Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 506. Feuerbach

Elizabeth spent the next two days thoroughly expressing her longing for Charles.

Elizabeth was so happy that she almost went crazy upon hearing that Charles had decided to settle in the Subterranean Sea for good rather than go to the surface world.

It wasn't a strange reaction. After all, it meant that her lover no longer had to take risks. He could remain on Hope Island as its governor, and she would never have to worry about Charles dying all of a sudden while he was out at sea.

On the morning of the third day, the first thing Charles saw when he opened his eyes was Elizabeth sprawled out next to him with disheveled hair.

The sleeping Elizabeth looked extremely fragile; her fists were clenched and held up to her chest. Charles couldn't see the domineering aura of a governor from her at the moment.

Elizabeth's eyes moved and opened slowly. Elizabeth smiled sweetly upon seeing Charles staring at her.

"Good morning, darling," Elizabeth said. Then, she stretched her long arms and hugged Charles before kissing him gently.

"Want to sleep a bit more? We slept very late last night," Charles asked, wrapping an arm around her slender waist.

Elizabeth shook her head, and her radiant white hair swayed slightly. "I'm not tired. I'm not going to get tired even without sleep as long as I'm with you."

"Well, I have many things to do, so let's get up. I've rested long enough as well," Charles said, wriggling out of her embrace. He rose from the bed and picked up his clothes strewn across the floor to put them on.

"I thought you've already decided about not going to the surface? What do you mean you have many things to do?" Elizabeth asked as she stood up and pressed herself against Charles' scar-riddled back.

"There are still two things that I have to do. I don't have to do them as soon as possible, but they must be done."

Charles' transparent tentacles squirmed out of his back and wrapped around Elizabeth. Then, the tentacles carried Elizabeth and laid her gently on the bed.

Elizabeth was squeezing an invisible tentacle in her hand when she blushed upon recalling last night's event. "Your special ability is not bad at all. It's very versatile, but... how come you're so skilled at using it that way?

"Have you practiced it on someone else before?"

"It's too early for you to ask so many questions. Hurry up and get dressed. Let's go have breakfast first before anything else."

Charles and Elizabeth sat in front of the brand-new table in the dining hall of the Governor's Mansion. A sumptuous breakfast was before them, and they ate with relish.

While they were eating, Charles decided to take the opportunity to ask Elizabeth about her motive for coming to Hope Island. Considering what was happening at the moment, there was definitely a reason for her visit to Hope Island.

"Elizarles Shores needs more food. The other islands had a ton of casualties, but it's the opposite for my island. Too many people survived, and we don't have enough food to feed them; they won't last until the bananas have grown."

Charles chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth before replying, "No problem. Tell my people how much food you'll need to fill in the deficit, and they'll send merchant ships over to your island. The Light God's light didn't cause any damage to Hope Island, so we don't really lack food."

Recalling the death light, Elizabeth sighed and said, "That light killed too many people. While I was on my way here, I saw some islands with harbors filled with corpses. No one's collecting the corpses, and I reckon that the majority of the people of those islands ended up dying beneath the death light."

The atmosphere in the room became a bit solemn and gloomy at Elizabeth's remark.

Charles used his fork to fiddle with the food on his plate before saying, "I'll have Sparkle write down the names of the islands that have suffered irredeemable damage, and then we'll send boats to take the denizens of those islands to Skywater Island or perhaps Annarles Island.

"They won't have any issues making a livelihood on those islands."

Elizabeth seemed a bit surprised as she stared at Charles and asked, "You've become a bit soft-hearted. I didn't expect you to even care about such things, much less send boats to rescue them."

"We're all human beings, after all. I'm going to help if I can," Charles said, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy.

Just then, a manservant peeked into the hall and said, "Governor, Mr. Feuerbach is here. He says he's here to discuss something with you."

"Feuerbach?" Charles was stunned. Then, he wiped his mouth clean and stood up. "Darling, stay here and enjoy your meal. I'll be right back."

When Charles arrived at the reception room, he saw Feuerbach hugging a black cat. It was Lily's cat—Blackie.

"Captain." Feuerbach stood up and flashed Charles his signature smile.

"Is something wrong?" Charles asked, sitting down on a chair.

"I'm here to tell you that I'm leaving Hope Island," Feuerbach said.

Charles felt his pupils constrict upon hearing Feuerbach's remark.

"Your family is here, and your land is here as well, so where are you going?" Charles asked.

Feuerbach squatted and released the black cat in his arms. Then, he stood up and calmly replied, "I've failed my mission, so it's only natural for me to return to where I've come from."

"Mission? I knew it..." Charles muttered. He wasn't surprised at all. He had noticed quite a few strange things about Feuerbach, and they were all pointing at the same thing—Feuerbach had come here on a special mission.

However, Charles was caught off guard by Feuerbach's immediate confession.

"Five years ago, we occupied Hope Island together. In other words, you have been hiding your identity for that long at the very least. Who sent you here, and what is their purpose in doing so?"

"Captain, will you have me arrested and tortured if I don't tell you the answer?" Feuerbach asked, chuckling.

"No," Charles replied with a shake of his head. The Narwhale has been decommissioned, so I no longer need a second mate. It doesn't really matter anymore.

"I'm just curious. I have never concealed the fact that I'm from the surface world, so why monitor me? Moreover, we've been through so many adventures together. There were many times when you could have harmed me, but you didn't do anything."

Feuerbach smiled wryly and said, "Sorry, Captain. I've been deceiving you for so long, but I didn't come here for you. I came here for the Pope. My mission was to stop him, but I failed, which resulted in—I'm sure you already know."

"You and the people behind you wanted to stop the Pope?" Charles frowned slightly. Feuerbach had first appeared as one of the captains that Kord had recruited for their quest to find the Land of Light. It turned out that Feuerbach's target had never been Charles.

"We actually have no idea what the Pope wanted to do, but we decided to monitor him, anyway. Who would have thought that he'd end up causing such a calamity?

"I tried to send a message out when I found out what the Pope wanted to do, but the Pope was so wary at the time that I failed in every single attempt. In fact, I almost got exposed."

"Then, why did you not directly tell me back then?" Charles asked.

Feuerbach smiled and replied, "Would you have listened to me if I had told you at the time? Considering your obsession with the surface world, would you have given up on your quest to reach it if I had told you everything?

"Moreover, you had already signed a contract with the Pope. Giving up was tantamount to suicide, so you couldn't have given up."

Charles stared wordlessly at Feuerbach.

Feuerbach spoke again, "Captain, it's useless to say anything at this point. It's too late. Anyway, I should get going."

Charles merely stared at Feuerbach's departing figure, choosing not to stop the latter. Feuerbach was right. It didn't matter whether Feuerbach's words were true or not, as it was too late; everything was over.

Feuerbach suddenly stopped in front of the door. Then, he turned around to Charles and said, "Captain, are you looking for a way to cure everyone's insanity?"

"Their insanity stems from God Fhtagn. Who else would know best about this slumbering Divinity? Perhaps you can try to find a solution through them."

With that, Feuerbach bowed to Charles and left the living room of the Governor's Mansion.