Stepping onto the Deck, Lex saw the Sailors rinsing the Deck, creating a lot of foam, then drawing water from the Sea with Barrels and flushing the Deck, letting the foamy wastewater flow towards the ship's side and back into the Sea.
"Mick, is Navigator Mick here?"
Quincy's voice rang out, his clear voice echoing across the Deck.
"I'm here."
A calm voice sounded from above everyone's heads. Lex looked up, his eyes slightly narrowed by the sunlight, and saw a figure sliding down the main mast.
Soon, a man landed on the Deck. He was around thirty, wearing a white shirt paired with wide-leg pants, a somewhat unconventional style.
His dark brown hair was cut very short, and he seemed to be growing a beard, with sparse stubble on his chin. He was biting a pen, holding a notebook in one hand, as if he had just been drawing something.
Quincy nodded and introduced Lex: "Mick Jora, the ship's Navigator, a Royal Navy Lieutenant."
He then introduced Lex: "Lieutenant Mick, this is Major Lex, also the Captain of the Explorer."
Mick nodded, extending his hand and saying, "May I see your 'Letter of Appointment'?"
He's a cautious man. Lex looked back at his adjutant.
O'Neal, also a Lieutenant, immediately took out the prepared document and handed it to the Navigator. After Mick received and read it, he immediately brought his legs together and saluted Lex.
"Good afternoon, sir!"
Lex smiled and nodded: "No need for formalities. From today onwards, you must keep your Royal Navy identity in your heart, rather than displaying it, to avoid unnecessary attention."
"Understood, Captain." The Navigator quickly changed his address, his adaptability seemed good.
Lex looked around, cleared his throat, and said to the Navigator: "Gather the key personnel on board; I want to meet them."
Mick nodded and quickly left. At this moment, the Sailors on the Deck all looked towards Lex.
Lex showed no awkwardness, standing with his hands behind his back, calmly surveying and inspecting his ship.
A moment later, Mick returned with several people. After the Navigator introduced Lex's identity, he pointed to a round-faced man with a stomach as bloated as a Barrel and said.
"This is Mr. Dodge, he is the ship's chef, with two assistants, responsible for the ship's meals. If you have any special needs, you can tell Mr. Dodge."
After a pause, Mick added: "Though he may not remember."
Sounds like this chef doesn't have a very good memory. Lex took the initiative to extend his hand and smiled, "Hello, Mr. Dodge."
The man in the chef's hat chuckled in response: "Good afternoon, sir."
After he stepped back, he quietly asked Mick: "Who did you say he was just now?"
Well, this isn't just a bad memory; this is no memory at all, right? Lex began to worry about his future meals on the ship.
Next, Mick introduced several other people: the Sailmaster, the Gunner, and the Helmsman.
After the introductions, Mick frowned: "Where did Nelson go?"
The sturdy Gunner rubbed his sparse-haired head and said, "He should be in the cabin. I'll go get him."
While the Gunner went to call him, Mick gave Lex a brief introduction.
"Nelson is the ship's Boatswain. He has served for over 10 years, starting as a regular Sailor and becoming a Boatswain, a Royal Navy Sergeant."
"He participated in the East Balam war and has extensive Sea navigation experience. As for his personality, Sergeant Nelson has a somewhat volatile temper, which has offended many officers because of it."
"Otherwise, given his past contributions to the Kingdom, he should already be a Lieutenant."
Volatile temper?
Lex casually asked: "Is he a 'Sailor'? I mean, a Beyonder 'Sailor'?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Quincy, who let out a puff of energy from his nostrils and shifted his gaze to the Sea.
"No."
The Navigator shook his head: "He's just an ordinary person, sir, besides being quite strong."
Soon, Lex met the 'relatively strong' Boatswain.
Mr. Nelson seemed to have Feysac ancestry, standing over two meters tall, only a head shorter than Levto.
He was bare-chested; in the sunlight, his dark skin seemed to reflect light, his muscles were clearly defined, and his body hair was quite dense, making him look as if he were wearing a sweater.
The burly man who came with the Gunner, seeing Levto, his eyes narrowed, then he preemptively extended his hand and greeted the Marionette: "Good afternoon, sir."
The Navigator's expression was a bit awkward, and he cleared his throat: "Nelson, this is the Captain, this is Major Lex."
Nelson's gaze followed Mick to Lex's face. Surprise flashed in the Boatswain's eyes, then he looked at Mick: "Are you sure?"
"It seems I've disappointed Mr. Nelson." Lex maintained an unchangeable expression, still wearing a faint smile.
The Boatswain sized up Lex and said: "The Sea demands reverence, sir. It's not your social stage."
"Nelson!"
Mick sternly reprimanded: "Mind your attitude! Before you is a Royal Navy Sublieutenant!"
Nelson muttered: "Does the Royal Navy have no one left? Now just anyone can be a Captain."
I probably know why you've been a Sergeant for so long. Lex maintained his smile and raised his hand, stopping Mick from further reprimanding him.
"Sergeant, may I ask you a question?" Lex calmly gazed at the strong man he had to look up to.
Nelson shrugged: "Of course you can, sir."
"I'd like to know, what qualities do you think a Captain should possess?"
Nelson spread his hands: "Sir, please forgive me for not being able to describe it accurately. After all, I didn't go to university or frequent various high-class venues like you."
"But I believe that as a Captain, he needs to be strong enough. He must be able to withstand the trials of wind and waves."
"As a Captain, he needs to have rich experience. He must have lived on the Sea for at least three years; otherwise, he wouldn't even know what the Sea looks like, and how could he lead us?"
"Finally, as a Captain, I believe he must have the approval of all crew members, not just a letter of appointment."
"Sir, the Sea is not like land. On the same ship, we need to be united. Otherwise, the Sea will swallow us at any time, leaving us without even our bones!"
Lex nodded as he listened, and after Nelson finished speaking, he looked up and smiled: "It sounds like, Mr. Nelson, you think you are more suitable to be Captain than I am?"
A sharp Glaint flashed in Nelson's eyes: "Yes, sir. And I believe others think so too."
"Is that so?" Lex smiled, "Then I'll give you an opportunity, Mr. Nelson."
"I'll give you a chance to challenge me. If you defeat me, then you will be the Captain of the Explorer!"