Chapter 19 Part 2

Zhong Nian kicked and pounded. “Put me down! I really have something urgent! I need to find Charles!”

“Find what Charles? You trying to get yourself killed?” Zhan Lu carried him off without argument, moving quickly.

“I really have something more important than the fire! You’ll get us both killed if you don’t let me go!” Zhong Nian was frantic. Seeing that Zhan Lu wouldn’t listen no matter what, he gritted his teeth. “Stop first! Hear me out!”

Zhan Lu set him down. “Fine, talk. I want to hear what it is that you have to find Charles for.”

Zhong Nian glanced around—people nearby—so he clung to the man’s shoulder, leaned to his ear, cupped his mouth, and whispered, “The fire is fake.”

Zhan Lu’s hand supported the small of his back, his gaze falling on Zhong Nian’s moving lips. His response was somewhat absent-minded. “How is it fake?”

“It is real! I went up and saw only smoke, no one fighting the fire.” Seeing Zhan Lu didn’t quite believe him, Zhong Nian grew more urgent and spilled all the secrets. “Do you remember? That night you ran into me eavesdropping and saved me.”

Zhan Lu nodded first. “I remember.”

“You didn’t hear it then, but I did.” Zhong Nian recounted every word he had overheard to Zhan Lu without missing a beat.

The large hand on his waist gradually tightened. Zhan Lu’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening deeply. After hearing it all, he said nothing.

“I don’t know if these two things are connected, but ever since that night’s death, everything’s been off. The ship’s been stopped for so long—something big is definitely happening. Zhan Lu, help me find Charles. If we can’t… or maybe we should just make the secret public?”

As he spoke, Zhong Nian’s mind cooled. He realized this might not be right—what if Charles had progress and he ruined the plan?

“No… that’s not good. What if it tips them off…” Sweat beaded densely on Zhong Nian’s forehead. His words grew incoherent, his whole body trembling.

But he still tried to calm himself, wanting Zhan Lu to brainstorm solutions with him.

“Don’t panic. Calm down.” Zhan Lu hugged Zhong Nian, patting his trembling back rhythmically.

His tone was gentle, but out of sight, Zhan Lu’s pupils were pitch black like unmelting ink. His gaze coldly slid toward the boy’s unguarded snowy neck.

“Zhan Lu, I…” After several deep breaths, Zhong Nian had recovered somewhat and wanted to push away to create distance. Suddenly, sharp pain stabbed his nape.

His vision went black, and he instantly lost consciousness, collapsing limply into Zhan Lu’s arms.

–

At that moment, inside the 6th Floor Buffet Restaurant.

In twenty minutes, everyone on the ship had gathered.

Fortunately, the Cruise Ship was large enough that over two hundred people still left plenty of space. The crew was easier to manage—they lined up orderly without clamor. But the hundred VIP guests were far less obedient.

They complained and cursed, extremely dissatisfied with the incident.

“What’s wrong with you people? How could a fire even start?”

“Yeah, the ship’s been stopped since last night, claiming engine failure. Haven’t you fixed it after all this time?”

“We pay you so much—what for? A bunch of useless trash!”

“What caused the fire? Don’t tell me you don’t even know.”

“Get my family here! If the ship won’t sail, send a helicopter to pick me up!”

The crew tried to soothe them, but it was useless. Some were even beaten until their heads bled.

These young masters and young ladies, spoiled rotten and lawless at home, weren’t easy to placate.

No one knew who mentioned it first, but the guests noticed the three residents of the top floor were absent.

“Oh my god! They couldn’t have been caught in it, right?”

“And Qian Shao’s missing too—no one’s seen him in a day and a night.”

“What the hell is going on? Did you rescue anyone?”

“Where’s the Ship Captain!”

The highest-ranking manager on site was the deputy. Surrounded and interrogated, his face showed unconcealed fear and guilt. He stammered without answers.

With no explanation, the VIPs grew even rowdier.

Just as they were about to smash things, the restaurant doors burst open. Captain Hall, belly protruding, led the way in.

His smile was affable. “Everyone, quiet down! The people you’re looking for are fine—they’re right here with me.”

Drawing all eyes, he beckoned behind him. Instantly, thirty or forty people surged in.

Some wore uniforms of various ranks—crew or sailors—others casual clothes like passengers. Strangely, their dispersal was like a trained organization: orderly and precise. Each held weapons—knives, batons… even guns.

Before anyone could react, three men were shoved inside.

Their arms bound, shoulders pressed down so they couldn’t stand straight. One blond’s face was injured.

Someone screamed. No one on the ship wouldn’t recognize their faces.

It was Sheng Chu, Zong Xing Yi, and Guan Shan Yue.

The crowd erupted in uproar, the room turning chaotic.

“Bang!”

A terrifying gunshot pierced the floor, silencing everyone instantly into dead quiet.

The trigger-puller strode in from the doorway, the three bars of the First Mate gleaming on his shoulder.

He blew away the gun smoke and smirked. “Now, you’re all our hostages.”

As some ignorant playboys laughed, he raised his voice: “Note in advance!”

“If anyone makes noise and pisses off our Boss, he might just toss you into the sea—or like that Qian fellow the other day, poke a dozen holes in you… Either way, it won’t end prettily. So I advise you to stay quiet.”

Something flew from his hand and back—he caught it. It looked like a Remote Control.

“This Cruise Ship has twenty-seven Bombs hidden aboard. See this Remote Control? Just a light press…” The handsome man with deep features grinned playfully, lips brushing to mimic: “Boom.”

“Ship and all blown to kingdom come, sinking into the sea, no bones left. This isn’t a joke.”