A Storm Brewing

"Boy, that's a sharp question," Barus paused for a moment, then a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips. "Those things are no longer my concern. If you ask why, it's because I'm late."

Is it because of the sperm whale?

In Barus's memory, Jilan left the deck when the sperm whale went berserk, so she should know nothing about what happened afterward. Therefore, in order not to arouse his suspicion, Jilan deliberately responded with the topic of the sperm whale.

Barus poured the wine the waiter brought into his glass and downed it in one gulp. "Yes, young man, I wasted all my time on that whale, which allowed some bastards to run rampant on my ship. One of my most trusted old men lost his life because of my inaction. I've failed as captain. Now I'm handing over the captain's duties to a young lad who's far better than me."

Barus and the first mate had worked together for almost ten years. They trusted each other like brothers, but this time, because of his arrogance, the first mate was killed, and he didn't even know the identity of the killer!

Although Jilan Jiyu were unaware of what had happened in the cockpit, they had learned of the first mate's death from the news about the shipwreck in the square, so they were not surprised to see Barus looking so dejected.

Barus, consumed by remorse, drank on an empty stomach, ignoring his own health. Jilan, watching him carefully choose his words, said, "Uncle Barus, nobody wants this to happen, but I think I have some leads on the killer. On my way back to the cabin from the deck, following your orders, I encountered many thugs. I vaguely heard them say that they seemed to be acting on orders from an organization called 'Dark Shadow'."

"Dark Shadow? Hahaha!" Upon hearing this name Barus burst into laughter for some reason, laughing until tears streamed down his face.

"Prime Minister, no, Uncle, why are you laughing for no reason?" Jilan asked calmly. "Was any word I used funny?"

"No, no, it has nothing to do with you," Barus waved his hand, still laughing. "I'm just laughing at myself, hahaha, it's really laughable that I would actually try to negotiate with a tiger."

"Sir, your breakfast." The waitress brought over Jilan and Barus's steaks, glancing somewhat surprised at Barus who was laughing incessantly. At Jilan's signal, she left without saying anything.

Jilan ate her breakfast calmly. It was truly worthy of IIsland; even the breakfast at a hotel was comparable in taste to the dishes prepared by "LunchRush," the culinary hero of U.A. High School.

Jilan glanced at the various large machines displayed in the kitchen and understood somewhat. These foods must have been made using a technique called "molecular gastronomy." Even without an experienced chef, delicious food could be made. However, she always felt that the food she put in her mouth had a metallic, cold sensation.

After Jilan finished a glass of tomato juice, Barus stopped laughing, downed a glass of red wine, and suddenly said, "Boy, you have a strong thirst for knowledge, which is a great quality, but like I said, you shouldn't be a Pro Hero; it would be much better to be a detective. Pro Hero are bound by all sorts of laws and regulations; even if you discover something, you can't speak out and will be silenced. But as a detective, you only need to uncover the truth."

Why would Barus suddenly say something like that? Jilan's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he was about to tell her something that couldn't be made public?

"Boy, do you want to know why I laugh when I hear about that 'Dark Shadow' organization you're talking about?"

I would like to hear more details.

"Ha, I'm drunk now, what I'm about to say is just drunken ramblings. You don't need to interrupt, just listen to what this sinner has to say." Barus swirled his wine glass, his eyes fixed on the red liquid as if lost in memories. "Centuries ago, during the Age of Exploration, there was a group of royal pirates with 'letters of marque.' They stirred up storms at sea with impunity, and instead became heroes of their nation."

"Even though this kind of collusion between officials and businessmen has somewhat subsided in modern times, there are still clandestine collaborations. Dark Shadow is an illegal organization that collaborates with multiple countries. I know the name of that organization, but I can only describe them as 'terrorists,' and I can't tell the truth for my brothers." At this point, Barus picked up his knife and fork and began to eat his steak. "Hey, boy, do you know why Homelander personally came to that sinking ship and went to the bridge?"

Faced with the question suddenly thrown at him by Barus, Jilan quickly began to think. According to Barus, Homelander came to the Voyager to keep quiet, which meant that he actually knew about "Dark Shadow." But he was the only hero whose international fame could rival All Might's, so why would he get involved in something between an illegal organization and a nation?

No, that's not right. Perhaps Homelander really does have the idea of interfering in national affairs. Jilan suddenly thought of the speech Homelander had seen on the news half an hour ago. He expressed an idea between the lines—to recruit people with strong Quirk into the army!

If Jilan's guess is correct, the "Dark Shadow" organization made a deal with the United States government to conceal their existence. As a result, the United States government sent Homelander to warn Barus, who knew the truth. But the United States, or rather, the "Vought" agency behind him, were not content to be just a tool of the government. They wanted power, they wanted to recruit superheroes into the military, and thus have more say.

"Captain Barus, why are you telling me all this?"

Barus had finished his steak by then. He shrugged and stood up. "I was drunk, but I didn't say anything."

Watching Barus's departing figure, Jilan sighed, "It seems there's no peace anywhere. But I can't worry about that too much; I just need to be an ordinary student."

IIsland Research Base.

"Dr. David, what's your opinion on that sperm whale?" A man with a Stars and Stripes cape behind him sat on a sofa and asked a researcher standing in front of the lab table with a smile.

"I can't make a judgment based on just a few photos and descriptions, but I can confirm that sperm whales of that size cannot grow naturally in this world," Dr. David said, wiping his brow. "I need sperm whale cell tissue and DNA to analyze whether it's related to 'Compound V'."

"I've already sent 'The Deep' to the crash site to search and salvage. I'll definitely let the Doctor know if there are any results." Homelander stood up from the sofa, stopping at the door. "By the way, Dr. David, I wonder if you've been in contact with All Might lately? You're his old buddy, don't you want to take advantage of the expo to invite him to visit you?"

Dr. David shook his head. "No, now that I've decided to assist you, I won't see him again."

"Doctor, I have no intention of severing your relationship with All Might. If he comes, I hope you will still treat him with the utmost hospitality. After all, he is a senior figure, and I have great respect for him."

Homelander left, Dr. David, panting heavily, placed his hands on the lab table, his fists clenched.

"All Might, don't worry, I made that weapon for you, and no one can take it away from you."