Approaching Science

With the evidence conclusive, Wang He finally dropped his act and began to explain when Jiang Su questioned him.

The story he told this time was completely different from the one he had told before.

As it turned out, Wang He was none other than the biological son of "Wang Heng," the missing crewman from the Windbreaker fishing vessel.

That explained how Wang He had passed the DNA test.

And since he looked so much like his father, it also made sense that his relatives had mistaken him for the crewman "Wang Heng," who had been missing for 32 years.

Thirty-two years earlier.

Wang Heng had been an apprentice sailor, doing odd jobs aboard the Windbreaker.

Because the ship had lax supervision, violence and bullying were commonplace aboard the fishing vessel.

As an apprentice sailor, Wang Heng had been made to do all the dirty, exhausting work. On top of that, the old sailors on board often bullied and beat him.

On the Windbreaker's final voyage before it went missing, they really had encountered a school of cod.

Wang Heng had taken part in the fishing operation.

But he was inexperienced, and the intense work had left him physically and mentally exhausted. While hauling in the nets, he let his guard down for a moment. He pulled the rope the wrong way, and it snapped.

The fishing net and the cod sank into the sea.

The Windbreaker's captain flew into a rage. He beat Wang Heng brutally, then ordered that he be locked in the cabin.

That night, parched and ravenous, Wang Heng forced the cabin door open and sneaked out in search of food.

As soon as he stepped outside, he ran into the sailor on watch, "Wang Li," who had always been especially fond of tormenting him.

During their argument, Wang Heng accidentally killed Wang Li.

Terror and uncertainty about the future overwhelmed Wang Heng, but killing Wang Li also released some of the pent-up frustration inside him.

Consumed by a desperate urge to survive, Wang Heng lost his reason and did something he could hardly believe himself capable of.

While the crew slept, he found a knife in the kitchen and went from one man to the next, slitting their throats in the dead of night until he had killed everyone aboard the Windbreaker.

Then he cut off the radio, severing the Windbreaker's last connection to land.

Once he had calmed down, Wang Heng was terrified and helpless. He didn't dare go back, because he knew what awaited him if he did.

So he steered the Windbreaker fishing vessel aimlessly across the vast ocean.

After the fuel ran out, he reached a small island nation and settled there in seclusion, starting a new life. He married a local woman, and years later, they had Wang He.

As for Wang He, he had studied dance and acting since childhood and was determined to become a big star.

But no one appreciated his talents. He hit one dead end after another and never got anywhere.

Then, by chance, he discovered his father's secret.

That was when a bold idea took root in Wang He's mind.

Paranormal events had recently become a hot topic online, and he thought of a way to make himself famous fast.

He would impersonate his father, then return to Donglong Port aboard the old Windbreaker fishing vessel. He would claim to be a time traveler, attract attention online, and become a celebrity.

If his plan worked, he'd have no choice but to become famous.

To make his plan more convincing, Wang He begged his father to tell him about his secrets and his past connections.

Wang Heng had initially refused, but his son kept pleading until he finally gave in and revealed all his secrets and private affairs in detail.

After that, Wang He set his plan in motion.

To make the Windbreaker's return seem more eerie, he didn't refuel the fishing vessel before setting out. Instead, he waited for the warm current and seasonal winds to blow southwest, then set off aboard the Windbreaker.

In the end, the Windbreaker sailed into Donglong Port, becoming the hotly discussed "Donglong Port Ghost Ship Incident" and causing a public uproar.

After hearing Wang He's explanation, Jiang Su finally understood what had happened.

Everything made sense now.

Since Wang He was Wang Heng's son, he had passed the DNA test. And because he knew about Wang Heng's past connections and private affairs, and looked so much like him, his relatives had also accepted him as Wang Heng.

The most important thing was that this also explained how the Windbreaker could be so battered and old while "Wang Heng" still looked young.

In Jiang Su's eyes, the plan had been flawless.

As Wang Heng's son, he really could pull off a switcheroo.

Unfortunately for him, he had run into Jiang Su, who had an ability to analyze things.

If Wang He hadn't confessed, no one would ever have discovered the truth hidden beneath the surface.

After hearing Wang He's explanation, Jiang Su couldn't help marveling inwardly.

Just then, a notification sounded in Jiang Su's mind.

[Night Watcher Mission: Donglong Port Ghost Ship Incident]

Mission Progress: Complete

Mission Difficulty: Low

Mission Rewards: 1000 Soul Power, 1000 Divine Power, Exploration Compass.

Next Mandatory Mission Opens In: 4 days 23 hours 59 min (Can Continue Accepting Missions)

Seeing the rewards, Jiang Su couldn't help bursting into laughter.

He had thought the mission would end in a fierce battle, but he'd never expected to complete it so easily this way.

The process had been full of twists and turns, but once he obtained the real information about "Wang Heng," the clues were updated, and the mission system had found the answer for him by searching online.

You could say he'd gotten these mission rewards for free.

"What are you going to do with me?" Wang He asked, looking at Jiang Su with a bitter expression.

"After I leave, someone else will come question you. Just tell them your story again. Since you've confessed, you'll probably get the death penalty. No big deal." Jiang Su grinned.

Wang He was clearly frightened by those words.

Now that the mission was complete, Jiang Su had no intention of staying any longer.

Rather than waste time chatting, he might as well go back to mining, get stronger sooner, and then teach those young people with no sense of honor how to respect their elders.

With that thought, Jiang Su walked to the window, glanced down, and pushed it open.

Then, as Wang He stared in shock, Jiang Su leaped out of the window and jumped from the third floor.

Since he hadn't used any Night Watchman abilities, Jiang Su wasn't worried about being erased by that mysterious person.

The price of materializing a Low-level Invisibility Talisman made his heart ache.

Wouldn't that money be better spent improving his own abilities?

That night.

The media widely reported the truth behind the "Donglong Port Ghost Ship Incident."

The authorities also came forward to dispel the rumors, providing a series of pieces of evidence, along with a video of Wang He's confession, to prove that the whole affair had been nothing but a farce.

The mysterious Donglong Port Ghost Ship Incident, which had baffled countless netizens, was finally solved.

The people who had been tirelessly promoting the Donglong Port Ghost Ship Incident online also went completely quiet.

The truth left them feeling as if they'd just watched an episode of "Approaching Science."

All thunder and no rain, with a lousy ending.

Tang Yu, who had been working behind the scenes, watched a replay of Jiang Su's entire investigation after receiving the feedback that Jiang Su had completed the mission.

The truth left him embarrassed.

And seeing Jiang Su take the mission rewards from right under his nose so easily made him feel like he'd taken a loss.

But then he thought about how a stronger worker could bring him even more benefits in the future.

That made him feel better.

Thanks to Yu Sheng Ke Ban, book friend 168502110433510, and Meng Dening for the tips~

My new book is being recommended~ Please vote for it.