Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 779: Solution

Tobba found it difficult to describe the central computer from his perspective, but apparently, this wasn't strange at all. According to him, the world could be viewed from many different perspectives, and the human realm was just a part of those perspectives.

If one were staring at a certain object in a certain place, the object would become something else entirely upon entering another perspective, even without moving from one's current location.

In reality, Hope Island was an island, but it was a large flying creature made out of white clouds in the perspective where Tobba was located.

According to Tobba, it was possible to attack the central computer—which he named "Big Tree"—from his current perspective.

This was made possible not because he could affect the current reality from the perspective he was in—it was possible because the gods were too "heavy," and reality alone couldn't withstand their weight, so their bodies would overflow into the other perspectives.

The bodies of the gods would occupy more perspectives the more powerful they were. Tobba even said that he had seen a god whose body was occupying all forty-three perspectives. He couldn't see it clearly, as he had to flee for his life.

The central computer was the brain of a god. It was the reason behind its extreme power, but it was also its biggest weakness.

If the central computer was attacked from another perspective, it wouldn't die, but it would become a lunatic like Tobba.

Charles' conversation with Tobba was cut short because the invisible perspective police would soon catch up to him. Before the two parted, Tobba handed Charles a paper rabbit made from a newspaper and told him to pull his right middle finger once the grave was done.

Once Charles was inside Tobba's current perspective, Sparkle could then teleport Tobba's actual person to SITE 2. Charles asked Tobba about what he had to prepare for the upcoming attack, but Tobba told him that he need not prepare anything—his messed-up brain was apparently a weapon in itself.

"Can we even trust that Tobba? What if that lunatic is a spy of the Foundation," Anna said with a hint of worry on her delicate face upon learning about the upcoming attack.

Charles was reminded of the time he had spent with Tobba over the past few years. He was reminded of everything—from Skywater Island until now. Finally, Charles nodded and said, "He's the Navigator of the Narwhale. I trust him."

There was one thing Charles hadn't mentioned. It was impossible to "kill" someone in another perspective. Even if the Foundation ended up ambushing him in the perspective where the so-called "Big Tree" was located. He'd simply become a madman like Tobba in the worst-case scenario; he wouldn't die at all.

Moreover, he had the fleshly body of Edikth's Chosen One, and even if he ended up becoming a lunatic, they could still use him to lift that seal. In other words, the deterrent would remain even in the worst-case scenario.

His family and his crew on the island would be safe.

Meanwhile, Pede only had one brain. The central computer couldn't be replicated, and once it was no longer functional, the Foundation would weaken greatly. Even if they couldn't destroy the Foundation outright, the latter was bound to be severely weakened, narrowing the gap between both sides.

With that thought in mind, Charles was convinced that it was a risk worth taking.

"The Foundation will surely be plunged into chaos once the central computer suddenly becomes nonfunctional. If I don't make it back, I need you to step forward as the Governor of Hope Island, gather all our forces, and then take advantage of the chaos to ambush the Foundation.

"It's best to rescue the Foundation members under Fhtagn's influence. With those traitors' help, the Foundation would become much easier to handle."

Anna was stunned by Charles' determined words.

Then, she walked over to him, wrapped her arms around Charles' neck. She sat on his lap, crossed one leg over the other and gently said, "Why did you sound like you were leaving your last words just now?

"It seems that I have to make something clear to you—if you end up dying, this place will no longer matter to me. If I end up doing something different by then, you better not blame me for it."

Charles put a hand on her waist before carrying her in a princess carry toward the sunny balcony. The two of them swept their gaze across the bustling Hope Island. "Look at them."

Hope Island's First Street—a strip of land that led all the way to the harbor district from the Governor's Mansion—was jam-packed with people as usual. Amidst the crowd, the two saw Gunner Lily sitting in the palm of Weapon Grace. The two were happily strolling alongside Second Mate Nico.

A green centipede-like creature was hanging upside down from Hope Island's canopy. The creature was none other than Norton, and he was using his internal sonar to monitor the entire island.

The former cook of the Narwhale, Frey, was sitting in the back of a convertible with two beauties, one in each arm. His big belly quivered as he boasted about his awe-inspiring encounters as an explorer.

There were also the islanders living on Hope Island. They didn't notice the governor's gaze and were living their own ordinary lives in peace.

"Everything before you was hard-won. Wouldn't it be a shame if the Foundation were to completely erase all of these?"

Anna revealed a contemptuous expression as she said, "If you think it's a shame, then let them fight for themselves. Why do you have to risk your life every time? What? Do you think you're Spider-Man or something? 'With great power comes great responsibility'?"

Charles looked down and rubbed his nose against Anna's high nose. "It must be done. In addition to the people before us, there's you and Sparkle as well. And that is why failure is not an option; we simply can't afford it."

Just then, Charles was suddenly reminded of his "children" on that island. There would be no limits to how many interaction experiments the Foundation could do using Hope Island's population.

Charles also didn't even dare to imagine what they'd do if either Anna or Sparkle landed in their hands.

Anna sighed softly. She looked up, revealing her fair neck as she kissed Charles on the lips.

"Go. I already know that I can't stop you. I will do everything I can to support you from behind the scenes. I just want you to remember one thing—if you end up dying, other men will end up playing with your wife, and they might beat Sparkle up, too."

Charles chuckled at that. He patted Anna's back and said, "I don't think I have to worry about that. I'm afraid there are only a few people capable of doing that throughout the Subterranean Sea."

The progress on Tobba's grave was slow, as he insisted on mixing the cement and creating the tombstone himself.

Charles decided to take advantage of the wait time to learn more about the Foundation through A2 and brainstorm plans to gnaw away at the Foundation with the others through the Subterranean Sea Council meetings.

Amidst the same sea of chaos, Charles and A2 saw each other again.

"Have you found a way to deal with the central computer? Don't deny it yet. You've been asking me questions about the locations of the Pedes, so it's not that hard to deduce what you're trying to do.

"The Pedes are one of the Foundation's strongest weapons. Plan Three is up there as well. If the Pedes and the central computer somehow vanished, then the Foundation can be considered dead by then," A2 calmly asked.

Charles smiled and said nothing. He only wanted the information in A2's mind. It was true that he was indeed cooking up something behind the scenes, but he believed it'd be better if only a few people were privy to it.

"It doesn't matter if you don't tell me. Based on the questions you've asked me so far, I already have a gist of what you're trying to do. Anyway, let's talk about something else, then. How about the Fhtagn Covenant? I heard that you're nursing a grudge against the Fhtagn Covenant. Is it true?"