A group of people dispersed at the port, each getting busy with their own tasks.
Charles went to the bank and deposited one million Echo Coins into his account before rushing towards the shipyard.
His heart raced as he made his way. Charles hadn't felt this kind of sensation in a long while, it was like the nervous excitement of confessing to a girl for the first time.
At the shipyard, filled with steel everywhere, Charles was received by an old man with two attendants, the owner of the shipyard.
"Good day, sir, how may I assist you?"
"I need an exploration ship."
Hearing that Charles wanted neither a cargo ship nor a fishing boat, but an exploration ship, the old man's face registered considerable surprise.
"Sir, are you sure you want an exploration ship? Have you applied with the Explorer Association?" he asked hesitantly for confirmation.
"Not yet. Can't I buy a ship without an application?"
Wood, sensing a touch of displeasure in the customer's voice, quickly explained.
"No, no, no, of course, you can, it's just a routine check, after all, there are increasingly few as adventurous as you."
Discovering an island was certainly lucrative, but behind those successes were thousands of failures.
The invention of the turbine allowed humans to venture into more unknown seas, search for new homelands more efficiently, and they once believed they were on the brink of conquering the oceans.
Unfortunately, humans were not the protagonists here; desirable islands for exploration were few, with many more islands presenting extreme danger, strange natives, and the profound depths of the sea serving as a sobering blow to them.
The number of missing exploration ships grew, more and more people lost husbands and children, and death eventually cooled humanity's enthusiasm. Slowly, people stopped seeing explorers as heroes and started calling them fools with a death wish in hushed tones.
Wood recalled that the last time someone purchased an exploration ship was five years ago, and naturally, that person ended up dead at sea.
"Guest, what kind of ship do you need? Please tell me."
"The ship mustn't be too large, under 70 meters in length, and the engine must be a Glorious Turbine. The forward cannon must be a 125mm rifled gun." Charles rattled off his specifications confidently.
To get home, he had prepared for far too long; the configurations of various exploration ships were etched into his heart.
The transaction proceeded swiftly, and an hour later, Charles saw the exterior of his new ship.
The streamlined white hull was neatly lined with rivets, with a hull thickness several times greater than that of the Rat.
Thicker smokestacks attested to the turbine's formidable power.
At first glance, it looked like a larger refurbished version of the Rat. However, the cannon on the foredeck, brimming with industrial beauty, instantly distinguished it from a second-hand cargo ship.
Length: 65 meters, Width: 10 meters, Draft: 5.5 meters.
"This ship was originally reserved for the Governor's Navy, but they are not in a hurry. If you need it urgently, I can prioritize it for you."
"This one will do, when can it be launched?"
"Some of the facilities you need inside aren't ready yet. If we expedite, I estimate it could be in the water in half a month."
"With some subsidies from the Explorer Association, you'd only need to pay 3.5 million Echo Coins,"
Charles silently calculated the amount, "My account has just enough, and selling the Rat will cover the next exploration's supplies."
"Good, handle it as quickly as possible. I'll be here to collect the ship in half a month."
After leaving the shipyard, Charles headed straight to the Explorer Association.
With the exploration ship in hand, he planned to join the Explorer Association, a loose organization present on every human island, consisting of exploration ship captains.
Of course, it wasn't compulsory to join, but Charles was not one to reject something beneficial.
Once he became an Explorer, the plentiful sea charts within the Association would be open to him free of charge. He knew these items would cost a fortune outside, not to mention a few other perks. He had already done his homework on the organization.
Of course, becoming an Explorer wasn't all roses without thorns; once someone became an Explorer, they had to land on an island at least once a year. Failing to meet this exploration quota meant losing their Explorer status.
However, for Charles, this downside was virtually non-existent; exploring islands was exactly why he was here.
The Explorer Association wasn't far from the Dock District, and its white stone buildings were very conspicuous.
Charles glanced at the ship emblem hanging high on the building and stepped inside.
Inside, the vast, cavernous space was so large that he could hear the echo of his footsteps.
Other than a few counters in the distance, only a handful of men and women were sparsely seated on sofas to the left, their tricorn hats resting on the tables indicating a status similar to Charles'.
As Charles observed them, they also curiously sized up the newcomer at the door.
After making out the words written above the counter, Charles walked toward the one on the far left. Just as he filled out the application form with a quill, a pale arm slung around his neck.
"Swish." Charles' right hand went to his waist, and the Revolver's nozzle was already pressed against the stomach of the person behind him.
A husky female voice sounded in his ear, "Relax, newbie. This isn't the sea; there's no danger here."
The person released Charles' neck, dragged over a stool, and sat down next to him, legs crossed.
The newcomer was a seductive woman with bright white hair, straight long legs, and an alluring neckline deliberately exposed.
If it weren't for her imposing stature of nearly two meters, any man would want to get closer to her.
More than her beauty, Charles was interested in the wooden staff hanging at her waist—it seemed to be her weapon. Women going to sea were rare, but those who could survive and thrive out there were not to be underestimated.
"What do you want?" Charles asked, putting away the gun.
"It's been a while since we've seen a new face. I came over to get to know you. I'm Elizabeth, Captain of the Black Rose. What's your name, sweetheart?" The imposing beauty asked with a smile.
Charles didn't answer but continued to fill out the application, the hostile environment at sea having sapped his interest in mingling with strangers.
However, the woman sitting next to him didn't seem to have any intention of leaving of her own accord.
A whiff of delicate fragrance wafted over as Elizabeth leaned in, brazenly peeking at Charles' application.
"Charles? That's a good name. Ah, that part isn't very important; just write whatever," she suggested.
A burly man from a couch laughed out loud, "Elizabeth, you weren't this enthusiastic when I first came."
Elizabeth looked at him disdainfully. "You're not the same as him. I don't want to sleep with you—why on earth would I help you?"
The burly man wasn't offended and laughed heartily with his companions, slapping his thigh.
"Tsz!" A hole punctured the application as Charles poked through it with the quill.
He had guessed the woman had a hidden agenda, but this particular one he had not foreseen; truly, a woman who could earn her keep at sea was extraordinary.
Ignoring Elizabeth at his side, Charles swiftly finished writing and handed over the application.
The staff member received the form and began to work a machine composed of various gears with practiced ease.
Elizabeth didn't seem the least bit concerned that the man in front of her was ignoring her and kept on talking.
"Charles, it's your first time here, let me give you a brief. The role of the Explorer Association is actually quite simple—it's to assist us in finding new islands."
"Of course, it's not for free. Once you join the Association, any Captain who becomes a Governor in the future must establish a division of the Explorer Association on his islands."
Charles interrupted her, "Thanks for the heads-up, but I already knew that, no need to remind me."
"Hmm? It seems Mr. Charles has done his homework before coming. Are you free later? Maybe you'd like to visit my ship?"