Surviving as the Captain of a Mad Cthulhu Deep Sea - Chapter 10

chapter 10

The Explorer’s Guild

Chapter 10: The Explorers’ Association

Chapter 10: The Explorers’ Association

The deal was concluded swiftly. An hour later, Charles stood before his new ship.

Its streamlined white hull was neatly riveted, its hull several times thicker than the Old Rat’s. The thicker funnel testified to the powerful turbine engine within.

At first glance, it resembled little more than an enlarged, improved version of the Old Rat. But the industrial-looking cannon mounted on the forward deck immediately set it apart from a mere cargo vessel.

The ship measured 65 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a draft of 5.5 meters—narrower at the stern than at the bow.

“This ship was originally reserved for the Governor’s navy, but they said they weren’t in a hurry. If you’re in a hurry, I can prioritize you.”

“I’ll take this ship. When can it be launched?”

“Some of the interior facilities still need to be completed. Even with expedited processing, it will take about two weeks until launch. Thanks to some subsidies from the Explorers’ Association, you’ll only need to pay 3.5 million Echo.”

Charles quietly calculated the amount.

That’s exactly enough to cover it with my account. If I sell the Old Rat, I’ll even have enough for the next exploration supplies…

“Alright. Get it done as quickly as possible. I’ll come to pick up the ship in two weeks.”

After leaving the shipyard, Charles immediately headed to the Explorers’ Association.

It was customary for those who acquired an Exploration Ship to join the Association. This loose organization, existing on all Human Islands, consisted entirely of Exploration Ship Captains.

While membership wasn’t mandatory, Charles had no reason to refuse a beneficial opportunity.

Upon becoming an explorer, one gained free access to the Association’s vast collection of nautical charts—charts that would otherwise cost a fortune. Beyond the charts, there were other advantages, and he had already thoroughly investigated the organization.

Of course, becoming an explorer wasn’t without its drawbacks. Explorers were required to land on a new island at least once a year, and failure to achieve their exploration goals could result in the revocation of their explorer status.

However, this drawback was practically non-existent for Charles, as he had come to the island specifically to explore.

The Explorers’ Association was located not far from the docks, its white stone building standing out prominently.

Charles confirmed the ship-shaped emblem hanging above the entrance and stepped inside.

The interior was vast and empty, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the silence. Apart from a few counters in the distance, the only occupants were a few men and women scattered across the sofas on the left. The tricorn hats on the tables served as proof that they were fellow explorers like himself.

As Charles surveyed them, they returned his gaze with curious eyes, studying the unfamiliar face at the door.

Charles quickly identified the words on the counter and headed to the leftmost one. Just as he picked up the quill to fill out the application, a pale, slender arm wrapped around his neck.

Swish.

Charles’s right hand moved to his waist, and the pitch-black muzzle of his revolver pressed against the abdomen of the person behind him.

A slightly rough female voice whispered in his ear, “Calm down, rookie. This isn’t the sea. It’s safe here.”

She released him from her embrace, pulled up a chair, and sat down beside him, crossing her legs.

The woman who approached was stunningly beautiful. She had bright white hair, long, straight legs, and a captivating figure with her chest provocatively exposed.

Ignoring her towering height, close to two meters tall, any man would have wanted to get close to her.

Charles, however, paid more attention to the wooden staff she wore at her waist than to her beauty. It seemed to be her weapon. Women rarely ventured to sea, but those who survived it were never ordinary.

“What’s going on?” Charles lowered his gun.

“I haven’t seen a newcomer in a while, so I came to say hello. My name is Elizabeth, captain of the Black Rose. What’s your name, dear?” the towering beauty asked with a slight smile.

Charles didn’t answer, focusing instead on filling out the application form. The harsh environment of the sea had made him lose interest in making small talk with strangers.

Yet the woman beside him showed no signs of leaving.

A faint fragrance wafted past as Elizabeth leaned in and openly peeked at Charles’s application.

“Charles? What a fine name,” she said. “Ah, that part’s not important, so just fill it in however you like.”

A burly man sitting on a distant sofa laughed loudly. “Elizabeth, why weren’t you this enthusiastic when I first arrived?”

Elizabeth scoffed and shot him a dismissive glance. “Shut up! You’re not like him. I don’t want to sleep with you, so why should I help you?”

Unfazed, the burly man slapped his thigh and burst into laughter with his companions.

Screech! The quill in Charles’s hand pierced the application, leaving a hole.

He had suspected that this woman’s motives weren’t pure, but he never imagined they would be this. A woman who ate sea rice was indeed no ordinary person.

Ignoring Elizabeth beside him, Charles quickly finished filling out the application and submitted it.

The clerk took the application, inserted it into a machine full of gears, and operated it with practiced skill.

Elizabeth, completely unbothered by the man beside her ignoring her, continued to talk to herself.

“Newcomer, since this is your first time, I’ll give you the rundown. The Explorers’ Association’s role is actually quite simple: we help find new islands.

Of course, it’s not free. Any Captain who joins the Association, and later becomes Governor, must establish an Explorers’ Branch on that island.”

Charles cut her off.

“Thanks for the advice, but I already know all this. You don’t need to tell me.”

“Hmm? Charles, you’ve prepared a lot before coming here. Are you free later? Why don’t you come aboard my ship and rest for a while?”

“That’s very kind of you. I’ll come later if I have time.”

The moment Charles finished speaking, his expression hardened. It wasn’t because of Elizabeth beside him, but because the auditory hallucinations had started again in his head.

His face twisted in pain as he began tapping his forehead with his wrist, the blows growing increasingly forceful.

Elizabeth, standing beside him, immediately noticed Charles’s distress and her eyes widened in alarm.

“Good heavens, how long have you been without rest?”

She pulled out a green, jelly-like substance from her chest and offered it to him.

“Eat this quickly. It will alleviate the symptoms effectively.”

Charles shook his head violently, his expression contorted. He couldn’t bring himself to trust someone he’d just met offering him something.

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll poison you? Remember, this is the Explorers’ Association. If I poisoned you in front of them, do you think I’d be able to stay here?”

His headache was excruciating. Charles glanced at the staff behind the counter, and as the pain intensified, he reached out and popped the substance into his mouth.

A cool sensation flowed down his throat. The whispers in his ears persisted, but the irritation had vanished.

“Thanks. What is this?”

Charles’s gaze toward Elizabeth softened considerably.

Elizabeth smiled lightly.

“You’re welcome. I don’t know what it is either, just that it soothes the Shell God’s whispers. If you want, you can go to Redwood Island and dig some up. Ah, don’t eat too much, though. It can be addictive.”

Redwood Island… Charles quietly memorized the new place name in his mind.

The burly man who had spoken to him earlier had silently walked up behind them and clapped Charles on the right shoulder.

“Newcomer, if the Shell God’s whispers are affecting you that badly, you should get some rest.”

Charles’s wariness had mostly vanished. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he could sense these people’s goodwill toward him. Such overt kindness was something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Elizabeth, still working, glanced at the employees and then led Charles to a nearby sofa.

“Follow me. I’ll tell you things ordinary people don’t know.”

Charles tried to refuse, but a burly man beside him put an arm around his shoulders and steered him forward.

“Don’t be shy. As the old saying goes, you need to make plenty of friends to survive the sea.”

When Charles came to his senses, he was already seated on the sofa, surrounded by seven or eight captains in peculiar attire, their eyes studying him with intense curiosity.

Their gazes held curiosity and bewilderment, but no hostility.

Elizabeth plopped down right beside Charles, her soft body leaning against his.

“Do you think we’re being a bit too friendly? Haha, the Subterranean Sea is dark enough. We should be a bit more welcoming on land.”

Elizabeth spoke up.

“This is a bit unexpected. It’s completely different from the information I found at the museum.”

Charles relaxed.

Hearing this, a Fatty’s eyes widened, and he began to rant loudly.

“What do they say about us on land? ‘Legal pirates’? ‘Money-grubbing lunatics’? Those bastards should be dragged out and fed to the fish! When I become Governor later, I’ll cut out the tongues of anyone who dares to say such things!!”

Beside him, Elizabeth glanced at the Fatty with a smirk before turning to Charles with a smile.

“This is the meeting place for Coral Island explorers. You can exchange information here from now on.”

Charles understood that this was a salon for Exploration Ship captains to mingle.

“What kind of information do you exchange? Information about the island?”

“All kinds. Island data, shipping routes, relics, any useful information. Someone might have a solution to a problem you can’t solve. Ask anything you’re curious about. We’ll answer.”

She was right. Charles had one question burning in his mind.

After a few seconds of thought, he asked, “Do any of you have clues about the Land of Light in the north?”

This was the only clue he had found in years: that there was an exit to the surface on an island somewhere in the north.

The impact of Charles’s question was far greater than he had anticipated. The sound of chairs scraping across the floor echoed through the room, and everyone suddenly kept their distance from him as if he had the plague.

Even Elizabeth, sitting beside him, shifted to the other end of the sofa and frowned.

“You’re not one of those fanatics from the Church of the Radiant God, are you?”

Charles gave a wry smile. “No. I don’t believe in any religion.”

Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief and patted her ample chest. “That’s good. You don’t look like one of those lunatics.”

The tense atmosphere instantly dissipated, and the room erupted into lively chatter.

“You startled me. I don’t want anything to do with those fanatics. The Land of Light? Why are you even asking about that?”

“If you’re referring to that legendary song, I’ve heard it before. Let me sing a verse for you: ‘Nestled on the northern isle, a ladder of light ascends, toward eternal radiance…’ What was the rest? Sorry, I’ve forgotten.”

“How would we know anything about that legend? We’re not gods.”

“Newcomer, you’ve got quite the sense of humor.”

Disappointment flickered across Charles’s face. He had hoped that experienced Exploration Ship Captains might have some clues, but it seemed that humanity’s long stay in the Subterranean Sea had turned their true homeland into a distant legend.