Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Seventeen days before the appointed time, Ji Xinghai was the first to arrive.

His journey had been remarkably smooth. The high-level anomalies along the way had all fled, and those that couldn't escape didn't resist, accepting their fate.

What was the point of resistance? Anomalies at the level of a luxury cruise ship were gone in a day. It was better to think of happy memories and wait for death in peace... Oh? Anomalies don't have happy memories? Or joy?

Then, thinking about painful things might make one feel there's nothing left worth living for, right? Might as well accept death?

"Do we still have to wait so long?"

This too was a desolate island, but fortunately, they still had their food truck. Originally a dedicated vehicle with a strong sense of purpose, it had now become their personal recreational vehicle.

"Beep beep." Sensing Ji Xinghai's thoughts, the food truck flashed its headlights and emitted an adorable electronic sound, "I'm very happy traveling around the continent with the store owner and Mr. Qin."

Hearing the food truck's response, Ji Xinghai's mood soared like a balloon, even his fruitless fishing endeavors couldn't dampen his spirits.

Qin Yu stood beside him, holding an umbrella that shielded them from the scorching sunlight on the island.

"I remember catching fish before," Ji Xinghai said seriously, rubbing his chin.

"At least I was just a beginner back then, mostly coming up empty-handed, but occasionally getting a bit of encouragement when I was about to give up. But since I came back, I haven't caught any fish. There might be some metaphysical reason I don't fully understand; it's not just a skill issue."

Qin Yu's face seemed to relax, but quickly tightened again. The black umbrella remained steady, providing a cool shade for the angler.

"Returning home has always been my dream, and now it's come true. There can't be anyone luckier than me in this world. Those who left home as children might never meet again even if they're in the same country, but I've returned.

"According to the law of conservation of energy, what I gain, I must lose. Perhaps what I lost is my fishing skills and luck."

The more Ji Xinghai spoke, the more he felt this was true. If the price of returning home was simply not being able to catch fish, he would gladly pay it.

He convinced himself, and now looking at his fishing rod, his expression changed, filled with acceptance and joy.

Let's fish a lot, and keep failing to catch anything. That way, I can return home and live happily with my parents forever.

Life by the sea was peaceful and quiet, but to reach Bird Island and join the boss-fighting team, students from around the world engaged in competitive pursuits, causing various boat anomalies near the coast to suffer.

Apart from the lucky few who were already near Bird Island, other students were scattered globally. Even with this much time, it wasn't enough to circle the continent and reach here through the connected landmass. So the best option was air or sea transport.

Given the uncontrollable nature of airplane anomalies, traveling by sea to Bird Island was the most suitable choice.

Students who managed to obtain the 'high-ranking' buff within such a short time were no ordinary individuals. They were now rushing towards Bird Island using various types of boats.

Even the official representatives of the country led by Duke Wang had subdued a maritime anomaly and reached an agreement to send them near Bird Island.

"Store owner?" The first student to arrive near Bird Island recognized Ji Xinghai, not necessarily him, but definitely the food truck's sign.

"Come? Let's eat oysters." Ji Xinghai was sitting by the seaside, grilling oysters over charcoal. A few large stones formed a makeshift stove, with dried wood burning in the middle and a wire mesh grid above, holding fresh oysters covered in a secret garlic sauce, steaming hot.

The student didn't hesitate. After securing his fishing boat, he joined Ji Xinghai: "How many days has the store owner been here?"

"Not many." Ji Xinghai finished eating the oyster meat and drank the broth, placing the empty shell aside. Dozens of shells, each the size of a palm, were piled up. These were carefully selected for size—too big and they weren't tender, too small and they weren't satisfying.

Without human interference and free from anomalies, marine life thrived, making the oysters on this uninhabited island particularly plump and tender.

The freshly grilled oysters were hot, and the student ate while exhaling steam. He noticed Qin Yu standing quietly behind Ji Xinghai but refrained from asking questions.

Though they were curious about the store owner of the food truck, they knew better than to pry. Students who made it to the final battle were no fools; if someone did ask, it would be for a specific purpose.

"Does the store owner need this?" After finishing the oysters, the student offered a special document as a thank-you gift.

It turned out to be a certificate of noble status.

"Although it doesn't come with property or territory, it's still recognized as nobility in that country. Of course, given the store owner's current status, external recognition isn't necessary, but it's better to have it than not."

Ji Xinghai curiously examined the certificate, which translated to a duke's status: "Did you use this method?"

"Yes, I'm now a prince of that country, third in line for the throne." The student smiled, "Though the royal family of that country is isolated, they are still legally recognized symbols."

To obtain the 'high-ranking' buff in such a short time, unconventional means were necessary.

They sat by the sea from day to night, with Ji Xinghai lighting a bonfire and enjoying grilled squid while listening to the waves crashing against the rocks.

In the distance, another boat appeared on the horizon, its light flickering like a dying candle in the dark.

"Oh, sorry, can I come warm myself by the fire?"

As the boat approached, its occupants jumped off onto the beach. Seeing the boat's condition, Ji Xinghai was stunned, forgetting to chew the squid in his mouth: it looked quite miserable.

Another student couldn't help but laugh: "Did you come on a raft?"

This wasn't an ordinary raft; it was made with many inflated animal skins as flotation devices, giving it a wild survival vibe. A pole with a lamp hung from it, flickering dimly.

The student, also dressed in animal skins, squatted by the bonfire to warm her hands.

"How did you end up like this?" the first student couldn't help but ask, clearly impressed by her situation.

"I'm now the chief of a protected area." The new student rubbed her arms, sighing bitterly.

To achieve 'high-ranking' status, she tried various methods and eventually became the chief of a protected area known for its abundant natural resources and open gold mines, barely qualifying as a wealthy position.

"The tribe seems blessed; one-third of its members are extraordinary, though not very bright. This month, I've been leading them in making pottery, laying foundations, and fighting defensive battles against another tribe. I won nine times to be officially confirmed as chief. But as soon as I took office, they wanted me to fulfill my duty and produce quality offspring. But I..." the student wiped away tears, "But I don't like the opposite sex! And I can't say it, or I'll be burned alive. So I made a small raft and came here overnight."

Hearing her story, Ji Xinghai silently handed her a grilled squid: this girl had it tough.

The next morning, Ji Xinghai stepped out of the food truck and saw a newly built house next door. Made of branches, mud walls, and a leafy roof, it even had a simple stove and chimney. Its owner was making a seawater filter, and a newly crafted wheelbarrow stood nearby.

Hearing the noise, she turned to Ji Xinghai with a bright smile: "Good morning."

Goodness, in just one night, she already has a house and a car. Truly, she’s the woman who became a chief through her infrastructure skills.

The store owner, the prince, the chief, and the store owner's personal guard happily played on the island for four days. On the fifth day, someone else arrived.

This person was more high-profile than the previous trainees. He actually came by small aircraft. Before the propeller on top of the plane had even stopped spinning, he poked his head out. Wearing a floral shirt, shorts, and sunglasses, he enthusiastically waved at them: "Are you guys also heading to Bird Island? Has the store owner arrived yet? When are we leaving?"

"What's your status?" Ji Xinghai, sipping coconut water from a coconut, asked loudly.

The trainee took off his glasses and carefully identified him: "Ah, you're the store owner? I'm currently a wealthy family's son-in-law. That family needs combat power, and I need status—it's a mutual benefit."

By now, the plane had landed, and he dragged down a suitcase as tall as half a person.

"Store owner," Ji Xinghai pointed to himself and then to Qin Yu, "the store owner's person."

"My surname is Qin," Qin Yu added, lowering his presence further.

The wealthy son-in-law rubbed his head and looked at the other two.

"Prince," the second trainee patted the royal emblem on his chest.

"Chief," the chief, now dressed in casual clothes but still wearing a piece of animal hide, showed a bright and warm smile.

"…So I’m the son-in-law?"

"Son-in-law, welcome," the prince greeted him.

"Son-in-law, welcome," the chief also welcomed him.

"Son-in-law, hello. Find a place nearby to stay for now; it's not time yet," Ji Xinghai smiled. The evening bonfire would have more ingredients.

Just that it might cause some heat. He touched a pimple rising on his lip and took a deep sip of coconut water.

Thus, the son-in-law also found a place to stay above the beach. Most trainees had spatial tools, and the son-in-law did too. He quickly set up a tent and brought out many items for outdoor survival, looking like he intended to stay for a while.

During the day, the trainees strolled along the beach, enjoyed the scenery, and collected shells. At night, they gathered around a bonfire, sharing gossip that was partly true and partly false. They rarely had such leisurely days, having been busy with survival and fighting monsters before.

They also shared intelligence about Bird Island. Ji Xinghai's information came from official sources and was relatively comprehensive, but the other trainees had their own channels. Together, they pieced together a nearly complete truth.

"So it involves all three? Young children provide sexual stimulation, spinal fluid factors for anti-aging drugs for the rich, and possibly organs for important figures?"

"More than that, some girls bear children, whose infants are used for the best effects of the drug."

"Additionally, during the early stages of the white fog, when secrets were about to be exposed, they might have carried out massacres, killing all those who knew, making them completely disappear. The victims' tragic deaths are the last condition for Bird Island's formation."

The trainees had seen much, but seeing this bloody truth still sent chills down their spines.

What terrified them most was that some of these children were clones or illegitimate children of powerful figures. Those monsters at the pinnacle of human power had lost all humanity. To continue enjoying and controlling the world, they cared about nothing.

In the nearly twenty years before the white fog period, some tried desperately to escape but were caught and brutally killed. Some tried to expose the truth but were shot in the back and labeled as suicides. Even countries that revealed the use of children's spinal fluid for anti-aging drugs had their consulates destroyed as warnings.

Ji Xinghai thought of the female corpse in Mandarin Duck Lake at Bauhinia University. Unrestricted power equals 'perfect crime.'

"But after it formed, it sought revenge in its own way. All those involved died, so why is this anomaly still so massive? Where does its hatred come from?" the chief frowned.

"Perhaps because as long as there is unmonitored power, there will always be soil for another Bird Island to grow, so they remain unsatisfied?" Ji Xinghai speculated.

"There's no solution then; humans are like that."

"We can expose the crimes." The prince raised a camera, "I have special methods to broadcast everything here live. Too few people know about this; merely their deaths don't count as justice."

"Justice delayed," the son-in-law sneered, though his ridicule wasn't aimed at the prince, only at the situation.

"It's been exposed before. With matters involving powerful figures, global media remains silent. Ordinary people see a peaceful world."

"And what good would exposing it now do? People are busy surviving and have no energy to care about past events. Besides, everyone has different perspectives; survivors tormented by anomalies wouldn't sympathize with a super anomaly."

It seemed like an insolvable problem. Could they really not resolve the grudges of the anomaly and could only resort to brute force?

Thinking about Bird Island's 'accomplishments,' the trainees felt a tough battle ahead.

"Does the store owner have any ideas?"

They looked at Ji Xinghai.

Though he appeared unassuming, like a rich young master on a spring outing with bodyguards, they hadn't forgotten the immense power this young man possessed.

He opened the first safe passage to this world and provided food and safe houses to increase the trainees' survival chances. If anyone had a better plan, it might be him.

Under their expectant gazes, Ji Xinghai bit into a piece of charred fish:

"Actually, I don't have a great idea. Just planning to send the entire island anomaly to that world, let the vengeful anomalies kill again, save the survivors, and expose everything to the world, that's all."