Shrouded Seascape

Charles was referring to Feuerbach. However, given that Feuerbach was one of the clones in the Foundation, it was highly likely to be a fake name.

Feuerbach knew everything about Charles, and by extension, the Foundation would be fully aware of his background too.

Charles wasn't particularly worried about this. Compared to the chaotic ongoing issues in the Subterranean Sea, his identity as someone who had transmigrated from a thousand years ago wasn't that significant.

"If I get the chance, I'll look you up in the central computer," T said before suddenly shouting. "Hey! Charles! Stop! They're right ahead. If you go any farther, they'll see you."

Burying himself into the white dandelion-like fluff, Charles felt as if all his energy had been sapped out of him. His injuries were still constantly gnawing at his nerves.

However, he couldn't afford the time to lament over his pain. The vibrations of footsteps and voices from the distance indicated a tense situation.

"Bandages, don't overthink this," Swapped Charles began. "I've told you before. Don't try to understand these monsters. Everything they do is to try to beguile you. Besides, I could answer all of your questions comprehensively.

"So what's there to doubt? Look, I haven't even left you guys for a single second. How could I be influenced by anything? If you are doubting me, then you might as well doubt everyone here because we've all been together this whole time.

"If we continue harboring suspicion for one another, our entire group will just fall apart soon," Swapped Charles said, and a trace of annoyance flickered across his visage.

Bandages silently observed his captain. Suddenly he extended his hand, a black thorn appearing in the middle of his palm. "I… want to… see… your blood."

A hint of rage crossed Swapped Charles' face. Instantly, a sharp spike materialized in his hand, and he slashed it across his own palm. Droplets of crimson blood fell, slowly dyeing the white dandelion fluff on the ground red.

"Is this enough? Bandages, stop wasting time. Don't forget where we are now. And don't forget I am the captain of the Narwhale!"

Ignoring Charles, Bandages dipped his finger into the blood and pointed it toward Linda.

The bald ship doctor licked the blood off Bandages' finger and swallowed it before reporting, "Everything's normal."

Clad in his red beast hide, Dipp stepped forward with Norton and his group of sailors. He glared at Bandages with apparent hostility.

Noticing Dipp's icy glare, Second Mate Nico stepped out of the crowd and pulled Bandages back.

"First Mate, let's stop. The captain is really angry," Nico whispered.

Bandages remained in his spot. He lifted his head and scanned the various faces looking at him. Suddenly, he took a step back to indicate that this was the end of his suspicions.

However, truth to be told, he hadn't come to terms with his own doubts. However, no one had taken his side, so there was no point in insisting on his opinion.

"Buddy, your condition is worsening. Maybe after this expedition, you should take some time off after we return," Swapped Charles commented before turning toward the distant black hole.

"Everyone, prepare the explosives!" Swapped Charles started to give instructions. "Blow open the entrance so that we have a clear way out later. Bring down the soft ladder from the Narwhale. We'll use it to descend. Move quickly!"

As the crew busied themselves with the preparations, Charles, who was observing the situation from three hundred meters away, grew increasingly anxious.

As the Captain of the Narwhale and the Governor of Hope Island, he held absolute authority. Even if Bandages was suspicious, he couldn't oppose Swapped Charles, as the rest of the crew was under his control.

For the first time ever, Charles felt a pang of resentment toward this authoritarian setup.

A sharp pain abruptly erupted from his severed limbs, making Charles wince in agony.

"Fuck!" Charles desperately wanted to do something, but there was nothing he could do in this situation. He knew that in his current body, even if he were to charge in, he would just end up suffering a swift death at the hands of his far more powerful self. Against the formidable Level 12 Swapped Charles, his current battered monstrous form was no more than an ant.

Don't get worked up. Stay calm. The more critical the circumstances, the calmer you should be. Think. Is there any way to turn the tide around? Charles thought as he tried to suppress the panic and fear within him.

Boom!

A violent tremor shook the ground; Charles felt it too well. The hole's entrance had been blown open, and the crew was preparing to descend.

Think! In the current situation, there must be a way to counteract that monster and escape this trap!

Squeak… Squeak squeak!

A peculiar sound was approaching. Charles recognized it soon enough—it was one of Lily's mice.

"Mouse? Mouse!" Charles lunged forward and before the mouse could sound a warning, he grabbed it in his hands.

Feeling the mouse's soft, furry body, a sudden idea emerged in Charles' head.

If he couldn't get close to the humans, then why not use the mice to influence the others? After all, Lily's mice were exceptionally intelligent.

Charles rapidly cleared off a large patch of white fluff. Holding the mouse in one hand, he used his two other hands to quickly draw a simple sketch on the ground.

With simple, comic-like illustrations, he conveyed the events to the mouse.

"I'm the real Charles. The one in that body is a fake! Do you understand what I'm drawing?"

As the mouse nodded repeatedly, Charles felt a surge of relief rising within him.

"Even if you don't believe me, it's fine. Go back and find Lily. Get her to secretly open my diary and summon Anna. She can determine who the real one is. That imposter's memory will surely contain traces of 1189-1."

The mouse was then placed back down on the ground. It let out a soft squeak before disappearing into the blanket of white dandelion-like fluff. Soon after, a crowd of mice surrounded Charles. They were the ones sent out for reconnaissance

They circled his drawings and writings, trying to take in the information.

"Stop looking! Go quickly! They're about to go down!"

At Charles's urging, the mice scattered in a flurry.

Charles waited in anxious anticipation for the mice's return. From the distant vibrations, he could feel that his crew had already started lining up to enter the black hole.

Just as Charles felt that the vibrations of footsteps were growing fainter, a few mice scurried back. They surrounded Charles and continuously squeaked to convey something. However, Charles couldn't understand them.

"They said that Lily has been put into Charles' pocket and can't hear them," T suddenly voiced out.

Every plan that he could possibly had was countered perfectly by his imposter. After all, who would know Charles better than himself?

The next moment, Charles suddenly froze. "Wait, T. You can understand them?"

"I told you before; I do theoretical research. These ALB/c strain mice were bred for our experiments. Out of the 30,000 to 40,000 genes they possess, about 90% of them are highly similar to that of a human.

"Later, we realized there was no need to use mice. We could just use real humans instead."