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墨書 Inktalez
In the early hours of the morning, I barely managed to sleep. My mind was consumed with thoughts about why everything I did with Jiao Ba seemed to be known to the other party. No matter how we tried to conceal it, it felt like all our efforts were in vain.
What hidden secrets lay behind this? Just a tattered Nautical Chart could trigger so many events; it was indeed quite bizarre! My curiosity grew, but I realized that none of the people on the ship were trustworthy. It seemed I needed to prepare for the worst.
Throughout the night, I opened my eyes several times in a daze. Ever since Jiao Ba mentioned the note, I felt as if someone was standing in front of me, watching me. It was a tormenting feeling…
The next morning, after breakfast, Mai Lao gathered us together to discuss the next steps for salvaging the Wreck. It was as if we had forgotten everything from yesterday; no one mentioned anything about the Bearded Man's subordinates. Jiao Ba had already returned the Nautical Chart to Jenny.
Holding the Nautical Chart, Mai Lao was the first to speak: "According to the position marked on this Nautical Chart, the Wreck should be in our nearby waters. This time, it should indeed be a Ming Dynasty Wreck. Everyone should rest well this morning and prepare for this afternoon; we will head out to sea."
Jenny said excitedly, "After waiting for so many days, we finally have some leads."
I scoffed and replied, "Don't celebrate too soon; whether we can find it is still up for debate." Suddenly, I recalled that dark sea area and the unknown creatures lurking within it. Just thinking about those terrifying things made me feel uneasy.
"Why can't we find it?" Jenny looked puzzled by my words.
"Exactly, Loyalty and Righteousness, I don't understand your point either. The Nautical Chart clearly indicates it's here; how can you say we can't find it?" Mai Lao looked at me with a peculiar tone, as if he already knew the answer but was asking anyway.
I took out a cigarette and lit it. After taking a few deep puffs, I leisurely said, "You might not know this, but there's a vast area of dark sea nearby inhabited by some unknown creatures. The Bearded Man's subordinate named Landmine was killed by one of those creatures. If we want to find the Wreck, we must enter this Dark Sea Area. Based on our previous deductions regarding the Qing Dynasty Shipwreck, the Wreck we're looking for is definitely located there."
"Ah?? Is it that serious?" Jenny's face turned worried again.
"Loyalty and Righteousness, wasn't Landmine killed by you?" Mai Lao asked me with a puzzled expression.
Jiao Ba and Shunzi echoed similar sentiments. I chuckled lightly; they all thought I was lying or trying to trick Bearded Man. "Do you think I'm just messing with Bearded Man? Nonsense! This is all true; that guy really did die in there. If it weren't for my good fortune, I would have almost died myself!"
"Damn it, Brother Yi! I always thought you killed him and then made up some nonsense to fool Bearded Man," Shunzi said foolishly.
I shot him a glance and replied, "I'm not that bored; this is all true. However, I did want to kill that guy named Landmine myself, but unfortunately, before I got my chance, he already kicked the bucket."
Li Xin suddenly snorted coldly and muttered, "Hmph, I'm just afraid you don't have the ability."
I glanced at her but didn't respond. Jenny frowned and said, "So that's how it is! Mai Lao, what should we do?"
Mai Lao simply replied, "There's nothing to be done. Whether it's a mountain of knives or a sea of fire ahead, we have to push through. Since we're here, we can't go back empty-handed. Don't let the other sailors know about the dangers; if they remain unaware, they won't be scared." This Old Man really cares! For the sake of the Wreck, he's willing to gamble with lives! But then again, there's no other way.
A smile appeared on Jenny's face as she nodded in agreement. "Mai Lao is right; we have to face any danger head-on. As long as we find the Wreck, we will surely succeed."
Jiao Ba and I exchanged glances, both feeling helpless. It seems you don't have to go into the water; you're definitely confident! I'm just worried about those who do have to go down. Suddenly, I remembered something important. "Mai Lao, where exactly are we now?" After so many days at sea, I was a bit confused about my location.
Jenny quickly answered, "According to the Nautical Chart, we should be in Malaysia Waters."
"That's about right! If we're not in Malaysia Waters, we're somewhere nearby. What's wrong with Loyalty and Righteousness?" Mai Lao asked with a smile.
"Nothing much. It's just that after so many days at sea, I don't even know where I am anymore. When are we going into the water?" I looked at the Old Man and asked.
"After lunch, we'll set off. Alright everyone, disperse! Remember to keep your mouths shut and don't talk nonsense," Mai Lao reminded us once more.
Now it was break time, and many sailors were on deck getting some fresh air. I stood guard outside the Rest Cabin while Jiao Ba took this opportunity to read through everyone's notes inside. Some sailors who had been at sea for a long time liked to keep notes; I had that habit too, though not everyone did.
A few minutes later, Jiao Ba called me in. "How's it going? Any clues?"
Jiao Ba shook his head and said, "Nope. The handwriting of these people is different from that of the person who left the note. Should we check other resting cabins?"
I thought for a moment and said, "When we go into the water later, you pretend to be sick and stay behind. Take this chance to examine everyone's handwriting."
"Alright, it's settled then."
After lunch, around one in the afternoon, Mai Lao began organizing the preparations for going into the water. Sure enough, Jiao Ba came to ask for leave. He held his stomach with both hands and wore a look that suggested he had just eaten something terrible. "Mai Lao, I have diarrhea today; I felt fine until after lunch." I couldn't believe how pale he looked.
Seeing him like this, Mai Lao hurriedly asked, "What happened? Is it serious?"
"Anyway, it's not light. I just took the 'medicine,' but it still hurts quite a bit." Jiao Ba continued to feign illness. I admired him for his convincing act; he could easily win an Oscar.
"How about this? You stay here and rest today. No need to go into the sea, just get some good sleep," Mai Lao agreed to let Jiao Ba take a break. He stole a glance at me, revealing a mischievous grin. I subtly returned his look, and in that moment, I realized that I, Jiao Ba, was like a legendary underground operative, daring to engage in such sneaky antics.
The rest of us put on our diving suits and prepared to set off. To find the Wreck as soon as possible and for safety reasons, Mai Lao decided that all sailors except Jiao Ba would dive this time. Although he said "all," there were only eight of us. Since we set sail, three had already perished; I wondered who would be next.
The sailors were blissfully unaware of the dangers of diving. Everyone was in high spirits, as if they had already discovered the Wreck and were ready to claim infinite treasures. They were all incredibly lively! I moved my body a bit to get the blood circulating and keep myself in optimal condition.
Finally, Mai Lao shouted, waving his hand: "Into the sea!"
All eight of us jumped into the water almost simultaneously. This time, I had no time to admire the underwater scenery; my mind was occupied with two thoughts: whether Jiao Ba could find any clues and how to avoid that Unknown Creature in the Dark Sea Area if I encountered it.
After descending for several minutes, we reached the depths of the ocean. This area was quite deep; Mai Lao had mentioned before that the deepest part was around sixty meters, with some spots exceeding one hundred meters. After estimating, I figured we were already beyond sixty meters deep. The underwater pressure was much greater than when we first dove, making it uncomfortable.
It was afternoon with plenty of sunlight above, but down here it was a deep blue, almost black. The wind and waves today were a bit strong, which made visibility poor; I could vaguely sense small fish darting around me.
As usual, we split into four groups of two, each with a Spear and a light source. We began searching in all four directions. This time, Shunzi and I teamed up—something Shunzi insisted on after several life-and-death experiences had taught him not to be overly reckless.
We still had safety ropes attached; this was essential. I held my Spear tightly and followed closely behind Shunzi as we moved steadily through the water. The Underwater Light swept across various angles beneath us. Although I had entered that dark area before, the urgency of that situation made me forget its exact location.
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