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"Boss, you've been the captain of the Vast Distance for almost a decade. How can you just give it up like that!"
"Boss, you saved my life. If you want to leave, I, Liu San, will be the first to object!"
"Exactly!"
"Why don't we just throw him into the sea to feed the fish once we set sail. After all, it's not uncommon for someone to die at sea!"
The crew was in an uproar, and for a moment, Li Fan had become the public enemy of everyone on board.
The burly man tried to calm the crew with his hands. "Calm down, everyone, calm down! I know you all have high regard for me, Zhang Haobo, but the Vast Distance is ultimately Manager Zhao's property. We are just working for him. If Manager Zhao wants to replace me, what can I do?"
His words only made the crew angrier.
Their eyes turned red, and they glared at Li Fan as if they wanted to kill him.
Li Fan sneered inwardly.
The tricks used by this man named Zhang Haobo did not escape his notice.
On the surface, he was praising Li Fan, but in reality, he was stirring up the crew's distrust of Li Fan.
On the surface, he was speaking up for Li Fan, but in reality, he was fueling the crew's discontent.
On the surface, he was lamenting his own powerlessness, but in reality, he was hoping the crew would unite against Li Fan.
Hypocrisy and two-faced behavior.
These were mere leftovers from Li Fan's playbook.
Showing no fear, Li Fan walked up to the crew and declared loudly, "If you don't trust me, do you not trust Manager Zhao's judgment? Besides, the voyage is about to begin. Just wait and see what I can do! I won't let you down."
Li Fan's voice was so loud that it drowned out the noisy chatter of the crowd.
Seeing Li Fan's commanding presence, the crew was momentarily suppressed, and no one stood up to contradict him.
Li Fan didn't give them a chance, bid farewell, and entered the cabin alone.
He left behind a group of crew members staring at each other and a sullen-faced Zhang Haobo.
The crew whispered among themselves.
"Could that kid really have some skills?"
"He probably does. Manager Zhao's eyes are sharp; he rarely makes mistakes."
"I don't think he's an ordinary person."
…
"Finding treasures every time we set sail? I don't believe it!"
"He must have connections and is trying to take over my position as captain! Don't think I don't know!"
"Now that he's made such bold claims, I'll see how he gets out of this!"
Zhang Haobo was seething with hatred, and seeing his subordinates so easily deceived by Li Fan's words only made him angrier.
"Set sail! Head out to sea!"
He shouted angrily.
The Vast Distance moved without the wind, leaving the harbor and heading out to sea.
Over a hundred large ships from Jade Island also dispersed, heading to their designated areas.
The Vast Distance did not rely on wind or manpower but was driven by a miniature magic array powered by Spirit Stones.
The ship was also equipped with a Spirit Guide, which would provide guidance when Luli Fish were detected in the nearby waters.
However, the sea was vast, and the range of the Spirit Guide was limited.
Therefore, experienced crew members were needed to first find the general area where the fish schools were likely to be.
In normal years, the Luli Fish's movements were more predictable, making them easier to catch.
But during a Wind Disaster, when the fish migrate, all previous experience becomes useless.
It becomes like searching for a needle in a haystack, relying entirely on luck.
And the Vast Distance's luck seemed to be particularly bad.
After more than half a month, they had only caught some common fish and found some regular sea minerals, with no significant gains.
Not only were the crew members worried, but even Zhang Haobo was growing anxious.
After all, the last place would come with a punishment.
Compared to other jobs on the island, being a crew member on a ship was less risky and more rewarding.
No one wanted to lose such a good opportunity.
"The island's rule is to return within a month. We've only caught this much, and we might end up with the least. We can only hope for a turn of luck in the next few days. May the Immortal Master bless us."
Zhang Haobo looked at the calm, deep sea, feeling helpless.
At that moment, he heard footsteps behind him.
Turning around, Zhang Haobo saw Li Fan walking toward him.
"So, you finally decided to leave your cabin? If it weren't for the food you take every day, I would have thought you were dead in there."
Since setting sail, Li Fan had stayed in his room, never interacting with anyone.
Zhang Haobo, in a bad mood, had no good words for him.
Li Fan ignored his rudeness and instead gazed out at the distant sea with a serious expression.
He stood there, silent.
Zhang Haobo, feeling uneasy at Li Fan's strange behavior, looked in the same direction but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Li Fan's expression grew even more solemn.
But he remained silent.
After a long while, Zhang Haobo could no longer bear it and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Li Fan was startled, turned around, and glared at him with a look of frustration.
"What are you playing at?!" Zhang Haobo felt a bit guilty but still demanded an answer.
"I need a small boat!" Li Fan didn't answer him but turned away, his voice deep, "I saw treasure!"
"What…?" Zhang Haobo was initially confused.
"What!" But he quickly reacted and exclaimed, "You're not joking, right!"
"Quick, prepare a small boat. I saw the jewels shining in the deep sea, waiting for me to retrieve them." Li Fan said solemnly.
Zhang Haobo was hesitant but then heard Li Fan add, "The opportunity is fleeting. The light of the treasure is fading. I'm about to lose its location."
Zhang Haobo snapped to attention.
"Quick! Prepare the boat!"
The Vast Distance had several small boats, usually used for exploring narrow passages or testing dangerous, unknown waters.
By the time the small boat was lowered and Li Fan sailed away alone, Zhang Haobo suddenly realized what he had done.
He didn't know why he had so impulsively believed Li Fan's words.
Seeing treasure buried in the deep sea?
How could that be possible?
Just as he was about to say something, he heard Li Fan's distant shout.
"Don't follow me, wait for my signal!"
"Why?" Zhang Haobo couldn't help but shout back.
"You're too noisy! It could break my concentration!" Li Fan responded.
Zhang Haobo's mouth twitched, but recalling Li Fan's intense glare, he began to wonder if Li Fan might be telling the truth.
Time passed, and it had been two hours since Li Fan left alone.
"Do you think he might have run away?" A crew member, watching the direction Li Fan had gone, couldn't help but ask.
"Don't be silly. The sea is vast, and he has no food. Where could he go?" Zhang Haobo scolded the crew member but then saw a red signal flare in the distance.
"Quick! Head that way!" Zhang Haobo ordered.
The Vast Distance's engines roared to life, and they quickly reached the signal's location.
There, Li Fan stood on the small boat, looking exhausted.
"The treasure is here!" he told the crew.
Zhang Haobo and the others exchanged glances, unsure if it was true.
After a moment, Zhang Haobo clenched his teeth and ordered, "Into the water! Cast the nets!"
Amidst the crew's half-belief and half-doubt, one box, two boxes…
A total of sixteen boxes of gold, silver, and jewels were slowly hauled up.
(End of Chapter)