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Charles gritted his teeth and took in a deep breath at the sight of Lily's tear-stained face. He picked Lily up and brought her to eye level.
"Don't worry, everything will turn out fine. I'll find a way to make sure you survive," Charles reassured Lily with a firm resolve.
The sorrow on Lily's face gradually faded away to be replaced by her usual sweet smile. Her drooping ears perked up once more.
"Mr. Charles, thank you! As long as I'm by your side, even if I really die—"
"There are no 'ifs,' Lily. I've already lost a friend; I can't lose you too!"
Soon, a new announcement appeared on the large steel bulletin board in the middle of Hope Island Square.
The islanders strolling in the square gathered in groups and made their way over to the announcement board, expecting a new decree from the Governor. But much to their surprise, it was a bounty notice.
I, Charles Reed, the Governor of Hope Island, promise a reward for anyone, regardless of their identity, who can restore a human soul trapped in a mouse's body back into its human form. The reward will be a plot of land, measuring 200 by 300 square meters, in the Central District of Hope Island and a bounty of fifty million Echoes.
The bounty announcement was akin to a torpedo being thrown into a pond that sent ripples of excitement among the islanders.
The "aftershocks" rapidly traveled beyond Hope Island and spread its reach across the seascape. It was certain that in no time, anyone with an interest in earning the reward would hear of it.
The rapid spread of the news in the Subterranean Seascape wasn't merely fueled by people's love for gossip; rather, it was the substantial bounty on offer. In this Subterranean Seascape, island land was a treasure far more precious than gold, especially when it was a plot on Hope Island.
Land on Hope Island, an island blessed by the Light God, was a rare and valuable asset that money alone couldn't procure. Possession of such a plot meant an instant elevation in social status, securing the future not just for the owner but also for their descendants and erasing any worries about survival.
Meanwhile, Charles was in the Governor's Mansion and seated at his desk. Holding a pen in his hand, he swiftly scribbled lines of words on a piece of crisp, white paper.
"Encode these two letters for telegraphy. One to be sent to the World's Crown, addressed to Anna to have her ask the Haikor Tribe if they have a solution. The other is to Elizarles Shores, to have Elizabeth consult the Gunther's patriarch. Make sure there's no mix-up."
As his steward disappeared from sight, Charles leaned back against his chair and sank into deep thought over Lily's current predicament. He had already mobilized all available resources he had, and now, it was a waiting game.
Time was their biggest enemy. With only four months left, it remained uncertain if people from the distant seas could arrive in time, even if they held a solution.
Charles' gaze darted toward Lily, who was perched atop the table with her head bowed and clutching her tail.
In hindsight, Charles realized he had missed some important aspects. Throughout all their exploration voyages, his focus had always been on her child-like behavior, and he had neglected the possibility of her shortened lifespan as a mouse.
"Lily, do you remember how you became a mouse? Any specific memories?" Charles asked.
Tilting her head to one side, Lily pondered for a brief moment before she said, "Hmm... I'm not sure. My last memory was falling into a vortex. When I woke up, I was with Uncle Mouse and the others. Also, I was so surprised that I could speak mouse language. And then, I met all of you."
Charles' brows furrowed in thought as he contemplated the situation.
The mice from Laboratory 3 were the first entities to witness Lily in her mouse form. Perhaps we should start from there; they might hold some vital clues.
Lily slowly approached Charles and gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Mr. Charles, if I die, can you bury me next to Doctor Grandpa? I don't want to be alone."
Charles reached out and pulled her into his arms. Gently patting her on the back, he comforted, "Don't lose hope. There is surely a way. Things don't adhere to science logic in this seascape anyway, so that must be a way to turn you back to human."
"Mr. Charles, actually, as long as I'm by your side, I'm not afraid of death, really."
"Don't wander around during this crucial period. Stay at the Governor's Mansion and rest. The longer you can hold on, the better our chances of finding a solution."
Lily suddenly lifted her head from Charles' embrace. "No! I want to make the most out of these four months and do everything that I've never done. Else, I would really be losing out if I die. I'm only fifteen."
Charles glanced at Lily with a hint of surprise in his gaze.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
"For example," Lily started to list her wishes. "I want to own a pet cat. I also want my little brother to call me his sister. And I want to ride that thrilling roller coaster like the one in your phone, Mr. Charles! Ah, I want to experience a love story like that in the novels as well."
"You can do all of that once you turn back into a human again. There's no need to rush," Charles replied.
"Mr. Charles, is love really as wonderful as how they described it in books?" Lily asked, her voice laced with traces of longing.
"Yes. It's fragile, yet truly wonderful."
Lily looked toward Charles, her eyes widening in a pleading look. "Mr. Charles, then let's pretend we are in love now. Quick, say that you like me. Say, 'You are the sea, and I'm the fish; nothing will ever break us apart.'"
Staring into her eyes, full of yearning, Charles hesitated for a brief moment before he gave in to her request. "Lily, I like you. You are the sea, and I'm the fish; nothing will ever break us apart."
"No, no, no! Say it again like you mean it!" Lily pouted. "You are not using the same tone that you used with that monster sister."
Bang!
The door swung open abruptly, and Dipp dashed into the room with apparent anxiety. Panting between deep breaths, he said, "Captain, I heard from Linda that—"
"Get out! When can you ever get rid of this bad habit of not knocking on the door!"
Dipp's eyes landed on Lily; she appeared fine to him. Confused, Dipp hurriedly retreated out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Charles then placed Lily on his palm and walked toward the balcony. Pointing his other hand toward the bustling street, he said, "Pick any handsome young man out there. I'll arrange for him to date you."
Lily's long tail flicked between Charles' fingers as she shook her head. "That's not the same~ How can that be considered real love? According to the books, love is sacred and special."
Lily then lifted her gaze and stared at Charles in the eye. "Mr. Charles, say it again. Say, 'Lily, I love you.'"
However, her words elicited no response from Charles. Following Charles' intent gaze, she turned toward the bustling street below to see an old man with a white triangle marking on his forehead heading their way with an aggressive air surrounding him.
Oh right! I forgot about this bunch of zealots. If they can treat my eyes, maybe they can cure Lily, too!
"Charles!" The Pope's voice boomed with a suppressed rage. "What's this about postponing your next voyage indefinitely!"
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Charles gritted his teeth and took in a deep breath at the sight of Lily's tear-stained face. He picked Lily up and brought her to eye level.
"Don't worry, everything will turn out fine. I'll find a way to make sure you survive," Charles reassured Lily with a firm resolve.
The sorrow on Lily's face gradually faded away to be replaced by her usual sweet smile. Her drooping ears perked up once more.
"Mr. Charles, thank you! As long as I'm by your side, even if I really die—"
"There are no 'ifs,' Lily. I've already lost a friend; I can't lose you too!"
Soon, a new announcement appeared on the large steel bulletin board in the middle of Hope Island Square.
The islanders strolling in the square gathered in groups and made their way over to the announcement board, expecting a new decree from the Governor. But much to their surprise, it was a bounty notice.
I, Charles Reed, the Governor of Hope Island, promise a reward for anyone, regardless of their identity, who can restore a human soul trapped in a mouse's body back into its human form. The reward will be a plot of land, measuring 200 by 300 square meters, in the Central District of Hope Island and a bounty of fifty million Echoes.
The bounty announcement was akin to a torpedo being thrown into a pond that sent ripples of excitement among the islanders.
The "aftershocks" rapidly traveled beyond Hope Island and spread its reach across the seascape. It was certain that in no time, anyone with an interest in earning the reward would hear of it.
The rapid spread of the news in the Subterranean Seascape wasn't merely fueled by people's love for gossip; rather, it was the substantial bounty on offer. In this Subterranean Seascape, island land was a treasure far more precious than gold, especially when it was a plot on Hope Island.
Land on Hope Island, an island blessed by the Light God, was a rare and valuable asset that money alone couldn't procure. Possession of such a plot meant an instant elevation in social status, securing the future not just for the owner but also for their descendants and erasing any worries about survival.
Meanwhile, Charles was in the Governor's Mansion and seated at his desk. Holding a pen in his hand, he swiftly scribbled lines of words on a piece of crisp, white paper.
"Encode these two letters for telegraphy. One to be sent to the World's Crown, addressed to Anna to have her ask the Haikor Tribe if they have a solution. The other is to Elizarles Shores, to have Elizabeth consult the Gunther's patriarch. Make sure there's no mix-up."
As his steward disappeared from sight, Charles leaned back against his chair and sank into deep thought over Lily's current predicament. He had already mobilized all available resources he had, and now, it was a waiting game.
Time was their biggest enemy. With only four months left, it remained uncertain if people from the distant seas could arrive in time, even if they held a solution.
Charles' gaze darted toward Lily, who was perched atop the table with her head bowed and clutching her tail.
In hindsight, Charles realized he had missed some important aspects. Throughout all their exploration voyages, his focus had always been on her child-like behavior, and he had neglected the possibility of her shortened lifespan as a mouse.
"Lily, do you remember how you became a mouse? Any specific memories?" Charles asked.
Tilting her head to one side, Lily pondered for a brief moment before she said, "Hmm... I'm not sure. My last memory was falling into a vortex. When I woke up, I was with Uncle Mouse and the others. Also, I was so surprised that I could speak mouse language. And then, I met all of you."
Charles' brows furrowed in thought as he contemplated the situation.
The mice from Laboratory 3 were the first entities to witness Lily in her mouse form. Perhaps we should start from there; they might hold some vital clues.
Lily slowly approached Charles and gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Mr. Charles, if I die, can you bury me next to Doctor Grandpa? I don't want to be alone."
Charles reached out and pulled her into his arms. Gently patting her on the back, he comforted, "Don't lose hope. There is surely a way. Things don't adhere to science logic in this seascape anyway, so that must be a way to turn you back to human."
"Mr. Charles, actually, as long as I'm by your side, I'm not afraid of death, really."
"Don't wander around during this crucial period. Stay at the Governor's Mansion and rest. The longer you can hold on, the better our chances of finding a solution."
Lily suddenly lifted her head from Charles' embrace. "No! I want to make the most out of these four months and do everything that I've never done. Else, I would really be losing out if I die. I'm only fifteen."
Charles glanced at Lily with a hint of surprise in his gaze.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
"For example," Lily started to list her wishes. "I want to own a pet cat. I also want my little brother to call me his sister. And I want to ride that thrilling roller coaster like the one in your phone, Mr. Charles! Ah, I want to experience a love story like that in the novels as well."
"You can do all of that once you turn back into a human again. There's no need to rush," Charles replied.
"Mr. Charles, is love really as wonderful as how they described it in books?" Lily asked, her voice laced with traces of longing.
"Yes. It's fragile, yet truly wonderful."
Lily looked toward Charles, her eyes widening in a pleading look. "Mr. Charles, then let's pretend we are in love now. Quick, say that you like me. Say, 'You are the sea, and I'm the fish; nothing will ever break us apart.'"
Staring into her eyes, full of yearning, Charles hesitated for a brief moment before he gave in to her request. "Lily, I like you. You are the sea, and I'm the fish; nothing will ever break us apart."
"No, no, no! Say it again like you mean it!" Lily pouted. "You are not using the same tone that you used with that monster sister."
Bang!
The door swung open abruptly, and Dipp dashed into the room with apparent anxiety. Panting between deep breaths, he said, "Captain, I heard from Linda that—"
"Get out! When can you ever get rid of this bad habit of not knocking on the door!"
Dipp's eyes landed on Lily; she appeared fine to him. Confused, Dipp hurriedly retreated out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Charles then placed Lily on his palm and walked toward the balcony. Pointing his other hand toward the bustling street, he said, "Pick any handsome young man out there. I'll arrange for him to date you."
Lily's long tail flicked between Charles' fingers as she shook her head. "That's not the same~ How can that be considered real love? According to the books, love is sacred and special."
Lily then lifted her gaze and stared at Charles in the eye. "Mr. Charles, say it again. Say, 'Lily, I love you.'"
However, her words elicited no response from Charles. Following Charles' intent gaze, she turned toward the bustling street below to see an old man with a white triangle marking on his forehead heading their way with an aggressive air surrounding him.
Oh right! I forgot about this bunch of zealots. If they can treat my eyes, maybe they can cure Lily, too!
"Charles!" The Pope's voice boomed with a suppressed rage. "What's this about postponing your next voyage indefinitely!"
