"Hmm..." Charles frowned slightly, contemplating the relic in his hand.
This kind of relic lets you trade intelligence for physical size, making it hard to say if it's a net positive. If you lose your basic cognitive functions, all the strength in the world becomes useless. Besides, if my body gets bigger, I won't be able to use my three other relics. Taking that into account, my overall power might even decrease.
Charles quickly saw the relic's greatest potential. "Even if I can't use it, I can give it to my crew."
The upcoming adventures were only going to get more dangerous; relying on just one person wouldn't be enough. The strength of the crew on the Narwhal had to be boosted across the board so they wouldn't drag him down.
An image of someone's ripped muscles flashed through his mind, and Charles instantly found a new owner for the relic.
Ignoring the stinging pain in his body, Charles threw off the covers and walked out, relic in hand.
Thirty minutes later, Charles stood on the deck, shouting to the four-meter-tall Chief Engineer, "James! Put the relic in your hand on the ground! On the ground!"
The other idle crew members gathered around, excitedly watching the scene.
The oversized James plopped down on the deck, making the entire Narwhal shake. After a good three seconds, he dazedly loosened his grip, letting Relic 434 fall to the deck.
"The drop in intelligence is even bigger than I'd imagined," Charles murmured to himself, staring at the Purple Pyramid in his hand.
Testing showed that while the increase in size granted incredible physical strength, the corresponding loss of intelligence was crippling. The user required constant commands; otherwise, the mindless James would just stand there, playing with his fingers.
"Captain, can I play with that?" Deep asked curiously, leading a group of sailors over.
Charles thought for a moment, then tossed Relic 434 over. "You all give it a try. Let's see who's best suited for this thing."
In an instant, the deck erupted into a lively scene as crew members took turns growing and shrinking. They laughed and horsed around, treating Relic 434 like a toy, and Charles didn't stop them.
People weren't machines, and chances to relax like this on the Abyss-Sea were rare.
After giving a few orders, Charles walked back to his cabin. His wounds were starting to ache again.
Time at sea flew by. The corrosive wounds on Charles's body healed rapidly, and the occasional mishaps were handled perfectly by the crew. He, who was usually so hands-on, was finally enjoying the privileges of being Captain.
When the lighthouse of Coral Island came into view, the crew's cheers were so loud they threatened to capsize the entire Narwhal. They had survived another voyage.
As soon as the ship docked, everyone collected their pay from Charles and rushed off, desperate to blow off some steam.
Holding the two remaining relics, Charles decided to head for the Explorer Association. He didn't know their purpose or potential dangers, so he wanted to see if any other captains had some insight.
Just as he was about to disembark, Charles spotted Lily standing on the pier, surrounded by brown mice.
As Charles approached, he noticed her drooping ears and realized she hadn't left.
"Why haven't you left?"
Charles's question startled Lily, and she spun around nervously. "Mr. Charles."
"What are you doing here? Why haven't you gone home? Isn't that what you've always wanted?" Charles grabbed her by the tail and lifted her up.
"But I've turned into a mouse! Will my mom even recognize me? What if she chases me away with a broom?" Lily asked pitifully.
Charles understood. She's still just a child, after all. It's only natural to be scared after such a drastic transformation.
"Don't worry," Charles reassured her. "Parents never stop worrying about their daughters. Even if you've turned into a mouse, they won't abandon you."
"Really??" Lily's ears perked up.
"Really," Charles affirmed, looking at the mouse before him and finding himself inexplicably reminded of his own little sister. "I promise."
Lily trembled with excitement. "Mr. Charles, you're right! My mom won't forget me. I've been away for so long, she must miss me terribly."
Charles put her down, preparing to leave, but Lily clung to his finger. "Mr. Charles, can you take me home?"
Charles was about to refuse but stopped when he saw the pitiful look on the little mouse's face.
He sighed softly. "Alright, I'll take you home."
The poor girl turned into a mouse for some reason, and there's no telling if she'll ever change back. She's a pitiful soul. The least I can do is help.
Soon, a strange scene unfolded on Pier No. 3 of Coral Island: a man with black eyes parading through the area, followed by a huge swarm of mice.
After Charles paid quadruple the fare and promised the mice wouldn't chew the seats, a steam car driver finally agreed to give them a ride.
Lily's home was nearly an hour's drive from the port. The closer they got, the more excited she became.
She must be so happy right now. Will I have a day like that, too? Charles watched the white mouse run circles on his thigh, a twinge of envy in his eyes.
"Sir, we're here. Doctor Oliver's house is just ahead on the left. He has a lovely little girl, so you'd best not bring all these mice over—you'll scare them."
Unable to wait another second, Lily jumped from the car before it fully stopped, leading the mice at full speed toward the corner ahead.
But as Lily rounded the corner, her small body froze as if struck by lightning.
"Hm?" Sensing something was wrong, Charles walked over.
To the left of the corner stood a tasteful, two-story villa. In the front yard, a gentle-looking mother was having tea and chatting with her daughter.
The daughter, who looked to be eleven or twelve, bore some resemblance to Hermione from the first Harry Potter film. The vibrant spirit in her eyes already suggested she would one day grow to be a beauty even more captivating than her mother.
"Lily, do you have a sister?" Charles asked hesitantly. From a distance, the mother showed no signs of grieving a lost daughter.
Charles's words snapped Lily out of her stupor. She broke down, screaming, "AHHHH! That Lily is a fake! I'm my mother's real daughter! She must be a storybook Witch! She turned me into a mouse and stole my mother's love! I'm going to bite her to death!"
With that, Lily charged, leading the mice who were now baring their teeth and snarling as they swarmed toward the yard.
Charles raised his ring-adorned left hand and caught Lily in midair. "Calm down!"
Seeing the white mouse captured, the others spun around instantly, baring their teeth at Charles, their eyes glowing with malice.
Just as Charles's other hand reached for his clown mask, Lily stopped the mice's attack. She hovered in midair, sobbing loudly. "Mr. Charles... I can't go home! Mom doesn't want me... What am I supposed to do?!"