chapter 13
Early the next morning, while everyone was still asleep, an old man appeared at their house.
After a brief commotion, the group quickly got dressed and gathered in the living room.
"I heard some noise here last night, so I guessed you were back," the old man said, his gaze filled with relief as he looked at Rhodes and Nelu. His attention then shifted to Nia and Gray, who were still lying on the bed.
"Are these your new partners? It seems you've decided to go to sea."
"Long time no see, Dr. Wolfe," Rhodes greeted with a warm smile.
In their childhood, Rhodes and Nelu had received immense care from Dr. Wolfe. When they first arrived in this world, Rhodes was just a little boy, and Nelu was even younger. Without Dr. Wolfe's help, the two children might not have survived, even with Rhodes's golden finger.
Dr. Wolfe looked at each of them with deep emotion. He had watched these kids grow up—Rhodes, Nelu, and later Luo, Pekin, and Xiaqi. To him, they were like his children. He knew they weren't content with a mundane life. Since childhood, their dream of going to sea had been clear, and he had seen them prepare for it every step of the way.
"As a friend, this is the least I can do for you. Come with me!" Wolfe said with a mysterious smile.
He led them to the woods behind the mountain.
Rhodes, understanding Wolfe's intent, took the lead. Nelu, ignoring Gray's grumbling, hoisted him out of bed, tossed him onto Bepo's back, and followed the others into the woods.
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After about four kilometers, Wolfe stopped in front of a stone wall. Knocking on a specific section, he revealed a hidden switch. When pressed, a door opened in the wall, much to everyone's surprise.
"This is my laboratory," Wolfe announced, leading them inside.
As they descended a long staircase illuminated by faintly glowing walls, Pekin couldn't contain his excitement.
"I can't believe you actually have a secret lab! And you kept it hidden from us all this time!"
"You brat, you never believed me when I told you about it," Wolfe replied with mock indignation.
"You're the sly one, old man! Hiding such an amazing secret base from us!" Pekin retorted, his eyes sparkling with wonder.
From Bepo's back, Gray perked up. "A scientist's lab, huh?" His curiosity was piqued.
Wolfe smiled. "Let me show you something. I've been working on flying machine technology. Once it's completed, traveling to other islands will be much easier—you can fly instead of drifting on the sea."
Gray's eyes lit up. "A flying machine? Brilliant! My name's Gray, and I'm a scientist too. My dream is to build a warship more powerful than the legendary Pluton! But tell me, what powers your flying machine? How do you keep it stable in strong winds? What's your safety mechanism for smooth landings?"
Before Wolfe could answer, exclamations from the others interrupted the exchange.
"Whoa! A ship!"
"Amazing! You've been hiding this from us?"
As the group reached the bottom of the lab, they saw a ship resting on an underground river. However, it was only partially completed, with the mast and deck still under construction.
"I planned to give you my submarine," Wolfe said with a hint of disappointment. "But you didn't seem too enthusiastic about it."
Rhodes turned away, a bit embarrassed. While the yellow submarine was impressive, he preferred a traditional sailboat with a sprawling deck to bask in the sun.
"You can help me finish this one. I think you'd like to have a ship you built yourselves."
Gray jumped down from Bepo excitedly. "Leave it to me!" he declared.
Wolfe hesitated. "That kid's still injured."
"Didn't you tinker with machines right after breaking a few bones in the past?" Rhodes teased.
Wolfe snorted, then waved them off. "Fine, do what you want. Just don't blame me if it collapses!"
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The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. Gray threw himself into the ship's construction, debating designs fiercely with Wolfe. Luo and Bepo assisted, using the mechanical skills they'd picked up from Wolfe over the years. Luo also spent extra time with Wolfe, cherishing their remaining days together.
Meanwhile, Pekin and Xiaqi took Rhodes and the others to the nearby Happy Town to gather supplies. As locals, they knew every shop and shortcut.
Half a month flew by. Gray's tireless passion drove the project forward, and one crisp morning, the pirate ship was finally completed—a testament to their collective effort and dreams.