After saying that, Lin Hao strode off. May followed him onto the ferry's deck. The sea breeze blew down her collar, and she pulled her jacket zipper all the way up.
Two hours later, the outline of Olivine City's harbor emerged through the sea fog. A gray-white steel lighthouse stood at the end of the pier. The fog over the water had yet to clear completely, and distant Iron Island was little more than a blurry black shape on the horizon.
After disembarking, Lin Hao headed straight for the boat rental stand at the edge of the harbor. The owner was a deeply tanned middle-aged man with half a cigarette between his fingers. When he heard their destination, he shook his head. "Iron Island?"
"Things haven't been peaceful over there lately. Hardly anyone goes anymore."
May stepped forward. "What's been happening?"
The owner tapped his cigarette ash onto the edge of the counter. "A miner said the day before yesterday that people were digging something up on the island. The place was lit up all night, but when he went to look during the day, he couldn't even find a footprint."
"How many people?"
The owner put the cigarette back between his lips. "No idea. The miner said he saw machinery and people in uniform. He didn't dare get close."
Lin Hao took several banknotes from his pocket and slapped them onto the counter. "We'll rent a speedboat and drive it ourselves."
The owner glanced at the money on the counter, then at them. "You're Trainers?"
"Yeah."
The owner opened a drawer, took out a set of keys, and tossed it onto the counter. "The white one at Pier 3. Full tank. Bring it back before eight tonight, or it'll cost extra."
The speedboat cut a white wake across the