Charles looked across the table at Kede and the row of Sun God Sect followers standing behind him. "Why are you paying attention to me?"
"We're not paying attention to you specifically. Anyone searching for the Land of Light matters to us—it means you've been summoned by the Sun God."
Listening to this oddly cult-like spiel, Charles fought back the urge to mock them.
"Mr. Charles, I sincerely invite you to join our sect. You survived those previous dangerous journeys only because of the Sun God's protection. Out here, in this dark sea, there aren't many chosen ones blessed by the Sun God like you."
Charles chuckled lightly, waving his hand. "You can put that absolutely impossible thing aside for now. I happen to have something I want to ask you so-called believers of the Sun God."
Kede spread his left hand. "Go ahead."
"You know about Sodoma's mirror box, don't you?"
"Of course. Some of our captains even asked me to buy a few for them."
Charles leaned forward slightly, staring intently at the old man before him. "Then don't you think the light inside the mirror box is a bit like your Sun God's light?"
Kede slapped the table and laughed lightly, his old face brimming with confidence. "Captain Charles, you haven't joined the sect yet, so you might not understand. In our ancient texts, everything about the Sun God is described in detail. The Sun God's Divine Light is multicolored, it heals the soul, and it is warm. The light in the mirror box is too plain and too glaring; they're completely different."
"You're that sure?" Charles leaned in, his eyes narrowed.
"Captain Charles, seeking the Sun God's light is admirable, but speaking without understanding only reveals your ignorance. I am a holy figure of the Sun God Sect. When it comes to all things concerning the Sun God, I know far, far more than you. If the Divine Light appeared before me, there is no way I wouldn't recognize it."
For once, Charles burst out laughing. "Thanks for the joke. I haven't laughed like that in ages."
A hint of irritation twisted Kede's face. He stood up as if to leave, only to sit back down again.
"Mr. Charles, I know you're reluctant. That's fine—we can start with some preliminary cooperation. You've already demonstrated your talent as an Explorer Captain. I can give you the coordinates for the islands most likely to have the Heavenly Ladder. You can go search for them, and our sect can reimburse any expenses you incur."
The old Charles would have agreed without a second thought. Even if he was just being used as someone else's tool, the offer was generous. But now, having already found clues to return to the Earth's surface, there was no way he would accept.
Staring at the man in front of him, Charles silently calculated his options. The path to the surface is controlled by the King, and my own strength is still far too weak. I need other allies... and this man sitting before me might just be useful.
"Mr. Charles, have you made up your mind?"
"What if I told you that I already have clues to the Land of Light?"
Kede looked impatient. "Captain Charles, if you keep bringing up these irrelevant topics, it will seem like you're not sincere."
"What's your criterion for judging the Divine Light? Multicolored, right?" Charles snapped his fingers, and a group of rats dragged a mirror box in from outside.
Charles cracked the box open a sliver, pulled out a prism, and placed it on top. Multicolored light refracted across Kede's shocked face.
"Multicolored light—now you have it." Charles placed the prism in Kede's hand.
Kede stared at the prism in disbelief. He brought it close, trying it for himself. With each attempt, the shock on his face grew, and he only stopped when the sunlight inside the mirror box was finally spent.
It was the prism effect, something any schoolkid from Charles's era would know. But here in the Abyss-Sea, there was no sunlight to experiment with, so naturally, no one knew that sunlight was composite, made up of various monochromatic lights.
"Charles, what… what exactly is going on?" Kede's expression was a mixture of excitement and delight, as if he had just touched some forbidden mystery.
Seeing the man was thoroughly bluffed, Charles wasted no time and stood up abruptly. "What's stored in the mirror box *is* your Light God's Divine Light! Sodoma's King knows the location of the Land of Light. If we can make him hand over the sea chart, we can find it!"
The two of them debated for a long time. In the end, Kede didn't give a clear answer, leaving in a daze.
The Light God Sect was a major church in the Abyss-Sea. Charles's goal was to have Kede spread the news to all the followers. If he could rally the entire cult, not even Sodoma's King would be able to hold out. After all, what could even the most vicious and powerful pirate do against these completely fearless cultists?
「Three days later.」
A haggard-looking Kede showed up at his door again. "Apologies, Captain Charles. A telegram arrived from the Archbishop. They believe it's all nonsense."
Leaning back in his chair, Charles sighed softly. As expected. A mere sentence can't sway an organization this large. I'll have to find another way.
After a few seconds of silence, Charles looked at Kede. "And you? Do you believe me?"
"I…" Indecision was written all over Kede's face. He understood the Archbishop's mindset; a stranger shows up out of nowhere, claiming that the very thing you've been searching for for centuries is right in front of you. No one would believe it.
But when he remembered that rainbow-colored light, his conviction wavered. What if it's true?
"Even if I believe, what use is it? If the North Sea Archbishop doesn't send Holy Warriors, the few hundred of us here could never defeat the King."
"We don't need to defeat him," Charles's words caught Kede off guard.
Charles didn't elaborate, instead glancing at the men behind Kede. "All of you, step outside and stand guard. Don't let anyone near!"
Once they were gone, Charles continued, "Our goal isn't to occupy Sodoma. We just need to know where the sunlight in the mirror boxes comes from. With that one clue, we can find the Land of Light ourselves."
"You have a plan?" Kede's voice trembled.
"The King usually stays in the central palace in Sodoma. The sea chart for the Land of Light must be in there. All you need to do is lure the King and his guards out, and I'll sneak in. I don't even need to steal it—a single glimpse of the sea chart is enough. That way, we can avoid a direct confrontation."
Kede didn't answer directly. His expression was a mess of conflicting emotions as he said he needed more time to think.
Day after day passed with no response from Kede, and Charles grew disappointed. If this plan fails, then I'll have no choice but to go back to being an Explorer Captain. I'll have to systematically conquer islands, become a Governor, and expand my power until I can force the King to hand over the location of the Land of Light through sheer might. But that would take far too long. So long, I doubt I'd even live to see that day.
"Captain, that old cult geezer is back! And this time, he's brought a big, tall guy with him!"