On the night of January 4th, the wind was high and the night was dark.
The sea lay in pitch darkness, with only faint, flickering lights visible in the distance, a trace of the unknown lurking within the silence.
Aboard the Yun Jia Hao, everything was as usual. The researchers were working overtime on their gene-splicing experiments. The Yuze Family's private soldiers kept opening container after container, sending the unconscious people inside to the laboratories.
Everything seemed no different from before. Several workers responsible for moving cargo were still complaining as they worked.
"I wonder when Lord Divine Child's plan will finally end. Staying on this ship every day is really miserable."
"More and more people have been sent to the labs these past two days. It should be soon, right? Besides, what's so good about getting off the ship? Haven't you heard about the chaos caused by the parasites? Who knows how many are out there now? At least there aren't any of those monsters on the ship."
"That's true..."
As they spoke, one of them caught sight of what seemed to be a light far out on the sea and found it strange.
He nudged his companion. "Look over there. Is a ship coming this way?"
"A ship? No way, right?"
"Th-that's!!"
After only a few glances, they saw the light intensify rapidly. Enormous beams of light shot straight toward them.
Along with the beams came a deafening amplified announcement that shook the entire sea. At the same time, the same voice came through the public communications channel in the ship's bridge.
"This is the Beixing Nation Navy's Flying Fire Fleet. All crew aboard the Yun Jia Hao are to cease all activity immediately, abandon all resistance, and await boarding inspection."
"I repeat, this is..."
Everyone on the