Realizing how serious the problem was, Aequus's expression turned grim.
"I'll go check the engine."
With that, Aequus vanished.
He returned shortly afterward.
"The engine is working perfectly, and the battleship is moving at its normal speed. By all rights, we should have arrived ages ago."
Randall frowned deeply, but he couldn't make sense of the situation either.
"Get everyone out here first."
"Randall Unit, assemble!"
Aequus roared the order.
Within half a minute, everyone was fully dressed and gathered on the deck.
Christa and Caris came out as well.
They could sense that something had happened.
Randall glanced at Aequus, who immediately told them what he had discovered.
Everyone was shocked.
They hadn't noticed such an obvious problem until Aequus pointed it out!
Randall furrowed his brows, taking stock of their situation.
There was nothing wrong with their course or the battleship... yet they were still sailing across the sea.
Once every other possibility had been ruled out, whatever remained had to be the answer, no matter how absurd it seemed.
If none of those things were the problem, then the problem had to lie with the people!
Just as Randall reached that conclusion, he sensed danger.
His expression changed abruptly, but it was already too late.
Almost at the same instant he sensed the danger, pain shot through his neck.
An immense force struck him.
Randall's neck snapped sideways, and his body flew backward. He rolled across the deck several times before finally regaining his balance.
He slowly got up, clutching his neck.
Blood poured through his fingers, staining his clothes red.
Randall looked around, but saw nothing.
Strangely, though, Aequus and the others showed no reaction at all to their commanding officer being attacked by an unknown assailant.
The unnatural scene sent a chill through him.
"Hahahaha!