Steering and Debate

__________ POV Ashton__________

I have steered the ship underwater for around three hours until the sky relaxed and gave way to the sun.

During this time, Ging and Beyond would sometimes come and talk to me. Just going over the plans and asking if everything was all right on my side.

It was a bit funny to see the relief on the faces of some of the hunters when the ship finally came out of the water.

After bringing it out of the water I switched places with Beyond momentarily. He knows the direction and he knows what to do. So I don't need to worry about him screwing things up.

While on my break, I went and talked to some of the members of the expedition. Only a few seemed to actually want to talk to me.

The sushi chef Usamen just thanked me for pulling him out from the fight. He was a bit embarrassed at having lost.

Another member that talked to me was obviously Ging. Who seems to have a decent opinion of me. I guess he doesn't know that I blew off his son's legs...

But he does know that I helped save his life! So that's why he's a bit more welcoming than the other members.

Well, there's also Pariston, who I like seeing squirm whenever I pretend to take a step towards him. It's quite clear that he fears me for some reason, but I still haven't remembered why.

Marione only spoke to me to tell me that 'she could've continued fighting' and that 'we would've won if I didn't pull everyone away'.

I think she realises that winning in that situation wouldn't have meant anything. It would've just weakened both groups before their respective expeditions.

But she's a bit too prideful to admit that they were in a really shitty position. If that fight continued the Zodiac's reinforcements would've arrived. And the situation would've been a lot messier.

The Expedition Group would've slowly been overwhelmed without me there anyway. Botobai and Kanzai individually could've proved dangerous for most members of the expeditions...

Muherr was still too deep in thought to engage in conversation. He said he's busy thinking of a way to contact the other supporting members of the expedition.

Phones aren't really useful, and only a few members could be contacted through walkie talkies and other devices.

Well, I'll leave it to them to figure those things out. I don't feel like helping them with everything.

Curly was just lazing around, he hadn't been all that injured, just tired. Apparently, he played a role in the earlier fights before they reached the meeting room.

He said he was going to try and sleep a bit. He was really friendly so I decided to give him one of my many beds.

He was thankful, even saying that he would love to ask me a few things about the continent. He's a scholar apparently.

Mascher, the fatty with an egg head, was already sleeping. I think he found travelling underwater quite relaxing.

Golem didn't even want to acknowledge my presence. Quite rude, but I didn't really let it get to me.

I think I've come a long way because if this was a year ago I would've scrapped that tin can and used it as an anchor.

And that's a good thing, my temper was never great to have. It always made me do things on impulse and altered my decisions greatly.

When I think about it, I could've easily realised that the Ant King was dangerous on our first clash, when I helped heal that little girl...

But I refused to admit that an ant could be of any danger to me. Otherwise, I had many ways I could've prepared to fight the king in his powered state, even without my relics...

I just lacked caution.

Well, enough about that. This isn't really the time for such thoughts. I have a ship to take care of.

We travelled like that for two days. Beyond and I constantly took turns steering the ship and resting.

I didn't really sleep because I don't actually need to.

Curly was also more than happy to talk the nights away with me. We are both really longwinded people when we want to be.

He told me of his scholarly achievements and I told him of the numerous nuclear advancements I had made.

Eventually, our conversation steered its way around to the continent. Which he was extremely happy to listen about.

"Countless species are littering that place. It is mostly unexplored by mankind." He just nodded.

He didn't bother telling me that he already knew this, as he realised this was just the start.

"I've spent many years there, and I can tell you quite a lot about the areas I've lived in." The continent is far too large for a single man to explore.

That's why I also doubt Don managed to finish his journey. Even if he hasn't perished, it simply takes a perverse amount of time just to walk the entire continent.

"So, you've lived there?" He asked, a bit surprised. I guess I didn't tell this group that I'm a native, only Beyond knows. Well, it won't really hurt to tell this guy.

"Of course, I lived there for most of my life. Only coming here alongside Beyond's father much later." I said with a smile. He looked a bit surprised.

"Then you must be quite old. I thought you were around 60... Even if you look to be 40..." He seemed to be quite embarrassed at not guessing my age...

"It's not like you had any way of knowing..." It's not like I act like a grandpa at all times.

"I see... Would you like to tell me about how living there was? I heard many things about the place, but not many called it... Hospitable." His curiosity is nice to see.

Too many people are either too afraid to ask questions or too uninterested. Well, I also wouldn't really have talked about this with anyone in the past...

"Well-" I started explaining some parts of my experience with the Continent to him. I didn't mention that the monsters used to be friendly.

I left many things out of my explanation. I didn't actually want to tell all of my secrets to this guy. Only talk a few things about the flora and fauna that I had experienced personally.

He also didn't inquire too deeply about more personal things.

Our conversation went on for quite a while until morning came and Beyond took over my shift. Curly slept during the day.

We eventually reached the New Continent, catching up to the Black Whale in the process. They definitely noticed us on their radars. But there wasn't much activity from the large ship.

Their action plan is to send out the hunters to investigate and clear out some land while the passengers wait in the Black Whale.

The Ship itself is far too large to dock on the shore, they are using other ships to transfer people to the New Continent. I will take one of those ships soon.

The others decided to start looking for the members that weren't easy to reach. While I decided to go and take the ship.

There was not much else to do for me, other than relaxing and enjoying a bit of sun.

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