Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 604: The Reason for the Price Increase

Chapter 604: Chapter 604: The Reason for the Price Increase

Escaping that island, everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Gu Fan, Lin Xi, and the rest were so exhausted they collapsed onto the deck, not wanting to move even a step.

At the moment of devote relaxation, both Lu Yi and Jie directly passed out from fatigue, which made it clear just how tired they really were.

Now with water and fruit to solve the food issue, it meant they could hold out a bit longer. Despite this, there were no signs of joy since they’d lost one crew member, which took a toll on the heart of the captain.

The despondency was not just because of their loss. The captain discovered another problem; the ship was procured from pirates and was in a severe state of disrepair with incorrect dashboard readings. To put it simply, they were running out of fuel.

This was a significant problem. If the ship ran out of fuel and continued to drift at sea, they wouldn’t be able to avoid the upcoming fog.

Gu Fan, Su Hui, and Lin Xi immediately discussed with the captain and Ouyang Jin. How could they efficiently use the remaining fuel to safely reach their destination?

Ouyang Jin and the captain consulted the map; with the captain’s extensive sailing experience, and Ouyang Jin’s familiarity with these waters, they were best suited to find a solution.

Figuring out how long their fuel could last, the captain sent someone to check. The estimate was that it would only last about half a day, making it challenging to leave the heart of the Triangle Sea Area.

In response, Ouyang Jin conceived a plan to use the rising tide, letting the ship drift towards East land with the current. He had spent most of his time in the waters near East land, so he clearly remembered the tidal schedule.

"This could work!" Everyone felt fortunate to have Ouyang Jin; otherwise, they had no idea how to leave.

The captain approved of this method but also voiced his concerns about the scarcity of fuel. What if the tide turns against them before they reach their destination?

Ouyang Jin referred to the map and provided the interval between high and low tide. The captain’s job was to control the ship during the ebb. He was supposed to dock the closest island where they could search for food and water, rest, and wait for the next tide before setting off again.

Despite the possible delay, everyone agreed that it was a good idea to proceed in this orderly manner as their safety was paramount.

As the tide was rising, the captain shut down the engine and let the ship move forward with the currents. According to the anticipated time of the low tide given by Ouyang Jin, he examined the map and found that they could still make it to the next island in time.

Drifting slowly with the current, they gazed at the vast, endless sea, feeling a sense of powerlessness. It seemed like it would be ages before they could reach East land.

The captain said that using this method would require at least five to six days; their food and water could support them for two days at most. After that, they would suffer agony once again.

Ouyang Jin mentioned, "It takes six to seven days to drift to East land, but leaving the central area of the Triangle Sea Area only requires about three days. As long as we persevere for these three days, when we leave the center of the Triangle Sea Area, we will encounter many ships. Then, we can borrow some fuel and proceed to our destination rapidly."

These words gave them a glimmer of hope, significantly boosting their morale.

"Alright, let’s proceed with the original plan." Having said that, Gu Fan was too tired to stand and quickly went to rest. Before he left, he didn’t forget to ask Xiaohu.

The answer he received from Xiaohu was that there would be no mist tonight with the bright moon high in the sky. Everyone could rest assured.

Those who had escaped from the island inhabited by primitive people immediately went to sleep, seizing time to restore their strength. They were utterly drained, and keeping up their spirits till now felt like being hollowed out.

Gu Ling understood the hardship of Gu Fan, Su Hui, and Lin Xi. She did not disturb them and voluntarily took charge of night watch, keeping an eye on potential threats lurking beneath the sea.

Of course, they would not let Gu Ling keep watch alone tonight. Ouyang Jin moved back and forth on the deck, limbering his limbs. When he saw Gu Ling staring at the sea, he was curious and asked, "What is it, Xiaoling? I heard your sensing ability is strong. Did you sense anything?"

"I didn’t sense anything, which I find strange." Gu Ling previously sensed that dangers were lurking under the water. She thought that their ship was targeted. After sailing for so long and drifting in water, nothing happened.

"Don’t think too much, Xiaoling. If danger was brewing, we would have encountered it already. Why wait until now? The most important thing now is that we all get back to East land safely and then go home." Just as Ouyang Jin finished speaking, he was met with Gu Ling’s disdain, "Right, we’ll each go our own way. That’s it, huh. You clean up nicely."

"Really? Do I think that way?" Ouyang Jin looked puzzled, which earned him a disdainful look from Gu Ling, "Big brother Ouyang, I’ve heard about your slightly questionable character. Being a tour guide, you’re always thinking about raising prices at the slightest inconvenience without any principles."

"What? They said these things about me? I’ve been wronged." Ouyang struggled to wear an expression of innocence, "I advocate that risk and return should be aligned. The more risks there are, the more returns should be. In light of the mounting risks, it’s natural I need to increase the price. I’ve differentiated this regular increment from the profiteering." Once he finished speaking, Ouyang Jin started considering the argument seriously, looking very grateful, "Thank you for reminding me, Xiaoling. Having experienced so much, I feel the risks are increasing, and I’ve also proven my role. It’s about time I raise my prices."

"As expected, you’re just as everyone said." Gu Ling showed a headache-like expression, but to be honest, it was because of people like him that they dared to embark on this journey.

Ouyang Jin looked at the calm sea, a smile curling on the corner of his mouth, "I have another reason to inflate the price. This time the journey has been longer than expected. I’m willing to bet that even after arriving at East land, Gu Fan will take a short break and then return here. And naturally, he will drag me along. Given this to and fro, it is reasonable that I raise my price."

Gu Ling was rendered speechless and took a rhetorical route, "Can’t you offer a discount to reward old customers?"

"It is precisely these old customers like Gu Fan who have changed my life. It makes me wonder what I did to deserve constant encounters with this guy." As he said this, Ouyang Jin was visibly downcast.