Chapter 22: The Sea Voyage VIII
South of South Street in Free City, passing through those bizarre little shops that have “grown” along South Street, there is a medium-sized ship repair factory near the coastline.
This factory, named “Vassilian Ship Repair and Maintenance,” has been abandoned for a long time. Corroded by the humid sea breeze over time, the gray building and the steel frame of the cranes are covered in dark red rust, resembling a bloated gray monster suffering from a skin disease, crawling on the earth.
As for the reason for the abandonment of the Vassilian Ship Repair Factory, there are many versions of legends circulating around South Street. If one is keen to know, they only need to walk into a certain pub on South Street, buy a local resident a few drinks, and they can listen for an entire night.
Among the many absurd-sounding legends, there is one that is not widely known but has surprisingly high recognition—”The Red Ship of Mainas Lake.”
In fact, a serious investigation would reveal that the abandonment of the Vassilian Ship Repair Factory has little to do with the lengthening nights or the surge of urban legend events, but rather the decline of the shipping industry in Free City.
Five or six years ago, the factory’s business was not doing well, but they managed to barely maintain operations thanks to a customer base accumulated over three or four generations.
The true reason that led the owner of the Vassilian Ship Repair Factory to abandon the family business built over three or four generations and flee to another place was the acceptance of a repair project for a sunken ship from the shores of Mainas Lake three years ago.
The ship, salvaged from Mainas Lake, was named the Killer Whale, once the largest ferry to the resort area of Bairouming Island, entirely black with pure white streamlined patterns. When it cut through the waves, it resembled a huge orca frolicking freely on the lake’s surface.
With the tourism industry on Bairouming Island in decline due to frequent urban legend events, Free City’s Killer Whale was also “trapped” in the harbor. At some unknown time, it sank into the lake and lay submerged for over a year until it was salvaged and brought to the repair factory, by which time it had turned entirely dark red.
When receiving the Killer Whale, the factory’s employees initially thought the dark red substance on the ship’s surface was just ordinary rust and paid little attention to it. Following normal procedures, they placed the Killer Whale on the slipway for securing and then went home, preparing to begin repairs the next day.
However, that very night, the workers who had encountered the Killer Whale during the day experienced urban legend events of varying severity…
It was said that the worker responsible for guarding the factory that night heard strange sounds coming from the slipway—a thick, slow, sneaky noise… as if a venomous snake covered in thick bl**d was crawling in unseen places.
When he bravely took his flashlight to investigate, following the direction of the strange sounds, he found that the dark red substance that had adhered to the Killer Whale had almost completely shed, as if it had completed a molting process. The remaining scattered red spots resembled countless maggots or leeches, crawling and writhing…
A certain pungent odor hung in the air.
Not long after, the employee who had guarded the factory developed an extremely rare disease and was admitted to the hospital. His condition worsened daily, and in less than a week, the illness took his life.
During his final moments in the hospital, pain clouded his consciousness, yet he struggled to describe his experiences that night in vague words to others.
He said he had seen tall figures formed from accumulated crimson rust, their shapes distorted, with rust like profane scales covering their bodies…
He claimed they wore faces very similar to his and his colleagues’, grinning and laughing maniacally…
He said those demonic monsters had replaced certain human identities and mingled among everyone…
Perhaps influenced by those terrifying “illusions,” he showed strong aggression even in his final moments of extreme weakness, often attacking the medical staff who came near him, claiming they were the demons that appeared that night in the repair factory.
The workers who went home did not fare much better.
Some, in the dead of night, spotted a terrifying figure lingering near their homes—a man over three meters tall, n*ked and entirely crimson, with a face strikingly similar to their own, wearing a stiff smile…
However, when he called the police, they found only large red footprints of an abnormal size in his yard, along with a small amount of some viscous substance resembling bl**d within the footprints.
Other workers heard continuous noises at home, following the source to the underground garage where they discovered extensive scratch marks made by claws and gnawing marks from rodents, with the most damaged area being the metal door leading into the house.
It, or they, seemed to want to get inside.
Police who responded to the call recalled that the extent of the damage was beyond the capacity of any known animal.
The densely packed claw marks almost penetrated the metal door, and the bite marks nearly severed the load-bearing column… If it were caused by rats, that would mean a coalition of dozens of oversized rats over half a meter long with metal claws, or a monster several meters long was involved.
After experiencing a “terrifying night,” the workers who had encountered the Killer Whale began to d*e within just a week.
Car accidents, accidental electrocutions, suicides, serious illnesses… the causes of d*ath were bizarre and varied, and when examined individually, no signs of homicide were apparent…
The only commonality found in their autopsies was a bromine salt level in their bodies exceeding normal values by a hundred times. Strangely, after this suspicious discovery, the police chose not to pursue the matter further and quickly closed the case.
As the repair workers who had interacted with the Killer Whale continued to meet tragic ends, on a night of heavy rain, the Killer Whale disappeared into the misty rain. Soon after, the Vassilian Ship Repair Factory announced indefinite closure, closing its doors for good.
Afterward, rumors spread that the factory’s owner had made a deal with the demon of Mainas Lake, hoping to use the lives of dozens of workers as sacrifices to save the repair factory, which was on the brink of bankruptcy…
Yet during the transaction, an unknown error occurred, and not only did he fail to achieve the desired outcome, but he also fell victim to the demon’s curse, eventually vanishing from public view.
Since then, local fishermen have reported sightings of the Killer Whale appearing on the surface of the sea at dusk, with lights brightly illuminating the ship, and vaguely seeing a dozen figures moving back and forth.
Thus, some claimed that those workers had not truly died but had become the demon’s servants, imprisoned aboard the Killer Whale, eternally serving the demon by hunting the souls of the living…
As time passed, terrifying urban legends led the vast majority of Free City’s residents to keep their distance from the Vassilian Ship Repair Factory, but this did not deter daring spiritual ability users from sneaking in to explore.
After all, for spiritual ability users, as long as they had enough strength, urban legends were not scary; rather, they were a resource of immense value.
However, those who had actually explored the Vassilian Ship Repair Factory would scoff at it.
There were no urban legends at all!
What existed was merely a group of self-proclaimed Scarlet Pelicans, always wearing bizarre masks and acting like lunatics.
These traffickers bore little resemblance to pelicans, except that they could deliver children to others, but only at a high price.
Their previous leader had been a chubby Mexican, but after an internal gang struggle, it seemed they had recently replaced him with a silver-haired woman who had some difficulties moving…
————
Eastern Time Zone, 1 AM.
In the empty, dilapidated Vassilian Ship Repair Factory in Free City, a round table is illuminated by dim yellow light from the darkness.
A silver-haired woman wearing a pure white mask and exuding a cold aura sits in a leather chair with peacock carvings on the armrest, surveying the men in black at the round table who are wearing various masks.
“The agreed time has come, so what do you have to say? How did your investigation into the unusual spiritual energy fluctuations from five days ago on Bairouming Island go?” The silver-haired woman calmly breaks the silence.
The three men exchange glances, and then one wearing a black bear mask stands up, “Pelican Lady, we have investigated, and it seems this matter is related to those who call themselves the New Elders’ Council rebelling against the Solar Eclipse Society’s Elders’ Council…”
“They have recently attacked and vandalized several important strongholds originally belonging to the Solar Eclipse Society, and the Tethys Laboratory on Bairouming Island is just one of them.”
“As for more information, we do not have it. The Night Corrasion level on Bairouming Island has been frighteningly high since five days ago, and our people do not dare to delve too deeply, let alone determine the condition of the Tethys Laboratory.”
The Black Bear presents all the information he knows without reservation, his voice trembling slightly as he speaks.
He and his companions dare not lie in front of this woman…
This terrifying woman, who brutally killed the former leader, grasped their secrets, and like a devil, held them tightly in her palm, completed her rise to power overnight, seems to possess some ability to see through lies.
After hearing the Black Bear’s words, the woman called Pelican Lady remains noncommittal and after a few seconds replies lightly, “Is that it?”
It seems that the information from the Black Bear alone does not satisfy her.
“There’s more! There’s more!” Another man in black wearing a fox mask stands up, “When our people were exploring the outskirts of Bairouming Island, they found a girl.”
“A girl?” Pelican Lady tilts her head slightly.
“Yes, they found a girl!” The Fox nods, “She seems to be a survivor from a small town on the island. When our people found her, she still retained some awareness, mumbling something like ‘mayor, crimson, conspiracy’…”
After listening to the Fox’s additional context, Pelican Lady contemplates for a moment and then inquires, “Was she still conscious when found? So, she’s now in a coma?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The Fox responds in a slightly thin voice, “She is severely injured, and the Night Corrasion level within her body is frighteningly high. She is currently being treated at the underground clinic we control on South Street, but it seems she won’t wake up for a while.”
“Is that the underground clinic where you usually harvest organs and the cores of urban legends?” Pelican Lady asks.
“That’s right, ma’am, it is!” The Fox replies.
“Hmm.” Pelican Lady nods slightly, “Take good care of her, and strive to let her wake up sooner; this matter is up to you.”
After speaking, she looks at the man in black wearing the monkey mask who has remained silent, lifting her chin slightly, “What about you? Do you have anything to share with me?”
The Monkey shudders slightly and hurriedly replies, “Sorry, ma’am, I… I haven’t been to Bairouming Island these past few days, but I have obtained some other information.”
“Oh?” Pelican Lady narrows her eyes, assessing the Monkey, “Let’s hear it. If it’s useful to me, I might be able to overlook your laziness.”
“Okay, ma’am!” The Monkey stammers, “I discovered that an operative from the Siye Association, who was quite active in Free City, has gone missing…”
“Additionally, I reconnected with our previous contact. They said they don’t care about who our leader is and can resume trading, but before that, we need to set up a meeting time with you.”
After speaking, he waits a few seconds.
Under the fearful gaze of the Monkey, Pelican Lady nods, “Well done. You will continue contacting them from here! Once the meeting time is set, just let me know.”
Upon hearing this, the Monkey feels as if he has been granted a pardon and eagerly exclaims, “Thank you, ma’am! Thank you, ma’am! I will make sure of it!”
“Alright!” Pelican Lady grips her cane and firmly knocks the ground twice, producing a light ‘thud-thud’ sound, “That will be all for today. You all may go about your business!”
“Yes, ma’am!” The three respond in unison.
Following this, Pelican Lady stands, sweeps aside her black cloak, resembling wings, and turns, walking into the shadows, quickly disappearing from sight…
————
Half an hour later.
In an inconspicuous apartment not far from South Street in Free City.
After removing her cloak and mask, Jiang Li wipes the sweat from her forehead, steps to the window, and breathes in the cool breeze with a hint of alcohol, letting out a long sigh.
Pretending to be the leader of an illegal spiritual organization is still a bit too difficult for her.
Although she acted naturally, every moment was filled with tension.
“…”
If she accidentally exposes herself, will she have to silence them?
But if that happens, this hard-won lead would be cut off…
She doesn’t know why that guy always manages to thrive in front of various spiritual ability users and urban legends.
Thinking this, Jiang Li quietly takes out her phone, opens the messaging interface, and after hesitating for a while, sends a message to Luxianbei.
[Miaomiao Sauce: How have you been lately?]
Since the release of the video “d*ath of Calamity,” despite the slow progress of the investigation and the pressure from various forces in Free City, she has been working hard to suppress her desire to contact Luxianbei, fearing that her outreach might expose the truth behind Luxianbei’s faked d*ath, but…
Sometimes, she can’t help but want to find someone to confide in or lean on a little.
After sending the message and waiting expectantly at the screen for a moment, Jiang Li lets out a silent sigh and puts the phone away, still not having received a reply after a minute passed in the upper right corner.
However, just as she put her phone away, it vibrated in her arms.
Taking the phone out again, she saw Luxianbei’s reply.
[Luxianbei: Don’t worry! I’m in M Country, just got off the plane, feeling fantastic!]
Jiang Li, “?”
