82: Chapter 82 The Ferry to Hell

The following evening, in the outskirts of Jinghai City.

A black lexus drove along the desolate coastal highway and finally stopped at an abandoned private pier.

Old Chen turned off the engine but did not get out of the car; he simply observed the only boat docked at the pier through the rearview mirror.

It was a medium-sized fishing boat with a rusted hull.

The deck was piled high with tattered fishing nets and miscellaneous debris, rising and falling with the grey waves.

The hull was rotting; it didn't look like it would last much longer.

The back door opened.

Jiang Feng bent down and stepped out.

A gust of sea breeze carrying moisture blew past, causing his stomach to churn and his face to turn even paler.

"Damn it."

Looking at that dilapidated boat, he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

"Is this really the standard of hospitality for a trap? They could at least have sent a speedboat to pick us up. This piece of junk—it won't sink halfway there, will it?"

Zhao Yi followed closely behind, stepping out of the car.

He had changed into black casual wear, his muscles straining against the jacket.

He glanced at the fishing boat, and his brows furrowed.

"Old Chen, just wait here," Jiang Feng said, turning to Old Chen in the driver's seat.

"If we don't come back..."

"Boss," Old Chen interrupted him.

"I will wait."

A man's promise requires no superfluous words.

Jiang Feng nodded, said nothing more, and walked toward the fishing boat.

Zhao Yi followed half a step behind him, his hand subconsciously resting on his lower back, where his sidearm was holstered.

Just as the two stepped onto the wobbly wooden pier, a man emerged from the fishing boat's cabin.

The man was tall and sturdy, wearing a tank top, his exposed arms covered in tattoos.

Most striking was the scar on his face, extending from his brow bone down to the corner of his mouth, like a centipede crawling across his face.

He said nothing, simply beckoning to Jiang Feng and Zhao Yi.

The two stepped onto the deck.

The scar-faced man walked up to Zhao Yi, extended his hand, and made a "please" gesture.

Zhao Yi's expression darkened.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Frisking," the scar-faced man said, his voice raspy and harsh.

Zhao Yi's temper flared instantly.

"We are here to negotiate, not to..."

Jiang Feng raised his hand and pressed down on Zhao Yi's shoulder.

He stepped forward, blocking the space between Zhao Yi and the scar-faced man, and spread his arms, a devil-may-care smile on his face.

"Big brother, don't be so serious."

"Safety first. I understand the rules."

The scar-faced man glanced at him without a word and began to frisk him with extremely professional technique.

From top to bottom, inside and out.

The mobile phone and wallet in his pockets, the watch on his wrist, even the metal buckle of his belt.

Anything containing metal or electronic components was unceremoniously taken off and tossed into a black plastic crate nearby.

Jiang Feng cooperated throughout the process, even actively lifting his feet to make it easier for the other party to check the soles of his shoes.

"Big brother, I'm just a fortune teller; the most valuable thing on me is this mouth of mine."

He said with a grin.

"You can't exactly seal it shut, can you?"

After searching Jiang Feng and confirming he had nothing else on him, the scar-faced man turned back to Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi's face was livid.

He stared intensely at the scar-faced man, then finally gritted his teeth, unholstered his sidearm, and tossed it along with the magazine into the plastic crate.

The scar-faced man picked up the gun, skillfully unloaded it, checked it, and then separated the gun and the magazine, placing them into another sealed metal box.

His movements caused Zhao Yi's pupils to constrict.

This wasn't some ordinary thug; this was an expert with firearms.

After confiscating all their personal items, the scar-faced man spoke coldly.

"On Mr. K's boat, there is no need for unnecessary signals."

With that, he kicked the plastic crate filled with mobile phones and watches into the sea.

The black plastic crate struggled on the surface of the water for a few moments before being swallowed by a wave, disappearing without a trace.

"Tsk, that watch of mine was quite expensive. Do you offer reimbursement?" Jiang Feng asked, sounding incredulous.

The scar-faced man: "...I will help you apply for it."

No one noticed that Zhao Yi's fists were clenched tight.

That single kick had completely cut off all possibilities for them to contact the outside world and send their coordinates.

"Let's go."

The scar-faced man turned around and walked into the cabin.

Jiang Feng patted Zhao Yi on the back and followed.

The cabin was very dark, with only a dim yellow light bulb swaying overhead.

The diesel engine roared, the entire boat shook violently, and it slowly pulled away from the pier.

Jiang Feng found a corner to sit down, leaned against the hull, and closed his eyes.

His stomach was churning violently; his seasickness had flared up again.

Zhao Yi stood motionless at the cabin entrance.

His gaze passed through the narrow cabin door, staring fixedly in the direction of the shore.

On the shore, that black lexus was still parked in the same spot, its headlights on, watching them depart.

The fishing boat's speed increased, and the city lights on the horizon gradually turned into a blurry halo, finally disappearing completely.

Everything around them was plunged into endless darkness.

This sense of isolation and oppression made Zhao Yi's breathing heavy.

Time lost all meaning in such an environment.

He didn't know how much time had passed; it might have been a few hours, or perhaps longer.

Jiang Feng, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

"We're here."

Zhao Yi was stunned, following Jiang Feng's gaze toward the bow of the boat.

On the distant horizon, a patch of light appeared.

The light grew brighter and larger.

Until a colossal object revealed its silhouette from the darkness.

It was a brightly lit city on the sea.

A luxury cruise ship so massive it defied reality.

It sat quietly on the sea, its hull exuding a silent sense of oppression; just one look was enough to fill one with awe.

The luxury of the cruise ship formed an absurd visual contrast with the dilapidated fishing boat they were riding in.

Zhao Yi's breathing became rapid.

He could feel his heartbeat accelerating.

This invisible pressure was even greater than the threat posed by ten scar-faced men.

Jiang Feng, however, stood up, walked to the deck, leaned against the railing, and examined the giant ship with great interest.

"Tsk."

He clicked his tongue and complained inwardly.

"This is quite the spectacle. I wonder how the buffet is on board; I hope they have Boston lobster."

His attitude, so relaxed it was nearly nonchalant, left Zhao Yi, who was tense enough to suffocate, feeling a trace of astonishment.

The fishing boat did not approach the cruise ship's main docking area but instead circled to the side and rear, to a dimly lit corner.

As the fishing boat drew near, a hidden hatch on the cruise ship's steel hull slid open silently.

Golden light flowed out from the hatch.

An attendant in a crisp tuxedo and white gloves stood at the entrance, a flawless smile on his face, bowing slightly toward them.

"Gentlemen, Mr. K has been waiting for a long time."