Chapter 235. James' Retirement
Charles leaned back in his chair with his eyes transfixed on the letter in his hand. What did she mean by loved ones? Was she talking about herself?
It wasn't the first time he felt this way, but he truly couldn't figure out Anna's thoughts. Charles knew that she wouldn't harm him, but Anna had always been an independent woman with her own thoughts and ideas.
Charles opened the drawer on the left and placed the photo inside of it.
The drawer was where he placed his valuable items like his cell phone and wallet. He picked up a piece of paper and started writing his reply to Anna.
After expressing how much he had been missing her, he immediately asked her to strengthen the World Crown's navy as much as possible.
The Subterranean Sea's current affairs had become ambiguous, so he told Anna to come to him and regroup if the defenses of the World's Crown were breached.
Naturally, Charles didn't encode his message as doing so would attract attention, and he was planning on sending someone to personally hand over his reply to Anna. Fortunately, Chinese characters were the best way to encrypt his messages here without using telegram codes. Chart your course back to the origins of this substance at n0v^lbin
Once everything was done and settled, Charles emptied his mind and focused on his tasks as the Governor of Hope Island.
He had already handled the documents that required only a customary peek. Now, it was time for him to deal with those unafraid to engage in clandestine, illegal dealings. Charles was in awe of those who thought that they could hide from mice so long as they were stealthy enough.
Did they also think that those dried-up corpses hanging from trees were fake?
Charles highlighted a few names and extended the paper in his hand to the mouse next to him. "Give this to Dipp. He knows what to do with it."
Charles' hand hung in mid-air for quite a while without anyone taking the piece of paper away. He turned and found colorful mice staring at him while tilting their heads in confusion.
"Mr. Charles, have you already forgotten?" Lily said, her ears drooping as she continued. "Dipp became a monster, and he's gone."
Charles froze and went silent. Eventually, he sighed softly and retracted his hand.
"Mr. Charles, are you sad?" Lily hopped over to Charles and asked, "Does your heart hurt a lot?"
Charles glanced at his gunner and said, "He's not my woman, so why would I be sad? I just think it's a shame. Anyway, who's in charge of the police department in Dipp's absence?"
"The two deputy chiefs of the police department are currently in charge; they're both Dipp's subordinates, but one of them is on the list you've made," Lily replied hesitantly.
Veins bulged in James' neck as he stepped forward and exclaimed, "I know why you're doing this, Captain! However, you've saved my life twice, so I absolutely won't leave your side when you need me the most."
"Calm down." Charles gestured with his hand and said, "Things are no longer the same as before."
"Nothing has changed! I'm still going to be the Chief Engineer of the Narwhale!" James insisted.
"Things are truly no longer the same; we're no longer desperate fugitives. You also have a child; are you sure you want your child to lose her father at such a young age?" Charles asked.
James went stiff and silent; a complicated look fleeted across his face.
Charles stood up and approached him to pat his shoulder. "Hope Island needs you. This is our home, and I want you to take good care of it when I'm out at sea."
"But..." James said hesitantly, "I don't know if I can handle being the police chief."
"Even that rash kid, Dipp, could handle the position. You can't possibly be worse at it them him. You've been great at your position as the Minister of Agriculture, the difference can't be that huge. I mean, it's just management," Charles replied.
James hesitated for a long time before he finally agreed and left the Governor's Mansion.
Charles felt despondent for some reason as he stared at James' departing figure. He hadn't been making it obvious, but the retirement of his long-time companions at sea had taken a toll on him.
Still, he acknowledged that everyone's situation would not remain the same forever.
The crew members of an exploration ship had signed up for the sake of finding a habitable island and living their lives as central islanders. The crew members of the Narwhale had already achieved their goals, so Charles couldn't force them to stay.
The same went for him—his journey would come to an end once he returned to the surface world.
Charles tapped his prosthetic fingers on the table as he recalled the faces of his remaining crew members.
First Mate Bandages' goal was to discover his true identity, while Laesto only wanted to have his tablet repaired to discover what his predecessors had tried so hard to preserve.
The vampire sailor Audric only wanted to have blood to drink, and he preferred staying on the ship rather than staying on the perpetually sunny Hope Island. Meanwhile, Linda seemed like she was still following the late Kord's orders.
Charles soon realized that he didn't have to replace his remaining crew members; they each had their own motive for staying on the ship.
However, James' retirement and Dipp's disappearance, along with those who had perished in the recent voyage, meant that the Narwhale had lost half of her crew members.
In other words, it was time for him to recruit new crew members.