Navigator: I Have a Legendary Exploration Log

"I'd like some pork ham and fried eggs, plus a large piece of fine beef tenderloin, and double portions of all the side dishes, preferably with a rich sauce."

In a quiet and luxurious private dining room, Cheryl held the menu in both hands, making no attempt to hide her voracious appetite.

The waiter, pen and paper in hand, quickly jotted down the stranger's request.

He bowed slightly, his crisp black tailcoat without a single wrinkle, only his snow-white silk bow tie made his head stand up slightly, not as humble and respectful as his posture.

The waiter's gaze swept over Cherris's old waterproof trench coat, the cuffs of which were frayed.

The smell of the sea and the acidity of sweat made Cheryl seem out of place in this upscale private room, which was decorated with vases and perfume.

"Sir, meat and eggs are both controlled substances."

The waiter gave a well-trained, fake smile. "Even at our Blackstone Restaurant, this would cost quite a bit of money."

Upon hearing this...

Chalice paused for a moment.

He looked up at the richly dressed old man opposite him.

"Of course I know this meal isn't cheap, but Mr. Sopot, do I really need to treat you to this meal?"

"Of course not."

Sopot, a senior steward from the governor's mansion, glanced dismissively at the clueless fool.

"You are a distinguished guest of the Governor. If word gets out that we invited you here for an exchange and you have to pay for it, it would be an insult to the Governor's Mansion."

These words were spoken.

The waiter's expression immediately changed upon starting work.

However, before he could apologize and make amends, Sopot had already rung the service bell.

In less than ten seconds.

The waiter, who had recently spent a lot of money to secure a good job, was pulled away by the manager who arrived without any room for argument.

Instead, the manager personally provides service.

"Don't bother us once the dishes are served. Mr. Cherries and I have important matters to discuss."

"Understood! Understood!"

The door to the private room closed gently.

In addition to the floral scent and the not-too-pungent perfume, the air was filled with a rich aroma of meat and a slightly burnt egg smell.

"Captain Cherries, it's a pleasure to see you so soon after returning to port."

Sopot gracefully held his knife and fork, deftly cutting the beef into appropriately sized pieces along the grain.

"I hope that annoying little incident didn't affect your appetite. The steak at Black Rock Restaurant was cooked to perfection, please enjoy! Let's chat while we eat!"

Chalice, of course, had no reason to refuse.

The limited land area can only support a relatively small number of livestock and poultry.

Meat, eggs, and dairy products.

This is especially precious in a world where humans are confined to scattered islands.

A medium-rare steak, a pork sausage, and two perfectly cooked fried eggs with slightly charred edges but not burnt.

Let alone eating it, many islanders probably never even see it in their entire lives.

People who live by the sea live off the sea.

For the most impoverished islanders, eating fish is the norm.

of course.

Captains are among the highest-income earners.

If Cherries were determined, he could definitely afford beef.

He could only barely make it as a cargo ship captain, earning a little more than a fishing captain who worked in coastal waters, but far less than a powerful and wealthy exploration captain.

Besides, the money he painstakingly saved has a great use.

If it weren't for the Governor's Mansion inviting him to dinner, Cherries would never have been willing to come to the famous Black Rock Restaurant and hastily indulge in a feast of steak, sausage, and fried eggs...

……

Sopot chewed on the tender beef while watching Cherries tearing into it with gusto.

He leisurely took a napkin, wiped his mouth, and smiled politely, "It's good to be young!"

"Captain Cherries has a good appetite; just looking at him makes me want to eat more."

"Captain Cherries, what are your plans for the future? For example, wouldn't you like to be able to eat meals like this every day in the future?"

Upon hearing this...

Chalice paused slightly as he cut the meat.

He knew that the real purpose of this "Feast at Hongmen" was about to begin.

Sopot said casually, "I don't want to waste your precious time, so I'll just get straight to the point."

"Mr. Cherry, are you really not going to consider the Governor's suggestion to become his legal husband?"

This statement came out.

Cherries couldn't help but recall the governor of Simon Island who had left a deep impression on him.

Mysterious, powerful, majestic...

From the islanders' perspective, a strong and powerful governor is like a captain navigating a giant ship, providing everyone with the confidence to live a stable life.

If this governor were a woman.

So, Chalice gritted his teeth and steeled himself; taking a shortcut with his eyes closed wasn't out of the question...

But the thought of that tall, bear-like black man snuggling up to her and acting all affectionate and tender was just so appealing.

No matter how many times he thinks about it, Chalice can't help but feel an uncontrollable chill.

Although his years of dealing with the mysterious sea have changed many aspects of his personality, this kind of sacrifice of "a strong man locked up" is something he simply cannot do, even if he grits his teeth to pieces...

The young but weathered, handsome and distinctive captain did not refuse outright.

Sopot pressed his advantage, saying, "This is the Age of Exploration! Open! Inclusive! Being a man's husband is not some shocking scandal!"

"Besides, the Governor's status is so noble that countless bankrupt people with nowhere else to turn try every means to climb into his bed!"

"Besides, the Governor's favor towards you will only last two or three years at most. After three years, you can take a large sum of divorce settlement and pursue your dreams. Wouldn't that be better for everyone?"

Upon hearing this...

Cherries put down his knife and fork.

He sighed softly and delivered the speech he had prepared long ago.

"Thank you for your kindness, but... I still prefer to rely on myself."

Chalice's gaze drifted into the distance, losing focus, and he murmured as if in a dream, "And to be honest, I've been hearing sounds from the deep sea more and more frequently lately."

"I think... perhaps only by going to sea can we find the root cause and completely solve all of this..."

"Oh..."

Sopot, who had always been methodical, finally showed a hint of panic.

As an important member of the Governor's Office, he knew many secrets about the Ghost Sea.

Even though Cheryl's situation was somewhat ambiguous, Sopot didn't want to gamble and dared not gamble.

If this unfortunate young man really did contract some kind of hysteria or insanity, ruining the governor's enjoyment would be secondary; the key issue would be the possibility of him carrying some kind of unspeakable, unknown contamination...

If the governor is truly affected...

The pillars are faltering... the islands are capsizing... such cases are not uncommon everywhere!

Sopot subtly touched a piece of gleaming white stone that he carried with him.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he found nothing amiss.

At this moment, he had already rejected the plan to persuade Cherries to accept the governor's marriage proposal.

No matter how many murmurs Chalis heard, it meant that the young captain had already been "targeted" by the mysterious sea...

What an unlucky young man...