Chapter 13: Facts

Chapter 13: The Facts

Liu Hai tried to change the subject: "L-let’s not worry about the killer whale anymore, he’s beyond help anyway."

"Let’s hurry and check on Xiao Jin and A Yu! I won’t relax until I see them."

Jiang Xun hesitated: "You’re coming too?"

Liu Hai looked up at him: "I can’t go?"

He seemed a little hurt, pointing at the out-cold Black Shark, "I helped out just now too."

"Of course, you helped a ton." Jiang Xun wore a considering look. "But I’m not sure if your body can handle the outside air, and without legs, getting around on land would be tough..."

As Jiang Xun spoke, Liu Hai visibly wilted, finally slumping into the snow dejectedly: "Fine, I really am helpless on land..."

Jiang Xun: "...You misunderstood. What I meant was, if you’re going out, we need to prepare a bit more."

He dug through the tent and pulled out a respirator, patting the cargo cart. "Put this on, then climb aboard."

Liu Hai’s eyes lit up as he leaped onto the cart, lounging and cheerfully commanding, "Woohoo! Move out!"

Jiang Xun chuckled, adjusting the respirator for him before pushing the cart toward the door.

Suddenly, he stopped: "Hmm... step off for a sec."

Liu Hai looked up in confusion: "Huh?"

He glanced at the threshold, then at Jiang Xun, and suddenly clapped his hands in realization. "Oh—"

Jiang Xun: "Don’t say it."

"Okay." Liu Hai snapped his mouth shut.

Turns out Jiang Xun couldn’t carry both him and the cart out the door at once...

As expected, just like he’d said earlier, Jiang Xun really was the stubborn type.

Liu Hai thoughtfully got down from the cart first, letting Jiang Xun carry it outside before hopping back on, cheering, "Let’s go!"

Jiang Xun gave a soft laugh and pushed him toward the meeting room.

He knocked on the door next to the meeting room, and the crew members hiding inside as per his orders opened it, cautiously whispering, "Dr. Jiang, are we moving now?"

Jiang Xun nodded. "Yes. There’s another one in the mermaid observation room—tie him up too. That guy’s a killer whale mod, so he’s probably very strong. Don’t let your guard down."

Liu Hai copied him, echoing, "Yeah, don’t let your guard down."

Jiang Xun’s mouth quirked up. "Alright, the rest of you, follow me to the meeting room."

Liu Hai said solemnly, "To the meeting room!"

A crew member couldn’t help but laugh. "Understood, Dr. Jiang Xun, and... Captain Liu Hai!"

Liu Hai tugged at Jiang Xun excitedly. "I’m a captain now!"

Jiang Xun smiled. "Very impressive, Captain Liu Hai."

The crew opened the meeting room door, pulled on masks, and began carrying out the unconscious people inside.

"Xiao Jin! A Yu!" Liu Hai immediately bounded over. "Are they okay?"

Jiang Xun: "They’re fine..."

"Ah!" Liu Hai pointed at Xiao Jin’s forehead, turning to Jiang Xun in shock. "She got hit! Who did this?!"

"Well, technically, she wasn’t hit." Jiang Xun walked through what happened. "The attacker did intend to strike her, but before he could, she panicked, dodged, stepped on a pen on the floor, slipped, and hit her head."

Liu Hai: "..."

"Still, I’d say the blame falls on that pirate." Jiang Xun walked over to one of the unconscious pirates. "Him."

Liu Hai said gravely, "I think he should be punished."

Jiang Xun nodded. "Agreed. Go ahead."

Liu Hai lined up, wound up his tail for momentum, then suddenly shot forward with a mighty whack of his tail against the ground: "Revenge for Xiao Jin!"

The unconscious pirate took the full brunt of four hundred pounds, letting out a piercing shriek.

Xiao Jin, barely conscious, lifted her head in confusion. "Huh? Why revenge for me? Am I dead?"

"Good news - not dead." Jiang Xun glanced at her. "Bad news: your assignment deadline is in six hours. Not much time left to stay unconscious."

Xiao Jin’s eyes rolled back as she faceplanted again.

"Ugh..." A Yu sat up, holding his head. "I told you not to procrastinate. You never know when something unexpected might happen."

Xiao Jin moaned dramatically, "Who could’ve expected pirates attacking a research ship?! Normally, they’d give company ships a wide berth, right?"

"Probably because they boarded Master Gu Bo’s ship first." A Yu lay back down. "No way to win straight-up, but infiltrating from the inside might’ve worked."

"Forget that—worry about your paper first."

Xiao Jin let out another dramatic whine.

Liu Hai leaned over worriedly. "Are you okay? Is that paper really that bad? Need my help?"

Xiao Jin instantly perked up, face lighting up with a smile. "It’s fine, Liu Hai. Just seeing you makes me feel like I can power through."

"Awake?" Jiang Xun crouched beside Master Gu Bo. "Have some water."

"Cough!" Master Gu Bo slowly regained consciousness and immediately grabbed his arm. "Those guys... Thank God, I knew you could handle it!"

"Listen, I’m sorry for dragging you into this, but your ship was my only shot at calling for help! Please, there are still pirates on board—save them!"

Xiao Jin clenched her fists. "What, more? Who do they think they are, attacking the Archaeology Association! They need to be shown what’s what!"

A Yu sat up slowly, disagreeing. "Calm down. We’re a research ship, not the coast guard or some white knights."

"Huh? So we’re just gonna leave them to die?" Xiao Jin pointed at him. "Cold-blooded!"

Liu Hai glanced back, trying to interject. "Um..."

"I didn’t say we wouldn’t help." A Yu remained composed. "I’m just saying we shouldn’t recklessly act like saviors."

"It’s not that dramatic!" Xiao Jin leaned in. "Are you overthinking this again...?"

Liu Hai spoke up again. "Actually..."

"Hey, are you treating me like an idiot?" Xiao Jin pointed at A Yu. "That sigh of yours just now totally meant that, didn’t it?"

A Yu turned his head away. "No, I believe everyone selected for Dr. Jiang Xun’s research team is smart enough."

Xiao Jin narrowed her eyes. "Ah! That’s some shady sarcasm!"

Liu Hai took a deep breath and squeezed between the two with a *thud*, knocking both of them lightly on the head. "No fighting! Both of you, quiet down! Jiang Xun, why aren’t you saying anything?"

Jiang Xun glanced back. "Because they’re always like this, and they always patch things up awkwardly after arguing. It’s kinda funny."

Xiao Jin: "..."

A Yu: "..."

Liu Hai: "...You."

Jiang Xun chuckled. "Oh right, Liu Hai, you wanted to say something earlier?"

"Yeah." Liu Hai struggled to sit up and pointed at a ship in the distance. "I don’t know if that’s the marine archaeological ship you mentioned, but they look okay now."

"What?" Everyone turned their heads in unison—on the opposite ship, armed maritime police in tactical gear were already finishing their search.

Since they were in ancient maritime territory without protective gear, the pirates wouldn’t dare jump ship, making the search go smoothly.

Master Gu Bo finally realized and looked at Jiang Xun. "Don’t tell me..."

"I just took a second to call the cops, that’s all." Jiang Xun smirked. "Xiao Jin was right—we can’t just stand by and do nothing. And A Yu was also right—we shouldn’t overestimate our abilities."

"So, a good citizen must remember the emergency hotline. Got it?"

The two nodded obediently, and Liu Hai followed suit.

With the hostages successfully rescued, the two groups reunited. The maritime police officer greeted them with a laugh. "Well, didn’t expect to see you again so soon!"

Xiao Jin reminded Liu Hai, "This is the officer who helped rescue you from the ship earlier!"

"Oh!" Liu Hai lit up and waved cheerfully. "Thank you!"

"Don’t mention it." The officer grinned before turning to Jiang Xun. "So, Doctor, have you figured out what he really is?"

Master Gu Bo, now relieved that the archaeological ship was safe, finally thought to ask, "I’m also curious. What exactly is he...?"

Jiang Xun scrunched his brows. "Hmm—"

Liu Hai stuck out his chest proudly. "I’m a mermaid!"

Jiang Xun looked away. "...Yeah."

"Huh?" The officer froze.

"What?" Master Gu Bo snapped his head around. "Him? He...?"

He gawked at Jiang Xun in disbelief. "He doesn’t look anything like a mermaid!"

"I am one." Liu Hai pulled on Jiang Xun’s sleeve. "Tell them the explanation you gave me earlier."

Jiang Xun: "..."

Liu Hai looked up at him eagerly. "Come on, hurry!"

Jiang Xun closed his eyes briefly, as if bracing himself. "*Ahem.*"

He lifted Liu Hai’s chin. "Look, his face fits perfectly the description of a mermaid."

"As for the tail, it’s there—though a little fuzzy. But ultimately, mermaids are mythical creatures, so some differences from the stories are normal. And when he’s underwater, his tail looks totally different."

"Mhm!" Liu Hai obligingly flicked his tail and nodded hard in agreement.

"Also, his voice is actually quite cute," Jiang Xun said firmly. "He just can’t carry a tune when singing—maybe it’s a difference in tastes, or maybe he’s the only mermaid who can’t sing."

He took a deep breath. "In conclusion, he *is* a mermaid."

Liu Hai proudly raised his chin. "That’s right!"

The officer and Master Gu Bo stood there stunned.

Jiang Xun kept a straight face. "Any more questions?"

Master Gu Bo came to his senses. "Where’s the medical team? Someone check Dr. Jiang Xun’s head—did he hit it or something?"

"Ah, about that..." Xiao Jin pulled Master Gu Bo aside. "There’s a reason for this. Let me explain!"

A Yu also led the officer aside. "I’ll explain everything."

Liu Hai watched as the master and the officer got pulled in different directions, then asked worriedly, "Will they believe us?"

Jiang Xun: "It’s the truth."

Liu Hai nodded firmly. "Right, exactly! It’s the truth!"

He grinned. "Thank you, Jiang Xun. I suck at explaining—I could never recite all that."

Jiang Xun stared at him for a beat before patting his head. "Alright."

"My conscience feels clearer now."

Liu Hai cocked his head in confusion. "Guilty?"

Jiang Xun chuckled. "Back there, I felt like I sold out the truth."

Author’s Note:

Jiang Xun: On the balance of reason, one side holds truth, the other holds Liu Hai...

Liu Hai: No clue what truth weighs, but I weigh 400 pounds!

Jiang Xun: ...Truth really lost out.