Trafford's Trading Club

581: Chapter 49: Beneath the Ocean 581: Chapter 49: Beneath the Ocean Quiet, all around was quiet.

At this moment, everyone’s eyes were on Xiaobao because he was reading the data from this black box…

But it was clear that Xiaobao was very nervous, even his operations seemed clumsy.

This thing, it scanned numerous data from the mainland’s coastline…

The Baiyu Cruise has sailed everywhere over the years.

To put it bluntly, the Baiyu Cruise has almost traveled the entire coastline of the mainland.

Though today’s technology is very advanced, humans have launched satellites into outer space, easily mapping out national maps…

But the purpose of this black box and the data recorded in it are not the kind of simple information that has been published, such as tides, ocean currents, and seismic fluctuations.

Some things… need to be shielded from the international view – to go further, if the data from this black box were exposed, the entire unknown defense circle along the national coastline would be… “How’s it going?

Can it be cracked?” Ali asked with a stern face.

No one here could joke about this black box…

The stakes were just too high.

Xiaobao could only swallow and say, “Is this box really a product from thirty years ago?

If it’s true, some of the technology back then would have been at least twenty years ahead…” “So, it can’t be deciphered?” Ali frowned.

Xiaobao shook his head and said, “Not really, its technology seemed very advanced at the time.

I even suspect it’s black technology.

But after all, it’s been thirty years.

No matter how advanced it looked back then, by today’s standards, it’s ordinary…

It’s cracked!” “What about the result?” Ali leaned on Xiaobao’s back, staring at the contents on the laptop screen.

Xiaobao could only continue to nervously scroll through the screen rapidly with the mouse, “There really is data.

The time is…

Sure enough, it started thirty years ago, but…

It seems to have stopped working after less than a year!”

Ali instinctively looked at Captain Mu Enli, and everyone else turned to this old captain.

The old captain shook his head and said, “I told you, I turned it off early on.”

Ali stared at Mu Enli, not missing a single expression on the old captain’s face, and said in a deep voice, “Mu Enli… Are you King?

Who exactly placed this black box on the Baiyu Cruise?”

The old captain patted himself down and pulled out a pack of soft cigarettes from his clothes.

But he found that the soft pack had become deformed, and the cigarettes inside were wrinkled and unsightly.

He shook his head and opened a drawer to take out some cigarette paper and tobacco, slowly beginning to roll a cigarette.

After taking a puff of the rolled cigarette, in the light haze he exhaled, he slowly said, “I said it before, I was once a part-time Navy sailor.

After the predecessor of the Baiyu Cruise was sunk, I retired and was later assigned to work at a shipyard…

Let’s skip over these things, and I’ll talk about the origins of King.”

Mu Enli recalled, “It happened at a time when our country was beginning a period of rapid development, with all industries flourishing, even maritime tourism.

After the renovation of the Baiyu Cruise, it became one of the first cruise ships introduced into the country.

Actually, I was quite tired of living abroad and wanted to find an opportunity to return home.”

Mu Enli shook his head, “But in the environment at that time, it was quite difficult…

To be honest, my father smuggled himself over in the sixties, so his identity was never very legitimate.

Over time, even after I became a navy sailor, the environment didn’t change much.

My father always wanted to return home, but unfortunately, he couldn’t find a way … there were too many review conditions at that time, and he eventually passed away in melancholy.” “I heard that the company introducing the Baiyu Cruise planned to find someone experienced to temporarily act as the captain of the Baiyu Cruise, so I took the initiative to contact them,” Mu Enli looked down at the half-burnt cigarette, “It wasn’t them who actively approached me.

But the company responded quickly, they seemed very pleased to see I had an overseas Chinese identity and also had a navy background, so they agreed to hire me.” “I thought things would go smoothly, but unfortunately, things never go as planned.” Mu Enli sighed, “I don’t know who they were, only that they were people from the company associated with the shipyard, very mysterious.

They approached me, demanding that I bring this black box onto the Baiyu Cruise, otherwise, they wouldn’t allow me to leave…

In fact, they even detained me for several days…

Let’s not talk about it, I don’t want to remember those days.” “Did you eventually agree with them?” Ali frowned…

She was too familiar with such methods.

In her current department, there were many people in the last century who were coerced in this way and had to engage in work that could endanger society. “At the very least, I didn’t want to die.

I just wanted to return home and live a simple life; I was tired of the discrimination and oppression I faced living locally,” Mu Enli shook his head and said, “Who would want to be tortured forever?

No one, right?

Moreover, they indeed promised me quite a few benefits.

A normal person should know how to choose…

I didn’t grow up in this country from a young age, all that talk about patriotism didn’t quite apply to me.”

Ali also shook her head, unwilling to discuss loyalty with Mu Enli, and instead asked seriously, “Captain, you have been in contact with these mysterious people for so long, did you hear anything?”

Mu Enli pondered for a moment and said, “They should not be people from official state departments but indeed people from the company to which the shipyard belonged.

I picked up from their occasional conversations that the reason they wanted to install this black box was that they planned to use it as a bargaining chip after the deed, hoping to gain national support…

Of course, whether or not there were intentions from certain people in the military behind it, I don’t know.” “This capitalistic country, they really can do anything,” Ali sneered and then became puzzled, “So you became King, a makeshift spy?

But why did you turn off this black box?

Aren’t you afraid those people would come after you?”

Mu Enli said, “In the initial year, they would almost secretly contact me once every month.

But for some reason, I couldn’t get in touch with them after a year.

Later, I kept an eye on foreign news and found out after a few months that the owner behind the shipyard company had fallen, and at the time, there was a shift in the military over there as well.

I secretly guessed that perhaps this was why the shipyard company stopped contacting me, and the original plan was shelved…

I observed for a few more months and found that there was still no movement, so I quietly turned off this black box to stop it from working further.” “If that’s the case, why didn’t you directly expose this thing?” Officer Ma shook his head and said, “You should have turned it over when you first returned to the country.”

Mu Enli looked at Officer Ma and after a while, said, “Officer Ma, if I handed over this thing, what would be my outcome?

I told you, I just want to live a peaceful life.”

Officer Ma was stunned, silent, seemingly wanting to say something but feeling it was all in vain.

Mu Enli shook his head and said, “Perhaps things are different now, but thirty years ago… who can judge that time?” “Then why did you keep it?” Ali questioned again.

Mu Enli logically said, “Who wouldn’t want to leave themselves a way out?

I really had no idea if this plan would ever see the light of day again.

Just in case one day, the plan was resurrected… at least I still have something to negotiate with them.

Turning it off, not letting it work, was already the biggest concession I could make.” “But Qian Guoliang came looking for you.” Ali narrowed her eyes.

Mu Enli nodded, “I didn’t expect it; I was about to retire, and I’m old now, I probably wouldn’t live much longer, and this secret may have gone with me when I left.

But at this critical juncture…

Indeed, Qian Guoliang came.

His organization seemed to have accidentally discovered some clues about the original plan from old files, and then kept pursuing them until they eventually found the source file of the plan from the relics of the former owner of the shipyard company.”

Mu Enli smiled bitterly, “I thought I could turn off this black box and be done with it.

But unexpectedly, there were still some signal sources inside that I didn’t understand, and they remained active all these years.

Through special methods, Qian Guoliang’s side detected this signal source and knew the black box was still working, so naturally, they came after me.” “Did Qian Guoliang contact you twice just to retrieve this black box?” “Yes.” “Why did you kill him?”

Mu Enli looked at Ali with complex eyes and said, “If you lived in a place for thirty years, wouldn’t you develop feelings as well?

I’ve been back for thirty years, I’ve adopted Qinghai here, started my own family, unlike before when I was all alone.

Qinghai has a bright future, and I didn’t want him to be delayed because of me.

Anyway, I don’t have much time left; I just want to leave him with a clean life…

This child is a gift from heaven.

I found him at the dock, he was so weak at the time, and the moment I saw him, his gaze moved me.

Such a fragile life, all alone…

Looking at him was like seeing my own early life.”

Mu Enli sighed, “Had the original plan merely been created by the shipyard company out of self-interest, there might have been room for negotiation…

But since the special department of that country had its eye on it, I knew that not only I but Qinghai would also be implicated.” “Dad…” Lin Qinghai’s eyes were bloodshot, and he called out tremulously. “So you took the risk and killed Qian Guoliang?” Ali continued to stare at Mu Enli and asked. “I didn’t think it through at the time.” Mu Enli shook his head and said, “A wicked thought just popped into my heart, and then it was unstoppable.

I absolutely couldn’t let this person leave.

So when he came to me a second time, I told him to come to find me.” “How did you kill him?” Officer Ma asked directly.

Mu Enli replied, “Qian Guoliang was professionally trained, I knew ordinary methods couldn’t kill him.

Besides, I’m old, I can’t fight directly.

So I chose to use poison…

The restaurant I frequently visit had what I needed… pufferfish.”

At this moment, Xiaobao said, “Officer Ma, after analyzing the data collected from the deceased, it can be confirmed that it was indeed pufferfish toxin.”

Mu Enli calmly said, “I dipped a fine needle in the poison, then hid it in the chair’s cushion.

When the time came, Qian Guoliang came to see me, and I began to negotiate with him.

He was very cautious, but he ultimately sat down without noticing.

After getting pricked by the needle, he immediately felt something was wrong.

We struggled for a while, the poison took effect, his body weakened, so I stabbed a knife into his chest, but I didn’t have much strength, the wound wasn’t deep.

Qian Guoliang then rushed out of my room, escaping.

But he couldn’t get far, and collapsed, barely alive.”

At this moment, Captain Mu Enli looked at Officer Ma and said, “I was afraid this incident would be discovered, so I quickly turned off the power and took the opportunity while Qinghai and the crew were away to quietly switch the recordings.” “Why did Qian Guoliang hold on until daybreak to die?” “Of course, to prove he wasn’t there.” Mu Enli said calmly, “I had thought Qian Guoliang would die directly from the poison, but I didn’t expect him to be so strong.

He must have received anti-poison training, or the amount of toxin I used was insufficient…

However, this was good, at least it gave me time to consider how to handle the following matters.” “I don’t understand, how did you make Qian Guoliang suddenly appear?” Officer Ma asked in confusion, “And at that time, the surveillance was already normal!” “It was just a simple trick.” Mu Enli said calmly, “Did you open the storage room’s door but found nothing inside?”

Officer Ma nodded, “Indeed.”

Mu Enli said, “But in fact, Qian Guoliang was hidden in the storage room.

Just above it.”

Lin Feng frowned, “That doesn’t make sense.

Even if he was above, the floor shouldn’t be so clean.

And the door was locked!

How could a seriously injured Qian Guoliang have the energy to lock the door?” “When I said above, I naturally meant there was another entrance.” Mu Enli shook his head and said, “You only considered the door and the interior, but never thought about the top of the door.” “Above the door…” Officer Ma furrowed his brow and said, “I remember there was only a steel plate up there, and it was screwed on!” “Only the screw heads, they weren’t actually fastened.”

Mu Enli calmly said, “I’m familiar with every place on this ship.

That steel plate isn’t as thick as it appears.

I hid Qian Guoliang inside, and since his physical condition was so good, the poison wouldn’t kill him.

It was simple.

I used some emergency methods I learned from the army to ensure he wouldn’t die immediately.

I took some adrenaline and similar drugs from the medical room and injected him, ensuring he had the ability to move for a short time.

Next, it was just a matter of waiting for him to regain enough clarity to break the steel plate and fall down.

After the steel plate was knocked open, it would automatically return to its original position due to its weight, because of the screw heads it would appear stable.

The camera over there has a blind spot, and the spot where he fell is just out of view.

Then it’s just a matter of seeing where he could get to, but he’s quite tenacious, actually making it to the deck.” “But the knife wounds on the deceased’s body have two different levels of force, how do you explain that?” Xiaobao suddenly asked.

Mu Enli said, “It was probably from the fall.”

Xiaobao nodded, seemingly accepting this explanation, “Then why are there two different palm prints?” “I deliberately smeared Qian Guoliang’s blood onto it, the purpose was to confuse people, to prevent them from knowing where he truly fell, creating the illusion he fell somewhere further away and suddenly appeared,” Mu Enli said calmly, “The blood is the same, I felt no one would notice the different palm prints.” “But someone did notice.” Officer Ma said, glancing coldly at Flying Eagle.

Flying Eagle, who was still suffering, couldn’t feel pleased about himself at all, his gaze still scattered as he leaned against the wall. “That’s not right…” Ali frowned and said, “If the palm prints later were made by you, there was a considerable time between when Qian Guoliang fell, wouldn’t the people passing by notice such an obvious thing?” “That area isn’t a tourist passage, it’s a route to the work area.” Mu Enli said, “I mentioned, I know this ship better than anyone.

I quietly put up warning tapes preventing passage at the corridor ends before and after,” Mu Enli said calmly, “I know if the deceased appeared, that area would naturally be locked down.

By then, the crew responsible for putting up the warning tape would surely see it, but after seeing it, they’d probably only think someone had sealed it off early, without suspicion.” “But how could you ensure that no unsuspecting tourists would open the door from the deck and walk down?” Officer Ma continued to ask. “The door at the stairs can only be opened from the inside.” Mu Enli said as a matter of course, “Tourists can’t open it, would they break down the door?”

Officer Ma and Ali exchanged glances, each frowning, but Flying Eagle suddenly spoke up, “Captain, don’t try to deceive me!

If you killed Qian Guoliang, then why were the blueprints and protractor with your son!

I saw your son looking for something in your room!”

Mu Enli was taken aback, then looked at Lin Qinghai with a complex expression, his brow furrowing as he gazed at the silent Lin Qinghai.

Suddenly, he sighed, bitterly smiling, “So it was you who picked them up.” “Picked them up?” Flying Eagle was taken aback.

Mu Enli sighed and said, “Only the initiators of the plan back then and I knew the box’s hiding place.

They specifically modified the Baiyu Cruise to hide it.

However, for safety’s sake, they also made guiding blueprints and a protractor.

Later, I considered it unsafe, so I used that place as my bedroom…

After poisoning Qian Guoliang, during his escape, he must have placed the items somewhere, because I didn’t find anything on him when I caught up with him.

Qinghai… did you really go to my room to find something?” “I…

I just…”

Lin Qinghai lowered his head, his eyes red, suddenly yanked off the headset used for communication work on the ship, looked at Mu Enli, painfully kneeling on the ground, “I… my mind was just momentarily lost…

I thought there was really… treasure…” “Foolish!!

Foolish!!

Foolish!!” Mu Enli slammed the table heavily, angrily said: “I’ve raised you for thirty years!

I’ve never married!

You’re my only son!

If there really was treasure, would I take it to the grave?

Is there anything I wouldn’t leave for you!!

You fool!

Brat!

Where’s your ambition?

Didn’t you say you wanted to be a good captain!

Didn’t you want to prove your ability to me!!

How could you become foolish at this critical time!!

You became greedy for such a thing?

Do you realize what you were searching for is beyond your ability to handle?” “Dad… please stop, I beg you, stop!” Lin Qinghai raised his head, clenched his fists, crying painfully, “Please stop talking… okay?”

The old captain suddenly stood up, picked up the pen holder on the table, and hurled it fiercely at Lin Qinghai, hitting him directly on the forehead.

But Lin Qinghai dared not move, even as his forehead bled in an instant. “Brat!!” Mu Enli gasped heavily, “I killed Qian Guoliang to keep you from getting involved!

Yet you involved yourself in this matter!!

You’re… you’re… you’re really trying to anger me to death… to death… right?”

Mu Enli clutched his heart with a pained expression, his face pale.

Just as he finished speaking, he collapsed on the ground in pain. “Doctor!

Doctor!

Call a doctor quickly!!” Lin Qinghai rushed to Mu Enli’s side, sorrowfully saying, “My dad has a heart condition, a very serious heart condition!!”