
Recalling the auction that would take place a fortnight later, Charles made a decision in his heart.
"Help me suppress it for now. I need to attend to some personal matters first."
He had reached a critical juncture in his search for the way back to the surface. He didn't want to be distracted by anything else at this point. As long as he could get back to the surface, everything was a done deal.
Laesto retrieved a bottle from under the bed and seized a fist-sized sea spider from within. He then walked to the table and started to prepare a concoction.
"Just so we're clear, Captain. If you die before the end of our two year deal, that still counts as me fulfilling my end of the deal."
"Of course. As long as you don't try to poison me just to end the deal earlier."
"Poison!? That's an insult to me as a medical professional!"
Over the next ten days or so, Charles continued to take all sorts of weird remedies concocted by the old man.
Despite their abysmal taste, Charles could feel that his condition got slightly better. Even when those murmurs sounded, they were just like the buzzing of the mosquitoes in summer. Also, he didn't experience another episode of visual hallucinations.
Moreover, with the augmenting power of the Black Dagger, Charles' wound had also rapidly healed, and his physical condition was back at its peak.
***
"Captain, are you sure about having him as our ship's doctor? That day, I saw him adding gunpowder to the pills you are taking," Second Mate Conor asked with a worrisome expression.
Charles halted his writing in his diary for a moment before he continued journaling. "Just focus on your own duties. How's the crew doing?"
"They're fine. Knowing the notoriety of this place, they knew better than to roam around. Captain, how long do we have to stick around here?"
"Not much longer." As soon as Charles' words fell, a bat burst through the door and shapeshifted into Audric.
"Captain, the auction is starting soon!" Audric reported.
Charles donned his captain's coat and strode toward the exit of the captain's cabin.
With Audric guiding the way, Charles soon arrived before a sprawling wooden ship. The ship was laid horizontally, and what should have been its keel had been hollowed out to serve as an entrance. This was the auction venue in Sottom.