Chapter 15 (2/2)

“My name is Bell Butre, and I served in the United Kingdom Special Forces Reserve 21 Special Air Service (21 SAS), climbed Mount Everest and then decided to become a host, explorer, and author… You said that you’ve been living on the island for a year? That’s really quite incredible.”

“More precisely, I used to have two companions. But neither one of them made it.” Zhang Heng paused for a moment and then asked. “Do you remember the two people who fell into the sea with you?”

“What two people who fell into the sea with me?” Bell appeared genuinely puzzled. “When it happened, I wanted to save people but a huge tide knocked me unconscious. When I opened my eyes, I saw this little island.”

Zhang Heng was not surprised by his answer but felt that it was a great pity that Bell had no memory of Ed or that guy in shorts. He most probably did not recall that he had been drifting in the ocean for a year either.

Zhang Heng decided to play along even though he really wanted to know why the game repeatedly brought this bug back.

They paddled back to shore, and Zhang Heng brought Bell to his little hut.

“Did you make all of these yourself?” Seeing the clay house with a 180-degree sea view, the thriving vegetable garden, and the pond brimming with fishes and prawns, Bell exclaimed, “I don’t think there’s anything I could teach you. Even I could not have done better.”

As he was speaking, Bell’s eyes fell upon Mickey Mouse that was howling in the breeding garden, and he let out a shriek.

Zhang Heng thought that Mickey Mouse’s hideous looks had managed to bring a grown man to tears, and was about to introduce them to each other when Bell suddenly cried, “My god! What am I seeing?! Dodo bird! There’s still a living and breathing Dodo bird on this earth!”

This time, it was Zhang Heng’s turn to be stunned.

He was no stranger to the name of the Dodo bird. According to the records, this bird lived comfortably on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean until the arrival of a group of European colonizers. A calamity fell upon this species and in a short period of 200 years, the birds were completely wiped out. Until now, not a single complete specimen had been found.

Zhang Heng could not believe that he had so casually eaten the national bird of Mauritius.

But since it was a game, nothing was too surprising.

Seeing how confident Zhang Heng was, Bell was a little troubled. So, he decided to give his new friend a scientific explanation. “Dodo birds were completely extinct in 1681. Opinion differ about how that happened—some people say that the Europeans ate them all, some say that the animals that the colonizers brought with them brought about a biological invasion, there are also theories that it’s because of the environmental changes… whatever it is, they have completely vanished from earth. Sixteen years ago, the bones of the Dodo bird were sold at an auction for 500 thousand pounds. Your discovery on this island will shock the whole world!”

‘Unfortunately, this was just a virtual game world. The plot outside of the island was a whole lot of nothing…’ Zhang Heng thought to himself.

Instead of telling this to Bell, Zhang Heng decided to use a different, more easily acceptable method to convey the message to him. “Bell, if this really is a Dodo bird, we have to find a way to leave this island and show it to the world.”

“You’re right.” Bell agreed. “The fact that Dodo birds exist on this island is not good news for us. It means that no one has ever come across this place. I’m afraid this place is not in any of the ships’ courses.”

“I’ve been on this island for more than a year. I’m already very familiar with the outer regions of the island, and I was thinking of going into the heart of the island to explore… Hmm, who knows, I might be able to find a way that could get us out of this place.”

“Then let me come with you. I think I could be of help when it comes to exploration.” Bell said excitedly. “When are we leaving? Tomorrow?”

“No, no… Let’s wait for two more days so that your body can recover fully, and in the meantime… have a chat with me.” Zhang Heng looked at the explorer with eager eyes.

“???”