After some verification,
Colin had a clear understanding of Strong Life I.
Although the tests were limited and he didn't know if he could regenerate severed limbs,
common injuries such as punctures and cuts now seemed insignificant to him.
Often, the blood hadn't even had time to flow before the wound had already closed, and moments later, it would heal without a trace.
Ping, sheathing his stinger sword, Colin ended his testing.
Just then, Renee came in with breakfast,
"Master."
She placed the wooden tray on the table.
On it was a dish of fried fish, a plate of bean sprouts, and a piece of white bread.
Though simple, it was exquisite and fragrant.
"Well done."
After trying a bite, Colin praised her.
He was lucky to have Renee, freeing him from tasks such as cooking, tidying the room, managing sailors, giving orders... and other everyday trifles.
The briny sea breeze blew incessantly.
Standing on deck, all that met the eyes was an expanse of blue.
In the first two days at sea, he found it quite novel and would always stop at the prow to gaze out.
But after that, it turned to tedium.
The ocean, the seabirds.
The blue ocean, the white seabirds.
His view was filled with this unchanging scenery; even the passage of time seemed blurred.
Thus, three days had safely passed unnoticed.
On the fourth day, in the early morning,
Captain Riel hurried to Colin's cabin to see him.
"You're saying several sailors haven't slept for so many days?"
Straightening up in the armchair in the captain's cabin, Colin looked at Riel with a puzzled inquiry:
The rhythm of the waves outside the window splashed steadily, and the circling seabirds near and far cried out intermittently.
This should have been a relaxing scene, but hearing Riel's description, Colin couldn't help feeling on edge.
When sailing the seas, what one feared most wasn't ghosts or sea monsters but such inexplicable and eerie events.
"Bring them to me for inspection."
He mused for a moment before instructing Riel.
"Yes, my lord," Riel left in a hurry.
Colin stroked his chin, which was beginning to show stubble.
He then suddenly turned to Renee, who stood quietly aside, and asked,
"Have you noticed anything unusual lately?"
Renee frowned slightly in thought, but ultimately shook her head,
"I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary, Master."
Colin nodded slightly, waiting for Captain Riel to bring the insomniac sailors.
His fair arm rested on the table, his fingers unconsciously tapping.
In recent days, besides training, he had been studying the sailing knowledge contained within the Knowledge Crystal and comparing it to his actual observations.
At the same time, he would ask the original second mate, now Captain Riel, for additional sailing knowledge for comparison.
But after only three days, his understanding of sailing could hardly even be considered a start.
The ship's operations still largely depended on its original crew.
Although only a few ordinary sailors were experiencing issues for the moment, it was important to nip the problem in the bud.
If the problem were to escalate, even if he and the Renee sisters, as Transcendents, could survive, just a few of them trying to successfully reach Bananka Island...
At that thought, Colin became restless, getting up from the recliner and deciding to visit the sailors' quarters personally.
"Master?" Renee saw him rise and asked in confusion.
"I'm going over to the sailors, and while I'm at it, I'll inspect the cabins," he explained.
For such an abnormal event, naturally, every related aspect should be checked as thoroughly as possible.
At this moment, they were passing through the deep-sea region, the dark blue water beneath their feet extending thousands of meters in depth.
On this boundless expanse of blue sea, their only support was the fragile three-masted sailing ship beneath them.
He couldn't afford to be anything but cautious and careful.
Colin, accompanied by Renee, left the captain's cabin and walked down the deck.
The moment they stepped onto the wooden floor of the first level, they encountered Riel, who was with the sailors.
"Sir?" Riel was initially startled, then a look of panic crossed his face, "The sailors were just working, and it will take quite some time to gather them all together…"
Colin waved his hand, cutting off his explanation.
"It's me who wanted to come and see."
"Take me to the cabin where they reside."
"Yes," Riel said, visibly relieved.
He turned around, ready to lead Colin to the sailors' quarters not far away.
However, the sailors following behind him stopped, only after a long moment did they realize, and slowly turned to follow him.
Taking advantage of the moment, Colin scrutinized the sailors suffering from insomnia.
There were four insomniac sailors in total, all bearing the same exhausted look.
Deep, black bags under their eyes, bloodshot and bulging, their faces yellowed and haggard.
And—
Beneath the Supersensitive Vision, their Spirit Fog was much thinner than that of ordinary people.
Without showing any reaction, Colin briskly followed Riel to the sailors' quarters.
The door to the cabin was already open, and he walked in slowly, carefully surveying the surroundings.
Naturally, the sailors' quarters couldn't compare to his own private captain's cabin.
Somewhat reminiscent of dormitory rooms from a previous life, there were two single bunk beds fixed to the cabin wall.
Smaller than the dormitories, they were extremely cramped.
However, the sanitary conditions were better than he imagined, at least not overtly filthy, just a slight odor.
Colin carefully scanned the area, his brow furrowed slightly.
Even in a state of heightened sensitivity, he did not detect anything unusual about this place.
Whoosh!
The faint light from the Detect Evil witchcraft was released from his hands, sweeping over the entire cabin.
The feedback indicated nothing was amiss.
Colin felt a slight sinking in his heart and raised his right hand slightly.
Dark golden patterns flickered along his forearm.
In the next second, a scepter adorned with dark golden patterns appeared in his hand.
Clutching the Foolishness Scepter, Colin once again used Detect Evil.
A much stronger witchcraft glow swept over the cabin again.
And the result...
Still turned up nothing.
"Sir, would you like to check the other cabins?" Riel asked, "These four sleepless sailors are housed in three separate cabins."
"Lead the way," Colin said, holding the Foolishness Scepter, his expression became somewhat grave.
"Very well, Sir."
Next, Colin thoroughly examined the remaining two cabins, even inspecting the other two where no issues had arisen with the sailors.
Yet, he still found nothing out of the ordinary.
Inside the last cabin.
Colin put away the Foolishness Scepter and with a stern face, asked the sleep-deprived sailors in front of him:
"Tell me about the specifics of your situation."
The sailors were in a state of stupor.
After a while, a young man slowly began to speak:
"Sir, we just can't sleep; ever since boarding the ship, we can't sleep. Our eyes are tired when open, but once closed, we can't fall asleep no matter what."
"Have you noticed anything unusual or any signs?"
"Unusual..." The young sailor with a sallow complexion furrowed his brow.
Suddenly!
"Black pupils!"
"A black pupil larger than our three-masted sailing ship!"
"Right beneath us!"
Before he could speak, another sailor next to him, with disheveled hair and so many blood vessels in his eyes that they turned red, began to shout frantically!
It seemed that a keyword had been triggered, and the three sailors beside him also suddenly began to shout, their faces full of terror.
Colin's expression changed.
Under the Supersensitive Vision, the first sailor who had screamed showed his Spirit Fog shaking violently, as if boiling and continuously evaporating.
And the three sailors beside him, influenced by him, also saw their Spirit Fog begin to surge tumultuously!