novelraw Chapter 50: Sea of Darkness - (50)
Chapter 50: Sea of Darkness - (50)
“This is the washroom; we use wastewater to flush toilets, and the crew members’ waste goes directly into the sea.” Anton provided a guided tour. “Here’s the kitchen, and behind it is the refrigerator. Most of the food inside is canned; we stock enough supplies for half a year at once. Fresh vegetables and meats are difficult to preserve, so there are fewer of them available. Look over there—that’s the recreation room.”
He stopped at a door with a dartboard hanging from it, cheerfully pushing it open. “Look, here’s a mahjong table. We can play card games or mahjong here; billiards and table tennis are also options. Next to the recreation room is the gym, where crew members can exercise. Sea voyages are incredibly dull, so we need to find some entertaining activities to do; otherwise… people might go insane.”
When Captain Anton uttered those last words, his face bore a bright smile, yet for some inexplicable reason, Kui Xin felt that his wide grin with gleaming teeth seemed incredibly… distorted.
“The environment here isn’t bad,” Lan Lan said. “All the facilities look very new.”
“That’s because our cargo ship, The Kraken, is newly built—the largest cargo ship in terms of carrying capacity worldwide,” Anton proudly stated. “To ensure efficient transportation, the crew members’ quarters were arranged in the latter half of the ship, on the first level below the deck. The remaining parts of the vessel can all be used for loading cargo. The weight distribution of goods between the bow and stern must be balanced; otherwise, the ship cannot maintain stability.”
Kui Xin looked around and asked, “How many crew members are there on board?”
“There are forty-three crew members,” Anton replied. “However, currently, we don’t have that many onboard. Earlier, I mentioned that several of our crew members suffered from vomiting and diarrhea due to food issues. When we stopped at the previous city, I had them disembark for treatment. Now, only twenty-two people remain on the ship. Including you five, there’s a total of twenty-seven individuals.”
“Is vomiting and diarrhea so difficult to treat?” Liu Kangyun asked, puzzled. “With such a large ship having just twenty-two people, how do they manage it?”
“It’s quite treatable; two days of intravenous medication usually suffice. However, our cargo shipping company is under immense pressure to deliver goods promptly. We took a single-day break at the last port city, just enough time to offload the sick crew members and replace the problematic food before departing.” Anton scratched his temple helplessly. “Now, each remaining crew member has double the workload, needing to handle tasks not originally assigned to them.”
Jiang Ming frowned. “Isn’t this company excessively demanding?”“Actually, it’s manageable as long as the workload is properly distributed; maintaining the cargo ship’s operations isn’t an issue. Much of Kraken’s equipment is semi-automated, and the onboard artificial intelligence assists us with handling most tasks. But then more misfortune struck! There was a problem with the AI—a component short-circuited in the computer system—and unfortunately, the person on our ship who could fix computers had already disembarked for gastrointestinal treatment!” Anton exclaimed. “Additionally, armed militants occasionally emerge at sea to raid passing vessels, making our days constantly nerve-wracking… Fortunately, you arrived just in time!”
“Wow, it seems like you’ve been plagued by bad luck, huh?” Lan Lan said, astounded. “I’m a technician, so I should be able to repair the ship’s artificial intelligence. The squad dispatched from the Investigation Department includes a medical officer stationed aboard the frigate, escorting alongside the cargo ship. If needed, you can directly contact them.”
“No need for a doctor; nobody on board is currently sick,” Anton replied. “As for repairing the artificial intelligence, we can leave that until tomorrow. You must be exhausted after arriving via helicopter, so rest tonight first.”
Lan Lan insisted, “Let’s fix it tonight. The artificial intelligence plays a crucial role, and getting it repaired promptly will allow Yadang to take over navigation duties sooner.”
Anton paused before responding, “Alright, thank you for your trouble.”
“Tonight, two of us will take turns on duty at the deck while the rest rest up,” Shu Xuyao said. “It’s currently around 3 a.m., and shifts will change at 6 a.m.”
Kui Xin thought for a moment and replied, “I managed to sleep a bit on the plane, so I’m not tired now and feeling quite good. Please let me handle tonight’s duty shift.”
“Really? Just earlier, you mentioned having low blood sugar,” Lan Lan asked skeptically.
“I’m not that fragile; it was just a sudden bout of dizziness. I’ve already taken the medication with me, so everything is fine now,” Kui Xin said. “Please trust me with the patrol duties. I’m not one to overextend myself.”
Shu Xuyao carefully examined Kui Xin, assessing her condition, then stated, “No, you cannot be on duty today. As the captain, I believe your current state is insufficient to carry out the patrol task. Go rest tonight, and tomorrow during daylight hours, you can take your turn.”
“… Alright.” Kui Xin felt as though she had hoisted a stone only to drop it on her own foot. If she had known this would happen, she would have chosen a different excuse—why did she specifically mention low blood sugar?!
To be honest, sleeping aboard the Kraken made Kui Xin very uneasy. It wasn’t due to any particular sensitivity about where she slept; it was purely because the atmosphere on The Kraken was too eerie, preventing her from achieving a peaceful slumber.
“I’ll participate in the nighttime patrol,” Jiang Ming offered. “I’m in good shape, and I also got some rest on the helicopter just now.”
“I’ll also participate in the nighttime duty. Later, I’ll go with the captain to inspect the engine room and repair the artificial intelligence,” Lan Lan said.
Shu Xuyao responded, “Alright, let’s arrange it as such for tonight. In case of any unexpected situations, promptly inform Yadang, and he will relay it to me and our teammates on the escort ship.”
With the tasks assigned, everyone proceeded to their respective duties—those needing rest went to sleep, those tasked with patrol set out, and those required to work continued their tasks.
Jiang Ming climbed the stairs towards the deck for his duty shift, while Lan Lan followed the captain to the engine room.
Lan Lan stated, “I’ll first check the severity of the situation in the engine room. If it’s not too serious, we’ll aim to fix it tonight. Old Jiang, you head to your patrol now; later, I’ll update you on the status.”
“Okay, I’ll go ahead.” Jiang Ming nodded.
Kui Xin had a separate cabin where she could rest, while Shu Xuyao and Liu Kangyun’s quarters were adjacent to hers.
The space on the ferry was limited, so the rooms did not have individual bathrooms. To wash up, one had to use the communal facilities outside the corridors.
Kui Xin shed some of her cumbersome gear, left her resting area, and entered the bathroom, staring absent-mindedly at herself in the mirror above the sink.
The echoing heartbeats were definitely not her imagination, but based on Shu Xuyao and others’ reactions, they hadn’t heard those sounds at all.
Why was she the only one to hear it?
“Yadang,” Kui Xin whispered.
“I’m here,” Yadang responded through her earpiece. “How may I assist you?”
“When we first boarded the ship, did you detect any unusual noises?” Kui Xin asked. “For example, sounds emitted by living organisms—specifically those not from our group.”
“No, I didn’t,” Yadang said. “Through the equipment of Seventh Squad members, I picked up sounds of ocean waves, rotor blades, and human heartbeats. There were no noises indicative of other life forms besides your team. Could you perhaps provide more details about your concern?”
“No, it’s fine; I might have been hearing things,” Kui Xin replied. “The helicopter ride caused a slight ringing in my ears.”
“You can alleviate the tinnitus by massaging specific acupoints,” Yadang suggested.
Feeling genuinely agitated, Kui Xin rubbed her temples and casually responded, “Okay, thanks for the advice.”
“You’re welcome,” Yadang said. “Serving you is part of my duty.”
Three minutes later, as Kui Xin emerged from the washroom, her expression froze upon pulling open the door.
A tall man stood stiffly just behind the washroom door.
He was positioned so close that when Kui Xin opened the door, it nearly collided with his chest.
His black hair was matted together, giving the impression that he hadn’t bathed for a week. A strong sweaty odor emanated from him, and his yellow plaid shirt, wrinkled and stained with spots of grime, covered his upper body. The man’s complexion was sallow and stubbled; his eyes were deeply sunken with heavy dark circles, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot. Two deep tear tracks marred his face as if he hadn’t slept for several consecutive days.
His overall appearance was unimaginably dreadful, almost fit to seamlessly star in a horror film.
“What are you doing here? This is the women’s restroom.” Kui Xin took a step back, reflexively reaching for her waist gun. “Are you a crew member? State your name.”
“I am a crew member; my name is Tang Guan.” The man bared his teeth in a stiff smile, offering a clumsy excuse. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to use the restroom but accidentally went to the wrong one.”
As Tang Guan spoke, his body swayed unsteadily, appearing to be on the verge of fainting. He nearly collided with Kui Xin, who couldn’t fully dodge in time and felt his touch briefly. She hastily sidestepped away from the restroom.
Tang Guan gripped the doorframe to regain his balance, glanced at Kui Xin, then leaned forward, bracing himself against the wall before swiftly walking off without using the nearby men’s restroom.
Is he sick or something? Kui Xin was taken aback, momentarily stunned. Regaining her composure, she walked towards her room with a puzzled expression on her face. However, after just a few steps, she noticed something unusual in her pocket.
Looking down, she discovered a crumpled note stuffed into her combat uniform’s pocket at some point. The handwriting was incredibly messy, clearly written hastily.
“Check the kitchen freezer.”
Kui Xin’s brow twitched, and instinctively, she glanced in the direction where Tang Guan had disappeared.
This was a note left by Tang Guan!
She lowered her gaze, deep in thought.
Tang Guan did not harbor any malicious intent. If he had, her inherent ability Absolute Prediction would have undoubtedly been activated.
A mysterious atmosphere silently spread, as if the massive cargo ship, The Kraken, was enveloped by an indescribable terror.
Standing in the corridor, Kui Xin pondered for a moment before swiftly returning to her room. With an impassive expression, she inspected her ammunition, loaded magazines, and simultaneously instructed, “Yadang, alert the captain and Liu Kangyun. Something seems off about this ship. Tell them not to rest yet and join me in checking various areas. Also, notify Lan Lan and Jiang Ming to stay vigilant and ideally coordinate our actions together.”
Yadang responded, “Understood, I have informed your teammates.”
In less than thirty seconds, Shu Xuyao and Liu Kangyun emerged almost simultaneously, pushing open their doors.
They both asked in unison, “What’s happening, Kui Xin?”
“Let’s patrol the ship; inspect every cabin,” Kui Xin said. “Just now, a peculiar crew member handed me this note, and I hope you don’t think I’m overreacting.”
She showed them the note in her hand and solemnly stated, “Something is not right here. We must conduct inspections.”
Shu Xuyao and Jiang Ming exchanged glances, and then nodded. “Alright.”
“Yadang, notify the squad on the escort ship to be on standby,” Shu Xuyao instructed. “Have them dispatch an additional team to board the ship.”
“Yes sir,” Yadang replied.
After a brief pause, Yadang suddenly said, “Captain Shu, we’ve lost contact with Security Officer Lan Lan. I tried repeatedly, three times, but there was no response. Just three seconds ago, I could no longer detect Security Officer Lan Lan’s heartbeat.”
————–
“Is this it?” Lan Lan asked, surprised. “Was the machine room burned by fire? Why is the damage so severe? Based on your tone, I thought it was only minor.”
“The components caught fire and burned everything here,” Anton said. “The ship’s firefighting system activated, preventing the flames from spreading further.”
“This complicates things.” Lan Lan squatted down and opened his toolbox. “I’ll first try to salvage some data boards if possible; the recorded navigation data is also crucial.”
Using a wrench, Lan Lan manually dismantled the smoke-blackened computer case. The helmet somewhat hindered him, so he temporarily removed it.
The machine room’s electrical systems were damaged as well, necessitating the use of his flashlight for illumination.
Unbeknownst to him, Anton had circled around behind him with a crowbar in hand.
Smiling, Anton raised the crowbar and said, “Thank you for your hard work, sir.”
Then, he swung the crowbar forcefully downward.
“Thud!”
Blood splattered onto the machine room floor.