"The island... Where did it go?" Lin Ye's words caught everyone on the ship's attention.
"Island?" Swire naturally didn't know what he meant, so she asked suspiciously, "What Island? Aren't there islands anywhere we look? Which one are you talking about?"
Lin Ye didn't answer Swire but turned to look at Magallan. She understood what Lin Ye was implying, and immediately turned on her microcomputer. After a few seconds, she replied with a serious face, "The location is correct, that island is indeed gone..."
Matoimaru also understood what happened, "What the hell? How is this possible."
Blue Poison frowned but did not speak. Even Frostleaf's face turned slightly pale.
"What island are you talking about?" Swire knocked on the hull with some dissatisfaction, and said, "Now we are all in the same group, shouldn't we be sharing information with each other instead of talking in riddles?"
The group from Rhodes Island exchanged sights with each other.
When Lin Ye found that the island was missing, he was so surprised that he forgot about people outside of Rhodes Island on the boat. So, he needed to find a way to explains this to others without too much revealing. It just so happened that there was an oceanographer from Lungmen. Perhaps he could give some help.
Lin Ye said that they had already been to the sea area around here during the daytime yesterday and found that one island, which was now gone. Swire and her subordinates arrived in Harlan Town the latest yesterday, so for the time being, they couldn't judge the authenticity of Lin Ye's words.
She showed a surprised expression with a little suspicion, "Is that so? That can't be possible. Did you remember the location wrong?"
"It's impossible to remember it wrong," Magallan shook her head, then raised her arm and pointed to the front, "Yesterday we specially recorded the coordinates of that island."
"… And why must you write down the coordinates of that island?" Swire asked again, "Is there anything special about that island?"
This is something Lin Ye could explain, so he said straightforwardly, "It is because that island is the largest of the archipelago, with a diameter of about a kilometer. We feel that the probability of finding clues on it is higher than on other small islands, so we specially recorded the coordinates of that island."
Swire looked at Yumeng. He was also a little puzzled, "But I have read the map of this sea area many times, and I don't remember seeing such a place around this area."
Lin Ye suddenly remembered that, before landing on the island last night, Blue Poison had also said the same thing. At that time, he remembered to check the map after they came back. But now it seems that it's no longer needed. Since the oceanographic expert Yumeng said so, there is no island on the map. But how is this possible? Were there no islands, then where is the cave they entered last night... or a few hours ago?
Where is the Island? Did it grow arms and legs and swim away?!!
Lin Ye immediately asked this question to Yumeng. Yumeng thought for a while, and shook his head.
"It's impossible to move an island of that size." Yumeng said, "Of course, it may be because of the high tide. Sea water submerged the island, so we can't see it now"
Yumeng just finished talking, and then instantly denied his guess.
"No, no, no." Yumeng murmured, "Now should be the low tide period, not high tide, how can it be submerged by the sea. I have never heard of such a thing. Do you have the specific data of that island? May I have a look?"
Lin Ye looked at Magallan. Magallan nodded and then handed her microcomputer to Yumeng.
"Now that you say it, this feels weird," Swire muttered, "Is the island flooded or not, why don't we just check under water ourselves?"
What Swire just said was indeed a practical approach, so they did not hesitate and immediately rowed the boat over.
The result was as Lin Ye expected. There was nothing under the sea. the island was not flooded, but rather "disappeared". After confirming this, Lin Ye felt even more uncomfortable.
That island was likely the only clue to look for Skadi. With the only clue now cut off. He didn't know how to find Skadi.
At this moment, he couldn't help thinking, if they insisted on staying on it last night for just a little longer, could they find anything about Skadi? However, this thought only stayed in his mind for a short time. Lin Ye knew that the more he thinks about it, the more he will doubt himself. His decision last night was absolutely correct and should never be doubted.
Lin Ye took a deep breath. He knew he must stay rational, but he couldn't help thinking about it. Perhaps it is as Yumeng said, the sea is not their home ground. Standing on the boundless sea, he feels small and powerless as if a single wave can swallow him completely in any minute.
"If you insist that island really exists..." Swire looked at Lin Ye and said, "I think you should inform SilverSword and the others to come and have a look?"
Regarding her proposal, Lin Ye refused without even thinking about it.
"Not for now." He said, "It's not time yet."
"It's not time yet? What do you mean? When will 'the time' be then? Such a big island disappeared, isn't this important enough to inform them?"
He knew that what she said made sense. He knew SilverSword and his soldiers could save him a lot of time and effort. After all, the Ursus military is well-known as the most powerful in Terra for a reason.
The problem is, Swire didn't know that Lin Ye didn't leave the island during the day yesterday, but SilverSword did. If he heard about this and asked how he knew about the island, it would be a very troublesome thing to explain. They have not found Skadi, and they must not waste time on such annoying things.
Therefore, he could only stay silent for a while regarding Swire's doubts, and then repeated, "It's not the time yet."
Swire frowned and looked at Lin Ye. She was about to ask him something but, in the end, she didn't. She just shook her head, "Whatever, Bad boy, I don't think you are the kind of person who would take all the treasures of the deep sea alone. I will help you keep your secret for just a few more days, okay? However, when it's all over, you must tell me the reason why you are acting like this."
Lin Ye glanced at Swire with a smile on his face. Then he asked her the question that is always in his head, "You have been talking about deep-sea treasures this, deep-sea treasures that. What on earth even is that?"
"Huh? You don't know what Deep Sea Treasure is?" Swire glanced at Lin Ye, as if he said a bad joke, "Then what are you doing here?"
"..." Lin Ye did not know what to say so he just smiled at her.
"Never mind, you always have a lot of secrets." Swire shook her head, "Deep Sea Treasure, literally as its name. Those large creatures from the deep sea often have valuable materials on them. For example, twenty years ago, a giant creature attacked a village on the coast of Ursus and killed all the villagers."
Lin Ye stared at her without blinking. He needed to remember all of this. Maybe this could help him find Skadi.
"The Ursus military, after paying a considerable price, successfully hunted down that large creature and then cut its body. Guess what was in its body?"
"It can't be money, right?"
"Close enough." Swire said lightly, "They found a few tons of the Originite Prime. The purist that we had ever recorded in a long time. Its purity is much higher than the ones on the land."
Lin Ye was so astounded by this new information that he did not notice his mouth slightly open.
"It is yet unknown where that large creature found so many pure Originium, but Ursus easily made a ton of money through selling them." Swire continued, "So since then, Ursus has paid much more attention to the deep sea. Our current operation is not within the Ursus territory and they have still sent so many people. By the way, the Ursus general who organized this operation was the one who participated in the hunting of large deep-sea creatures two years ago. He was the team leader at that time."
Lin Ye didn't know what to say. He was just that surprised.
"Never thought you don't even know about this. I really don't know what you are here for." Swire shook her head helplessly, "Do you think there is anything more important than Deep Sea Treasure?
Lin Ye, after thinking for a while, replied in a soft voice, "Yes. It is much more important than the treasure for me."
"Tsk, I really don't understand you, but your expression is quite serious." Swire shook her head, "Okay, it's not a good idea to keep floating on the sea. Let's stop on a nearby island first. My men and I are going to investigate, and you can continue to study the disappearing island. I can let Yumeng help you."
"Thank you." Lin Ye smiled at her, "I owe you."
"You bet you do." Swire puffed her chest out, "There are too many people who owe me."
Lin Ye let out a small chuckle at her response.
The ship hits ashore on the nearest island that they can find.
Swire asked her men on the other ship to come ashore and then went to explore the island together.
"Swire!"
But before she went to the island Lin Ye shouted her name. She turned around and saw him raising his arms high.
"Be careful!"
Swire smiled and nodded at him. He nodded back
The people of Rhodes Island and Yumeng of Longmen stayed on board and continued studying and discussing the disappearance of the island.
However, Lin Ye also had forgotten someone.
"Well, I say," Skyfire suddenly said beside him. He almost had a heart attack by this jump scare.
He did not know when she appeared at his side. She had not spoken a word on board, so Lin Ye naturally had forgotten about her altogether.
"I suppose the island which disappeared is the one you went to last night, right?"
Lin Ye turned to look at her, instantly raising his guard up as he did so, "What do you want?"
Skyfire's voice sounded to have a bit of fire in it, "I just want to say, this event is incredible. Please let me join in."
"… You want to join us?" Lin Ye raises his brow at her.
"Or why did I get on your boat?"
"... To trouble us?"
"I never did plan to have trouble with you." Skyfire said, "I am here as a member of the Originium Technology Research Association. If I don't do anything, I won't be able to get information and materials."
"Is that so?" Lin Ye slowly let his guard down after her explanation.
She raised her eyebrows, "Do you believe me now?"
Lin Ye smiled at her.
Judging from the fact that Skyfire didn't inform SilverSword about them, Lin Ye doesn't think she is a bad person.
"Of course, if you just simply tell us you want to investigate together, then there would be so many unpleasant misunderstandings. We need all the help we can get."
Lin Ye took out a small bottle from his pocket, "Since the misunderstanding between us is solved, I will give you a small gift."
"What is this?" Skyfire looked suspiciously at the "small gift" in Lin Ye's hand,
"A specialty of my hometown." Lin Ye said without changing his face,
"Mint Flower Tea."
{Rhodes Island's Psychologist}
Draft by Jaq
Proofread by Chris
Edit by Jaq