Bai Qi immediately explained, "It's because we discovered a magical disk, and following its guidance, we can find the lost continent. According to records, it's a land of milk and honey, a heavenly kingdom on Earth, and..."
Before Bai Qi could finish, Savage clapped a hand over his mouth.
Savage wasn't stupid and had already grasped Bai Qi's intention. The other party must possess something special to have made the Trench Tribe's monstrous fish escape. A direct confrontation was out of the question, as they were in the ocean, the Atlanteans' home turf. However, deceiving them into joining their expedition was a possibility. Since Bai Qi played the tough cop, Savage would play the good cop to complement him.
Kaldraam waved his hand, saying, "There is no such place as you describe. I advise you to return home as soon as possible."
Kaldraam was dismissive of Bai Qi's talk of a lost continent. These human scholars were all the same, organizing large expeditionary teams at the slightest hint of information. They would either return after much effort with nothing to show for it, or they would perish in the sea. As an Atlantean, Kaldraam was privy to some ancient legends and even had access to relevant documents in their grand museum. However, all of them had ultimately been proven to be mere myths, or they had vanished into the river of time.
"No, the lost continent is real. I can assure you, we have proof."
Seeing Kaldraam's disbelief, Bai Qi's voice rose an octave. His eyes were red, and his nerves were taut, exhibiting an almost drug-induced excitement.
"How about this, you join us too. We'll search for the lost continent together, witness new discoveries. Our actions will be recorded in history, and..."
Before Bai Qi could finish speaking, Savage delivered a chop to the back of his neck, and Bai Qi cooperatively fainted.
Savage placed Bai Qi on a nearby sofa, returned to his original position, and sighed helplessly, saying, "Please don't take offense. He's just like that. He gets very excited when the topic turns to ancient civilizations."
"I can understand that," Kaldraam replied. "However, I still urge you to return. This is Trench Tribe territory. Even we Atlanteans don't venture here lightly. They might have left for now, but they'll be back soon."
"No," Savage shook his head. "We won't turn back. I've gambled everything on this expedition. If we return now, I'll have nothing."
Seeing the determination in Savage's eyes, Kaldraam said no more. He sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice, and took a crystal from his pocket, placing it on the table. "Since that's the case, I won't say anything further. Take this with you. Its radiance will repel any approaching Trench Tribe."
"Is that so? That would be a great help."
On the deck, Gas heard Kaldraam say he was leaving the crystal to the humans and immediately became agitated, shouting to get the crystal back.
"Kaldra, are you mad! That's one of our Atlantean treasures! You're just giving it to humans like that!?"
Kaldra replied, "Rest assured, it's just a replica. It only lasts for three days and will self-destruct if tampered with by external force."
Hearing Kaldra's explanation, Gas finally calmed down. Since their contact with humanity, Atlantis, while still utilizing magic, had begun to place greater emphasis on science, aspiring to merge magic and science. The crystal Kaldraam gave to Savage to repel the Trench Tribe was a product of this fusion, a replica with a limited three-day lifespan, yet it represented a significant and remarkable advancement.
Kaldraam turned back to look at Savage inside the cabin, his brow furrowed slightly. He had a nagging feeling that something was amiss, yet he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Gas grabbed Kaldraam's arm, saying, "Stop thinking about it. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the Queen's banquet tonight."
"Right," Kaldraam slapped his forehead. He had been too busy lately, almost forgetting the important matter. The Queen's banquet tonight was a significant event, attended not only by the Atlantean royal family but also by the Justice League from the surface. He had strived for a long time to secure this opportunity, and missing it would be a lifelong regret. With that thought, Kaldra no longer hesitated. Grabbing Gas, he dove into the sea, mounted his shark steed, and sped towards Atlantis.
After the two departed, Bai Qi awoke on the sofa. He looked at the crystal on the table, a smile playing on his lips. Initially, Bai Qi had intended to play the tough guy himself while Savage played the good cop, hoping to persuade Kaldraam to join their expedition. He hadn't expected Kaldra to be so straightforward, simply handing them a crystal that could repel the Trench Tribe. It was as if they had stumbled upon a windfall. He had been troubled about how to deal with the Trench Tribe, but now, all his problems were solved.
Savage picked up a satellite phone and made a call. Soon, several helicopters flew overhead, carrying a massive black submarine suspended beneath them. It had been a wise decision not to have the submarine travel with the ship; otherwise, they might have sunk into the sea during the Trench Tribe's recent attack. The submarine submerged, and Savage, Bai Qi, the still-unconscious Bob, Artemis who had been guarding Bob, and other essential personnel boarded. The remaining crew had completed their tasks; their next mission was to return safely and await their payment.
As Artemis was about to board, Bai Qi stopped her. "The upcoming expedition is of paramount importance. You saw how dangerous it was just now, and what we'll face next will be no weaker than the Trench Tribe. Your mission is complete. If you wish, I can arrange for you to go home."
Artemis knew Bai Qi was looking out for her, but thinking of Bob, who was still unconscious from saving her, she felt a deep sense of guilt and self-reproach. Bai Qi clearly understood Artemis's concerns. He patted her shoulder. "Since you've chosen this path, injuries and even death are inevitable. You don't need to punish yourself for their mistakes; it's not worth it."
"No need," Artemis removed Bai Qi's hand. "As you said, since I've joined, there's nothing more to say. Moreover, I want to see for myself what this so-called gate, for which so much has been sacrificed and so many lives lost, truly is." With that, she moved aside and walked past Bai Qi into the submarine.
As Bai Qi entered the submarine, Savage suddenly appeared beside him, a playful smirk on his face. "Got shut down? I never knew you had such a kind heart. If I'd known, why didn't we just keep her off the ship from the start? Now you've got trouble."
"No, it's just that she cannot die yet. It would be too much of a waste."