Shrouded Seascape

The Narwhale sailed steadily along the well-charted maritime route toward the World's Crown.

As a renowned agricultural island in the Northern Seas, the trade routes between the World's Crown and the other islands within the region had been traversed countless times by merchant ships. As such, Dipp and his crew encountered no danger along the way.

Dipp had now claimed the captain's quarters that had once belonged to Charles. However, he wasn't the only one in the room. His wife, Aliya, was here as well.

The Narwhale had left Hope Island not for long before Aliya caught up with him. She didn't stop Dipp from embarking on a risky expedition at sea, but she had one condition for that—she had to go with him.

In the captain's quarters, the two were huddled around an old brass typewriter they had found under the bed. They speculated the purpose of it but even after fiddling with it for a while, they still couldn't figure out its true function.

Frustrated and helpless, they could only seek Lily's help. As someone who had spent years beside the Captain, she would surely know the ability of the typewriter.

After a brief explanation from Lily, Dipp finally learned that the dusty brass typewriter was, in fact, a relic capable of reading and printing out one's innermost thoughts.

"What a waste to have this thing sitting here and gathering dust all this time. When we get back, we should take this back to District 3. It would be a huge help in interrogations," Aliya commented and tapped the machine lightly. The mechanical keys clattered away on their own accord, and the words she had just spoken were typed out as they were on a fresh sheet of paper.

"Does District 3 not have any relics for interrogations? I remember that the Hope Island Police Department has its own relic vault," Dipp asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Of course we do, but nothing as practical as this. Have you realized? There don't seem to be any side effects with this one. The other relics aren't as safe to use as this."

A look of dilemma appeared on Dipp's face. "Let's forget about it. This still belongs to the Captain, after all. What if he comes back and needs it?"

Aliya let out a scoff as a hint of disdain crossed her visage. "If this thing really mattered to him, do you think he would just casually toss it under the bed? He probably doesn't even remember that this relic exists."

Dipp couldn't be bothered to argue with his wife. Instead, he bent down and carefully pushed the typewriter back under the bed.

"We should be reaching soon, right?" Dipp asked in an attempt to change the topic.

"Yes, we are. Instead of worrying about that typewriter, you should consider the potential threats we might face once we reach the World's Crown," Aliya replied as she sat before the desk and crossed her legs casually before picking up a document on the table.

"Threats?" Dipp asked with a raised eyebrow. He found her words strange. "What dangers could there be on the World's Crown? Sparkle is the captain's daughter. Are you afraid that she'd do something to harm us?"

Aliya shook her head slowly before tossing the file in her hand across the table. "Read for yourself. Things have been off on the island recently. According to our intel, a new religion has picked up on the World's Crown."

"So what? There are so many religions out there at sea." Dipp himself didn't find this fact any surprising.

"This one is different. Ever since the islanders adopted this new faith, they've refused to interact with outsiders. Even traders who went there to procure food had been restricted from stepping foot on the island. Also, all communication, be it radio, telegraph, everything, has been severed.

"I dare say, if they didn't have to rely on trading, they probably would have even stopped selling their black rye grass."

Dipp glanced at the document in his hand again but there wasn't a single trace of worry on his face. "What's there to worry about? As long as they're still humans, there's nothing to be afraid of."

The abrupt, deep, resonant sound of the ship's whistle jolted both Dipp and Aliya out of their thoughts. At the same time, they quickly leaned out of the cabin window, and the hazy silhouette of an island emerged from the fog and into their sight.

There were lights on the docks, but they appeared dim, as though shrouded by a thin layer of mist. It wasn't that the World's Crown had weaker lighting as compared to other islands. Rather, it's because that gigantic mushroom at the heart of the island was spreading its spores into the air again.

The dusty spores enveloped the lamps in a gray haze, causing the current scene they were seeing.

As the Narwhale inched closer toward the docks, figures began to gather at the pier. Their faces were obscured by cloth masks, and their necks were tightly wrapped with scarves. In the spore-filled air, every inch of their exposed skin was covered in fabric.

Amidst the swaying spores in the air, these islanders gathered at the pier without making a single sound, making them look like specters from afar.

Despite boasting earlier that he wasn't bothered by whatever would happen on the island, Dipp couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in his chest as he took in the unsettling scene before him.

Suddenly, a gruff, annoyed voice barked out of the docks' loudspeaker. "Port 3! Ship at Port 3! Where are you from? Can't you see it's the rainy season? No deliveries during spore rains! Get to customs immediately to file your mooring paperwork! Cover up properly if you don't want mushrooms growing out of your skin!

The eerie silence from earlier was completely shattered by the man's voice. The other crew members aboard the ship exchanged nervous laughs, teasing each other for being spooked by nothing more than their own imaginations.

Upon arriving at the customs office and seeing the ordinary human faces beneath the masks. Seeing that all the staff were normal humans and also his entire crew with him, Dipp let out a long breath of relief.

Presently, everything seemed normal. The World's Crown was still under human control. As long as humans were in charge, things could be negotiated. After all, in the entire Northern Seas, no one dared to offend Hope Island.

Dipp was right about that as well. The moment he revealed his identity, he noticed the subtle shift in expression of the officials before him. A few even scurried away, probably to inform a higher up.

Soon enough, Dipp and Aliya were treated like honored guests and escorted into a finely furnished waiting room.

They didn't have to wait for long before a man with a full beard and dressed in a sleek black silk robe rushed into the room.

With an anxious expression, the man greeted, "Welcome, welcome! What brings such esteemed guests from Hope Island to the World's Crown?"

"You are…?" Dipp asked in confusion as the man enthusiastically grabbed his right hand and shook it.

"Oh, pardon me for not introducing myself sooner. I am Smith, the Governor of the World's Crown. Of course, my little humble island is nothing compared to the great Hope Island that is blessed by the gods. Our population is low, so calling me a governor might be a stretch."

Smith was overly enthusiastic and showered Dipp with pleasantries before he moved on to the real reason for the visit. Picking up the brightly colored tea made from the island's signature mushrooms, Smith took a sip before asking the next question.

"So what brings the both of you to my little island? As an island that exports food, surely you didn't come all this way to purchase black rye, did you?"

Dipp was just about to answer when Aliya gently placed a hand on his arm to stop him. She knew her husband's straightforward nature, and it was better if she handled the conversation with Governor Smith.

"Governor Smith, we're here to find someone," Aliya answered in a calm and measured voice.

A curious glint flickered across Smith's eyes. "Oh? You are looking for someone? Not a problem. Just let me know who you're looking for, and I'll help you find them. It shouldn't be hard to find them since it's a small island and most of us know each other. Ever since the death light, the population has dwindled. With the sudden rise of new islands, fewer and fewer people are willing to settle on the World's Crown."

"We're looking for someone who stays above the Crown. As someone living below it, you should know who I'm talking about."

The moment those words left her lips, both Dipp and Aliya placed their full attention on Smith's face. Regardless if he answered truthfully or not, there were certain subtle expressions that couldn't be easily masked.

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