Charles sat on the dock, watching a cargo ship unloading in the distance, and began to put brush to canvas.

  He sketched outlines, laid down color blocks, pressed shadows, and added reflections. Gradually, a uniquely styled watercolor landscape emerged on the canvas.

  Charles had never anticipated that the enhancements from 096 would also benefit his painting skills.

  “How do you feel?” he asked his other persona in his mind.

  “Not bad. Aren’t the ambient colors a bit dark?” His hand, holding the brush, moved on its own, adding details.

  Initially, the doctor had merely suggested painting in passing, but Charles considered his options carefully and ultimately chose painting as a way to relieve stress.

  At first, he was just playing around, but as he began to depict scenes from his mind, he became increasingly absorbed. Family members, landscapes, various buildings—each watercolor painting, whether beautiful or not, brought him a sense of accomplishment.

  Regardless, Charles had achieved his goal. With this new hobby, he no longer thought about going to sea all day; he could quietly stay on the island, waiting for the island to wash away the pollution brought by the sea.

  Three months passed, and as Charles’s painting skills improved, the fatigue and weariness on his face faded significantly.

  While he and his other persona were discussing their work, a group of sailors approached, casually draping their arms over each other’s shoulders.

  One middle-aged man with a mole on his forehead noticed Charles painting.

  He leaned in for a closer look, exclaiming, “Hey, look! This gentleman is painting our ship! It looks just like it!”

  A crowd of sailors gathered around, excitedly joining in.

  Charles wasn’t fond of such attention and was about to leave with his canvas when the man with the mole approached him with a friendly smile. “Sir, could you paint a picture for me?”

  Charles raised an eyebrow. “What do you want me to paint?”

  “Do you know the Spider Islands governed by Governor He? The cargo we’re transporting is spider silk from there. My son has always wanted to know what it looks like. Could you paint a picture for him? He has never been to another island.”

  Seeing the man’s hopeful expression, Charles thought for a moment before sitting back down and skillfully laying down color blocks on the canvas. “Alright.”

  “Great! Let me tell you about the islands. They’re really scary! The trees and roofs are all covered in white spider silk, and the spiders there are huge—much bigger than people!”

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  “No need for details,” Charles interrupted, his brush moving skillfully across the paper.

  As the details filled in, a white, misty island harbor appeared on the canvas.

  Behind the dense human buildings, thick spider silk hung everywhere, with red glimmers hidden within—the eyes of the spiders. If one looked closely, they could even see the outlines of spiders larger than houses.

  “Wow, this looks just like it! Have you been to that island before, painter?”

  The Spider Islands provided a vast amount of clothing materials for the humans of the sea. Having been a cargo ship captain for several years, Charles had indeed traveled that route.

  “Thank you! With this, my son will be so happy,” the sailor said, taking the painting and running toward the dock exit.

  Seeing this, the other sailors eagerly approached Charles.

  “Painter, could you paint a picture of He Fang Island? I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s the most prosperous island in the northern seas. I want to know what it looks like.”

  “Sir painter, could you do a portrait? I’m afraid if I die at sea, my daughter will forget what I look like.”

  A low, mournful foghorn cut through the chatter of the sailors.

  Charles’s indifferent expression turned serious as he spotted a ship in the distance. Its hull bore the standard white triangle, identifying it as a ship of the Sun God Sect.

  He walked past the sailors toward the dock, his keen eyesight quickly spotting Kede standing at the bow. The once-friendly expression on Kede’s face had vanished, replaced by the look of a gambler lost in a red haze of excitement and exhaustion.

  Before the ship had even anchored, Kede stumbled down the swaying gangplank, carrying a watermelon-sized box.

  “Here! Give me the sea chart! Hurry!” The box was thrown over roughly.

  Inside the box was the head of a Sunni, wrapped in lime. His eyes were wide open, and even in death, Charles could see the malice and madness in them.

  “You must have put in a lot of effort to kill him, huh?” Charles gripped the Sunni’s hair, lifting it up.

  “Give! Me! The! Sea! Chart!” Kede’s teeth were clenched, his expression twisted as if he would swallow Charles whole if he didn’t comply.

  “Calm down.” Charles turned, holding the head, and walked toward his inn, a grim-faced Kede and his followers trailing behind.

  “There are no signs of disguise, the skin is only a layer thick, and there are divine needles in the brain. It seems this thing is real,” Charles confirmed, tossing the head into a nearby foul-smelling garbage heap.

  Seeing the Sunni dead didn’t stir much emotion in Charles. If he wanted to kill him, then Charles would naturally retaliate. This was merely using Kede’s hand to eliminate an obstacle on the way home.

  With a creak, the door to Charles’s lodging opened. Lily, who had been sketching at the table, jumped to the ground. “Mr. Charles, you’re back from your sketching so early today?”

  Charles picked her up, running his fingers through her smooth fur. Glancing at Kede, he said, “Gather the crew. The rest time has been long enough.”

  “Okay.” Lily glanced back at Kede and quickly dashed out, the brown mice in the room following closely behind.

  “Snap.” The page of the diary with the sea chart was displayed in front of Kede. The Sun God Sect’s holy man trembled as he reached out with both hands to take it, but then hesitated, waving his hands at his subordinates.

  One of the Sun God Sect followers quickly brought over a metal square box.

  With a series of clicks and adjustments, Charles realized it was an old-fashioned camera.

  After taking a photo, Kede finally took the diary, leaning over it intently to read.

  After a long while, he looked up at Charles. “Have the coordinates been verified?”

  “I’ve been to this island before.” Charles pointed to the island where 1002 existed. “Based on its coordinates, we can easily deduce the locations of other islands.”

  “Good! Very good! Excellent!! I’m about to find the Land of Light!! Hahahaha!!!” Kede exclaimed, clapping his hands on the table like a child in glee.