Chapter 145: Taking a Desperate Risk

Outside, the rain grew increasingly fierce. Guided by the intense beam of a flashlight, countless pale, stark-white bodies emerged from the wind and rain around the vessel, pressing close to the hull and howling wildly toward the lower deck. Yet, because the entrance leading to the reservoir beneath the ship had been completely sealed off by them, they could only mill around the vessel in frantic confusion. Clearly, the plight of their trapped companion above was of utmost importance to them.

This sight was terrifying enough to evoke the dread of vengeful ghosts claiming a soul. The Hua Fo shuddered all over, hastily pulling his head back, and said to Chen Cao, "There are countless ones down there!"

The mermaid on the upper deck displayed very weak vital signs, trembling all over and panting faintly. Lu Tianming stood timidly behind Chen Cao, not daring to draw a full breath.

The Hua Fo stepped forward as Chen Cao shined his flashlight on the captured mermaid, suddenly halting the beam upon its belly. "It looks like this creature is pregnant, and in quite a bit of agony!"

"Oh, are you an obstetrician now?" the Hua Fo retorted, then cast the light onto Lu Tianming and said, "Expert, what do you think?"

Lu Tianming covered his eyes with his hands and replied, "I am a mechanical engineer, not a doctor. How would I know about this? I have done everything I was supposed to do. I found the entrance they used to get in, and I found the way to lure them here. What to do next is entirely up to your judgment!"

Chen Cao mused aloud, "Yet, their howling now is quite different from yesterday. Right now, they are behaving like a pack of monsters, which is rather strange. Could it be they aren't this species at all?"

The Hua Fo spread his hands in exasperation. "Then tell me, what should we do now? We cannot kill them, nor can we be certain about releasing them!"

Chen Cao squatted down beside the limbless, exhausted mermaid, inspecting it with the flashlight, and finally let his light linger on its belly. Lost in deep thought, he suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "I think I've figured out what is going on!"

The Hua Fo stared wide-eyed and asked, "What is going on?"

Chen Cao explained, "These mechanical structures are merely auxiliary devices, and luring these creatures here was solely for the purpose of reproduction. Colby used these devices to emit signals, guiding these mermaids here to breed. Meanwhile, those exhaust vents had an anti-hypnotic effect on the mermaid, hypnotizing it to induce the mermaids' hypnotic calls. Over time, the mermaids became conditioned to this induced breeding cycle. Right now, this mermaid is about to give birth, but the venting holes were blocked by us, preventing it from making a sound. Without hearing the call, the other mermaids have grown abnormally agitated."

After digesting Chen Cao's train of thought, the Hua Fo immediately understood. "You mean to say the true biological weapon isn't these creatures at all, but this apparatus, and these mermaids are merely simulated subjects?"

A shadow of sorrow crossed Lu Tianming's face. "Following that logic, Colby has already invented even more advanced weapons, hasn't he? So this place was merely an abandoned experimental site, and we were just tools in his experiment."

Hearing Lu Tianming speak thus, the Hua Fo surprisingly refrained from any sarcastic mockery and instead offered comfort. "Don't worry, aren't we about to regain our freedom soon? Everything will turn out fine. When that time comes, you provide the money, and I'll help you get your revenge!"

Lu Tianming was deeply moved by the first half of the remark, but Chen Cao could not stomach the latter part and snapped at the Hua Fo, "You bastard, what time is it, and you're still thinking about money? Even if he doesn't have any—let alone if he does—so much time has passed that his bank accounts are probably written off as dead accounts, completely inaccessible!"

"No, no!" Lu Tianming revealed a look of profound hatred as he said, "If I can return to Mainz, I am willing to sell all my immovable property just to trade for that bastard's life!"

The Hua Fo wagged his index finger at Chen Cao and said, "Do you see that? This is what I call taking pleasure in helping others!" With that, he chuckled heartily at Lu Tianming. "Old Lu, don't worry, I'll take care of it for you. By the way, how much are your properties worth?"

Wuuu... Just as the Hua Fo was bantering, the mermaid lying limply on the ground twitched slightly. This faint moan seemed to startle the massive swarm of mermaids outside, and they began violently slamming against the partition of the lower reservoir. "Let us release her. I can see they harbor no malicious intent. Let's set her free, and then I can take advantage of the gap while they disperse to descend into the water and scout the situation."

"However, that is extremely dangerous, and we must move quickly!" Lu Tianming worriedly remarked.

"It's fine, I'm just going down to check the situation and will be right back. By the way, where has that fellow Stanny gone?" As Chen Cao said this, everyone suddenly realized that upon entering, they had been so preoccupied with the mermaid that they had completely forgotten about Stanny.

"Hey, look what I found!" Clatter, clatter—Stanny walked in through the doorway, dragging a leather suitcase with an expression of utter excitement. "I found this on the lower deck. Who knows what kind of treasures are inside, probably some good st—whoa..." Before Stanny could finish his sentence, Chen Cao grabbed him by the throat with a grip so ferocious it made his eyes roll upward. Lifting Stanny's 170-centimeter frame with his own towering 180-centimeter stature, Chen Cao made breathing nearly impossible for him, leaving him to stare blankly with upturned eyes.

"Listen to me carefully: I do not want your greed to cost you your life next time. Do you understand? Greedy people always die the fastest!"

Yet, mere seconds later, Chen Cao released his grip. Stanny clutched his neck, his face turning a purplish hue from oxygen deprivation, but he still did not forget to nod. He held not a shred of resentment toward Chen Cao—not only because of Chen Cao's formidable combat prowess, but also because Chen Cao looked out for him and, most importantly, could keep him alive. He whimpered, "Yes, Boss, I understand."

Chen Cao nodded slightly, his eyes still brimming with a murderous intent that gleamed in the flashlight's beam. Turning to Lu Tianming and the Hua Fo, he said, "To my mind, these creatures pose no threat of cannibalism right now. Let's toss this mermaid into the water first!" With that, he gave Stanny a meaningful look. Understanding his cue instantly, Stanny rushed forward, unhesitatingly hauled on the ropes binding the mermaid, and dragged it slowly toward the spot designated by Lu Tianming. Chen Cao lifted the floor hatch, from which the sound of splashing water immediately echoed. "Throw it!" Chen Cao commanded. Hearing this, Stanny hoisted the mermaid—ropes and all—and hurled it down. Chen Cao promptly slammed the iron hatch shut, figuring that the other mermaids would find a way to use their teeth to untie the ropes binding their companion. Moments later, the river surface gradually grew calm once more, leaving only the sound of the rain. It seemed the mermaids had drifted far away.

At this point, the Hua Fo looked at Chen Cao and reminded him, "Chen, don't forget our agreement!"

Tossing his sniper rifle and equipment to Stanny while stripping off his outer layers, Chen Cao replied, "Naturally I wouldn't forget. I keep my word." With that, he clenched a dagger between his teeth, strode toward the window without another word, and leaped out. Accompanied by the splash of water, the Hua Fo felt none of the gratification one expects when a transaction is fulfilled, but instead muttered in a daze, "I hope this fellow manages to pull off this mission!"

Outside the window, the rain continued to fall in a steady drizzle. Save for the plop of Chen Cao entering the water, the ripples breaking the river's surface were instantly swallowed by the downpour.