Chapter 80

Of course, she assigned more work to those who could do more, so Bill worked all day, stood watch the first night, and then worked the next day without breaks, except for meals.

What made the situation even more complicated was that a giant crocodile and python continued to fight from time to time, keeping everyone in the camp on edge.

By this point, Bill realized he was much stronger than a lieutenant should be. Perhaps being surrounded by friends on Vallipo and always being defeated by Sentomaru led him to believe that such strength was normal for people in this world.

However, the truth was that a clear distinction existed between those he could classify as "very resilient" and those he considered "obviously superhuman."

In this world, even ordinary people could possess significant physical abilities, and those who trained a bit were nearly all Olympic athletes by Earth's standards.

But for most, that was where it ended. For this world, it might be the norm, but for a former Earthling, it was madness to have the potential to become superhuman and not use it.

Although at this moment, Bill thought perhaps they were right since he was worked like a horse.

In his past life, he wasn't a carpenter by profession, but he knew enough to work alongside other laborers. While he chopped trees with an axe and built shelters, Tom, Jerry, and Samantha were sent to assist the surgeons. Out of the four ship surgeons, three had survived the wreck, but only two could move freely, so the biology students seemed the best candidates for the job. Despite a broken leg and a bruised thigh, Tom could move well enough to be useful in the situation.

Marron and other recruits from the Scientific Division were assigned to the same group as Bill and one of the ship's carpenters. Their work was the most physically demanding, but compared to tasks like gathering and preparing the dead for burial or exploring the dark ship by the light of small candles, none of the recruits from the Scientific Division complained.

As for the captain, Bill learned that she remained on the ship to stabilize the gunpowder barrels and retrieve the log pose and communication snails. Last night, before going to bed, he was summoned to her tent, which also served as a command center, and together with the ship's navigator, she explained the situation.

First, they found themselves on an island that did not register on the log pose. She explained that this sometimes happens because some islands might not show up on the log pose for months or even years.

Secondly, they contacted Headquarters and provided all the necessary information. Headquarters will send a search team, but because of the several-kilometer-long crocodile and python in these waters, they will have to wait until a vice admiral is available.

Thirdly, during the accident, several barrels of beer broke, spoiling a significant portion of the flour, and now they only have two weeks' worth of beer and other supplies left. Rationing is impossible while the men are building the fort.

Bill asked several questions about all this, though the shortage of provisions was an important issue. He was particularly interested in how it was possible for there to be an unknown island just a month's sail from the Marines' headquarters, and how long they would have to wait for rescue.

The captain couldn't give clear answers to the first question, and Bill did not press further. The fact remained: although they were shipwrecked, he had no reason to doubt her words.

To his second question, she replied that it would be several weeks before a rescue ship would even set out. And then, depending on where the vice admiral would be approaching from, it might take a month or more before they found these waters.

This meant that the crew would have to wait patiently. While they waited, they would build a sturdy fort.

After their discussion, Hina returned the Scientific Division's communication snail, and Bill briefly talked with Sentomaru, who was furious about the loss of so many of his people.

Bill understood that Sentomaru had already spoken with Hina, and although he didn't know exactly what was said, he easily realized that Sentomaru blamed her for the disaster. Bill felt this was unjustified, and after defending the captain, the conversation ended on a sour note.

But what was done was done, and thinking about the day ahead, Bill stepped out of his tent.

Building the fort was challenging work, but it was made easier by Hina's abilities thanks to her devil fruit. Instead of using stakes, once the logs were secured in the ground, she could reinforce them with iron. The main drawback of her strength was that it gradually weakened under the influence of the sea mist. But considering that the fort didn't need to be a permanent structure, it could be said that they couldn't have found themselves in a more suitable situation.

After walking a bit into the forest, Bill dug a hole and relieved himself. While he and the new recruits from the Scientific Division would be cutting and moving trees today, others would be building latrines. It was dirty work, but on the other hand, he was glad he didn't have to work in the new medical post, assisting the injured.

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