Chapter 129 - Endless Seas 04 (1/2)
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Once the captain urgently activated the desalination system and replaced all the hot water equipment, the drinking water on the cruise s.h.i.+p finally returned to normal. In the afternoon, the situation of the tourist’s collective diarrhea was also controlled.
The captain soon told everyone that the escaped logistics chief had been arrested by the police at the dock.
After interrogation, Qi Zhao confessed everything. His wife wanted to divorce him because of his low salary and no money in recent months. He also lost all his property by speculating in stocks. His life wasn’t good so he got revenge. He deliberately polluted the water storage equipment on the cruise s.h.i.+p, wanting to harm the entire s.h.i.+p for being demoted. He didn’t expect for several tourists to die of severe diarrhea.
The police responded that the logistics officer would be sentenced for ‘manslaughter.’
The ocean cruise s.h.i.+p company publicly apologized for the water contamination incident and offered two options.
The first option was that they would send the ‘Full Star’ cruise s.h.i.+p at the fastest speed to reach the location of the Royal Caribbean. Those who didn’t want to continue travelling could take the Full Star cruise s.h.i.+p to return and get a full refund at the dock. They would also be directly upgraded to a VIP member and next time, they could buy tickets from the cruise company with a 20% discount.
The second option was to continue the trip. In order to express their apology and sincerity, the Royal Caribbean would have free food in all restaurants and free entertainment for the next six days. Guests who were willing to continue their journey would be upgraded to a VIP member and enjoy a 20% discount.
In addition, the company expressed heavy condolences for the tourists who suffered from severe diarrhea and died. They would provide compensation to the families in accordance with the contract.
The captain asked the announcer to tell everyone about the company’s decision via radio. The angry travellers were satisfied with the company’s att.i.tude and their mood was much more stable when they heard about the deal.
The eight people of Xiao Lou’s team were crammed into a room on the third floor. After hearing the broadcast, Shao Qingge couldn’t help praising. “The cruise s.h.i.+p company’s public relations is doing a good job. Upgrading to VIP members is compensation on the surface but it is also ensuring fixed compensation. Everyone has the right to buy tickets at a discount and they will definitely choose the s.h.i.+ps from this company in the future.”
Xiao Lou asked, “In general, will more tourists return or more choose to travel?”
Shao Qingge smiled. “I think 80% will stay and continue to travel. All entertainment is free, which is too tempting. Moreover, most people took a cruise s.h.i.+p out to sea to play. Since the entertainment is free, they will definitely stay.”
Xie Qi was curious. “Will there be any challengers who take advantage of this opportunity and return from the cruise s.h.i.+p?”
Xiao Lou took out his pen and paper and quickly drew two routes. “The Caribbean we are on now set out in the early hours of last night and we have sailed for 15 hours. Full Sky is bound to be faster when picking people up. Even if the round-trip time is calculated as the full 30 hours, the challenger’s survival time at sea will only add up to 45 hours. This is too far away from the survival goal of seven days. Leaving at this time is equivalent to giving up the task.”
Yu Hanjiang suddenly spoke. “What if the ‘Full Star’ can return to the dock on time?”
Xiao Lou looked at Yu Hanjiang in a puzzled manner. “Can’t return? What do you mean?”
“There is an extreme method. Hijack the Full Star and let it drift at sea for seven days.”
People heard this and their eyes lit up. Xie Qi patted his head. “Group Leader Yu has a point! If the challengers are brave enough to hijack the Full Star and float on the sea for seven days, it will be regarded as completing the task, right?”
Old Mo gave a thumbs up. “The mission is to survive at sea for seven days. There is no restriction on the s.h.i.+p we can take. Hijacking another s.h.i.+p and surviving at sea also matches the requirements.”
Xiao Lou smiled. “Group Leader Yu, do you want to hijack this s.h.i.+p?”
Yu Hanjiang was silent for a moment. “I want to ask everyone’s opinion. Hijacking the Full Star is also a way to pa.s.s the instance but thinking too cleverly might be wrong. Remember the lesson Chief Shao got this morning…”
Xie Qi nodded. “It’s possible! A of Spades is so perverted. Playing smart in front of him might be more dangerous.”
Xiao Lou pointed out the key thing. “In addition, we don’t know how to sail and don’t understand sea maps. If we accidentally drive the s.h.i.+p into an iceberg, reef or other areas, what will we do if we crash? Don’t attempt this type of risky method.”
Yu Hanjiang saw that everyone wasn’t very supportive and spoke softly, “This approach is only feasible in theory. It is really troublesome in practice. We’ll stay on the Caribbean and watch what happens.”
***
In response to the company’s arrangement, the Caribbean stayed in place and waited for the pick-up s.h.i.+p.
At 23 p.m., the Full Star finally arrived at the Caribbean.
This s.h.i.+p was smaller than the Caribbean. The cabins only took up three floors and the two s.h.i.+ps anch.o.r.ed together seemed like an adult and a child. After closing in, the crew put down a wide plant and there was a broadcast at the same time. “Dear pa.s.sengers, the Full Star s.h.i.+p the company has sent to bring you back as arrived. Any pa.s.sengers who don’t want to continue the journey, please take your luggage. Take good care of the elderly and children and come to the third floor as soon as possible to register for the Full Star s.h.i.+p.”
There was the chaotic sound of footsteps from the cabins. Xiao Lou’s team also climbed p to the top floor to see the situation.
Sure enough, it was like Shao Qingge expected. Around 20% of tourists decided to go back. Most of them were families with old people and children. Maybe they were weak after getting diarrhea today and decided to give up the trip for safety reasons.
The tourists lined up in an orderly manner to board the s.h.i.+p. Just then, a few very special tourists appeared in the crowd, attracting Xiao Lou’s attention.
It was a team of 10 girls wearing sungla.s.ses that covered most of their faces. It was normal to wear sungla.s.ses when playing at sea. After all, the sun was too dazzling at sea. The strange thing was their clothes. Most girls would wear bright beach skirts or beautiful swimsuits when going to the seaside to play so their photos would look good. These girls were dressed too soberly.
They were black pants, a simple t-s.h.i.+rt and flat sneakers. It was easy for them to move. The girls were all wearing sportswear. Xiao Lou speculated hat they were likely to be challengers. He looked in the direction of the girls and whispered in Yu Hanjiang’s ear. “These 10 girls should be a team of challengers going to the Full Star.”
Yu Hanjiang looked into Xiao Lou’s eyes and frowned. “These girls have unified actions and are well-trained. They don’t look like a temporary beginner team. They shouldn’t be so stupid as to leave the cruise s.h.i.+p and give up the World Weekly task. Most likely, they will hijack the Full Star and clear the instance using the method I said. You see, each of them are carrying a bag that must be full of food and water.”
Old Mo happened to be next to Group Leader Yu. He saw this and immediately said, “It is the people from Luoying Pavilion The guild will often send elite teams of 10 to the World Weekly. The girls never wear skirts and will wear unified sportswear during their tasks. Ordinary guilds don’t dare provoke Luoying Pavilion at all. The boss will pursue anyone who dares to kill her guild members in the World Weekly to the end.”
Yu Hanjiang whispered, “Old Mo, do you know a lot about the female president of Luoying Pavilion?”
Old Mo called Xiao Lou and Yu Hanjiang to the corner and spoke in a low voice, “Her name is unknown. Her code name is ‘Spider G.o.ddess’ and she has a limited artifact, Blood Spider. It is a sharp dagger that cuts iron like mud. Every time she kills a person, there will be a blood-red pattern on the handle. According to rumours, her handle has formed a dense spider web and it is unknown how many people she skilled. She is simply a devil.”
Kill a person and obtain one more line on the dagger. This dagger was really evil. However, the president was obviously a very capable woman if she could manage the guild well and have them unite to do the World Weekly in teams of 10 people.
Xiao Lou looked on from the deck. Nearly 100tourists from the Caribbean transferred to the Full Star. The crew on both sides were taking care of the transfer data.
Just then, another team of 15 suddenly appeared at the connection of the two s.h.i.+ps. They were a team of men and women and looked like a group of university students. The boy leading them smiled. “Sorry, we’re late. We’re also going back.”
The crew in charge of the handover said, “Please register your information here and get on board as soon as possible. We will sail in 10 minutes!”
Similarly, the 15 people were carrying bags, all of which were bought at the stores in the shopping centre. The bags were full with materials. This was clearly a challenger team. The 15 people lined up. No more people boarded the s.h.i.+p and the connecting plank was soon put away.
There was a long siren sound and Full Star turned around. It was dark and the little cruise s.h.i.+p was painted a dark blue like the night sky. The lights on board seemed like s.h.i.+ning stars. Within 10 minutes, the Full Star had disappeared from view.