“Hmm…” Charles furrowed his brows as he looked at the relic in his hand.


    This relic exchanged intelligence for physical size, making it hard to determine if it was beneficial or not. If one lost basic cognitive abilities, then even great strength would be useless.


    Moreover, if his body grew larger, he wouldn’t be able to use his three relics, and the balance might actually decrease his overall power.


    Charles quickly thought of the best use for this relic. “I can’t use it, but I can give it to my crew.”


    The upcoming adventures would only get more dangerous, and relying on a single person’s strength wouldn’t be enough. The crew of the Narwhal needed to be upgraded in all aspects to avoid holding him back.


    A image of someone with solid muscles flashed through Charles’s mind, and he instantly found a new owner for the relic. Ignoring the still stinging pain in his body, Charles got out of bed and walked out with the relic in hand.


    Thirty minutes later, Charles stood on the deck, shouting at the four-meter-tall engineer, “James, put the relic on the ground! On the ground!”


    The other crew members who had nothing to do gathered around, watching the spectacle with great interest.


    The enlarged James sat down on the deck, causing the entire Narwhal to shake. After three seconds, he finally let go of the pyramid, allowing it to fall to the deck.


    “The decrease in intelligence is greater than I expected,” Charles muttered to himself as he looked at the purple pyramid in his hand.


    Tests showed that the growth in physique made the body incredibly strong, but the reduction in intelligence was致命. Someone would need to command James at all times, or he would just stand there playing with his fingers.


    “Captain, can I play with this thing?” asked Dipp, curiosity written all over his face, as he and a group of sailors crowded around.


    Charles thought for a moment and then tossed the pyramid to them. “You all give it a try and see who it suits best.”


    The deck became lively as the crew members tried out the relic, laughing and joking as if it were a toy. Charles didn’t stop them. People weren’t machines, and opportunities to relax on the sea were rare.


    After giving a few instructions, Charles headed back to his quarters, his wounds starting to hurt again. Time at sea passed quickly, and Charles’s corrosive wounds healed rapidly. Occasional minor incidents were perfectly handled by the crew. For once, he enjoyed the privileges of being a captain.


    When the lighthouse of Coral Island came into view, the entire Narwhal was nearly overturned by the crew’s cheer. They had survived once again.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    As soon as the ship docked, everyone rushed off after receiving their pay from Charles, eager to release their pent-up frustrations.


    Charles, holding the remaining two relics, planned to visit the Explorer’s Association. He wanted to see if other captains had any clues about these items, as their uses and potential dangers were unknown.


    Just as he was about to disembark, Charles saw Lili surrounded by brown rats on the dock.


    Charles walked over and realized that Lili, with her drooping ears, hadn’t left.


    “Why haven’t you gone home?” he asked.


    Charles’s question startled Lili, and she turned around hastily. “Mr. Charles.”


    “What are you doing standing here? Why didn’t you go home? Didn’t you always want to go home?” Charles picked her up by the tail.


    “But I’ve turned into a rat. Will my mother recognize me? Will she chase me out with a broom?” Lili asked pitifully.


    Charles understood. It was natural for a child to be afraid after such a drastic change.


    “Don’t worry. No parent would dislike their own daughter, even if you’ve turned into a rat,” Charles comforted her.


    “Really?” Lili’s ears perked up.


    “Really, really,” Charles said, seeing a resemblance to his own sister in the little rat.


    Lili shook her body excitedly. “Mr. Charles, you’re right. My mother won’t forget me. She must be missing me after I’ve been gone for so long.”


    Charles set her down and was about to leave when Lili held onto his finger and said, “Mr. Charles, can you take me home?”


    Charles was about to refuse, but then he saw the pitiful look on the little rat’s face.


    Charles let out a slight sigh. “Alright, I’ll take you home.”


    The little girl had turned into a rat for some unknown reason, and it was unclear if she could ever turn back. Charles felt pity for her and decided to help if he could.


    Soon, a strange scene unfolded at Dock 3 of Coral Island. A man with black pupils paraded through the streets with a large group of rats.


    After Charles paid four times the fare and assured the steam car driver that the rats wouldn’t chew the cushions, the driver reluctantly agreed to take them.


    Lili’s home was nearly an hour’s drive from the port, and the closer they got, the more excited Lili became.


    She must be very happy now, Charles thought, looking at the white rat twirling around his thigh with a hint of envy. Will I have a day like this too?


    “Sir, we’ve arrived. The house on the left corner is Dr. Oliver’s. There’s a lovely little girl in that house. You’d better not bring these rats over; they might scare her,” the driver said.


    Lili, who couldn’t wait any longer, jumped off the car before it even stopped and raced full speed towards the corner with the rats.


    As Lili reached the corner, her small body froze as if electrified.


    “Hmm?” Sensing something was wrong, Charles walked over.


    To the left of the corner stood an elegant two-story villa. In the front yard, a gentle mother was having tea and chatting with her daughter.


    The daughter, who looked around eleven or twelve years old, resembled Hermione from the first season of Harry Potter. The liveliness in her eyes foretold that she would grow up to be even more charming than her mother.


    “Lili, do you have a sister or a brother?” Charles asked hesitantly, as the mother in the distance didn’t seem to be suffering from the loss of a child.


    Charles’s words snapped Lili out of her trance, and she broke down into loud screams.


    “AAAAH!! That Lili is fake! I’m mother''s daughter! She must be the witch from the stories! She turned me into a rat and took my mother’s love! I’ll bite her to death!!”


    With that, Lili, along with the rats who had started to bare their teeth, charged towards the distant mother and daughter.


    Charles lifted his left hand, adorned with the ring, and caught Lili mid-air. “Calm down!”


    Seeing the white rat in distress, the rats quickly turned around, baring their teeth and glaring at Charles with menacing eyes.


    Just as Charles’s other hand reached for his clown mask, Lili stopped the rats’ attack. Suspended in the air, she cried loudly.


    “Waaaah, Mr. Charles, I can’t go home. My mother doesn’t want me… What should I do??”