After taking the helm himself, Duncan truly gained control over the Lost Home and could sense any movement on the ship. However, out of caution, he ordered Goat Head to keep a constant watch on the "cursed doll." He knew he wasn't an expert in the mystical arts and had little knowledge about the extraordinary powers of this world. A walking, talking doll was beyond his understanding. Alice's actions might seem harmless, but if that doll had some unseen "influence," he might not notice it.
Goat Head was more knowledgeable about this than he was.
Moreover, Duncan realized he couldn't always keep an eye on the Lost Home. Even though he had decided to survive in this world, there might come a time when he needed to return to the world "on the other side" of the door, and at that point, he might not be able to sense what was happening on the Lost Home.
Thinking about this made Duncan's expression change slightly. He glanced at Goat Head, who was staring blankly at the edge of the navigation table.
Did Goat Head notice anything when he returned to the "other side"? What was the situation on the ship when he left?
This sudden question made Duncan feel a bit anxious, but he showed nothing on his face. Instead, he focused a bit on Alice's situation.
Of course, he wasn't the type to spy on others—regardless of whether they were "non-human beings." So, he just tried to sense what was happening below deck. Even through his connection with the Lost Home, he could at least confirm Alice's current location and whether she was trying to break anything.
After all, beneath that doll's harmless and graceful appearance lay the essence of a cursed doll, a dangerous entity referred to as "Abnormal 099" by ordinary people in this world.
She was still in her room, possibly examining the furnishings and setting up a resting place.
Duncan felt a bit relieved. At that moment, Goat Head suddenly spoke up, "Captain, what are your plans next? If you're feeling bored, your loyal..."
"Shut up." Duncan shot Goat Head a glance and placed his hands on the edge of the navigation table. As he focused his thoughts, the sensation of gripping the wheel returned, and the green flames flowed like water again.
In the blaze, Duncan's body transformed into a spiritual form. The flowing flames spread across the navigation table, extending outside to the captain's quarters, up to the upper deck, climbing the mast and ropes, causing the translucent spiritual sail on the mast to billow in the wind.
With the main sails, side sails, and triangular sails adjusting to the sea breeze, the massive three-masted ship began to slowly speed up across the vast ocean. Duncan's gaze fell on the navigation chart before him. As expected, he saw the gray-white mist on the chart change instantly—the silhouette representing the Lost Home was moving forward, and the mist surrounding it began to dissipate.
After a moment of thought, he focused his attention on the chart. The ghostly green flames surrounded the navigation table, conveying the captain's will, and in this subtle "connection," Duncan began to perceive the secrets of this obviously extraordinary navigation chart.
With a shift in his thoughts, the silhouette representing the Lost Home on the chart enlarged slightly, then quickly returned to its original size.
Duncan was "zooming in" on the chart, and this whimsical action was successful. Although the edges of the chart were still shrouded in mist, he was now certain that this chart could record and display every inch of ocean the Lost Home had explored, providing precise and real-time details of the surroundings!
Under Goat Head's vacant stare, Duncan's expression remained unchanged, as if he were a true captain seriously observing the chart, but a hint of excitement bubbled up inside him.
His gaze swept over the flames rising from his body, while his mind sensed the state of the Lost Home and the changes on the chart.
This strange green flame was indeed the key to controlling the Lost Home and many of the peculiar items on it!
Perhaps… this was the power of a "captain"?
Duncan contemplated the power of this flame. He understood that if he wanted to truly master this ship and survive well in this strange world, he needed to figure out his abilities.
First, he had to fully control this flame.
As for Goat Head's earlier mention of "next arrangements"...
Duncan looked at the chart that was slowly changing, watching the mist around the silhouette of the Lost Home dissipate. His plan was simple.
Since he didn’t know enough about this world and the map was filled with fog, it was definitely a good idea to start navigating.
After all, sailing was all about exploring.
Besides, "Captain Duncan" was already seen as a world boss wandering in the wilds by the locals, and just staying on the sea with the Lost Home wouldn’t change that reputation.
As for the risks of aimlessly sailing across the ocean, Duncan thought—before he took the helm, the ship was already drifting around. The Lost Home had never anchored, so what additional risks could there be?
Compared to the previous aimless drifting, sailing with the sails up would at least help clear the fog on the chart, ending the completely passive state of being lost in fog.
Duncan stood up from the navigation table. The green flames gradually faded, but in his perception, the translucent spiritual sail on the mast didn’t disappear. Some of the green flames still clung to the mast and ropes, continuing to carry out the captain's will.
Combining what he had observed while "steering," Duncan began to understand.
Even though the ship raised its spiritual sail only after he took the helm, both the large sails and the many automatic operations on this ship relied not on the captain's strength—but on the ship's own power source.
Though he still didn’t know what energy made the ship move, it was clear that his role as captain was merely to "give orders."
Then, the ship would naturally carry out the captain’s commands.
Duncan left the navigation table and turned to the small door at the back of the captain's quarters.
Behind that door was his private cabin as captain. During the first few days of exploring the ship, he had used that room as a resting spot.
Now, he needed a quiet environment to study what he could do as the captain of the Lost Home.
But before that, the ship, now under sail, needed someone to watch over it.
He looked at Goat Head at the edge of the navigation table and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "You take the helm."
"Ah?" Goat Head was taken aback, sounding a bit surprised. "But Captain, you..."
"I have things to do, don’t disturb me for a while." Duncan seemed to ignore what Goat Head wanted to say, casually giving the order. Meanwhile, in another layer of his perception, he could clearly see the various… connections hidden deep within the ship through the information transmitted by the green flames spreading across the deck.
Mast, ropes, sails, wheel, cannons...
Everything was connected invisibly, a kind of "network" like nerves or veins running through the ship, and all these "connections" ultimately converged in the captain's quarters.
Goat Head was subtly linked to all of this.
Perhaps this mysterious and strange Goat Head was the "Lost Home" itself? Or maybe it was some kind of "control mechanism" used to take over the ship in emergencies?
Duncan wasn’t the ship's builder, so he didn’t know how it operated. But he thought that if he were the real Captain Duncan, he would definitely know what Goat Head could do.
On the other hand, Goat Head, who always referred to himself as "First Mate," should naturally be able to take the helm if the situation required it.
Duncan needed to take a bit of a risk, to do something he had never done before, but as a true captain, he had to know and inevitably would do.
After all, a captain always needs to rest sometimes.
A second later, Goat Head cheerfully and noisily said, "Ah, okay Captain, you just focus on your work, your loyal..."
Duncan ignored him, waved his hand casually, and walked into his cabin at the back of the captain's quarters, shutting the door behind him.
(End of Chapter)