Chapter 339. Dipp
A heavy and tense silence blanketed the cell. Standing at the back of the crowd, Aliya had a look of anxiety on her face as she waited for Dipp's response.
"Captain, the idea wasn't proposed by just one persona; it was a joint decision that the three of us made. If you want to blame someone, all three of us are at fault," Dipp replied in a remarkably composed tone.
A grave expression appeared on Charles' visage as he stared at his former boatswain.
"I know the real Dipp would have definitely told me if he was planning to do something like that. So, it must be one of the other two personas, right?" Charles asked in a rhetorical manner of speech.
He then turned to Finn Gunther, who stood behind him, and said, "I'll leave it to you then."
The silver-haired Finn stroked his white beard and nodded with a faint smile. "Don't worry. I've dealt with a situation like this before. The second time will be much quicker."
Finn's apprentice behind him then took a step forward and opened up the gigantic leather chest he had been holding in his hands. Various sets of glassware were being stored within, and it seemed like the old mage intended to concoct the potion on-site.
As the transparent glass bottles floated into the air and intermingled, the expressions on Dipp's scaly face changed rapidly. He knew what Charles was about to do.
"Captain, please don't erase them. I'm begging you," Dipp pleaded in desperation.
Instead of softening Charles' resolve, Dipp's words infuriated Charles. He rushed forward and held Dipp up by the scarf around the latter's neck and snapped in a harsh tone, "Are you out of your mind?! Those false personalities are created by the Clown Mask! You're actually pleading for them? Do you really enjoy sharing your body with others?"
"Captain," Dipp began. "Ever since their appearance, I felt like I had gained two biological brothers by my side. I'm no longer alone, and that feels much better than being by myself."
Dipp's fish-like lips parted and closed to reveal his fangs that were as sharp as steel needles as he continued, "What I did before was wrong. I really didn't know the true circumstances of the Deep Dwellers. I thought Mother wouldn't lie to me. But... Mother isn't as perfect as I imagined her to be. I'm really sorry, Captain."
Staring at the fishman before him, a hint of hesitation flickered across Charles' visage. The face of the young lad from the past gradually overlapped with the appearance of this detestable fish-like monster. Scenes of their encounters together rapidly flashed through Charles' mind.
Just then, a weathered voice interrupted Charles' thoughts. "Governor, the potion is ready."
Charles and Dipp turned toward the old mage at the same time to see two bottles of potion hovering in mid-air.
A sudden air of oppression weighed down on them. Peeking her head halfway out from the doorway, Lily's eyes were red and looked as though she would burst into tears at any moment.
Before coming to Dipp's prison cell, they already knew what the potion was for and what the outcome would be if Dipp drank it.
Standing beside Charles, James wore a troubled expression. "Captain, why don't we just let it go? Dipp's still young and doesn't understand the consequences of his actions. Besides, he has admitted that he had made a mistake."
"Young? Do you know how many people died because of him? If it weren't for our luck that day, all of us would have perished back then!" Charles' voice suddenly raised a notch higher.
"But Captain, it was also because he had warned us in advance that we had enough time to prepare against the Deep Dweller's attack. Don't you agree?"
Charles gave a dismissive wave to stop James from continuing. "Enough. I don't want to kill him, I just want to get rid of his two other personas. Also, I have been through the same thing before. The extra personas are nothing but trouble."
James ceased persuading Charles any further, knowing that it would be futile.
Suddenly, Dipp's body trembled violently. His webbed hands slightly contracted and wriggled out from his shackles. He looked at Charles in the eye as a brilliant smile gradually appeared on his face
Dipp reached out his arms and gave Charles a firm hug before he walked toward the two suspended bottles of potion.
"Hey! What are you guys doing? I won't allow it!" Dipp's body froze all of a sudden, as if he was wrestling for control with his other personas.
Eventually, the main personality, Dipp, couldn't resist the combined power of the other two personalities, and he moved forward.
"Captain, you're right. We are the byproducts of the Clown Mask relic. We shouldn't exist in the first place," the green creature before Charles said in a quivering voice.
"Boss!" Aliya cried out and was about to rush forward but was held back by the Narwhale's crew members nearby.
Looking at both potions in front of him, Dipp reached out with both hands to lightly grab them and muttered, "Captain, we're fake, but our feelings for you are true. You'll always be the most important person to us. Since you've commanded us to leave, we'll follow your orders.
"I was the sole mastermind of what had happened at the time. I secretly maneuvered the Narwhale to Iharis Deep. Everything was my fault. My personality is more radical than the main one. I'm truly sorry."
With that, the green fish-like creature tilted his head back and slowly lifted the potion to his lips. His hand, covered in green scales, trembled slightly, but he didn't stop executing Charles' orders.
Just as the liquid from the glass bottle was about to enter Dipp's mouth, the potion bottle in his hand flew up abruptly and smashed against the waters, shattering into pieces.
Charles' face was dark, and his expression grim. His fingers slightly twitched, and without saying another word, he turned and walked out of the cell. The other crew members in the cell hesitated for a few seconds before they swiftly followed him.
"Huh? What's the meaning of this?" Dipp looked somewhat puzzled as he stood rooted in place.
On the other hand, Aliya didn't care about the details; she only knew that her leader was safe.
Excitement painted her countenance as she rushed toward Dipp and helped him up. She then supported him toward the exit.
"Boss, let's get out of here. Governor Charles seems to have forgiven you," Aliya commented.
"Really?" All three of Dipp's personalities could hardly believe this surreal circumstance.
Just then, James, who had left just moments before, returned and carefully sized Dipp up.
James then let out a helpless sigh. "The Governor said you don't have to be locked up here anymore. You're free."
Dipp couldn't contain his joy upon hearing the news.
"So, does that mean I can return to the Narwhale?"
"No, Captain said you are free to stay on the island or return to your family. It's up to you," James replied.
The smile on Dipp's face gradually faded, "What about our..."
James landed a comforting pat on Dipp's shoulder and explained, "Captain has to be responsible for the lives of the other crew members. He can't allow someone who has betrayed him back on board. If you did something like that again, it would be a hard pill for everyone to swallow."
James then took a glance at Aliya and added, "Actually, it's not a bad thing as well. You still have a large sum of money in your bank account. Just enjoy life on the island with that."
"What do you mean? Are you saying that Boss can't be the Chief Director of the Police Department again?" Aliya's voice was laced with a hint of anger.
James offered no words; he just turned and walked away.
Dipp remained standing forlornly in place, and the light in his eyes seemed to have extinguished.
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