Chapter 11: Black Shark

Chapter 11: Black Shark

A few hours earlier.

"Coming through! Make way!" Xiao Jin hurried to the bow, pushing past a few obstructing sailors to peer at the deck. "What did we pull up?"

Jiang Xun had already completed his inspection. "Not a living thing."

"It looks like a safe. We're not yet certain about the condition of its contents, but it's definitely not from this era."

"If it's something like paper currency, it might be hard to salvage," Xiao Jin muttered, then a sudden thought struck her. "Ah! We could scan it first!"

"Captain," A Yu said, putting away his communication device as he approached from the other side. "I've already contacted the Archaeological Association. It turns out they have a ship on the Ancient Sea as well—the Lightspear isn't far from us. I've sent them our coordinates; they should reach us in about two hours."

"Hmm," Jiang Xun nodded, standing up. "Since this is their area of expertise, we'll let them handle the research."

"Let's get it sealed for preservation first."

"Understood." A Yu glanced at the glittering Ancient Sea, a hint of regret in his voice. "Too bad it's not our discovery."

"Oh, right..."

"Cheer up," Xiao Jin said, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "We're doing them a favor. Next time they find deep-sea creatures, they'll definitely share with us. It's called reciprocity—"

A Yu grunted in agreement. "Mm."

Jiang Xun turned back. "What were you going to say earlier?"

"Ah, nothing important," A Yu replied, looking up. "It's just that when I called, it wasn't Master Gu Bo or his assistant Shao Qing who answered. It was a voice I didn't recognize."

A nearby sailor looked puzzled. "Huh? Maybe they were busy? It's not unusual if it wasn't them, right?"

"No," Xiao Jin said, hands on her hips. "You're missing the point."

"The strange part isn't that those two didn't answer—it's that A Yu didn't recognize the person who did! This guy has an incredible memory! He can recite any book he's read and remembers every person he's met, down to the smallest details."

"Don't overthink it," A Yu said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Maybe they just have a new crew member."

"It was hiring season recently..."

"Ah! Speaking of which..." Xiao Jin shot Jiang Xun a plaintive look. "Captain, are you really not going to take on two more students?"

"You two troublemakers are more than enough for me," Jiang Xun sighed. "Whether it's helping or causing trouble, you two suffice."

"To be safe, let's ask Master Gu Bo to come aboard our ship to retrieve the item. The Ancient Sea isn't exactly safe, so caution won't hurt."

A Yu nodded obediently. "Understood."

……

About an hour later, the Lightspear drew alongside the Siren.

A Yu was surprised. "They got here so fast?"

"It's not surprising, is it?" Xiao Jin sighed enviously. "If they had found something of ours, we'd have rushed over too. But... she sighed. The vast Ancient Sea—are we really going to return empty-handed again this time?"

She spread her hands, then abruptly changed the subject. "But hey, we did find Liu Hai this time! Even if we didn't pull him up ourselves, we still rescued him from poachers. That's got to count for something!"

Her eyes lit up. "Captain, does this mean we might actually get a bonus this time?"

"Of course," Jiang Xun said, giving her a wry smile. "But first, prepare to meet Master Gu Bo."

"Got it!" Xiao Jin immediately snapped to attention, then noticed A Yu seemed distracted. She nudged him curiously. "What's up, A Yu? What's on your mind?"

A Yu snapped out of it. "Thinking about how to increase our bonus."

"Huh?" Xiao Jin blinked in confusion. "Is there even a way to do that? Doesn't it just depend on what the Siren Company decides?"

"There's actually a pattern to it," A Yu said, giving her a meaningful look. "Ultimately, the Siren Company is a business."

"While exploring the Ancient Sea has some philanthropic aspects, the profits they gain from it are quite significant. Even the smallest discovery can be leveraged by their PR department."

"Take Liu Hai, for example. If we report it as 'unknown marine life discovered in the Ancient Sea'..."

Xiao Jin corrected him. "It's 'super adorable unknown marine life'."

"Alright," A Yu accepted the amendment. "Reporting 'super adorable unknown marine life' versus 'super adorable unknown marine life that claims to be a mermaid'—the attention we'd get is completely different."

"I have a feeling the company won't let this opportunity slip by. Remember that tropical fish Captain restored last time? It's already been turned into a hugely popular animated IP."

"That makes sense—so our Liu Hai might become a huge star!" Xiao Jin exclaimed, tilting her head at him. "You don't seem happy about it? You sound like a different person when you talk about this kind of thing."

A Yu looked down. "...I'm just worried."

"If Liu Hai proves to be exceptionally valuable, the company might not let him go so easily. In that case, the freedom Captain promised him might never be realized."

"Well—" Xiao Jin looked thoughtful. "Why be so pessimistic?"

"Liu Hai seems to love interacting with people. Maybe he'd enjoy being a celebrity? Or maybe, since he likes humans so much, he won't even want to leave after spending time with us? Or maybe the company will have a change of heart and, out of respect for Captain, grant Liu Hai some freedom?"

"Why worry so much about things that haven't happened yet? If something really does go wrong..."

She clenched her fist. "We'll protect Liu Hai together!"

A Yu gave her a resigned look and reminded her, "Go change out of your slippers first. Master Gu Bo is very particular about these details."

"Oh, right!" Xiao Jin immediately took off. "Wait for me! I'll be right back!"

The Lightspear lowered a small boat, and Master Gu Bo, along with a few assistants, boarded the Siren.

A Yu studied the three or four burly, sailor-dressed men behind Master Gu Bo and frowned in confusion—he didn't recognize any of them.

*Ahem.* Master Gu Bo coughed twice, looking unwell and slightly uneasy as he turned to Jiang Xun. "...Is the item ready?"

Jiang Xun eyed him for a moment before nodding gently. "Of course. Without professionals present, we wouldn't risk opening it."

"Shall we head to the storage room? There—"

"Good..." Master Gu Bo was about to agree when the hulking man behind him subtly stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.

Master Gu Bo swallowed and awkwardly changed his answer. "I think... it would be better to use your meeting room instead?"

Jiang Xun gave him a long look before nodding in agreement. "Very well."

The sailors remained on the boat as the group entered the meeting room. Xiao Jin stood up. "Then I'll go get someone to carry the item up—"

"No, I'll go," Jiang Xun said, rising to his feet. "Since it's a valuable find, I'll give them more detailed instructions."

Xiao Jin looked puzzled. "Oh, okay."

Once they had brought in the safe, everyone watched as the sailors left the room. The man standing behind Master Gu Bo reached out and locked the door.

Now the room held only Master Gu Bo and the five assistants he brought, two researchers on duty observing Liu Hai, along with Jiang Xun, Xiao Jin, and A Yu.

"Hmm?" Xiao Jin looked over in confusion. "Why lock the door? I haven't even gone to get snacks yet."

"Don't bother," the man said with a wild grin, tossing aside his sailor cap to reveal a rugged, untamed face. "Everyone, take a seat and stay put."

His four burly accomplices had already formed a perimeter and, upon hearing this, pulled their weapons, smirking maliciously.

"Huh—?" Xiao Jin's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, wait, what's going on—?"

A Yu immediately covered her mouth.

"Good," the leader nodded approvingly. "You're sensible."

He casually chambered a round, dragged out a chair, and sat down next to the trembling Master Gu Bo, his eyes scanning the room. "I thought the legendary Siren would be as impenetrable as a fortress. Never thought it'd be this easy for us to sneak aboard."

Jiang Xun stared at him. "You're... Black Shark?"

"Oh? Our pirate crew's already this famous?" The man whistled mockingly. "Even Siren's genius scientist knows about us?"

"Didn't before," Jiang Xun replied calmly, pouring tea and pushing it toward him. "But recent news reports say the Black Shark pirate crew fled into the Ancient Sea."

"I read local news."

"Oh—" Black Shark ignored the tea and gave Master Gu Bo a rough slap on the back. "Alright, old man, open that cabinet and let's see what valuables are inside."

Master Gu Bo tried to resist. "Opening it without proper precautions might—"

Black Shark pressed the gun to his temple. "Shut it."

"Listen, folks, I just want money. Killing's not really my style. If we cooperate nicely, I promise—I take the cash, you keep your lives. Everybody wins, right?"

Jiang Xun looked at Master Gu Bo. "Help him open it."

Master Gu Bo turned red with anger. "Jiang Xun!"

"Hah!" Black Shark laughed. "See, old man? He's got more sense than you."

"Don't make me wait too long—what's that sound?!"

The buzzer from Liu Hai's tank rang out. A researcher stiffly turned. "It's... it's—"

Xiao Jin quickly interjected, "That's just our test subject! It rings when it needs help!"

"J-Just ignore it!"

"Oh—" Black Shark moved in to study the monitor, squinting at Liu Hai, who was repeatedly pressing the button. He chuckled. "Answer it."

……

Back in the present.

Liu Hai had just rammed open the door of the ecological tank and was squirming toward the room's door when the door swung open on its own.

Jiang Xun was shoved into the room, followed by the towering man, who remarked, "Now this is some setup—such a huge tank... Oh? You're the little guy who rang the bell?"

He lifted Liu Hai's chin with his gun. "I think you said something about me not bullying them... What happens if I do?"

Liu Hai was about to speak but caught Jiang Xun's expression.

He subtly shook his head.

Liu Hai swallowed his threat, and he shrunk back submissively. "J-Just don't, okay?"

"Hahaha!" Black Shark roared with laughter. "Clever boy. So, where's the treasure? You said the ship's jewels were here... You better not be lying to me, are you?"

Author’s Note:

Liu Hai: Looks like he's giving me a signal... I'll hold off for now.