After Reincarnating as the Dragon King, I Made a Fortune with Seafood – CH40

Chapter 40: Capture

King and the others had brought submersibles with them—and more than one.

The next evening, after Lu Ao and the others finished a full day of sample collection, they returned to the dining hall exhausted, ready to eat and rest.

There were very few people in the dining hall. Lu Ao was terribly tired and did not feel like talking. He only sat there with fried rice, eating one plate after another.

They had been at sea for six days. The kitchen’s supply of fresh vegetables was almost gone. What they were eating now was mainly dried vegetables, canned food, and sea fish.

Xiang Xingchang did not have much of an appetite. He casually ate two plates, then held a cigarette between his lips and smoked.

After finishing the meal prep, the chef came out and saw that Lu Ao was the only one still eating. Beaming, he sat down beside him. “Well? My cooking’s pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Good my ass!” Xiang Xingchang threw him his cigarette pack. “Everything’s slowly braised until cooked. There’s none of that smoky wok flavor from stir-frying over an open flame.”

“We’re at sea. Who dares use an open flame? This is what you get with an electric wok.” The chef put a cigarette between his lips and lit it. “Mine’s already pretty decent. Try switching to another ship and see if they don’t feed you stews every single day.”

Xiang Xingchang glanced sideways at him. “Even if we dared eat that, would you dare serve it to those expedition members?”

The chef deflated. He really would not dare. Those foreigners were terribly picky. Never mind casually brushing them off with stews—if there was even one day when the dishes were not varied enough, the people above would come nag him.

Xiang Xingchang turned his head and exhaled a mouthful of smoke. “Speaking of which, it’s strange. Why haven’t we seen that group of expedition members today?”

“They ate early. They ate a little after four. Otherwise, why do you think I’m so free right now?”

Xiang Xingchang froze. “They ate that early? What are they going to do?”

“You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?” the chef complained. “They ate so early, maybe they’ll come looking for me to make late-night snacks later.”

Lu Ao finished the last plate of fried rice and asked, “Are they doing a project?”

“At night? What project would they do?” The chef casually said it, then changed his tune. “Though maybe. I heard those foreign devils making phone calls at noon.”

Lu Ao and Xiang Xingchang exchanged a glance. Both of them carried a hint of vigilance in their eyes.

Their phones had no signal at all out on the open sea. The only thing that could contact shore was the satellite phone.

The satellite phone was with the ship captain and usually was not allowed for private use.

Xiang Xingchang pretended to ask carelessly, “Why do those foreign devils have so many things going on? We’re almost going back, and they’re still making trouble. Who were they calling? Their lovers?”

The chef chuckled. “Who knows? If they have money, let them make trouble.”

The three of them were chatting and eating.

One of Xiang Xingchang’s team members came over. When he saw the chef, he stopped.

The movement was too obvious. The chef was displeased. “What’s with all of you acting so mysterious today? Are you all avoiding me?”

The team member mumbled, “Boss, I’ve got something private to tell you.”

Xiang Xingchang walked over, patted his shoulder, and took him outside to talk.

The chef puffed out a breath in dissatisfaction and turned to Lu Ao. “I say, kid, you really can eat. Want me to make you a late-night snack tonight?”

“Leave me some noodles. I’ll make them myself.” Lu Ao asked, “I haven’t called home in a while either. Can I borrow the phone from the captain?”

“I doubt it. Why borrow a phone for no reason? Don’t end up failing to borrow it and getting scolded by the captain too.”

“I’ll call my brother and tell him I’m going back the day after tomorrow.”

“Tch. You’ve only been out for a few days. What’s there to say?”

“Lu Ao—”

Lu Ao was still talking when Xiang Xingchang beckoned to him, signaling him to come over.

The chef muttered, “You people really are acting strange today, all secretive.”

“Maybe it’s that guy’s private business. I’ll leave the plates here for now and clear them later. Right—” Lu Ao took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “They gave this to me earlier. I don’t smoke. You can have it.”

The chef was delighted and took it at once. “Good brother, you’re loyal. Go do your thing. I’ll clear the plates for you.”

Lu Ao did not stand on ceremony with him. After casually responding, he turned and ran toward Xiang Xingchang.

When Xiang Xingchang saw him run over, he grabbed him and lowered his voice. “This is bad. King and the others seem to know there are coelacanths under this sea area. They took a submersible down to capture them.”

“Now?”

“Yes. Those researchers are still on deck. They said the submersible went down half an hour ago.” Xiang Xingchang lowered his voice. “What do we do now? They can’t really catch the coelacanths, can they?”

Lu Ao frowned. “This is no longer something we can handle. I’ll borrow the satellite phone and notify the Maritime Navigation Public Security Bureau.”

“Alright. I’ll go with you. When the time comes, have the police block them at the dock!”

The two of them rushed to the captain to borrow the satellite phone.

The captain had just finished dinner and was picking his teeth. Before he had even heard them out, he glared at them. “We’re almost going back. Why are you borrowing the satellite phone? You think the phone belongs to your family?”

Lu Ao handed over a pack of cigarettes. “I want to call my brother and tell him to wait for me to go home.”

“You’ll see him once you get back. What’s there to say?”

Xiang Xingchang took out a lighter and lit the captain’s cigarette for him. “Captain, help us out. We’ll pay the phone bill.”

The captain did not take the bait. “That’s not about who pays. It’s the company rule. The satellite phone can’t be used privately. If I lend it to you and they find out, even I’ll get in trouble.”

Lu Ao handed over another pack of cigarettes, with five hundred yuan tucked beneath it.

The captain met his eyes.

After a long while, the captain dug out the satellite phone and handed it to him, muttering a warning. “One minute.”

“One minute is enough.” Lu Ao grabbed the satellite phone and ran outside. The captain hurriedly chased after him. “Hey, you can just call here. Why are you running?”

Xiang Xingchang reacted quickly and grabbed the captain’s sturdy body. “He’s pretty shy. Maybe he doesn’t want people to know his private business.”

“What private business?” The captain glared, beard bristling. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have lent it to you.”

Xiang Xingchang hurriedly said, “Smoke, smoke. Wait until he comes back, then scold him.”

Lu Ao ran outside with the satellite phone. As he ran, he dialed the special five-digit prefix for this model of satellite phone, then directly called the office phone of Captain Zhang and the others at the Qianyong Maritime Navigation Public Security Bureau.

“Hello—” An officer picked up. “Who is this?”

“I’m Lu Ao.”

“Oh, Lu Ao. Is something wrong? Or are you looking for someone?”

“Yes. I want to report a case. Please start recording.” Lu Ao quickly continued, “I’m currently aboard Xiwan Passenger 00265. There are expedition members from Country U and Country R on board. One of their goals is to capture the Class I national protected animal, the coelacanth. Right now, they have already piloted a submersible into the sea.”

“Alright, received.” The officer’s voice instantly became serious. “Can you report your coordinates?”

Lu Ao quickly gave the coordinates, then added, “We’ll probably return the day after tomorrow.”

“Received. We’ll send a law enforcement vessel to follow up as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation.”

After hanging up, Lu Ao went back. The captain snorted through his nose. “Two minutes.”

“Sorry. My brother talks a lot.”

“You young people are just not honest at all.” The captain took the phone back and waved them away like ducks. “Alright, alright. If there’s nothing else, go back early.”

Lu Ao and Xiang Xingchang had no choice but to leave.

When they passed the deck, they saw the researchers from Country U nervously operating instruments.

When they saw Lu Ao and Xiang Xingchang, they no longer had the friendliness of the past few days. Instead, they waved them off in rough voices. “Go back. Don’t look!”

Xiang Xingchang frowned. Lu Ao gave him a look, signaling him not to act impulsively.

Seeing that they still would not leave, one of the tall and muscular male researchers came over and stared at them with an unfriendly gaze. “What are you doing?”

Xiang Xingchang glared. He said roughly, “What do you mean, what are we doing? When we signed the contract, no one said we weren’t allowed on deck!”

“But we’re working right now. Your presence is seriously interfering with our work.”

“We’re standing so far away. How can we interfere with anything?”

Xiang Xingchang soon started arguing with them. When the other members of the diving team heard the commotion, they all came out to support him.

Lu Ao knew at once that Xiang Xingchang was doing it on purpose.

No matter what those researchers said, he simply refused to leave.

None of the other diving team members left either.

Everyone knew what was going on. They absolutely would not allow these people to capture their country’s resources right under their noses.

For a moment, the two sides reached a stalemate.

The female researcher who had once spoken with Lu Ao used a walkie-talkie to call Brother Wu and the others over.

Brother Wu hurried over. Seeing the situation, he asked, “What are you doing? Interfering with researchers’ work counts as a breach of contract.”

“When we signed the contract, it didn’t say we weren’t allowed to stand on deck. What kind of breach is that?”

“You’re twisting words. Whether or not you’re interfering isn’t up to you.”

Xiang Xingchang ignored him. “I don’t care. You want me to leave, so I’m not going to. Looking down on people like dogs, huh? Today, I’m standing on deck to enjoy the wind. Try touching me.”

Brother Wu looked at them one by one, his face carrying a threat. “And you?”

Lu Ao said, “It’s stuffy below. We’re cooling off here.”

The others all nodded in agreement.

One team member whispered, “We’re just cooling off. It’s not like we’re doing anything. Why are you being so fierce?”

This group of people refused to be persuaded, whether softly or forcefully. They insisted on sitting there, and Brother Wu could do nothing about them except stand aside and watch.

Very soon, someone called the captain over.

The captain looked at the scene, then at the determined expressions on Xiang Xingchang and the others’ faces. Thinking back to the satellite phone that afternoon, he understood something. When mediating, he kept playing dumb, asking both sides to each take a step back.

Naturally, neither side was willing to back down.

Brother Wu had no choice but to bring his subordinates and remain in a stalemate with them.

The researchers nervously operated their instruments and had no time to bother with them for the moment.

The sky darkened bit by bit. Soon, the fiery red sunset completely sank into the distant sea. The flaming clouds above faded away, replaced by the starry sky.

At a little past eight in the evening, the sky had fully become night. King operated the submersible and slowly surfaced.

The researchers burst into cheers and rushed over to receive it.

Brother Wu also hurried down to help, directing the crew to use the crane to lift the submersible onboard.

The diving team members moved closer to look and were quickly driven away.

The researchers looked extremely happy.

Everyone on the ship understood that they must have gained something.

Xiang Xingchang stood on the deck and watched coldly.

With the help of his assistant, King came out of the cockpit. From afar, he looked toward Lu Ao and the others. Their gazes met.

The female researcher beside him lowered her voice. “King, they seem to have discovered it.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll send the things away tonight. They won’t find any evidence.”

Their voices were very low, but Lu Ao heard them clearly.

After watching for a while, Xiang Xingchang tried to cross the human barrier to see what they had captured. “What did you bring up? Is it a protected animal? This is China’s sea area. You have no right to capture protected animals!”

“No, it isn’t. This is only part of our sampling work.” The researchers refused to admit it. “You’re being too sensitive.”

“Then I demand that you show us what you brought up. Do you dare?”

“Sir, this is our trade secret. Your demand is rather rude.”

Xiang Xingchang became anxious and pointed at them. “You’re guilty! If you have the guts, pour it out and let us see. Did you capture coelacanths?!”

“Sir, please stop making unreasonable trouble. If we really captured your protected animals, Customs will naturally inspect us when we leave. You are not qualified to make such demands of us.”

Lu Ao watched both sides go back and forth, but he did not move.

King had mentioned tonight. Who knew what would happen tonight?

Lu Ao did not know how they planned to send the things away in the middle of the night.

Xiang Xingchang made a scene, but nothing came of it.

The two sides remained in a stalemate until past ten. Xiang Xingchang and his team stubbornly stayed on the deck.

The expedition team ignored them and directly took the salvaged items from the submersible back to their cabin.

Xiang Xingchang tried several times to lead his men in snatching them, but they were all blocked off.

The salvaged items were packed in a dense fishing net. No one could see what was inside.

Only Lu Ao could sense from afar that they were indeed coelacanths.

Although Xiang Xingchang and the others could not see, they also felt it was true, so they were even less willing to compromise.

That night, no one returned to their cabins to sleep. They all kept watch on deck.

Lu Ao was also on deck.

Xiang Xingchang and the others all knew that they had secretly reported the matter to the police through the satellite phone. Once the maritime police arrived, everything would be fine, so they were not too nervous.

Everyone sat close together on the deck, drowsy and sleepy, reminding each other not to fall asleep.

As time gradually moved into the latter half of the night, everyone still fell asleep. Several people even started snoring.

Lu Ao also sank into sleep. As he slept, he was suddenly startled awake. He instinctively looked up and saw another large ship, no smaller than theirs, approaching.

Even under the starlight, the foreign letters on the large ship were clearly visible.

Lu Ao’s heart sank.

He finally understood why these people were so fearless.

So they had someone coming to meet them.