16: Caribbean sunshine

The Caribbean sunshine pierced through the porthole, casting a golden glow on Lin Feng's face.

The plane began its descent.

Outside the window, that legendary stretch of sea was as beautiful as a spilled palette, progressing in layers from light green and turquoise to a deep sapphire blue; it looked almost surreal.

Wang Dalong had long been unable to sit still, his phone clicking away as he took a frenzy of photos out the window, clicking his tongue in wonder. "My god, this water looks faker than a filter in a photo editor! Brother Feng, even if we don't find any treasure this trip, just seeing this scenery is worth the price of admission!"

Lin Feng didn't pay him any mind, simply looking down at the scattered islands below in silence, his mind already drifting toward the upcoming adventure. The [Proficiency in Minor Languages] skill in his head activated automatically; the mix of Spanish, French, and Creole in the cabin sounded as clear to him as his own local dialect. This feeling of barrier-free communication reduced his sense of alienation from this strange environment and added a few points of confidence that everything was under control.

The plane landed smoothly at Princess Juliana International Airport on Saint Martin Island.

Just as they stepped out of the airport, a heatwave mixed with the salty tang of the sea breeze and the scent of tropical flowers and fruits, accompanied by the clamor of voices, instantly surrounded the two of them.

"Let's go. First, find a place to stay, then rent a boat," Lin Feng said, his goal clear.

Wang Dalong skillfully started his livestream, aiming the camera at Lin Feng's back and the surrounding exotic environment.

"Family, family, do you see this? The Caribbean! We've arrived!" Wang Dalong's voice crackled with excitement through the microphone. "The second stop of our treasure hunt, the Pirate King arc, has officially begun! Thanks to Brother Feng for taking me abroad for a team-building trip!"

Audience members numbering in the tens of millions flooded in, and the bullet chat was like a burst dam, crazily flooding the screen.

[It's here, it's here! On the front lines of this international follow-up!]

[Holy crap, this blue sky, white clouds, and seawater make me want to quit my job immediately! Fatty, stop shaking the camera, let me look a bit longer!]

[Brother Feng is as decisive as ever, and Fatty is still like a chatterbox tour guide.]

[Expectations are maxed out! How is Brother Feng going to show off his skills this time? Waiting online, it's pretty urgent!]

Lin Feng ignored Fatty's antics and walked straight toward the airport's taxi waiting area. Using a fluent local accent mixed with English, he asked a dark-skinned driver who was chewing on sugarcane, "Hey friend, we want to go to the best hotel near the pier and then rent a good boat that can go out to the open sea. Any recommendations?"

When the driver heard that authentic accent, his professional fake smile instantly became three times warmer, showing a friendliness as if he had met a fellow countryman. He sized the two of them up, spat out the sugarcane pulp, and pointed toward an imposing white building by the distant shore. "Then you've come to the right place! See that 'Siren's Song' hotel? Most luxurious on the whole island! Their boss has connections everywhere; not only do they have their own private pier, but they also have the best fleet! They have whatever kind of boat you want! Guaranteed top-notch service!"

Lin Feng and Wang Dalong glanced at each other, the same thought popping into both their minds: This was almost a little too smooth.

"Then we'll go there," Lin Feng decided curtly.

The taxi sped along the coastline and soon arrived at the "Siren's Song" hotel. It was a typical Caribbean resort hotel with white walls, blue domes, and lush tropical plants everywhere; it indeed looked extraordinary.

However, the moment Lin Feng stepped into the hotel lobby, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

It was too quiet.

For a luxury hotel in such a prime location, especially during peak tourist season, there were almost no guests to be seen in the lobby. Only a few waiters stood around idly, without even the sound of conversation. This abnormal desolation made an indescribable eeriness permeate the air.

"Welcome, sirs." A hotel manager in a crisp uniform approached with a smile, his grin as standard as if it had been measured with a ruler.

"We'd like to stay here, and also, we want to rent a boat to go out to sea tomorrow to Snake Bone Island." Lin Feng got straight to the point, wanting to see the other's reaction.

Hearing the words "Snake Bone Island," the manager's lip twitched, but the smile on his face remained perfect. "Of course, sir. Our hotel has the most professional fleet and captains on all of Saint Martin Island. Here is our vessel directory; you can take your pick."

He handed over a tablet listing various models of yachts and exploration vessels, ranging from basic speedboats to large exploration ships equipped with sonar and deep-diving equipment.

"This one, the 'sea serpent'." Lin Feng pointed to one of the ships that looked the most well-equipped and had the largest tonnage. "Also, we need a guide who is familiar with those waters."

"No problem. We will arrange the best captain and guide for you." The manager's smile grew even more radiant. "The boat will be waiting for you at the pier tomorrow morning."

Everything was incredibly smooth.

After checking into a luxury ocean-view room, Wang Dalong couldn't hold back anymore. He excitedly rolled around on the soft king-sized bed, sinking into it completely.

"Brother Feng, this trip is going way too smoothly! This hotel service, this boat—it's like they were custom-made for us! This wave of luck is just too good!" He turned around, turned on his livestream equipment, and smiled at the camera. "See that, brothers? As long as your thinking is clear and your goals are definite, so-called treasure hunting is actually just a well-planned trip!"

"Tomorrow, we're going to Snake Bone Island to see what surprises that legendary pirate captain, William Kidd, left for us!"

His tone was relaxed, as if it really were just an ordinary travel livestream. The livestream room was a scene of jubilation; everyone was immersed in the excitement of the upcoming adventure, looking forward to Lin Feng performing another miracle of puzzle-solving.

[Brother Feng is awesome! This execution is just perfect!]

[Is this a top-tier treasure hunter? Smooth sailing the whole way without any obstacles!]

[Waiting for the boat to set sail tomorrow! I can't wait to see the pirate treasure!]

No one knew that above the clouds over their heads, a military-grade reconnaissance satellite was transmitting everything from the hotel and the pier in high-definition, real-time to the other side of the ocean.

Inside the command center of the "Eternal Hand," a giant screen was divided into dozens of feeds, ranging from the hotel lobby's surveillance to a long-range view outside Lin Feng's room window, and even real-time images of the "sea serpent" at the pier—nothing was missed.

Osiris sat in the commander's chair, gently swirling the red wine glass in his hand, the crimson liquid shimmering under the lights. He looked at Lin Feng's calm face on the screen, a playful arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Very good, the fish has already swum into the fish tank we prepared for him." He raised his glass and gave a mock toast toward the screen. "Now, let's see how he performs."

A subordinate beside him bowed and reported, "Commander, all equipment on the 'sea serpent' has been activated. The captain, guide, and crew are all our people, and the arrangements on the island are all in place. As long as he boards the ship, he will never escape our control again."

Osiris took a small sip of the red wine, his gaze playful.

"This Lin Feng is very interesting. He is like an unpolished piece of jade, with too many secrets hidden within him. What I want to see is just how much potential he can show when facing the layers of trials I've prepared for him."

Osiris's voice echoed in the empty command center, carrying the confidence of someone in total control.

The stage has been set.

The actors are in position.