Accident

The complex conditions at sea were the main cause of accidents aboard crab boats.

Even when everyone stayed on high alert and remained as careful as possible, a single small wave could still cause an accident.

Even with an experienced captain like Old George at the helm, able to handle big waves and watch out for small ones, accidents sometimes came so suddenly that they caught people completely off guard.

At times like that, everyone had to watch each other's backs and be ready to support their shipmates at any moment.

The Western world's custom at sea had never been one of minding your own business and leaving others to their fate. The ocean was vast, and apart from one another, there was only one another. If they did not help each other, who else could help them?

That was why mutual aid and teamwork were so important.

Working in such an environment, Henry still tried his best to hide the fact that he possessed super strength and all kinds of superhuman abilities. Even so, he could not help being influenced by the atmosphere of the job and lending a hand whenever someone needed one.

With everyone rushed off their feet, few people noticed whether the strength and speed Henry used exceeded normal human limits. As long as he did not overdo it, he could still bluff his way through.

The closest he had come to exposing his super strength was when a wave struck from the side and gave Annie 21 a moderate jolt.

At the time, they were hauling up crab pots. The one being lifted out of the water was packed to the brim, and everyone was excited.

The captain had found where the crab swarm had gathered, so several pots in a row had come up full. No one could be dissatisfied with that. The sooner the hold was full, the sooner they could return to port and collect their money.

Just as the crab pot rose above the rail, a young crewman who had only shed the title of Little Green this year was pulling the guide rope to move the pot sideways, preparing to drag the loaded iron cage back onto the deck.

That sudden jolt shifted the crab pot's center of gravity and snapped one of the supporting hoist lines. Not only did the iron cage drop back toward the sea, it also began swinging outward.

At the same time, the young crewman had terrible luck. Somehow, his arm became tangled in the guide rope. As the crab pot swung outward, either he would be flung overboard with it, or his arm would be torn off.

At that critical moment, Henry grabbed the crab pot that was about to swing out and braced both feet against the rail, pretending to struggle as he held it in place.

The young man's scream naturally drew everyone's attention. They all rushed over to help at once.

Though the young man had not lost his arm or been thrown into the sea, the rope had still dragged him onto the deck. Someone hurriedly untangled his arm and pulled him aside.

Seeing that the young man was being tended to, the other veterans faced a choice. Should they abandon this crab pot, or try to save it?

To abandon it, they would have to cut all the ropes and let the crab pot fall into the sea. But if they wanted to save it, they had to see whether Henry could hold on.

Just as they were about to cut the rope and tell Henry to let go at the same time, the Kryptonian, still putting on an act, did not think much of it. In a strained voice through clenched teeth, he said, "Can you reconnect the broken hoist line?"

"Little Green, hold on!" The veterans immediately began the rescue operation.

Someone quickly attached a spare rope to the crane. Another person climbed onto the rail while two men behind him held his legs, preparing to reconnect the broken hoist line.

For these veterans, using knots was practically instinctive. Within a few breaths, they used exactly the right length of rope to reconnect the broken line and shouted, "Henry, let go!"

Not intending to draw too much attention, the Kryptonian obediently released his grip. The reconnected hoist line instantly snapped taut again, and the crab pot was finally suspended securely, though it hung slightly crooked.

Several men pulled the guide rope and worked together to haul the crab pot onto the deck, then controlled the crane to lower it. Only after it landed safely did everyone let out a breath.

Henry kept acting, pretending that his arms were sore and he had no strength left as he leaned against the rail, panting heavily.

As for his hands, he was wearing gloves. Unless he said something himself, no one could tell whether they were injured.

The young man whose arm had been tangled in the rope sat beside the cabin, still shaken. That sudden pull had injured him to some extent.

Though he could still bend and move his arm, the feeling of a muscle strain told him that what had just happened was real.

Several veterans went to check on the two of them, while others inspected the crab pot that had just been hauled aboard. Even Old George, who had been steering, came out.

He had seen everything that had happened. He simply had not had time to come out and take command before the deck crew resolved the situation.

Old George checked on both men. He examined the terrified young man first and, after confirming that his injuries were not serious, came over to Henry.

A veteran had already checked Henry over, so Old George did not ask again. He merely patted Henry on the shoulder and said, "Good job. If not for you, even if that kid survived, he'd have lost his arm."

No one asked how Henry had managed to hold onto one corner of the crab pot. After all, only one of the four hoist lines had snapped, temporarily throwing it off balance. Henry had not been supporting the full weight of the pot and its catch by himself.

Even someone else standing nearby might have managed an explosive burst of strength like Henry's and held it there for a moment.

In a dangerous work environment like a crab boat, such miracles were uncommon, but not unheard of. Old George and the other veterans had experienced situations where danger was narrowly averted, so they did not think much of it.

After confirming that no one was seriously hurt, Old George ordered, "Replace the broken line with a new one. Put in some more effort, everyone. Once we catch all the king crab at this spot, we'll head back to port. As for you two boys, take ten minutes to rest, all right?"

Before the two could answer, an older crewman asked, "Captain, we're heading back this early?"

"The king crab in the hold has already filled it eighty percent. We've just hauled up several pots from this spot. Once we finish clearing them out, I think the haul will be about enough. The sooner we return, the sooner everyone can rest. You won't be shorted on pay."

"Fine. You're the boss. Your call."

Henry clapped his hands and said, "I'm fine. I don't need to rest." The other man said nothing, apparently still not recovered from the shock.

Old George did not let Henry go back to work. Instead, he told the young man who had just saved someone, "Ten minutes means ten minutes. While you're at it, go into the cabin and bring out some whiskey. Have a glass yourself, and give that kid one too. He's scared out of his wits."

"Okay, boss." Henry did not argue further and went into the cabin without complaint.

The other veterans did not gossip about the two rookies receiving extra rest time. They continued the crab-fishing operation. If they wanted to return to port sooner, they needed everyone's effort. No one had the spare time for petty scheming.