Hurry Up / The Call of the Swarm

She has recovered from her outburst around the Mid-Autumn Festival and has regained her usual poker face. Right now, she's probably the one most eager to return to the deep sea.

Bai Ye, however, had a completely different opinion. "What can you do after you go back? Even if you can confirm Sargos's situation, what will you do next?"

"If Sargos hadn't fallen, we could have made contact with them; if everything is beyond repair..." Gladiia couldn't continue.

"If everything is over, do you want to fight the entire ocean all by yourself? Calm down." Bai Ye frowned, feeling that the guy in front of him was not rational.

Gladiia shook her head.

She wasn't an impulsive person; those hunters who acted rashly were among the first to die. None of the hunters who have survived to this day are simple.

Even though Gladiia knew that what Bai Ye said might be true, she was unwilling to accept or believe his theory.

"The theory that Seaborn are harmless"

If everything is truly as Bai Ye said, then wouldn't everything these Abyssal Hunter did in the past have been meaningless? All the sacrifices, pain, tragedies, and deaths were all for naught.

Gladiia's act of abandoning her past identity as Technology Executor and rebelliously joining the Abyssal Hunter seems meaningless, like a joke.

This is something she cannot accept.

She would rather Bai Ye be lying than bear this contrast.

But Bai Ye's next words convinced her.

"It wasn't Seaborn who conducted the cruel experiments on Specter, but the Abyssal Church. If we want to cure her, we must find the original experimenters and the data."

"..."

Gladiia remained silent.

She couldn't refute it.

Originium, an energy source, does not exist in the deep sea, and its efficiency far exceeds her imagination. She even considered introducing Originium into the deep sea to combat the Seaborn.

Similarly, even if Specter were brought back to her homeland, the high-ranking officials at the Academy of Sciences might not necessarily provide her with medical care. After all, Gladiia had already realized that in the eyes of the Sargos leadership, Abyssal Hunter were merely tools and weapons.

Laurentina, combined with Originium, will only be used as research material.

Although Gladiia's role remains that of Sargos's Technology Executor, she does not want to abandon her team members.

"Protecting the team members is the captain's responsibility...I understand." Gladiia glanced at Specter. "I will take Laurentina ahead to Iberia and try to gather intelligence."

"Do you want to use sharks as bait?" Bai Ye immediately understood what Gladiia was thinking.

"No, I am bait too." Gladiia picked up her long spear and slung it behind her back. "A newly arrived Technology Executor, those insects would probably be very interested in me."

"I understand, we'll catch up as soon as possible."

Bai Ye and Skadi exchanged a glance, Bai Ye asked, "What does Skadi think?"

"I'll just follow you." Skadi clenched her fist. "I recently watched a videotape of landmen fighting. They just rush in, knock down the enemy, and finish them off in no time. It's that simple."

"I feel like I've already learned it."

Bai Ye rolled her eyes.

"You weren't watching Huang's videotape, were you... Never mind, I don't really need to ask you."

All Bai Ye needs to do is bring Skadi.

"I'm leaving this child in your care." Gladiia was somewhat speechless.

This simple-minded girl is nothing like her captain.

Luckily, I'm a skilled hunter, otherwise I would have been tricked long ago...

Thus, the plan was finalized.

Bai Ye and Gladiia parted ways, each heading to Iberia one after the other.

Unexpectedly, after the group finished their discussion, Kal'tsit, who had been observing coldly, suddenly spoke up, "Rhodes Island will also send a team to provide support."

Chapter Fourteen, Hurry Up

(I want to learn Japanese. Do you have any recommendations? I just want to learn how to read Japanese.)

"Field operatives?"

At first, Bai Ye didn't pay attention to what Dr. Kal'tsit said; he was just a little curious.

However, the old woman's next words surprised him. "No, I will go with an Elite Operator."

"??" Bai Ye didn't expect that Kal'tsit would actually come out in person.

"Didn't they say that Rhodes Island wouldn't rashly interfere in the affairs of any political entity?"

Although Bai Ye herself didn't believe this, it was something Kal'tsit had always emphasized, and it was a bit strange that she herself was directly contradicting it openly.

"This concerns the fate of this land, and it's worth making an exception for us." Dr. Kal'tsit glanced at Bai Ye. "You're not the only one working hard for the future of the planet and civilization."

Bai Ye nodded.

But he always felt that the old woman's words had a hidden meaning.

Before he could think any further, Dr. Kal'tsit asked, "Are the clothes that Specter was wearing when she was first brought back to Rhodes Island still on?"

"It's still there."

Bai Ye nodded.

Although he sometimes plays games about nuns with Specter and even Skadi, the clothes and props he uses are all custom-made in Lungmen. The original outfit was kept by Bai Ye.

"That's good. Rhodes Island's aircraft will drop you off outside the Iberia border. From there on, you'll have to find your own way."

After Kal'tsit finished speaking, Gladiia opened her mouth but made no sound.

However, Specter, Skadi, and Bai Ye were all slightly taken aback, and then Bai Ye nodded to Gladiia.

Dr. Kal'tsit didn't care about these things. She looked at Bai Ye again and said, "We probably won't need that key this time, but we should try to keep it with us at all times from now on."

"What exactly is that key?" Bai Ye frowned.

"The key to a large ship. Once we find it, we can use it to travel to the deep sea." Dr. Kal'tsit, unusually, didn't keep us in suspense or play the riddle game; she simply stated it directly.

Gladiia nodded gently. "I will keep an eye on things regarding the ship."

We must find a ship.

"No, you're dealing with the Abyssal Church. As for the large ship, I already have some leads," Dr. Kal'tsit interrupted.

After the discussion, Bai Ye and the others left the conference room.

Everyone looked rather serious, especially Specter, who seemed to be under a lot of pressure.

Bai Ye suddenly clapped his hands.

The Abyssal Hunter turned their attention to him.

"Relax, we're not fighting alone this time," Bai Ye smiled.

"Yes, it's just a normal mission, the same as before. Skadi, your captain must have taught you how to adjust your mindset." Gladiia looked at Skadi.

"Huh?" Skadi looked a little confused.

"Puff--"

Bai Ye couldn't help but laugh.

Silly Skadi never has this kind of trouble, perhaps that's one of the advantages of being silly?

Gladiia shook her head helplessly.

For the first time, she felt that Skadi meeting Bai Ye might actually be a good thing.

Without further thought, Gladiia continued, "So, in that case, Laurentina and I will leave today?"

"Tomorrow."

"Captain, let's leave tomorrow."

Bai Ye and Specter said in unison.

Seemingly not expecting the other to say the same thing, Bai Ye and Specter turned to look at each other, their eyes full of surprise.

"Why the delay?" Gladiia, puzzled. "Is there something else we haven't prepared?"

"... cough" Bai Ye didn't speak again, he found it difficult to say anything.

Laurentina slightly.

Gladiia sensed something was wrong; things weren't so simple. Then, she suddenly remembered something, recalling what she had heard and seen outside the door, and her expression froze.

Could it be...?

Gladiia seemed to understand.

"Tsk..." she said with some dissatisfaction, "Can't you hurry up? Get it done quickly! Is twenty minutes enough? Or half an hour? Just leave when you're done."

"Not enough," Skadi shook her head. "The shortest it's ever been has never been less than an hour."

She is relatively objective.

After all, he has the physique of Abyssal Hunter, so it's perfectly normal for him to have better stamina.

"??"

Gladiia struggled to suppress the surging emotions within her, lest she succumb to the urge to unleash a torrent of curses.

She felt that her emotions had never been normal since she came ashore. In the past, she was used to hiding all her emotions deep in her heart, keeping her heart calm and undisturbed; but now the calm lake was often disturbed by pebbles.

That's enough!

Gladiia simply turned her head away, refusing to look at these shameless fellows.

"Do as you please... We'll leave tomorrow. But no more delays allowed."

After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but add, "Also, be more moderate, don't stay up too late, and don't sleep in tomorrow."

"Conserve your energy, we may have more battles to fight later."

After saying that, she quickly walked away.

She could guess what would happen next, so she decided to ignore it.

And so, Gladiia came like a typhoon, arriving with great force and departing just as quickly.

In the blink of an eye, the person ran far away, and no one knew where they went.

"Pfft—" After she disappeared, Bai Ye and Specter couldn't help but laugh.

Skadi stood close to the two of them, squinting at Specter.

"The shark is trying to escape again."

Skadi is exceptionally sensitive to this kind of thing, and her usual goofy demeanor is completely gone.

"They're finally gone," Specter said with a sigh of relief.

Skadi didn't feel anything, but she could definitely feel the pressure from the captain.

After all, he was her teacher who taught her how to fight step by step, and also her superior who commanded the large-scale battle.

Among the Abyssal Hunter who are connected by blood, Gladiia is like her older sister and her mother.

With his elders present, Specter dared not act openly.

Sneaking around is exhausting!

Moreover, Bai Ye seems to like playing tricks, always deliberately not activating the soundproof barrier, and likes to make Specter hold back and not make a sound, making each time thrilling and exciting.

"Bai Ye, you'll be gone for quite a while this time, so make sure you keep some inside your body, don't give any to Skadi." Specter clung to Bai Ye.

What she said made sense, but it was also a sophistry. After all, apart from getting close to the Bai Ye, as long as the Specter is near the ocean, its Abyssal Hunter physique, which was brought by the Seaborn, will slowly recover.

Chapter Fifteen: The Call of the Swarm

(I'm back again. Today felt like sitting outside an operating room waiting for news. Thankfully, nothing happened in the end, so I have to add an extra chapter.)