Tears in Sleep

"Gurgle..."

This is the sound caused by bubbles rising from the water and surging towards the surface.

Of course, the sound was so faint that it would be inaudible if you weren't around.

However, in the unfathomable depths of the sea, there are quite a few such bubbles, which occasionally emerge from some corner and rise to the surface, creating a rather beautiful sight.

In this deep sea, a small submarine, like a torpedo, is moving forward at a considerable speed.

Inside the submarine, in the cabin, the only light sources were signal lights and instruments.

Fang Li was behind the cockpit in the cabin, watching the Matoba outside with an electronic telescope while watching Aria operate the control stick.

Only then did Fang Li finally understand why Aria was so confident that he could operate a submarine using only the driver's manual that came with the Vehicle Department department.

"Driving is completely automatic. You only need to steer according to the radar. It's as easy as riding a motorcycle."

"Open the hole!"

Fang Li's complaint only came out for less than a second, and he was immediately blocked by Aria with one word.

However, Fang Li's complaints were not wrong.

This submarine has long been modified, not only with a high speed, but also with almost fully automatic operation, providing users with a lot of convenience.

However, there are also shortcomings.

For example, fuel consumption is relatively fast, maintenance costs are relatively high, and the diving depth has not been improved much. Just as Aria said at the beginning, this is a submarine that cannot go too deep into the sea.

However, this level is sufficient.

"Judging from the radar, I-You's submarine doesn't seem to have gone too deep into the sea. I guess it's because the Demonic Sword just kidnapped your friend not long ago, and it came up to meet the Demonic Sword or the other members?"

Aria's judgment is basically accurate.

Therefore, the current situation is quite favorable for Fang Li and Aria.

"It will probably take quite a while to get to our destination; it'll likely be impossible to arrive in less than ten hours," Aria said considerately. "If you don't have anything to do, you can take a nap and get some rest."

"I'll sleep for five hours, then I'll take your place." Fang Li didn't waste any words and made a direct decision. "If we take turns resting, we'll have the energy for the attack."

"I understand." Aria's reply sounded perfunctory, but she must have actually heard him.

At that moment, Fang Li leaned against the cold wall, closed his eyes, and began to drift into a light sleep.

The bullet-shaped submarine continued its journey on the seabed.

As time went on, the light could no longer reach this depth, making the cabin increasingly dark.

Fang Li slept for three hours before waking up because his stomach was growling. He and Aria ate a simple nutritious meal and drank some beverages. Then, Fang Li Aria over from Aria and let her rest.

It's unclear whether Aria was just putting on a brave face, but she actually lacked confidence in piloting the submarine, which caused her to be overly nervous during the maneuver and wasted a lot of energy. Within a minute, Aria fell asleep.

Fang Li took over the piloting duties from Aria, allowing the submarine to proceed in almost fully automatic mode, while occasionally checking the radar displays.

Under these circumstances, all sound was lost in the cabin, with only Aria's somewhat sweet breathing echoing around, making the temperature inside the cabin seem to rise slightly.

"Thud..."

Suddenly, a strange noise came from behind Fang Li.

Fang Li turned around with some confusion and looked behind him.

Suddenly, a small booklet fell out of Aria's arms, who was sleeping soundly against the wall.

"Armed Detective Handbook?"

Fang Li immediately recognized the origin of this thing.

The Armed Detective Handbook is a notebook, similar to a police officer's handbook, used to record small reports and investigation records of cases.

Basically, every armed detective carries it.

Because this Armed Detective Handbook also includes quite a few small gadgets.

For example, a key that can be used to unlock doors, bandages for emergency treatment when injured, painkillers and stimulants with attached syringes, and small pills to improve concentration can all be placed in the hidden compartment of the Armed Detective Handbook.

These little gadgets can be incredibly useful in truly important situations.

"Such an important thing was just left lying around, no wonder it fell."

Fang Li picked up the Armed Detective Handbook that had fallen to the ground.

However, a photo unexpectedly fell out of the Armed Detective Handbook.

"Hmm?" Fang Li blinked and picked up the photo as well.

The next moment, Fang Li saw it.

There is a person in this photo.

A handsome man wearing an overcoat and suit, a detective hat, and a cigarette in his mouth.

The handsome man in the photo looks to be from quite a while ago.

Because this photo is not only black and white, but also somewhat old.

Looking at the handsome man in the photo, Fang Li felt somewhat familiar with him.

After a while, Fang Li finally remembered.

"Sherlock Holmes".

He is even featured in the textbooks of the Armed Detective High School, and is hailed as the progenitor of the Armed Detective Academy.

"Unexpectedly, this child actually carried a photo of his great-grandfather with him."

Thinking about it carefully, this isn't surprising at all.

As a descendant of the Holmes family, Aria's most admired person is undoubtedly her great-grandfather.

Carrying its photo with me is probably a way to urge myself to keep moving forward and follow in the footsteps of those who came before.

"They're all already dead anyway, we'll catch up with them sooner or later."

Fang Li, who is incapable of feeling anything about death, can only have this level of thought.

At that moment, Aria turned over and murmured as if in a dream, "Great-grandfather..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Li chuckled and said, "You even dream about the person you admire most?"

Just as Fang Li was chuckling to Fang Li, tears suddenly welled up in Aria's eyes, and she murmured incessantly.

"I've found a partner... I'm no longer a defective product... Great-Grandpa... I will definitely rescue Mom..."

Such sleep-talking gradually made Fang Li's smile disappear.

Seeing Aria shed a single tear, Fang Li couldn't help but sigh.

"It seems that Aria's life is much harder than I imagined."

Fang Li put the photo back into the Armed Detective Handbook and gently tucked it back into Aria's arms.

"Beep—beep—!"

Suddenly, the submarine's radar emitted a sound.