"July 2, eight years after time-traveling.
Exploring the island was harder than I had anticipated; I thought that places untouched by humanity would have at most a few powerful monsters, but yesterday's encounter taught me a lesson.
The dangers of the island are not only physical, but also more bizarre than humans can imagine—I had never thought it possible for a monster to alter human Memory.
But I won't give up; no matter how hard it is, I must see the sun again.
Fortunately, I'm not alone on the way home—"
Just as Charles was about to continue writing, a fair, soft little foot stepped onto his back.
"How many times have I told you not to disturb me when I'm writing in my diary?" Charles nonchalantly pushed the foot away.
"Tsk, back in elementary school during summer vacation, the teacher asked you to write in a diary every day, yet you copied mine. Now that we're in this damned place, you've started to be diligent and studious again?"
Charles turned around, his face a picture of helplessness, as he looked at the woman lying on the bed.
That was Anna, the ship doctor, her curvaceous body laying on the bed created a significant visual impact, and her mature allure could lead men into endless fantasies.
But Charles was used to these sights. "What do you want now?"
Upon hearing Charles's question, Anna's smile grew even brighter. Her right hand lightly tugged, causing her single-strap dress to drape diagonally, while her left hand slowly slid up her fair, jade-like thigh.
"Come on ~ let's be merry ~, after all, we have ~ plenty of time~~"
Looking at his former partner, Charles couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Can you give me a break? We just escaped, don't you feel tired from running around the island so long?—"
Anna's face suddenly fell, and with a light kick, she plaintively said, "When we first arrived, you were always eager to drag me into the room whenever we had a moment. What? Hit with the seven-year itch? Are you starting to despise me now? Jerk!"
Charles sighed softly, ran over, and embraced her, consoling gently, "Jiajia, be understanding, there's no land that can't be cultivated, only oxen that die of exhaustion."
"If you don't give me my dues today, don't even think about touching me this month!"
Under Anna's complaints, the oil lamp in the room slowly extinguished.
The diary placed on the table, due to the inertia, slowly flipped the pages, revealing the previous day's entry.
"They all have partners, but what about me? Why was I alone when I time-traveled? It's really lonely being by myself; if only I had a companion."
The next day, as soon as Charles woke up, he naturally leaned over to Anna's side of the pillow and gently kissed her smooth cheek. "I'm off to the cockpit."
Anna, not even opening her eyes, irritably pushed Charles's face away, "Go away, go away, don't kiss me without shaving, it hurts."
Charles smiled knowingly, pecked her cheek again, and got dressed.
When a spirited Charles arrived at the cockpit, he saw the sailor chief meticulously steering the ship.
He patted him on the shoulder, "How's it going? Everything normal?"
After surviving life and death together, Charles had completely let down his guard with the sailor chief. If it weren't for his escape from that bizarre tree, he might not have been able to locate the others.
He looked quite mysterious, but at least he was well-intentioned.
"No...," the bandage responded indifferently to Charles's approach.
"Alright, you go get some sleep. I'll take over." Charles took over the helm.
The bandage, as usual, calmly paid his respects to Charles in the Futan Sect manner and left the cockpit.
Charles was in a good mood as he steered the ship, and although it was pitch black outside with no scenery, he felt happier than he had been in a long time and much more relaxed.
"Bang!" The door was pushed open, and Deep walked in with a sullen face, looking extremely disgruntled.
"Captain! Walt is not fit to be on board at all! I suggest we fire him! It was his responsibility, and now the 'Rat' is missing."
"It's just a bunch of rats. Is it really worth arguing with your mates over this? Maybe they just ran away on their own." Charles had a headache, as a captain, he had to deal with conflicts among the crew.
"That's impossible, I've searched everywhere. Rats can't just jump into the sea!"
Just then, the sailor named Walt ran in, frantically defending himself to Charles, insisting that the rat really had disappeared suddenly and it wasn't his fault.
The two bickered around Charles, and it wasn't until Charles brought out the reward for this trip that he managed to divert their attention.
Charles thought the matter was over, but contrary to his wishes, there was an incident, this time involving a person.
"Captain, Walt is missing!!"
Hearing this from his sailor chief, Charles, who was at the helm, furrowed his brow. Crew members aren't like rats; the ship is only so big. How could someone disappear without a trace?
Charles ordered all the crew to start searching for the missing sailor, but even after turning the entire 'Rat' upside down, they still couldn't find him.
The joy and relaxation from completing the mission were gone. At dinner at six that day, a shadow hung over everyone's faces, and they ate their food listlessly.
Seeing the expressions of the crew, Charles knew, as the captain, he had to come up with a plan. If it was just something from the sea that had crawled on board and dragged the sailor into the sea, that would be the best-case scenario. He was afraid this incident was just the beginning and the disappearances would continue.
"From now on, everyone must move in pairs, even when going to the toilet, and all must carry firearms."
"Yes, Captain."
"As you command, Captain."
Charles, with a serious expression, bowed his head to eat his food when a pale hand reached out and gently patted his arm.
A gentle female voice sounded in his ear. "Don't worry, we've gotten through so much for so long, and this time won't be any different."
Charles relaxed slightly and gave Anna, who was sitting next to him, a forced smile. "You don't need to comfort me, it's just a minor problem. Don't wander around lately, and remember to always stay by my side."
"No problem, just don't find me annoying then." Anna wiped Charles's face with the index finger of her right hand, which was covered in breadcrumbs, and then stuck it into her mouth.
After taking a couple of bites, Charles saw that Anna was resting her chin in her hand, staring intently at him.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"I just had some snacks earlier; I'm not hungry at all now."
"What snacks are there on the ship, you're not on a diet again, are you? You're not fat, starving yourself is bad for your health."
"Alright, alright, mind your own business, Captain. If I get hungry, I'll find something to eat."