Chapter 39: The Ghost Ship Is a Wreck

The Tree expedition team navigated their cutter alongside the drifting ship. Up close, while signs of damage were evident along the hull, the vessel overall appeared relatively new.

"It doesn’t seem all that old," Commander Eve observed.

"Yes, ma’am, Commander. Initial structural scans suggest it hasn’t been long since it was constructed," Ringo confirmed.

"Interesting. So, this could be a modern ship? It might give us insights into their technological level," Eve mused.

As the Commander and Ringo analyzed the ship’s exterior, Utsugi and Erika, unable to contain their excitement, began tugging at her hands from both sides.

"Sis, hurry up!"

"Sis, let’s climb aboard! Let’s go!"

"Alright, alright. Hold on a second," she replied patiently.

Their eagerness was understandable, but this was also a training exercise. Proper procedures needed to be followed.

"Ringo?"

"Yes, ma’am, Commander. We’ll circle around first to ensure there’s no immediate danger. Ichigo, take the helm," Ringo instructed.

"Yes!" Ichigo responded, increasing the engine’s power. The cutter began to move parallel to the drifting ship.

"Whoa!"

"It’s so beat up!"

"Barnacles and crustaceans usually attach after a long time. There don’t seem to be many. This ghost ship has a short history," Akane commented insightfully, though her conclusion veered toward her fixation on it being a ghost ship. Whatever stories she had read must have left an impression.

"Ringo, the joint assist mechanism is impressive. Is it pre-programmed?" Olive asked, squatting and twirling experimentally.

"No, I’m providing real-time support. To achieve this level of motion assistance, a local human-level motor neural system is required," Ringo explained.

Olive, engrossed in testing the suit, kept herself busy.

"They’re so unique," Eve muttered.

Despite being identical in design—down to their humanoid communicator chassis and deep-integrated brain units—the five sisters each had distinct personalities. Initially, Ringo had intended to implement high-level thought guidance and behavioral controls. However, Eve had quickly grown attached to her sisters and decided against it.

The differences emerged almost immediately after their imprinting process, with clear distinctions in demeanor by the following day. Watching this unfold, Eve decided to nurture their individuality through external stimuli and day-to-day experiences.

Time was abundant, so allowing a slower developmental pace posed no issues.

"Turning toward the bow," Ichigo reported as the cutter steered around the ship’s front. The opposite side revealed no significant differences. The vessel’s overall appearance confirmed its relatively new condition. The fate of its crew was another matter entirely—what circumstances had led to their demise?

"Any issues?" Eve asked.

"No major structural damage or evidence of deliberate sabotage," Ringo replied.

"No skeleton crew?"

"No one-armed captains either!" Utsugi and Erika chimed in.

"Your conclusions are so off..." Eve sighed, though she hadn’t expected much else from those two.

Ruffling Akane’s head in acknowledgment of her more serious observations, Eve turned to Olive.

"With these protective suits, we could even win against a skeleton captain," Olive remarked confidently.

"That’s... not the point," Eve muttered.

"Navigation logs. Ringo, can you read them?"

"Yes, ma’am, Commander. Some terms are unfamiliar, but I understand most of it. The language lessons in Telek Harbor proved useful," Ringo replied.

Meanwhile, the five sisters enthusiastically explored the interior of the ship, searching for skeletal sailors and ghostly wraiths. Accompanied by five humanoid communicator drones, their safety was ensured. Additionally, the entire ship had been thoroughly scanned by drones beforehand.

"Have the logs been deciphered?"

"Yes, ma’am. Shall I summarize?"

"Go ahead."

The captain’s cabin, relatively undisturbed, provided an ideal location for investigation. The logs indicated a meticulous personality, with entries spanning significant events.

"About two months after departure, the first issue arose. The outer wheel power generator malfunctioned. Repairs were deemed impossible, so the logs note the transfer of ‘Tone Mag’ to an escort ship. The exact nature of ‘Tone Mag’ remains unclear, but we have its phonetics," Ringo explained.

"Sounds like it might have been some sort of fuel. If they had no use for it on this ship, transferring it makes sense," Eve speculated.

"Precisely, ma’am. Following that, the voyage continued smoothly for another month until the ship encountered a storm."

"A storm, huh..."

The Tree itself had weathered several storms since its arrival in this world, enduring winds, rain, lightning, and even hail. According to Ringo, these were likely large cumulonimbus systems, possibly typhoons or hurricanes. Eve, uninterested in meteorology, had paid little attention to the explanations.

"Lacking meteorological radar, avoiding storms would have been particularly challenging, especially at night. This vessel appears to have been caught in the storm just before dawn," Ringo continued.

"I see..."

"While the ship sustained no significant damage, the anchor was destroyed, and the vessel drifted, losing contact with its fleet. Subsequent attempts to locate land failed, and during another storm, the main mast broke, the hold flooded, and much of the food supply was spoiled. Ultimately, most of the crew perished from starvation or illness."

"That sounds like a living hell," Eve remarked grimly.

"The lack of drinking water was critical, and scurvy likely exacerbated the situation," Ringo added.

"Scurvy?"

"A vitamin C deficiency. Without fresh produce, a diet of preserved foods over several months leads to symptoms of scurvy," Ringo explained.

"Ah..."

The final entries conveyed the captain’s regret, despair, and curses toward the heavens. While no remains were found in the captain’s cabin, it was likely the body was somewhere on the ship. Eve had no intention of actively searching for it.

"This ship’s fate is clear. After losing contact with its fleet, it drifted aimlessly until its crew perished," Ringo summarized.

"So, that means their fleet is still out there somewhere?" Eve asked.

"Yes, ma’am. While they haven’t been observed within The Tree’s surveillance range, they’re likely out there. The logs also mention the fleet’s purpose. Would you like me to elaborate?"

"Go ahead," Eve prompted.

Ringo explained that the fleet hailed from the Kingdom of Lepuitari, a prominent power aiming to discover a rumored southern continent. The fleet comprised three large survey ships, two battleships, and four cruisers—a formidable force. The kingdom, confident in its military strength, dispatched the fleet from a fortified island chain.

Their objective was clear: locate the southern continent and establish relations. A shipwrecked survivor from the south had reached their shores years prior, confirming the continent’s existence. By initiating contact, the kingdom hoped to secure an advantage over rival powers.

The fleet carried a year’s worth of preserved food, spacious living quarters to reduce stress, and a mysterious heat source referred to as "Tone Mag" for preparing hot water. Confidently navigating ocean currents, they had embarked on their ambitious journey, only to meet a tragic end.

"Hmm... If they were using ocean currents, there’s a chance more ships or debris might approach The Tree, isn’t there?" Eve speculated.

"Yes, ma’am. It’s a distinct possibility. Conducting a survey of the currents should be prioritized. I’ll begin preparing the necessary equipment immediately," Ringo confirmed.