Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 652 What is on the Island?

Chapter 652: Chapter 652 What is on the Island?

Soon, Gu Fan, Su Hui, Ouyang Jin, Lu Yi, Jie, Xu Haowen, and another sailor climbed aboard another small boat, and set sail for the island.

"Brother, be careful." Gu Ling expressed her concern, while Gu Fan assured her that he would be cautious.

Seeing Gu Fan and the others sail far away, everyone was filled with a heavy sense of dread, wondering what kind of trouble they might encounter.

Some sailors felt relieved they weren’t chosen to accompany Gu Fan and the others onto the island. Frankly speaking, they had developed a fear of landing on islands in recent times, since they were either confronted by pirates or primitive inhabitants.

However, Lin Xi said emotionlessly, "You’re celebrating too early. Who said staying on the ship is safe? Why else would I be left behind?"

Hearing this, the sailors felt a weight in their hearts, sensing something ominous was on the horizon.

At this point, the captain approached them, his expression serious. "There are some things I haven’t asked about before, but now that we’re all in the same boat, you shouldn’t purposely hide things from us. You guys aren’t normal people, right? You specifically came for this island."

Lin Xi nodded in response, "Yes, I am indeed different from most. I know some magic, which you’ve probably seen, otherwise how could I have fought those Wandering Sea Ghosts? However, Gu Fan and Lu Yi are ordinary people. As for Su Hui, you all know her profession, so it’s not surprising that she’s quite skilled. Both Xu Haowen and Qin Jia are archeologists. I don’t think I need to explain any further."

On hearing this, one of the sailors asked, "Archeologists? Then what exactly are you trying to find on this island? Is there some kind of treasure there?"

Lin Xi shook her head, "I’m not sure about treasure, but there must be something extraordinary up there. Once it’s discovered, it’ll shock the world, and we’ll end up on the news."

Listening to this sensible explanation, the captain and the sailors seemed to understand the real reason for their expedition. They now believed that Lin Xi, Gu Fan, and Su Hui were there to assist Xu Haowen and Qin Jia in their archaeological endeavors.

Upon hearing this, Qin Jia felt a sense of admiration for Lin Xi, who had not only effectively rationalized their mission but had also factored in Professor Luo’s expertise into the explanation.

However, the captain was still skeptical, "If it’s an archaeological endeavor, why aren’t there any professional teams involved?"

Lin Xi knew the captain would have doubts, but that was fine. She had already prepared another explanaition: "We came here to carry out an archaeological investigation at the behest of Professor Luo. He is a renowned professor of archaeology from a prestigious university. You can verify this if you wish. As for why there is no professional team involved, even professional teams are composed of ordinary people who wouldn’t be able to deal with the supernatural like the Wandering Sea Ghosts. I, on the other hand, can use magic. Do you understand now?"

"Alright, I get it," the captain replied. Even though he still had doubts, since Lin Xi had explained in such detail, he thought it wasn’t appropriate to pry any further.

To smooth things over with the captain and the sailors, Du Jun stepped up, "At the outset, we never intended to involve any of you. However, encountering the pirates was unexpected, leading us all to the center of the Triangle Sea Area which was not something we wanted to see."

In reply, the captain attested that this wasn’t the fault of Gu Fan and Du Jun. To the contrary, he thanked Gu Fan, acknowledging that without him, the captain and his crew may not have survived until now.

The captain was the kind of man who appreciated favors and reciprocated kindness. He trusted Gu Fan, not for any other reason but the fact that he willingly risked being taken by the Wandering Sea Ghosts in order to rescue the captain’s shipmates.

Qin Jia then said, "Since this archeological endeavor is taking place overseas, we need to keep things quiet. We hope you won’t spread the word, and won’t say anything once we get back."

"Alright, I understand," the captain agreed, promising to keep the secret. However, he had a hunch that their mission wasn’t as straightforward as a mere archaeological dig, yet he couldn’t find any evidence to prove it.

Professor Luo was a renowned archaeology professor at a prestigeous university, and his vouching for Qin Jia and Xu Haowen, his students, provided substantial credibility to the mission.

The dangerous Triangle Sea Area was riddled with pirates and Wandering Sea Ghosts, making Lin Xi, who understood magic, the perfect choice for such an undertaking.

Su Hui’s profession stood as a credit to her reputation, and her presence as the team’s protector brought a sense of calm and reassurance to everyone.

Everyone had seen Gu Fan’s capabilities, and they all saw him as the backbone of the operation, the one who eventually located the island.

Furthermore, since Du Jun was the son of the company’s CEO, the captain didn’t ask further questions.

The need to keep a low profile during a mission overseas seemed reasonable to the captain, but one aspect stood out as peculiar: the group referred to as the ’bosses’ or higher-ups.

The captain knew that the situation was likely more complex than Lin Xi was letting on, but he also recognized the wisdom in not probing further. As long as they could all get away safely, it would be best not to know certain things.

Just as the captain was adjusting his mindset, he overheard a few excited sailors discussing, "Do you think there might be actual treasure on the island? If so, won’t we be rich, and famous on television too?"

"Yeah, I’m regretting not going with them now."

"Have you gone mad? Didn’t you hear Gu Fan’s warning? The island might be the lair of the Wandering Sea Ghosts, it could be dangerous."

"Stop kidding, the Wandering Sea Ghosts could just as easily attack us here on the ship, that’s why Lin Xi was left here to protect us."

"If it’s dangerous either way, I choose the island. If we find the treasure, I could pocket a share and spare myself twenty years of struggle."

Upon hearing the sailors, one by one expressing their regrets over not going with the team, the captain sighed. Talk of treasure and television appearances were inconsequential to him. He hadn’t wanted to get involved, but given all the circumstances, he had no choice.

"Forget it, let’s just see what they’re up to. And since we’re here, I hope there really is some treasure, so our journey isn’t entirely in vain." The captain mentally prayed for Gu Fan and the others.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the sky, followed by a flare illuminating the darkness. Even the fog couldn’t conceal its radiant light. It was a signal from Gu Fan and the others indicating that they had successfully landed on the island.

Upon seeing this flare, Qin Jia said, "Everything seems to be going smoothly for now, but based on my past experiences, it won’t stay like this for long. The real difficulties could be just around the corner."

"Are you turning into a doomsayer like Lu Yi now? Nevertheless, I see your point," Lin Xi said with a faint smile. Du Jun teasingly added, "If Lu Yi hears this, he’ll definitely accuse you of double standards. Why is it okay for others to be doomsayers, but not him?"

Meanwhile, Lu Yi, who had just landed on the island, suddenly sneezed, sensing someone was talking behind his back.