I Can See Health Bars in Real Life-Chapter 465 - 1: Wild Hunt, Level Up, Authority Puzzle (Part 2)
At the same time—
"Still can’t find..."
On the second deck of the bow above, that steady middle-aged man seemed to be speaking to himself, his sharp eyes fixed tightly on the boys below, through the side of the boy’s face, fully displaying the latter’s frustration, agitation, regret, and other emotions.
"Alright, I understand..." He nodded slightly, the middle-aged man who seemed to be talking to himself reached out to touch his ear, receiving the latest orders from his superiors.
"Is the higher-up really deciding to call off the team, Captain?" asked a rugged young man standing by, apparently understanding something, with a tone that unmistakably carried a sense of regret.
"Yes, after all, we’ve found nothing so far, and can’t just keep going like this... They have put forward new specific requirements, which should have been disseminated already, check it yourself, we’ll wrap it up soon."
While answering, the middle-aged man looked up around him, seeing more than one ship silhouette traversing the distant sea, each ship carrying a subject... Not just those seven college students, even Mr. Yu and others from that fishing boat were on board.
After all, although the latter did not land on the island, they were indeed eyewitnesses to the emergence of the island, perhaps considered as relatively "fortunate" individuals?
Despite not knowing if this situation will have any effect, the investigation team indeed had no other choice but to pin hopes on those who have witnessed or even personally entered the non-existent secret realm, hoping they could help in rediscovering the realm... But as it stands, it seems nothing’s forthcoming.
Although all evidence points out, that group of lucky or rather unfortunate students did inadvertently land on an island existing only in legends, encountered some inexplicable events, ultimately missing a golden opportunity... But missing is missing, the island won’t reappear for them.
The middle-aged man silently watched the bespectacled boy below, contemplating the beginning and end of this matter.
Like a modern version of "Peach Blossom Spring," yet resembling the reenactment of the "Lanke story," or a combination of both... These folks only stayed on the island for a while, just recently grilling on a fishing boat, the seafood eaten was yet to be fully digested, however, upon leaving the island, nearly ten days had already passed in the outside world.
Though not as exaggerated as the mystical stories of Jin dynasty’s Wang Zhi, it likewise hints at that bizarre, mysterious to near-fantasy implications.
Hard to elucidate clearly, domestic scholars find it elusive, can only propose immature hypotheses, lacking corresponding support from practical to theoretical levels.
In this world... do Immortals truly exist?
The middle-aged man frowned deeply, despite his firm resolve, was inevitably shaken at this moment. For attention was drawn to this incident, and their investigation not only couldn’t negate its veracity, but instead further proved its authenticity, hence the current action.
"Temporarily ending operations wouldn’t matter, but to lift the blockade here, and allow the related personnel to return to study or work, sparing their lives any further disruption?"
By this time, the rugged young man had finished reviewing the newly issued notice, instinctively uttered a low cry, and immediately looked urgently at the middle-aged man beside him: "We can’t do this, Captain! Isn’t this handing our achievements to others on a platter?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
"What accomplishments do we even have? It’s precisely due to our lack of success to date that we’re called off." The middle-aged man shifted back his gaze, with a mock smile.
"But at least we know this incident truly happened, and knew the sea area where the island appeared..." The young man said hastily, "Also all these people are on our side, now suddenly halting, lifting the blockade of this sea, letting these people go back, isn’t it providing an opportunity to those sharks who smell blood... "
There’s no wall that’s without leaks, once the resource control reaches a certain level, those folks have ample channels to acquire information unknown to ordinary people, gaining early advantage and edge.
Like what’s going on now, despite deliberate downplaying, this affair has already morphed into a joke-like news piece, the public merely sees it as yet another scandal involving wild adventurers, unruly tourists disregarding warnings, venturing into dangerous undeveloped areas, ultimately squandering rescue resources, with no goodwill towards it.
Yet some top-tier individuals, distinct from ordinary masses, know the specific situation and begin stirring restlessly.
"Isn’t that fine? Someone willing to carry our work forward..." The middle-aged man rarely displayed a somewhat rigid smile, raising his brows at the young man.
The young man first stared blankly, and then seemed to comprehend suddenly, his gaze also became somewhat subtle.
Two hours later.
The ships returned to port, to dock.
After the final round of formalities, the group of university students were regrettably informed that it’s all over, they could return... It’s difficult to describe their feelings at that moment, like a heavy pressure suddenly lifted off, yet like waking from a dream feeling utterly disheartened.
