Interactive Fiction: The Right Choice After Unemployment

Chapter 29 The Undetectable Shipwreck

Option 8.7 is 52.2%, option 34.8 is 4.3%, option [-] is [-]%, and option [-] is [-]%.

……

[Option [-]: Cutting off the springboard for people to get on and off the ship]

Possible problems: After that, personnel can only use lifesaving ladders to get on and off the scientific research ship
……

springboard!

Zheng Zhuo suddenly looked at the springboard.This life-saving road that just helped everyone get on the boat in time is now densely covered with those weird and ugly murlocs.Several sailors held steel pipes and hammers, desperately hitting the top of the gangplank.Some of the murlocs near the top fell due to the vibration, but more murlocs were slowly climbing up against their fallen companions.

"The gangplank must be cut off!" Zheng Zhuo poked down at the surging heads and hands along the railing of the scientific research ship, shouting, "They are climbing up soon! Captain!"

"--springboard--"

The captain gritted his teeth.After a while, he gave the order.

"Cut the fixed rope of the springboard!"

Click, click twice.The sailors opened the fixing bolts of the gangplank from left to right.The four sailors closest to the gangplank drew fire axes fastened to the inside of the hull.The steel blade swung to the hinged shackle.

Cha, cha, cha.

Sosi flew away.With the last drop of the axe, the huge springboard made a "creak..." sound, breaking all the fixed ropes.

It fell down with all the murlocs above it.A moment later, it hit the offshore sea full of reefs.

Boom, boom.

The huge impact sound radiated outwards along with the huge water splash, penetrating everyone's body.

……

After cutting the gangplank, the stress on the sailors and students was significantly reduced.Everyone got a gap, moved high-pressure water guns, and dragged barrels of oil from the transmission room.Everyone used water guns and oil alternately.Makes the hull and tether difficult to grip, slowing down monster boarding.

All members of the crew supported it with such hard work.I don't know how long it took, but the sky turned white.Those murloc creatures were no longer as active as they were at night, after sliding down from the hull and the mooring cables, they didn't climb up again.

But Zheng Zhuo knew that they were still nearby.The shadow behind the reef, the eddy near the shore, the dirty water bubble beside the hull...

They are looking at them.

No one dares to relax.Everyone held the bird-proof forks, steel pipes and hammers tightly in their hands, and stood by the side of the boat.Time passed minute by minute, and every second seemed to be slowed down several times, grinding the nerves of the crew like fine sand.

In this way, a long time passed.

The sea water submerged the reef a little bit.

The tide is rising.

……

Finally persisted until now!

"Everyone back to their posts! Set sail!"

The captain gave an order.The gas engine was ignited, the engine started, and the stern of the ship made a huge splash.

The scientific research ship blew its whistle for the first time in recent days.Slowly recede towards the sea.

Everyone didn't even have the strength to cheer.After confirming that the terrifying island had become an insignificant speck in the ocean, the ship went into automatic navigation mode.Zheng Zhuo returned to the dormitory with everyone, and fell on the bed that he hadn't seen for a long time.

……

Excessive tension and exhaustion made Zheng Zhuo sleep for 14 hours straight.When he woke up, it was pitch black again outside the window.Looking out of the porthole in the bedroom, you can only see the waves breaking under the side lights of the ship.

We escaped.

The terrifying appearance of those murlocs is still imprinted in his mind.Zheng Zhuo washed his face vigorously in the bathroom and came to the dining room.

There is a strong fishy smell in the restaurant.Zheng Zhuo wasn't sure if it was because he wasn't used to returning to the ship for too long, or because of other reasons.He barely ate something, and other people woke up during this period, and came here one after another.

After a while, everyone began to discuss the loss situation.

They left the island in considerable haste.The tents and sleeping bags of Zheng Zhuo, Chu Huairen and Professor Lin Wen were thrown on the shore, along with some dry food and pots and pans.These are negligible: nothing valuable.

In terms of scientific research, the expanded samples, image data and sampling data collected every day will be brought back to the ship for storage on the same day.This is all preserved, and it was not lost because of this accident.

I lost some of the plaster used for the extension, but there are still many on board.A few metal detectors and total stations were also lost. These things are expensive, and it is really distressing to throw them away, but fortunately there are spares on board.

The only loss that can be called "irreparable" this time is the small-equivalent crane.

We only brought one for this expedition.Along with it, there is also a small diesel generator and several kilometers of electrical wiring.

"No way, let's use some substitutes on the next island."

Professor Lin Wen said lightly.The other students also nodded.

"……Um?"

But this time, it was Chu Huairen who voiced his doubts.

"Shall we go to the next island?"

"Yes, Huairen."

Professor Lin Wen spoke calmly.

"You have also seen... such an amazing discovery. The state of the ship is not a problem, and the lost things are not necessary. We can still follow up to the end."

"But...there are murloc-like monsters...just like those painted on the murals." Chu Huairen hesitated, "Such a big thing happened..."

There was an eerie silence in the restaurant.No one took Chu Huairen's words.

Everyone just crunched and munched on the handouts of cooked saury.

"Huiren, don't you want to continue exploring?"

After a while, it was Professor Lin Wen who spoke.

Chu Huairen was obviously shaken by this question.

After hesitating for a long time, he struggled to come up with an answer.

"...Of course I would."

……

On the other side, Zheng Zhuo had already opened [Appraisal].

While watching Chu Huairen talking with Professor Lin Wen from the corner of his eye, he confirmed everyone's situation.

Sailor, sailor, student, professor, captain...

really.

Everyone's personal interface will flicker for a while after displaying the [name], and then a frame-skipping [human] will appear.

Among them, the sailor Cao Yang and Professor Lin Wen who were unwell on the first day were the most serious.The backs of the two [names] continued to flash, and the word [human] did not appear until the end.

A few days ago, Zheng Zhuo thought that the 【Appraisal】was broken.But now it seems...

"(It's... the person is broken... right...)"

Looking at the sallow complexions of the sailors and students and the scratches on their necks, his expression became more and more gloomy.

……

None of the sailors or students raised any objections to Professor Lin Wen's proposal, and the captain had already implemented this plan.In the second half of the discussion, they produced charts and maps.

Sure enough, the ship was proceeding according to the map found in the niche.Now, they are sailing to the second island.

Zheng Zhuo has been sitting in the corner watching them.Towards the end of the discussion, consciously or unconsciously, he accosted the nearest sailor.

"I haven't been back on the boat for days. I still sleep better on the boat."

He said.

"But your complexions are not very good. I heard from the students that there have been rumors in the past few nights?"

"It's not just the sound of the wind." The sailor complained bitterly, "Even though the portholes are closed, you can always feel the dampness in the middle of the night, and sometimes, there are unknown murmurs—I really doubt someone is sleepwalking! Ah, and in the first few days, everyone woke up in the morning and found blood stains on the corners of their mouths. Hey, it must be some student who was not used to living in the cabin, and opened the door of the living area in the middle of the night—the salty sea breeze easily stained his face. Scratched! Fortunately, after talking about it a few times, there was no such thing in the following night. But the skin disease began again on the boat... Finally, I saw strange things again. It was really an uneasy voyage."

"But you still agree to continue the scientific research?"

"I don't know much about this stuff. Still, it's a big discovery, right? Of course we want to support it."

"..."

Zheng Zhuo frowned.He saw the pupils of the sailor constrict when he said this.

"Thank you for your answer."

Zheng Zhuo forced a smile.

……

The meeting is over.Everyone went back to work.

Zheng Zhuo also followed the crowd out of the restaurant.He happened to be standing behind Chu Huairen.

Chu Huairen's face was not pretty.However, it did not become sallow.No rashes or scratches on the neck either.

"(Speaking of which, Professor Lin Wen doesn't have these symptoms either...but his [identification] result is one of the worst.)"

Zheng Zhuo thought and walked out.

suddenly.

"Zheng Zhuo."

He heard Chu Huairen call out to him.

Zheng Zhuo turned his head.He saw Chu Huairen's obviously unable to let go of his expression.His face was contorted with fear and other indescribable emotions.

"...There's something wrong here."

"Ah, yes."

He looks fine.Zheng Zhuo thought.

However, among a group of problem people, the normal ones can be prone to madness.

"I...I know there's a problem...but..."

Chu Huairen's hands trembled because of the strong sense of loss.

"...but...I also...don't know why...I also feel...at the end of the map...something is calling me..."

Am I crazy too?
He asked Zheng Zhuo.

Of course Zheng Zhuo knew he was not crazy.

Or it should be said that he is the only one here who is not crazy.It is his [personality] that is calling him.his……

... curiosity.

Zheng Zhuo's face is also generally heavy.He reached out and patted Chu Huairen's shoulder.

"Relax. Falling down here is the end. Keep going. You'll be fine."

What Zheng Zhuo said was subconscious.The closer to the truth, the easier it is for Chu Huairen to leave this world.

Zheng Zhuo thought for a while, and then said to Chu Huairen.

"Find a lock in the utility room and lock the curtains from the inside to the bed frame at night when you go to sleep. And..."

"...to prepare something."

Zheng Zhuo knew that next, he would probably fall into a situation where he and Chu Huairen would solve the problem.

For this reason, he asked Chu Huairen to make some preparations first.

……

【problem】

[There is likely to be a change on board!If there is a person who can be trusted, how should he be prepared? 】

【Option [-]】

[Let him ensure clean and unopened food as much as possible]

【Option [-]】

【Let him assure as much as possible a tool that can perform simple repairs】

【Option [-]】

[Let him ensure as much lethal weapons as possible]

【Option [-]】

[Let him find a way to drop the items in Professor Lin Wen's suitcase and hide those items by himself]

【Option [-]】

【Let him wait quietly】

　After [Option 1], [Option 1], [Option [-]], [Option [-]] and [Option [-]], you can leave a message in the form of [this chapter says]. A message under [-] id counts as [-] vote.

　　票数统计截至至2022/11/16日晚20：00.
　　Finally, please recommend tickets~
　　


(End of this chapter)