NABC Chapter 573: Setting Off Again
Chapter 573: Setting Off Again
Chapter 573: Setting Off Again
"We're saying three years, but we actually have only two years at most. If we wait until the islands are submerged, it'll be too late for us by then even if we retrieve the darkness," Charles said, his brows slightly furrowed as he stared at Harold before him.
"Yes, you're right. And that is the reason we're working together. By the way, I heard that a clue about the darkness has been found. How's it going? Is there any progress toward that clue?" Harold asked.
"We should go to the Explorers Association and talk about that there. The association has maps that will allow you to see what has been going on without any bias," Charles responded.
Harold nodded and followed closely behind Charles as they headed to the Explorers Association. As always, the Explorers Association was bustling with many people going to and fro.
The majority of the exploration captains here were turning in their mission findings. There were so many people that the din inside the hall was reminiscent of a market's din.
The surface map was hanging on the wall, and the map had expanded significantly. There were many different icons on the map, and there were plenty of them on the west side of the map, marking out dangerous areas for future explorers.
"Do you see this?" Charles said, pointing at the map with his chin raised. "The fastest exploration team has explored close to five hundred kilometers of land. We're progressing rapidly overall."
"What are those red arrows?"
"Each red arrow represents an explorer who has yet to return. This map was only made possible due to the sacrifice of the explorers."
Harold nodded with satisfaction and said, "I finally know where the people and the resources that we have invested have gone. Life is getting harder and harder down below, and the people's survival there is tied to our success on the surface."
Charles' expression was solemn as he stared intently at the map before him. "Every sacrifice for the greater good is worth it. This is our only hope."
After pondering for a moment, Harold asked Charles again, "By the way, when do you plan on setting off again? If you have some time until then, some people from the Western Seas have been wanting to see you."
Charles looked around vigilantly and saw explorers in various attires walking past him. "We should not talk about that here. There's no way the Fhtagn Covenant has given up yet."
"Indeed," Harold said, nodding. "Caution is necessary after what happened."
"We should go to a private room," Charles said. He led Harold to the counter next to them and walked into the heavily guarded private room. The higher-ups of the Explorers Association often discussed serious matters in this private room.
"Actually, I did find something. I'm planning on searching in that direction next time. My passage plan isn't on the map, as I don't want any third party knowing my next move," Charles said, sitting down on the sofa in the private room.
Having learned from his mistake, Charles' trip became top secret. No one knew in which direction they'd set off except for the higher-ups of the Explorers Association.
The surface world's semi-desert biome was overwhelmingly vast. Without specific coordinates, it was impossible for anyone to reach a certain destination. Two bats circled the vessel, patrolling in mid-air to prevent any ambushes.
Charles was in the Captain's Quarters and was staring at the map on the wall, which had a line representing the distance between the Colossal Hole Fortress and 068's traces.
Charles proceeded to draw a duplicate of the map before standing up to patrol his vessel. Before he could leave, a tentacle covered in black scales stretched out from behind him and wrapped around his neck gently.
Charles caught a whiff of a familiar fragrance, and he instantly discovered whose tentacle had wrapped around his neck. He lowered his head to kiss the tentacle before asking, "Why are you here? Is something wrong?"
"I was just missing you." Anna's soft figure slipped into Charles' arms from the side. She wasn't wearing anything at all. There was a tacit understanding between their lips and tongues; Charles enjoyed the rare moment of pleasure and vented his accumulated stress.
Since his journey on the surface world started, Charles barely had any time to be alone with his wife, as the two of them were pretty busy with their own affairs.
After an extended moment of deeper intimacy, Anna laid her head on Charles' chest and listened to his softening breaths.
"What are you thinking right now?" Anna asked.
"I'm thinking about how to preserve this moment forever. I really don't want to think about the darkness that has disappeared nor of the Fhtagn Covenant that wants to take revenge on me," Charles replied, stroking Anna's smooth and delicate back gently with his hands.
"You're not a robot, nor are you made of iron. You should rest when you're tired."
Charles shook his head slightly, and he hugged Anna tighter with clenched fists.
"I was just thinking out loud. Now isn't the time to rest. Time is not on our side, after all," Charles remarked.
Anna stroked the bandages on Charles' face. The next moment, her sharp nails tore the bandages open, revealing Charles' blood-red skull and the intermingled flesh and blood underneath.
"Look at what you've become. If there were a young Charles imitation contest, you wouldn't even pass the qualifying round."