The bio-medical foam taken from the medical kit was generously applied to Liu Tongchen's shoulder. The morphine in the medicine quickly took effect after entering Liu Tongchen's bloodstream, alleviating his pain. To make Liu Heguang obedient, they had to ensure Liu Tongchen stayed alive, so they prepared to treat Liu Tongchen as soon as they controlled him.
Looking at Liu Heguang's somber face, everyone understood that if Liu Tongchen died, they would all be finished!
Forget about seeing Norton's bone relic bottle; it would be good news if they could even see their teammates' ashes. There was a high probability that Liu Heguang's Rune: Monarch's Flame would burn them to ashes at the same time.
The intelligence said that Liu Heguang was about to reach the threshold of Rune: Black Sun. At first, the captain didn't believe it, but seeing Liu Heguang's reddish-gold eyes, he had to consider whether he should find time to tell his sick mother and young brother his bank card password.
Fortunately, Liu Tongchen's life was saved under their treatment, so they still had conditions to negotiate with Liu Heguang.
"According to the plan, the underwater team should have already obtained the S-class's body and entered the sleeping quarters by now. We still have fifteen minutes. Stall him," the captain said in a low voice, glancing at his wristwatch.
The intelligence stated that the S-class only met the bloodline standard, so he was equipped with many alchemical creations to enhance his strength, but there was no room for him to display it underwater. Therefore, he only sent four people underwater to capture the S-class.
The employer requested them to obtain Norton's bone relic bottle at all costs, and they didn't need to consider anything else. Someone would naturally help them clean up after the mission was completed.
The captain rarely encountered such a hassle-free mission. Someone was actually willing to clean up their mess. He remembered the last time this type of mission happened was when they went to Normandy to find Richard I's heart. That time, they almost angered the entire British aristocracy, but nothing happened, not even a wanted poster was put up. This time, would nothing happen again after they angered both the Family and Kassel College?
At least the captain felt that the Liu Clan alone would be enough for their employer to handle, not to mention Angers, who was taken out of the battlefield. Facing these two behemoths simultaneously, the captain's heart trembled when he ordered the S-class killed, and he hesitated for a moment when shooting the harpoon.
Facing Liu Heguang made the captain a little breathless. His bloodline did not yet support making eye contact with a future high-ranking individual.
However, the difficulty on shore made him slightly relieved. Three of their brothers had died here, so there should be no difficulty underwater.
"Can you contact the underwater team?" The captain plugged Ye Sheng and Liu Tongchen's ears and contacted the intelligence team on the voice channel.
"The Bronze City almost isolates all wireless communication methods. There should be no mistakes. Even without connections, we have three A-classes to deal with Kassel College's people, which is completely sufficient," the intelligence team replied.
"The situation on the ship is indeed similar to what was predicted. There should be no accidents underwater," the captain said.
"Can Liu Heguang still be handled?"
"He's incredibly strong. We sacrificed three brothers just to control Liu Tongchen, but fortunately, we also controlled a person from Kassel College, which is an unexpected gain." The captain glanced at Liu Heguang and the woman who was only three steps behind Liu Heguang.
It seemed that both of these people he arrested were lucky, always having someone care about them.
He sighed and had to speak to Liu Heguang, "Liu Tongchen's injuries have stabilized. Now, shouldn't we discuss the ownership of the bone relic bottle?"
"Are you sent by those old geezers?" Liu Heguang questioned.
Old geezers?
The captain was startled, then immediately realized who Liu Heguang meant by "old geezers." Liu Heguang's relationship with the elders in the Family was so bad that his first suspect for such an incident was the Family?
To have such an attitude and still be able to participate in the Liu-Li contention, it seemed the Family was very open-minded.
"I don't know. In our line of work, when do we ever know the identity of our employer?" the captain retorted. He was happy to chat with Liu Heguang about such meaningless topics, as their mission was to stall Liu Heguang.
The main force was underwater.
Liu Heguang narrowed his eyes slightly. Besides those old geezers in the Family, he couldn't think of a second target that would dare to hire people to offend both the Family and the Secret Party simultaneously.
Anyway, Liu Tongchen was not dead. Those old geezers would deny doing such a thing, claiming they wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the Family's stability. Then, they would give him some reward, and this matter might be over.
Afterward, the old geezers would have a way to prolong their lives, and he would have no reason to cause trouble. What a clever plan.
"Angers's people who are stalling are with you."
"I don't know. The employer is incredibly resourceful. We are only responsible for trading with you," the captain said.
"You can have the bone relic bottle, but I have conditions..."
Just then, before Liu Heguang could state his conditions, the entire Moniyahe experienced a violent shaking. Everyone swayed and stumbled as if someone was shaking the Moniyahe's hull.
The entire Three Gorges was enveloped by the mighty power of nature. All mixed-bloods within this range could feel this natural force, like an earth dragon turning over. A rumbling sound emanated from the earth's crust. The warships on the river, capable of resisting a Category 12 typhoon, now seemed no different from a small boat.
All the frogmen on the deck, including Ye Sheng, desperately clung to the ship's rail behind them. The captain and Ye Sheng, with a special telepathic understanding, used their feet to wedge Liu Tongchen's body, preventing Liu Tongchen from sliding on the deck and bleeding profusely from his wounds. The child had little consciousness left.
Liu Heguang stood still, his feet rooted to the deck like nails, staring intently in Ye Sheng's direction. He was waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to snatch Liu Tongchen back.
Shuhtome Yaji did not fare as well. The moment the earthquake occurred, she was swept to the captain's cabin door and had to rely on the help of staff to hide inside the captain's cabin to protect herself.
The earthquake came and went quickly. After a mere fifteen seconds, the Moniyahe returned to tranquility. Just as the captain opened his mouth to ask what Liu Heguang's conditions were, a roar interrupted him.
From far to near, from small to large, all the frogmen on the deck, including Ye Sheng, suddenly lowered their heads as if someone was pressing on the back of their heads, forcing them to bow. A chill, accompanied by rain, soaked their spines.
Liu Heguang slowly opened his eyes, wider than ever before. He sensed it: a reddish-red light spot appeared on the dark river water, then grew larger and larger, getting closer and closer to the Moniyahe.
Then, near the Moniyahe, it formed a giant whirlpool, like a whale sucking, ready to swallow everything within it. "This is... breathing..." Liu Heguang whispered.
After spanning time, the first thing this monster wanted to do was to breathe, exhaling the anger hidden in its lungs for thousands of years and inhaling the hatred of the new era.
The captain swallowed, understanding one thing with absolute clarity.
The underwater team was finished.