Kronari pulled out a few old books he had prepared long ago. The covers were red and worn to the point where the titles were barely legible, and the pages were yellowed with age.

  Charles took the books and opened one, discovering various strange writings in bold crimson ink. They resembled cuneiform but were interconnected in a way that made them difficult to decipher. Next to the text were simple drawings of magical circles and monsters.

  Even though he couldn't understand them, the arrangement suggested that these books recorded something significant.

  "Could this be the spellbook for summoning those little paper people?" The thought took root in Charles's mind and wouldn’t let go.

  If it were true, these books would be worth far more than gold. Once learned, such abilities would greatly enhance the *Narwhal*'s combat power.

  After pondering for a moment, Charles returned the books to Kronari. “Let’s hold onto these for now. We’ll look for clues in Sodom. If someone can translate them, we can find someone to learn from.”

  “Got it!”

  “Then it’s settled.” Charles sat up from the bed and put on his coat.

  James’s eyes widened in alarm. “Captain, what are you doing?”

  “Do you think I brought you all to Sodom for a vacation? I have important matters to attend to here.”

  James, panicking, quickly stepped forward with his arms outstretched to block Charles. “No, you can’t! Your injuries aren’t healed yet; you can’t get up!”

  Lily, nearby, summoned the rats to swarm over Charles, trying to pin him back down. The others joined in, urging him to stay put.

  Charles insisted that he felt fine and wasn’t in any pain, but no one seemed to believe him.

  The crew’s concern only added to Charles's frustration. The whispers in his ears returned, distorting the faces of his crew into grotesque forms.

  “Enough!!” he shouted, his voice low but commanding, startling everyone into silence. The rats retreated at his command.

  He pulled a spare gel from his clothing and popped it into his mouth. Everything around him began to stabilize.

  “First mate, go procure fresh water, food, and fuel. Second mate and Audrick, come with me. The rest of you, back to the ship!”

  With his authority as captain asserted, the crew quickly complied, not daring to defy him.

  Watching them leave, Charles sighed. He knew they meant well, but they couldn’t understand his current state of mind.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  The clues to going home were right in front of him, and every second felt like torture. He couldn’t wait any longer.

  Stepping out of the doctor’s chaotic room, he found himself on a bustling street.

  Human creativity was remarkable; everything around him was constructed from ships, with various hulls and decks forming a street. Gas lamps and oil lamps cast an eerie glow, giving the place a ghostly market feel.

  Pirates in various garbs walked back and forth, each with a wary look in their eyes, and the air was thick with tension.

  Charles moved forward, asking the second mate behind him, “Where did you find that doctor?”

  “When we first arrived in Sodom, you were barely breathing. The guys at the port told us there was a great doctor here, so we took you to him.”

  After pondering for a moment, Charles looked up and said, “Scout around a bit. I want to know more about him and see if he has any skeletons in his closet.”

  “Understood. I’ll take care of it,” the second mate replied quickly before leaving.

  “What about me, Captain?” Audrick asked.

  “You’ve been here before, right? Do you know the Anchor Bar? Take me there.”

  Audrick nodded, spreading his cloak and transforming into a bat, soaring into the air.

  Once airborne, he quickly oriented himself and flew eastward. Charles hurried to keep up.

  Outside the street was a junkyard piled high with various ships, leaving no place to land.

  Watching Audrick fly further away, Charles donned his mask and moved like a gymnast, leaping swiftly between the rusted vessels.

  As he followed Audrick, Charles witnessed the myriad lives in Sodom. The city lived up to its title as the City of Sin; not only were there various stolen goods, but also ragged men and women being sold openly on the streets.

  In the shadows where the light didn’t reach, unspeakable human depravity occurred. The notorious port district seemed like a model community in comparison.

  After running for what felt like half of Sodom, Audrick finally landed in front of a bar illuminated by neon lights.

  As Charles stood there, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, he reached into his clothing and felt his wound beginning to bleed again.

  The clues to going home were tantalizingly close, but he couldn’t afford to hesitate. He and Audrick stepped inside.

  Upon entering the bar, the dim environment brightened instantly; the place was lit by electric lights not even Coral Island had adopted yet.

  Several women dressed in nearly transparent fabrics danced at the bar, moving to the rhythm of the music. The dance floor was alive with noise, making it feel more like a nightclub than a bar.

  Navigating through the crowd, Charles reached the edge of the bar. A heavily made-up bartender with a skull tattoo approached. “Hey there, handsome. What can I get you?”

  “I was sent by the Sea Dog; I need to ask some questions,” Charles replied, leaning on the bar.

  The bartender continued mixing drinks. “Even if you were sent by the Sea Dog, it’ll cost you. 5,000 echoes per question.”

  “Not a problem. Do you know where I can find sunlight in Sodom?” Charles’s heart raced.

  “Sunlight? What’s that? Never heard of it.”

  Charles’s heart sank. He suddenly had a thought and turned to Audrick. “Draw that box that holds sunlight.”

  Audrick nodded quickly, pulling out paper and a pen. He sketched rapidly, and before long, a lifelike box with mirrors on all six sides appeared on the page.

  As Audrick added more details, the bartender snatched the paper from him.

  “Oh, you’re looking for this? I know what it is. It’s a weapon that can counter dark monsters. But here, we don’t call it sunlight; we call it the Mirror Box. Who came up with that ridiculous name?”

  “Where can I buy one?”

  “The Mirror Box is the king’s business. Every two weeks, he sends a batch from the island for sale. But let me warn you, bring plenty of echoes; there’s a lot of competition, and these things fetch a high price on other islands.”

  “I don’t need that many; I just need one.”

  “One? You think this is a toy store?” The bartender looked at Charles with a strange expression.