Boom!!!
The ship's hull shattered, and a massive plume of steam erupted from the cannon barrels. Several chain explosions occurred, sending splinters of wood flying into the air.
"Damn it!!!" Cyrus shouted and ran towards the captain, but a cannonball exploded right under his feet, destroying the helm and everything around it. Cyrus turned back to the other ship. The sailors rushed to the deck, shouting and aiming their weapons at Cyrus.
"Kill those demons!!!" Cyrus was shocked.
[What demons?]
Bang! Bang!
Using Blink, Cyrus went to the crow's nest. From up there, he observed the ship's deck.
[They've gone mad. This must be the first stage of despair.]
When a person saw no way out, they went mad. In such conditions, when there was nothing left to lose, people did strange things. Some cried, some took their own lives, and some dragged others down to hell with them. Cyrus remembered the man's words.
"This fog has consciousness…" Cyrus laughed. "Hahaha!!! So you let me go from the start to bring you more prey? Hahaha…"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sailors continued firing cannons and guns. The terrifying sound of gunpowder and mana explosions echoed and reverberated in that misty sea. Broken wood floated on the short waves and disappeared into the sea.
[Why are all the pieces of wood drifting in one direction?]
Cyrus was surprised to see that scene. He immediately appeared on the deck, but the ship was sinking from the captain's cabin. Cyrus barely controlled himself, removed the barrier, and slowly appeared in front of the sailors.
"Hey!!! Stop shooting!! They're gone!!!"
One of the sailors shouted, "Bastard!! We won't fall for your black magic!!!"
"Yeah!!! No one survives that explosion! You must be a demon! Die!!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Julian! Damn knight, stop them!!!"
Julian was taken aback and immediately ordered a ceasefire. The ship sank further into the water. Cyrus went to the bow, which was still high above the water's surface.
"Listen to me. I remember clearly telling you not to do anything!!! Now this damn mist has targeted us! Quickly, pull up the sails! I found the way…"
The captain looked at Cyrus in surprise.
[That boy is either very brave or very foolish; I can't say for sure what kind of person he is, but I'm sure he's got something up his sleeve.]
The captain raised his hand and said, "He's one of us. Let him come on deck." Then he whispered to Julian, "Keep your sword close."
On the deck, The sailors were trembling like leaves, sweat pouring down their faces. Julian kept a close eye on Cyrus and watched the sailors.
"Alright, which way is the path?" the captain asked.
"Look at the water's surface. Isn't it strange that all the wood is drifting in one direction?"
"That doesn't mean you've found the way out. A whirlpool also pulls everything into itself, but is there an escape at the bottom of a whirlpool?"
"You don't understand, Captain. I've been here before. In the heart of this mist, there's an island with a shore full of broken planks. There's a good chance these planks are heading towards the shore. When we reach the shore…"
"What happens when we get there…?"
Cyrus was silent. He had explored the island once before but had seen nothing there.
[I need to dispel the fog.]
"What happens when we get there?"
"We'll be saved."
The captain thought for a while and then disagreed.
"It's not a good idea. I can't risk entering an unknown land."
"So what do you want to do? Float on the water forever? Sink more ships until you become one of them? You know that too, there's no way back." He turned to the crew and said loudly, "That's right! There's no way back! But don't think that just because there's no way back, there's no way forward. There's always a way to move forward. Today, your path is clear, now if you want to deceive yourselves, that's your choice, but I'll follow that path even if I have to row a boat!"
Then he looked at their anxious and confused faces and smiled.
"You won't die here. Death first comes for those who run from it."
The captain glanced at his crew and sighed.
[He knows well how to persuade people. I'm sure he knows things we don't. But where does he want to take us?]
The captain signaled to his crew. Then he took off his hat and went to Cyrus.
"Listen! A captain's duty is to guide his crew in times of confusion. I couldn't do that! But fortunately, we have someone here who can handle it. So listen well, until we get out of this damn place, I temporarily appoint Zhu Fan as the captain!"
Julian was shocked.
"But Captain…!"
"I said temporarily; there can't be two captains on one ship. One of us has to take on this role to make decisions calmly. Two decision-makers for one ship will only lead us to death."
He was right. In that situation, Cyrus was practically the captain. He used this opportunity to elevate Cyrus to the rank of captain and learn his intentions. Although it was a big risk, he felt it was the best decision he could make. Then he placed his hat on Cyrus's head.
"I hope you don't disappoint me, boy."
Cyrus felt the captain's piercing gaze and smiled.
[This old man put everything on my shoulders to lighten his own burden and maintain unity on the ship. Some might want to protest, but he won't back down because he has no choice but to trust me. Hmm… smart.]
Cyrus stood behind the helm and issued his first order as captain: "Pull up the sails! We're chasing the floating planks at full speed!"
Some minutes later,
Julian went to the captain's cabin.
"Sir, why did you do that?"
"Sit down, boy. You must have a lot of questions."
Julian sat on the chair opposite the captain.
"Drink?"
"No, thank you."
"You know, after the crew's madness, I realized I couldn't handle the situation…"
"But you …"
"Shush! It doesn't matter if I was once a great captain or not. I know my limits. I couldn't do better in this situation."
"But you don't know him."
"I don't know anyone on this ship, but I'm still making the greatest discovery in history with them."
"But …"
"But what? Didn't I make him captain? What do you think a captain is? My rank only matters as long as they follow me. When none of them trust me and follow my orders, it's all useless, don't you think?"
He took a sip of his drink and continued, "Don't forget, Julian, a farmer with ten loyal friends is stronger than a lonely emperor. In the end, these are just titles created to separate us. If ten crew members gather, their power is greater than the captain's. The captain's power lies in the obedience of his crew."
"You mean they intend to mutiny?" His eyes glowed with a blue light, and he emitted a suppressive aura.
The captain laughed, "You're mistaken. There's no mutiny. This is just a temporary transition through tough conditions. As the saying goes, tough times call for tough decisions."
Julian smiled. He knew the captain well.
[Before they could accuse him of incompetence, he gave up his position so he could take it back later. What else would you expect from a seasoned admiral? He understands the situation well and makes the right decisions to achieve the best possible outcome. Looks like I still have a long way to go…]
"I think I need that drink now, sir."
"Hahaha, right. Now is the time for a drink!"