Crimson and Furs

Chapter Forty: Eyeballs

Mr. Stark came out of the cabin to rejoin with his fellow adventurers. All of them were at the deck chatting happily. There was a large pot suspended over a large gas cylinder, the contents within cooking slowly. A delicious aroma filled the whole atmosphere, drilling into Mr. Stark's nose.

They're cooking, he couldn't help but swallow hard. He hadn't eating for three days now. He had been so occupied with reading so many texts about the Abyss Cult.

"Mr. Stark!" all of them greeted enthusiastically, suspending whatever they were doing. Among the adventurers he was the most revered one in Crimson Springs.

Seeing all the salutations from his fellow adventurers, Mr. Stark couldn't help but feel proud. He resisted the urge to raise his head up and say, "Yeah, good boys. Now stand up and get things done!"

"It's so good to be famous," Mr. Stark muttered to himself. And it's also very good to be notorious, hehe.

He stopped a meter from the edge of the deck, his eyes staring into the vast sea. Although it was night the whole place was brimming with activity. He could hear the bellowing of whales in the deep, the throttling of dolphins and the barking of seals. Several times many sea creatures would dive out of the sea at a go and as if they were mocking the advancing ship, they would plunge themselves back into the water with a loud splash which sometimes sent gusts of water flying onto the deck of the ship.

Although he was drenched by the water and was feeling cold, he didn't leave the deck. Since the other adventurers were here, he decided to stay with them at well. That would give them a great morale to continue the voyage. Who would follow a leader who couldn't stand in the face of tribulation?

"Hey, Stark!" a man bellowed from the distance. He had a spoon in his right hand and was stirring the soup within the large pot. He had a black hair and black eyes, his face more matured than Mr. Stark's. Actually he was older as he was 40 years old.

Mr. Stark smiled at Danton whose main hobby apart from adventuring was cooking. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What are you cooking down there?!"

"Tilapia fish soup!" Danton said merrily as he waved the spoon in the air.

Hearing Danton's statement the other adventurers couldn't help but rush to the edge of the deck to throw up.

"Oh c'mon! Tilapia fish soup again?"

"Man, is that all you got?"

"We've been eating this same stuff for a year now!"

"I'm sick and tired of this...I can't even stand the smell of the soup!"

All the adventurers began complaining as they went back to their various businesses. Some began playing cards while others were chatting, boasting shamelessly about their adventures.

Mr. Stark saw all this and shook his head. Everywhere was so lively and interesting. He couldn't help but smile and hope that things remained that way. But he knew things wouldn't remain that way, not when they were looking for the abyssal zone which was the node connecting the Abyss with the real world. There would great dangers which might even claim the lives of some adventurers (God forbid!).

"I just hope all of us return home safely," Mr. Stark told himself. "I'm responsible for all their lives and can't afford to lose one soul. It would be devastating."

"Mr. Stark!"

"Mr. Stark!"

Two people called him excitingly at the same time. He turned his head and looked in their direction. They were Black and Don. Both of them were looking seriously into their telescope.