Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 233. James

"Hiccup!" Conor put down the glass in his hand on the glass table before him before leaning against the exceptionally soft sofa behind him. His face was flushed, clearly inebriated. "You guys don't think we're actually going to fight the Governor of Albion Isles, do you? We stand zero chance against him."

"Why should we be afraid? If we really can't win, we can just escape and abandon the island. What's so scary about starting over? I know many people even in the territory of those pirates," Laesto said. He picked up the glass and poured the alcohol into his tin flask.

"Sure, you can do that since you don't have any family, but I have four sons. Am I supposed to take them there and let them become pirates?" the former cook Frey argued.

The crew members were in a luxurious living room, but their expressions betrayed opulence and debauchery as they stewed in their own anxiety.

Of course, the vampire sailor Audric wasn't among them. He had no ties to the island, unlike the other crew members, so he was the epitome of calm and composed; his scorched face looked relaxed.

"What's up with that look, Vampire? Do you really think that Dark Crystal Island can escape the same fate of being conquered by the Governor of Albion Isles?"

Audric smiled coldly at the remark. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but it wouldn't be difficult for anyone to deduce what he felt about the remark.

"The Mother's power is unimaginable. Do you really think that an iron lump can conquer Dark Crystal Island? Stop dreaming; do you have any idea just how many Archdukes are on that island?"

"Oh, you're acting like a denizen of Dark Crystal Island now? That's not what you said a few years ago when you became a crew member."

"What are you talking about? I simply abhor those who bullied me; I've never turned my back on the Mother!" Audric exclaimed.

Just then, Leonardo put down the glass in his hand and said, "That's right. The matter isn't that simple. It'll be difficult for the Albion Isles to conquer the entirety of the sea. He has Ronker, yes, but he only has one Ronker. He's not strong enough to disregard everyone."

The crew members nodded in agreement. Indeed, the religious cults scattered throughout the vast expanse of the sea and the Explorers Association couldn't be underestimated.

"Hope Island is also on the periphery. He still has to consolidate his power on the islands he had just conquered, so there's no way he'll come for us anytime soon. In the meantime, we just have to wait and see.

"Anyway, how was the harvest from your recent voyage?" Leonardo asked.

The crew members glanced at each other, but they didn't say anything in response.

"Come on, it's not like we're strangers. Besides, the Captain must have only told you not to divulge any details about the voyage. I believe it's fine if you just tell me the result. You guys went to cure the Captain's illness, right?" Leonardo asked.

"There's nothing much to say. Something happened in the middle, and the Captain's Divinities' Curse was lifted," Laesto said.

"Oh, that's great." Leonardo nodded and said, "Anyway, how's life on the ship? Isn't it exciting to be on a ship? I mean, you'll get to explore the unknown."

"What's exciting about it? The slightest mistake can mean death, just like Dipp. I guess he's never coming back," Laesto replied.

The atmosphere in the room changed drastically at the mention of Dipp. Every crew member's expression was complicated as they exchanged gazes with each other.

"He was like a son to the Captain, so I'm sure he must be sad about Dipp's departure."

"Who knows? The Captain has never really been the type of person to wear his heart on his sleeve."

Clink!

James put down the glass in his hand and stood up.

"It's been a while since we got together like this, and you're leaving so soon? Come on, join us to have fun at Golden Fairy later," Conor said.

"Sorry, but I promised my wife that I'd be back before lunch," James said. He decisively ignored the jeering of his fellow crew members and walked out of the door.

James' house was in the central district of Hope Island, and it was just a few steps away from Leonardo's house. After nodding at the soldier standing guard at the gate, he entered and found a little girl running toward him.

"Daddy, you're back so early today," the little girl said with eyes wide open in astonishment. She walked over to James and hugged his knees before saying, "Can you keep coming back this early daily?"

James grinned and placed both of his palms on the little girl's cheeks. He rubbed noses with her before bringing her over to the three-story building that looked more like a palace in the distance.

A slender-framed woman noticed James' arrival and said, "You're back? Come, let's eat."

She was none other than James' wife, Mosicca.

"Why don't we get a maid and a chef? That way, you won't get tired doing all this," James suggested.

"It's not that exhausting to cook for three people. I really don't have anything else to do here, so I've also been cooking to pass the time. Anyway, come here and sit down," Mosicca said.

Just as James took a sip of the mushroom soup, Mosicca spoke up.

"What did the Governor call you for? Are you going out on a voyage again?"

James shook his head and said, "Don't worry. It has only been a few days since we got home, so there's no way we'll go back to sea so soon. I think the earliest voyage might happen in a month."

Mosicca's furrowed brows loosened. She ate a few bites of her food before looking up at James and saying, "Honey, have you told the Governor about it?"

James ate as if he hadn't heard Mosicca.

Mosicca let out a sigh and continued eating. The atmosphere in the dining room was a bit tense, but they managed to finish their meal without any hiccups.

However, Mosicca had no intention of letting the matter go. Once her daughter was asleep, she walked over to James with a worried look.

James put down the newspaper in his hand and said, "I didn't tell him."

"Why? Do you want Nini to lose her father when she's still so young?"

"I just operate the turbines; there's nothing risky about that, so don't worry," James said.

"Where's Dipp, then? Tell me where Dipp went. You guys came back missing quite a few people; do you really think I'm blind?" Mosicca's voice went slightly higher at the end of her sentence.

James' expression showed a tinge of impatience. Evidently, this wasn't the first time he had heard of his wife's nagging. Ever since he became a crew member once again, his wife had been nagging him to stop going on voyages.

"If you can't say it yourself, I'll go to the Governor and tell him myself!"

"Stand right there!" James bellowed and stood up. His large frame towered over his wife, but he instantly deflated upon seeing the tears in his wife's eyes. In the end, he hugged her gently and stroked her back while saying, "Mosicca, we've made a promise back on the Coral Archipelago, and you owe your life to the Captain, too."

"Does your Captain really need you? You've spent more time with him than me since you started going on voyages. Is he your wife, or am I your wife? Can't your Captain just find a replacement for you? Hope Island has many people, and there are bound to be those who are stronger and more skilled than you."

"Prowess isn't the most important thing at sea—it's loyalty. I can't betray the Captain's trust. The good life we are enjoying right now is all thanks to the Captain, and I can't just leave him when he needs me the most."

"I'd rather throw this life away if I have to keep living it in constant fear of losing you! I'll reopen the bakery and raise Nini myself."

Mosicca's words hadn't even finished echoing through the dining room, but she had already struggled out of her husband's embrace and made a beeline for the bedroom.

Slam!

James stared at the tightly shut door and grabbed his head with his hands. He crouched halfway down with thoughts inscrutable before sighing deeply to himself.

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