Chapter 107: Coma
"Why didn't you say so earlier!"
Paul threw the ship's doctor onto the deck.
Then he immediately walked over to Elena.
"Sister-in-law! The boss is fine! He's just exhausted. He just needs a few days of rest!" Paul whispered to Elena.
Hearing Paul's words, Elena's worried expression softened slightly, but her eyes were still red, filled with uncertainty.
"Then let Charlotte wake up as soon as possible!" Elena said, her voice trembling with emotion. She looked lost and helpless, unsure of what to do.
After all, she was only nineteen years old and had no experience handling such situations.
Paul nodded silently and stepped away.
"Hurry up and carry the boss into the captain's room!" Paul barked at the crew after seeing Charlotte still lying on the cold deck.
The crew members scrambled to obey.
"Idiot, be gentler!" Paul snapped when he noticed how clumsy the crew was being while moving Charlotte.
Only then did Paul truly understand why the boss surrounded himself with maids—these men were too rough and careless. Charlotte, a man of refined tastes, would never tolerate such incompetence.
Elena followed closely behind, holding the little girl's hand. Once they reached the captain's room, Charlotte was carefully laid on the bed.
"Sister-in-law, please help the boss clean his wounds. We'll leave you to it. If you need anything, just let me know," Paul said respectfully to Elena before leading the others out of the room.
Now, only Elena and the little girl remained to care for Charlotte.
Elena took a damp towel and began wiping the blood from Charlotte's face. After cleaning him, she saw his scarred and swollen features. The once-handsome face she was accustomed to was now battered and bruised.
Fighting back tears, she carefully removed Charlotte's torn clothes, revealing more injuries beneath. The little girl silently helped, carrying basin after basin of clean water for Elena.
After a while, Charlotte's body was thoroughly cleaned, though he remained unconscious.
Elena sat by the bedside, looking at Charlotte's motionless form. She couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
"Why are you so foolish? You always listen to me, even when it's dangerous. What would I do if you were gone? You brought me out of Askaka Island, but you can't leave me now!" Elena cried, clutching Charlotte's arm.
Her sobs filled the ship, audible even to Paul and Isaac, who stood outside the door. They bowed their heads, sharing her somber mood.
Normally, Paul and Isaac would smoke to relieve their stress, but Charlotte had banned smoking on the ship ever since Elena's pregnancy. The order had annoyed many crew members, but none dared defy it in her presence.
At this moment, Paul and Isaac both longed for a cigarette to ease their tension.
The navigator approached them, interrupting their thoughts.
"Captain Paul, Captain Isaac, should we head to Fishman Island next, or go directly to the New World?" the navigator asked.
Paul, now acting as the de facto leader, pondered for a moment before replying.
"Fishman Island is too close to the Sabaody Archipelago, and our last visit there wasn't exactly friendly. With the boss in a coma, we could be vulnerable to retaliation. It's safer to head directly to the New World," Paul decided, looking to Isaac for confirmation.
Isaac nodded in agreement.
With their decision made, the navigator adjusted their course. Instead of stopping at Fishman Island, they bypassed it, opting to surface once they reached the New World.
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Meanwhile, Charlotte's injuries were healing at an astonishing rate. Minor wounds had closed, and even deeper injuries were showing significant improvement. His bruised face had regained some of its usual appearance.
Elena stayed by his side for three days, never leaving the room. She fed him, cleaned his wounds, and observed his rapid recovery with amazement. Though surprised, she was grateful for his resilience.
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Outside the ship, Paul gave the order to ascend.
"Get ready to surface! We've left the Navy's sphere of influence," Paul instructed the crew.
After three tense days underwater, they finally resurfaced. As the ship broke through the waves, the coating cracked and peeled away, revealing the endless blue sea and the warm sun.
Paul felt a wave of relief as he gazed at the calm ocean.
"How long until we reach the next island? We're running low on supplies," Paul asked the navigator.
The navigator consulted his charts and the ship's log pose.
"Captain, the nearest island for resupply is Jarzburg, also known as the Kingdom of Endless War," the navigator reported.
Paul frowned. He had heard of Jarzburg, a small island plagued by constant conflict among its five or six kingdoms. Its reputation for chaos made it infamous even in the New World.
But with no other options nearby, Paul sighed. "Set a course for Jarzburg!"
The navigator nodded, and the crew quickly adjusted their heading.
As the ship sailed toward Jarzburg, Paul stared at the horizon, deep in thought.
"Boss, when will you wake up? It's been three days already," Paul muttered to himself, his voice filled with concern.
Isaac, standing beside him, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Paul. The boss will probably wake up in the next day or two. You've done a great job keeping things under control," Isaac said encouragingly.
Paul managed a faint smile, grateful for Isaac's support. "Let's hope you're right. The boss always pulls through."
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