Everyone was interested in anything related to mermaids, Su Cheng's curiosity wasn't strange to Eck.
"I never thought that mermaids really existed, but the things that have happened in recent years have been bizarre enough, so what else is impossible..." Eck sighed softly.
What bizarre things have happened in recent years?
Su Cheng wanted to ask more, but stopped herself because they had already reached Modeya's location.
Seeing that Su Cheng had arrived, Mu Ling released the canvas and broken planks beneath Modeya and floated off again to search for the others.
Modeya's condition was much worse Eck's; his skin was cold, his lips were pale, and he was motionless with only faint breathing.
" Modeya! Wake up!" Eck slapped his cheeks, then pulled open his eyelids to check his pupils, before turning him over and slapping his back and gagging his throat.
Su Cheng remembered that CPR should be used to rescue drowning victims, and was about to speak when she saw Modeya suddenly react.
"Cough cough cough cough cough!" Modeya coughed violently, and stagnant water flowed from his mouth and nose.
"Thank God you're still alive." Eck breathed a sigh of relief, his tense expression easing slightly. He gently patted Modeya's back, helping him recover from the violent coughing.
"I'm still alive... that's great..." Modeya's voice was hoarse. After recovering, he looked at Eck and Su Cheng and gave a faint smile of relief.
But then his face suddenly contorted, "Oh! My stomach... it hurts so much!"
Eck helped Modeya climb onto the raft. By the light of the flashlight, a bloody gash could be seen on his side, the exposed flesh white from being soaked in seawater.
"You're injured. You need to disinfect and bandage it to avoid infection." Eck frowned worriedly; they had no medical supplies at the moment.
Modeya collapsed, utterly exhausted. "Where are the others?"
"... I don't know, we've only found you so far."
The two exchanged a few words, briefly discussing their current situation.
Su Cheng did not participate; her gaze was fixed on Modeya's exposed collarbone.
The area that should have been smooth skin was covered with green pustules, which were barely visible in the dark without a light.
Recalling that when Modeya was on the ship, she wore a collared shirt even in the hot weather, unlike the other crew members who wore short-sleeved shirts with large collars for ventilation.
This indicates that he was aware of the pustules on his neck and intentionally concealed them.
Right now, attention is probably focused on the abdominal wound, so they haven't noticed that the neck area has been exposed.
Su Cheng had seen red and white pustules, but rarely green ones.
Did Modeya contract some kind of disease?
Could the "strange things that have happened in recent years" that Eck mentioned be referring to this disease with symptoms of green pustules?
A note from the author:
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Chapter 92
Su Cheng shone a flashlight on Modeya's collarbone. "What's this?"
"What are you doing!" Modeya angrily covered her face with her hand, glaring at him with obvious displeasure.
Eck's expression changed slightly. " Modeya, when did you get infected with Kro Fungus...? Why didn't you ever say so?"
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Su Cheng moved the flashlight beam away. "Are you the only one infected with Kro Fungus? What about the others? Your secrecy suggests it's contagious."
Modeya pursed her lips, her face pale, and retorted, "I have Spiral-Type Kro Fungus infection, it's not contagious!"
Eck stepped forward and examined Modeya's collarbone more closely. "That's right, the pustules are oval-shaped, and they are indeed caused by non-contagious Spiral-Type Kro Fungus."
He continued, "When did you get infected? Is that why you sought out Victor?"
Seeing her long-hidden secret exposed, Modeya turned her head away in frustration, and after a long while, she replied in a low voice, "I drank polluted water before I went to sea, and these damn pustules suddenly grew on my collarbone. I don't have enough money to buy the ointment; it's too expensive... Victor has enough ointment; as long as I find the mermaid, he will give me enough."
Eck's expression was complicated. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"If I told you, you definitely wouldn't take me out to sea! Cough cough cough..." Morde's emotions surged, and he suddenly coughed again.
Su Cheng connected the information about Kro Fungus that the two people had mentioned, concluding that this fungal infection was not incurable, but the drugs were simply overpriced.
Where did the Kro Fungus come from?
Eck shook his head. "It suddenly appeared in water sources five years ago, but it was discovered in time and its spread was contained. People have continued to be infected since then. The Chamber of Commerce has been investing in research on this fungal infection and has developed targeted drugs."
Su Cheng nodded thoughtfully, and together they reinforced the canvas onto the raft.
Mu Ling subsequently located two more surviving crew members, but they were located quite far away.
Su Cheng casually pointed in a direction, and she and Eck rowed the small raft to rescue two crew members who were drifting with the plank. The two were in similar condition to Modeya, and only regained consciousness after spitting out the water.
The raft had limited weight capacity, so the last two crew members, once conscious, climbed onto another plank and were looked after by Eck.
Su Cheng sat on the raft, pointing to the lights on the horizon, "Look over there."
At the edge of the dark sea, a bright light appeared, like a beacon in the darkness, attracting the attention of those lost at sea.
"Why is there a light source over there? Could it be another ship?" Eck asked uncertainly.
"Perhaps it's another fleet searching for mermaids; we can ask the people on board for help," Modeya said optimistically.
If it really is a boat, it could solve the current predicament for these people.
"Let's go take a look."
Su Cheng quickened her pace, rowing the raft, and Eck came to help.
As we got closer, we could gradually make out that it was a brightly lit cruise ship.
The current of the seawater kept increasing, and the boat could be pushed forward without oars.
The cruise ship is tall and well-maintained, with a phoenix-shaped prow, multiple masts and sails, standing firmly on the sea. The dazzling lights illuminate the surrounding area, making the sea shimmer.
"This is... the Blue Count Ship!" Eck suddenly exclaimed.
Blue Count?
Su Cheng's eyes brightened slightly, and she turned to signal him to continue.
" Blue Count went to sea five years ago and never returned. Later, news spread that he had sunk, and Blue Count and his hundred crew members vanished without a trace." Eck said with some emotion, "This ship, which was said to be the most luxurious, was incredibly difficult to book a ticket for back then. I never imagined it would still be here."
But five years have passed, Blue Count remains dimly lit, showing no signs of having met with misfortune.
Why is it staying here instead of looking for a way to leave...?
"Are the people on the ship still alive?" Modeya whispered.
The supplies on the ship might not be enough to sustain more than a hundred people for five years.
No one answered Modeya's question, because regardless of whether there were any survivors on the Blue Count Ship, they had already arrived at it, and there was no better option than to board the ship.
Su Cheng listened carefully, but apart from the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, she heard no movement inside the ship. She also Perception no deathly aura; there was neither life nor death, yet over a hundred people couldn't have vanished into thin air...
The raft drifted to the bottom of the tour boat and bumped lightly against the gunwale with a "clang".
The Blue Count Ship was once touted as being built with the most expensive materials. In the vast ocean, it was like a lighthouse in the darkness; if one were to suddenly encounter it, it would surely pique everyone's curiosity.
Su Cheng estimated the height of the boat plank, then pretended to bend down to retrieve something from the water, but actually took out a grappling hook from her bag.
While Eck and the others were still planning to climb onto the ship by stacking themselves higher, Su Cheng had already thrown out a grappling hook, hooked it onto the top of the deck, and quickly climbed onto the ship's deck by pulling on the rope.
"Good heavens, where did she get those tools...?"
Su Cheng glanced down at the group of people staring at her in astonishment. Since they had a solution, they didn't need her help anymore.
She put away the grappling hook and turned to examine the long-lost ship.
The deck is large and has railings to prevent falls during viewing, but these railings are not enough to stop someone from climbing overboard.
Oil lamps, still burning, hung on either side of the wooden door leading into the ship.
Su Cheng took two steps forward, raised her hand and touched the wall of the oil lamp, her fingertips rubbing against a layer of ash.
Mu Ling floated over and touched the eerie flame with interest. "This lamp doesn't burn oil; it ignites without a ignition. It's more like a will-o'-the-wisp that attracts people."
"This ship itself is like a ghost ship," Su Cheng said.
The ship, which had disappeared for five years, was completely intact and its lights shone brightly with seemingly inexhaustible energy, as if intentionally attracting others to it?
With all its strange features, calling it a ghost ship wouldn't be an exaggeration.
A ghost ship should have ghosts, right?
Su Cheng pushed open the creaking wooden door, walked down a section of iron stairs, and entered the ship's interior.
She arrived at the ship's public hall, where wall lamps illuminated the entire space, which was spacious yet extremely cluttered.
The dining table and chairs were overturned, and broken glass, cups, and dishes were scattered all over the floor.
The paintings and red silk decorations on the walls were either tilted or lying on the ground, and had been stained with ash over time.
The most shocking sight was the long-dried bloodstains and scratches on the floor, suggesting that someone had been dragged roughly and left behind traces of struggle in despair.
Perhaps when the ship first set sail, a banquet was being held in the cruise ship's lobby, with passengers laughing, dancing, and singing, never imagining that this would be their final journey.
What exactly happened five years ago...? What is the connection between the current chaos and Blue Count's continued reluctance to leave the scene?
Understanding this issue may be the key to solving the branch mission.
Su Cheng avoided the broken glass and scanned the area, but saw no remains. The chaos in the hall was undeniable; had all the passengers been thrown into the sea?
She searched the corner carefully, when suddenly a blurry figure flashed past in her peripheral vision.
Su Cheng quickly turned her gaze, but the lingering image had vanished without a trace, as if it had been nothing more than her imagination.
Did you see that?
Mu Ling looked around, puzzled, and asked, "What?"