Squid Who Loves Diving
Chapter 223 On the Island
Han Wanghuo gazed at the golden sunlight-drenched lake surface, took a breath of the sharp, cold winter wind, and said with a smile:
"Once you're on the island, it's still quite a distance to the temple, and wasting time on the road isn't a wise thing to do.
"A few of us in the town guard team discussed it and decided to lend you a few more bicycles as transportation."
Clearly, the small and simple speedboat couldn't carry cars.
Shang Jianyao was deeply moved upon hearing this and seemed ready to shout "Brothers" at any moment. Jiang Bai Mian preemptively pinched her mask and teasingly quipped:
"You guys are rarely this generous."
Han Wanghuo candidly said:
"We also hope to figure out the matter of the sleeping 'god' as soon as possible. Otherwise, if an Awakened one as powerful as that day appears among the Fishmen from time to time, we'll be in trouble.
"At that time, our only hope can only be placed on 'Yougu' truly protecting Redstone Town, and the Vigilance Church being willing to send a Fear Bishop over."
Jiang Bai Mian expressed understanding of their vigilance regarding hidden dangers:
"True."
Han Wanghuo then pointed to the four bicycles:
"These are all newly produced by 'United Industries' and haven't even been used for a year.
"Look, they all have back seats, imitating the early style of the Old World. Hehe, I've always been curious, why couldn't the bicycles of the Old World carry people later? Isn't that a waste? Not very practical at all."
Jiang Bai Mian hadn't studied this issue and wasn't comfortable blindly agreeing, so she cautiously said:
"Since there are back seats, two should be enough, otherwise the speedboat will be very crowded."
Han Wanghuo had no objection to this, and mentioned in passing while chatting:
"Before, the smugglers from 'United Industries' also tried to sell us something called an electric scooter, which is very small and convenient to carry. But he didn't even look at the road conditions in the ruins. You could easily fly off.
"That Fishman prisoner said that the roads on the island are well-preserved and should be suitable for electric scooters. It's a pity we didn't buy one back then."
Jiang Bai Mian smiled and suddenly said:
"Team Leader Han, you seem to be talking more than before?"
Han Wanghuo paused for a moment and laughed self-deprecatingly:
"Maybe it's because you've shown great strength, and I want to curry favor with you a little."
After chatting for a few more sentences, Shang Jianyao and Bai Chen each pushed a bicycle onto the speedboat, while Long Yuehong laboriously carried the crate containing the exoskeleton device.
--To save electricity, he wasn't putting it on yet.
Jiang Bai Mian was the last to jump onto the speedboat, waving to Han Wanghuo and the others as the engine puttered.
A dozen seconds later, the milky-white yacht sailed into the Lake of Wrath, which stretched as far as the eye could see, leaving a long trail in the water shimmering with golden scales.
The wind on the lake was noticeably colder, causing Long Yuehong to shrink his body.
He looked around and saw that only a line remained of the shore, and the various islands lurked like monsters in the depths of the lake area.
"Team Leader, why didn't we come at night? It's broad daylight, and in the afternoon, won't it be too conspicuous? It's easy for the Fishmen to spot us..." Long Yuehong asked what he didn't understand.
He imagined that similar actions would be chosen on a dark and windy night.
Jiang Bai Mian chuckled and looked at Shang Jianyao, who was squatting on the edge of the speedboat and trying to reach out to catch fish:
"Explain it to Little Hong."
She paused and added a word:
"Hey."
Shang Jianyao turned his head, wearing a spirited monkey mask, and asked Long Yuehong a question:
"Do you know the way?"
"What way?" Long Yuehong didn't react for a moment.
"The way to Lake Heart Island." Bai Chen reminded him.
"I don't know." Long Yuehong subconsciously answered, then suddenly realized, "At night, we wouldn't be able to find that island at all?"
Jiang Bai Mian observed the "landmarks" given by Han Wanghuo and the others, confirming whether the route was wrong, and nodded:
"Correct.
"During the day, we can still use the map, descriptions, and comparison of the surrounding environment to go to that island along the planned route.
"At night, let alone us, even if Han Wanghuo and the others came, they wouldn't be able to find their way."
The lake area was a place where the Fishmen had an absolute advantage, and the residents of Redstone Town didn't venture deep.
And this speedboat was very simple and didn't have any so-called smart navigation.
"Besides, if you were a Fishman, when would you be most vigilant?" Jiang Bai Mian continued, "Definitely late at night, worrying that the people of Redstone Town would take advantage of the cover of darkness to sneak in and attack. During the day, they would be more relaxed. The Lake of Wrath is so big, as long as we don't get too close to the main area of Fishman activity, there shouldn't be any danger before approaching that island."
Long Yuehong listened carefully and summarized in one sentence:
"Analyze the specific situation specifically."
The speedboat went west in a large circle before gradually entering the depths of the Lake of Wrath.
As time passed, the sunlight was no longer so clear.
After who knew how long, Shang Jianyao and the others saw a very large island.
In the center of the island stood a mountain peak, like a boundary marker.
"Almost there." Jiang Bai Mian compared the description of the characteristics of Lake Heart Island given by Redstone Town and confirmed that the target was close at hand.
Bai Chen slightly adjusted the course of the speedboat to ensure there was no deviation.
The wind in the lake rushed over, blowing their hair wildly and shaking their clothes.
Finally, they approached the island and found a somewhat dilapidated pier. Not far from the pier, a small river gurgled.
Just then, Shang Jianyao stood up, bent over, and looked excitedly at the water to the left.
He then said:
"Human consciousness, three."
"Looks like Fishmen." Jiang Bai Mian had already discovered them, but couldn't determine for a moment whether they were large fish.
"What to do?" Long Yuehong felt a tension in his heart at first, and then made a suggestion, "Hurry up and dock?"
As long as he didn't clash with the Fishmen on the water, he was fearless.
"They're coming over, very fast." Jiang Bai Mian said calmly, "It seems the Fishmen haven't completely abandoned this island and send people over from time to time to check on the situation."
At this time, Shang Jianyao struck a preparatory pose for jumping into the water.
Bai Chen operated the speedboat while drawing a "United 202", trying to shoot into the water, but in the swaying lake, she couldn't find where the Fishmen were.
Long Yuehong was the same, and even had a strange thought:
"I wonder how the waterproof performance of that exoskeleton device is..."
Jiang Bai Mian reported on the Fishmen's movements:
"They're diving a bit deep, it looks like they want to sabotage the bottom of our boat."
She stepped on the wooden deck and said to Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen:
"You guys get away from the side of the boat. Apart from the wooden boards, don't touch anything.
"There's no need to fight the Fishmen in the water, it's not worth it."
Shang Jianyao sighed and retreated.
After the members of the "Old Task Force" all stood on the wooden boards, Jiang Bai Mian squatted down and pressed her left hand toward the surface of the lake.
The next second, the side of the boat suddenly brightened, as if it had returned to the sunniest noon.
Countless silver-white electric snakes burst out and scurried down the lake water.
This lasted for more than ten seconds, and several fish floated up with their bellies up.
Further out, the three Fishmen also approached the surface of the water, frantically swimming away.
Their bodies were twitching uncontrollably, and their eyes were abnormally dazed, not knowing what had happened.
Jiang Bai Mian stopped while she was ahead and no longer released high-voltage electricity.
She still had to leave some for exploring the temple.
Taking advantage of the Fishmen's escape, Bai Chen drove the speedboat to the pier and tied it to a post.
Jiang Bai Mian jumped off the speedboat, looked around, and was about to speak when she saw Shang Jianyao dart out, rush to a nearby river, and pick up a peeling, rusted metal sign.
The sign was written in Ashlands language with six large characters:
"Fishing with electricity is prohibited here!"
Jiang Bai Mian was instantly stunned.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Long Yuehong and Bai Chen, who had taken off their masks, tightly pursing their lips and their bodies slightly trembling, as if they were trying hard to hold back their laughter. As for Shang Jianyao, he was wearing a mask, so she couldn't tell whether he was laughing or not.
"Fishmen aren't fish!" Jiang Bai Mian defended herself.
As soon as she finished speaking, she also laughed. The pier was filled with joyful air.
It was a wonderful coincidence.
After Bai Chen moved the two bicycles to the pier and Long Yuehong put on his exoskeleton device with Shang Jianyao's help, Jiang Bai Mian put away her smile and sternly instructed:
"Little Bai, Little Hong, you guys stay here, one to prevent the Fishmen from coming again and damaging the speedboat, and two to be a reserve team.
"We don't know what the situation is inside the temple. What if we all go in and get wiped out? If you stay here, we can still expect rescue and support if something really happens. Well, pay attention to my signal flares. Also, if we're overdue, come here to look for us immediately.
"If we ultimately find that it's impossible, go back and notify the company."
This was a normal division of labor for a team, and leaving backup personnel was also one of the effective measures in similar explorations. Bai Chen had no objection.
Long Yuehong naturally wouldn't object.
Jiang Bai Mian then slung the "Tyrant" grenade launcher and "Berserker" assault rifle, supported the bicycle, and flipped over to sit on it.
Then, she subconsciously turned her head and glanced at Shang Jianyao, finding that this guy was already ready.
The only problem was that Shang Jianyao, wearing gray camouflage, black leather boots, an assault rifle slung across his chest, and "Icetear" and "United 202" inserted in his waist, didn't quite match the act of "riding a bicycle" and looked inexplicably ridiculous.
Thinking that she was the same, Jiang Bai Mian found it funny and couldn't help but say:
"Armed to the teeth, preparing to explore the unknown, we're actually riding bicycles... This feels weird."
Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and replied:
"At least it's not driving a tractor."
"...True." Jiang Bai Mian imagined that scene and decided to accept the current conditions.
Then, the two of them huffed and puffed as they pedaled, riding their bicycles fully armed toward the temple.