Next Time You Knock, Don't Come Empty-Handed

Bai Zhu immediately closed his eyes and played dead.

Milluki lowered his head and pretended to be busy with his terminal.

Gisa stood to one side, completely unable to get a word in.

The Xisong surged forward for another stretch.

The Black Gold spike behind them had already sunk more than halfway beneath the water, with only its tip still exposed above the sea.

When the last trace of black vanished underwater, a massive circular wave rose across the distant sea before gradually flattening out.

Milluki stared at the screen until the last sonar buoy completely lost connection.

The screen went black.

He was silent for several seconds before speaking.

"It's gone."

Bai Zhu opened his eyes.

"Is the sonar gone, or is it gone?"

"The sonar's gone."

Milluki shut his terminal.

"It sank back down too."

Only then did someone on deck collapse weakly to the ground.

Until now, everyone had been holding on through sheer willpower.

Now, people noticed that their palms were scraped raw and their knees swollen from impacts.

Captain Nishimatsu did not let them rest for long.

He handed the wheel to his first mate, jumped down from the wheelhouse, and began inspecting the ship.

When he reached the starboard side, his face twitched.

"Who the hell did this to this plank?"

A crewman quietly reminded him.

"Captain, a fish hit it."

Captain Nishimatsu turned and glared at him.

"You think I don't know a fish hit it?"

The crewman immediately shut up.

Bai Zhu painfully turned his head.

"Captain, stop yelling. Making it back alive is already a blessing from Mazu."

Captain Nishimatsu crouched to inspect the crack, his heart aching so badly his teeth hurt.

"Do you know how much it costs to repair this ship?"

Bai Zhu answered without thinking.

"Doesn't matter.