On the pitch-black yet calm sea surface, a scientific research ship flying the Japanese flag was sailing steadily.
Before entering the Roaring West Winds Belt, the sea could be considered relatively tranquil. Whether large or small, ships could detect each other via marine radar. Within a radius of several kilometres, there were only these two vessels, one large and one small.
This Japanese-registered research ship was precisely Wu Paulo’s target this time.
Even with his strength, he could not cross the entire Roaring West Winds Belt alone, so he had to hitch a ride on a research ship. Ideally, he could find a foothold in Antarctica.
Among the research ships departing from Ushuaia these days, only this Japanese one was from East Asia. Although the last time Wu Paulo had encountered Japanese people was during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, he knew that, being fellow East Asians, Chinese and Japanese people did not differ greatly in physical appearance. Blending into a Japanese research team would be the best choice for him at present.
As the two ships drew closer, Wu Paulo was preparing to wait until they were nearer before stepping across the water to board directly. Unexpectedly, when the other ship detected on radar that the distance was shrinking, it proactively adjusted course to bypass at a safe distance. Seeing this, Wu Paulo immediately instructed Wu Siyuan to send a distress signal via the intercom system.
Wu Siyuan shouted in fluent English over the intercom, “Mayday, mayday. This is ARG7717. Our vessel has lost power. The ship is damaged and taking on water. It is about to sink. Request assistance from JRC5990!”
At that moment, inside the Japanese research ship with IMO number JRC5990, the duty helmsman immediately called the captain via intercom, “Captain Sato, we have received a distress call from a vessel with IMO number ARG7717. They are approximately five nautical miles away. The ship has malfunctioned and is about to sink. Awaiting instructions.”
A deep voice came over the intercom, “Ignore them. Full speed ahead! We have no time to waste on some Argentine boat. Let them contact the Argentine maritime rescue authorities!”
The duty helmsman instinctively replied, “But they are about to sink…”
The captain said coldly, “Baka! Even if they sink, what of it? We have travelled over ten thousand kilometres for the glorious mission of Japan’s Antarctic research, not to save Argentine fishermen. Their fate has nothing to do with us! Full speed ahead!”
The duty helmsman had no choice but to respond respectfully, “Hai! Understood, Captain Sato!”
Inside the fishing boat, Wu Siyuan watched on the radar as the other ship moved farther away, accelerating all the while. He said with a dark expression, “Damn it. This Japanese research ship not only refused to come rescue us but sped up to detour away!”
“Bastards!” Wu Paulo cursed angrily. “Did you not say that people nowadays are increasingly friendly? You mentioned some international humanitarian spirit. How can there still be those who ignore people in peril? What kind of humanitarianism is this?”
Wu Siyuan was also quite frustrated.
It was he who had suggested this plan to Wu Paulo, thinking that since Wu Paulo could use spiritual energy to control others’ minds, they just needed to lure the Japanese ship over, and the rest would be straightforward. Who would have thought the Japanese ship would not only refuse to approach but accelerate away? This was utterly lacking in international decency.
With no alternative, he said shamefully, “I am sorry, Great Elder. I overestimated their character. Perhaps we should wait a bit longer. There is another research ship leaving port tonight. It is Canadian.”
Wu Paulo was now incensed and gritted his teeth, “No! I cannot swallow this insult! Full throttle. Chase it down!”
Seeing Wu Paulo’s resolute attitude, Wu Siyuan swallowed his words of persuasion and turned to the helmsman, “Accelerate and pursue!”
The fishing boat Wu Siyuan had arranged was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. Its hull and propulsion system had undergone significant upgrades. When it truly accelerated, catching up to a ten-thousand-tonne ship was effortless.
Thus, the fishing boat immediately went to full power and chased after the Japanese research ship.
When the distance to the research ship was less than one kilometre, Wu Paulo looked at the stern of the vessel, feeling the wake’s impact on the fishing boat, and said to Wu Siyuan, “Enough. You lot head back. I will board alone.”
Wu Siyuan quickly replied, “Great Elder, everyone on that ship is Japanese. You neither speak Japanese nor understand English. I fear communication will be difficult!”
Wu Paulo snorted coldly, “I refuse to believe that on an entire ship of so-called Japanese research experts, not one speaks Chinese. If there truly is none, I will scuttle their ship and wait for the Canadian one!”
Wu Siyuan asked, “Great Elder, should we wait nearby?”
“That works,” Wu Paulo said. “Stay far behind. If within one hour you see this ship sink, approach to pick me up. If it does not sink, it means I have found someone who speaks Chinese, and you can return.”
Wu Siyuan nodded, “Understood, Great Elder. Your subordinate obeys!”
Wu Paulo lightly brushed his sleeve, placed his hands behind his back, and tapped the deck lightly with his toe. His body immediately rose into the air.
As he was about to land on the water, he gathered spiritual energy beneath his feet, forming an invisible barrier between his soles and the sea surface.
