Shrouded Seascape

"You don't have to eat humans anymore?!" Charles asked. He was so excited that he grabbed Anna's shoulders and shook her vigorously. "Can you really survive on human food now?"

The two portions of breakfast were meant for two people, and there were only the two of them in the Captain's Quarters.

Anna found Charles' excitement to be oddly amusing. "Stop shaking me, okay? It's not that big of a deal. Anyway, let me just show you."

With that, Anna took two perfectly toasted slices of bread and spread some of the soft baked beans on them to make a simple sandwich. Then, she swallowed it whole without chewing it.

In the face of Charles's hopeful expression, Anna held up a finger, asking him to wait. Moments later, she took the steaming cup of milk and gulped it down. Anna then proceeded to annihilate her breakfast.

Once she was done with her meal, Anna shoved her fingers into her chest and tugged at something. The skin on Anna's chest was peeled back, revealing a unique set of internal organs.

Anna's lungs and heart were connected, while her remaining organs looked quite different from the organs of human beings. However, the most peculiar-looking of them all was her stomach, which was round and purple.

Anna's stomach undulated gently as it digested what she had just eaten. It also didn't look like an organ that Anna was born with, as it was covered in crooked, centipede-like sutures with small copper tubes buried inside of them.

"I've made some modifications to my stomach. Now, it can digest human food."

It felt like a smooth hot water bottle filled with several squirming mice.

"You've actually modified your own stomach? That's great, but… where did you even get the technology to do so? And how come you did not tell me about it until now?"

Anna swatted Charles' wandering hand away before setting her skin back into place. Then, she raised her chin, seemingly proud of her achievement, as she replied, "It's a secret. Anyway, how's this for a surprise?"

Instead of replying, Charles swooped up Anna, lifting her off of the floor before tossing her high into the air. After catching her, Charles then kissed her beautiful face.

Charles was truly excited. Anna no longer needed to eat people to survive. In other words, as long as the two of them were willing, then they could definitely live like a real human couple.

The two kissed passionately for a while. When their lips parted, Anna stared at Charles with a smile. "This is such a big surprise… are you not going to reward me with something?"

Charles gave Anna's red lips a peck and carried her toward the bed. "I'll give you whatever you want."

Anna struggled free from his arms and jumped down the bed. She waved the Foundation's communicator, saying, "I'm not talking about that. I meant this."

Charles' smile faded away upon seeing the metal disk in Anna's hand.

"Anna, you know that does not belong to me alone. It belongs to the entire Subterranean Sea."

"Don't be so stingy, all right? I'll return it to you in a few days. I'm not going to break it."

Charles cupped Anna's face in his hands and cast a tender gaze at her. "I know you can read memories, but do you know that I can do it, too, Anna?"

"Stop joking. Why don't you just say that you're Superman?" Anna asked, rolling her eyes at him.

"It's a special ability that I can only use on my beloved ones because it's called understanding."

Anna stared calmly and quietly into Charles' eyes.

"I understand you as much as I understand myself. Everything has a red line that must not be crossed, and crossing those red lines or not makes all the difference. We've decided to work with the Foundation, and saving the Subterranean Sea must take precedence over everything else."

"Have you been keeping tabs on me?" Anna asked, her voice sounding a bit solemn.

Charles remained calm as he explained, "I've never sent anyone to keep tabs on you, but I know what you're trying to do here. It's a deduction based on my understanding of you. We've been together for so long, so I understand what you're trying to do.

"But please don't make things difficult for me. Hope Island is no longer just my island. It's the hub connecting the Subterranean Sea to the surface world. We really can't afford to make any more trouble at this point."

"Are you saying that I'm getting a bit too involved in your affairs down there on the island? That I'm meddling too much?" Anna asked, and her expression turned cold as she added, "Fine, then let your people come down here and take over the affairs of Hope Island.

"I'm going to leave, then. I'm working so hard without a salary only to be reprimanded for it."

"Anna, that's not what I'm trying to say. All I'm saying is that—" Charles tried to explain, but Anna shoved the metal disk in his chest and turned around to leave.

Anna's self-deprecating words echoed, piercing Charles' ears. "Here I am, like a dog wagging its tail, hoping for some praise from its master. But not only did I receive no praise, I was even kicked away. I really am pathetic..."

Charles felt a pang in his heart at Anna's remarks. He rushed toward her to try and explain, but Sparkle whisked her away.

"Ah…" Charles sighed helplessly, knocking the metal disk on his forehead. They were having so much fun earlier, all thanks to Anna's surprise, so how come things ended on a bad note?

The rift caused by his hesitation related to the Foundation's condition was almost healed, but another rift was torn open before the previous one could heal. Charles grabbed his diary, urging Sparkle to bring Anna over to the ship.

Just then, Dipp cautiously poked his head into the room through the door.

"Captain, we're approaching our destination. The first mate says that we're descending a bit too fast. You have to hold tight right before we touchdown."

Charles tucked the diary behind his back and waved his hand dismissively at Dipp. "I know."

Dipp hesitated briefly before saying, "Captain, marriage is like sailing a ship. One has to perform maintenance on the ship after a certain period of time. Otherwise, the ship will rust and become covered in barnacles. A ship without proper periodic maintenance will become more and more dilapidated until it is no longer seaworthy and can only be scrapped."

"I don't need you to teach me what to do. Get out," Charles said firmly.

Dipp left obediently, and Charles reflected on his conversation with Anna once he was all alone in his quarters. Did I say something wrong? This matter concerns the entire Subterranean Sea. I cannot give her the Foundation's communicator. It's a matter of principle.

Charles started feeling guilty for what he had done, and as he sprawled out on the bed, he started looking back on his relationship with Anna.

It seems that she's been the one compromising throughout our relationship. Every time we argue, she always softens up first and compromises. Have I been taking her for granted because I think that she cannot love anyone but me?

This isn't healthy at all. I have to change.

Just as Charles was engrossed in his thoughts, there was a loud thud, and a violent tremor ran through the Narwhale.

The small items in the room were thrown to the floor, and the subtle feeling of weightlessness vanished.

The Narwhale had touched down.

Charles poked his head out to look at the distant lights of the outpost.

He looked down at the communicator in his hand, and his gaze became determined. His argument with Anna had to be put aside for now. The top priority was securing the Foundation's help.

Resolving the world-ending crisis of the rising sea levels took precedence over everything else. First of all, they had to secure a habitable space for mankind, or everything would be in vain.

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