Cecilia Gu walked ahead and asked Rona Muir in a low voice, "Can you tell which boat the hostages are on?"
Rona Muir shook her head. "Our job is just to buy time. As long as we keep them trapped here, that's enough! Even fate is helping us, so we can't rush things."
To avoid being overheard, Rona Muir spoke in dialect.
There are so many dialects in China!
You might understand Mandarin, but not necessarily the local dialect!
Sometimes, a single place can have several dialects!
If you can understand Mandarin, let's see if you can handle the dialect!
Cecilia Gu frowned and said, "So we really have no other way?"
Rona Muir glanced at the sky. The weather was still perfectly clear, and the starry night was breathtaking.
Who would have guessed that, in twenty-four hours, a storm would hit this place?
"Maybe this storm will be the turning point," Rona Muir continued. "To keep everyone safe, Cici, look after both kids."
Cecilia Gu nodded. "I understand."
Everyone boarded the speedboats one by one, slowly heading toward the shore.
Ethan Yin and Miles Gu took another speedboat ashore. By the time Cecilia Gu arrived, those two little troublemakers had already set up plenty of obstacles and traps at their chosen campsite.
Captain Hans’s men set up camp about three miles away from Cecilia and the others.
To be honest, neither side trusts the other.
Even with the coming storm and heavy rain, everyone has enough supplies, so there’s no need for any so-called mutual aid.
Honestly, it’s good enough if nobody tries to make things worse—forget about helping each other!
Charles Yin and Earl Field brought a team of technical experts. In just an hour, as most of the supplies were moved off the boats, a huge tent was already set up.
Deep drainage ditches were dug all around the tent, channeling all the rainwater from the storm straight into the sea.
The tent was pressed low to the ground, with solid steel bars anchoring it in eight directions deep into the rock beneath the soil—strong enough to withstand a level ten gale.
All the surrounding trees were cut down to clear enough open space.
If the wind uprooted any trees, at least none would crash down onto the tent.
Cecilia Gu entered the tent, where several lamps hung from the ceiling. A high-powered generator ran a few small machines, quickly drilling holes.
Since their campsite was on a slope, the hole faced directly into the hillside.
The machines sent rocks flying, and the fresh smell of earth quickly filled the space.
"It's really the calm before the storm," Cecilia Gu murmured, gazing at the brilliant starry sky. Someone had already set up a temporary resting spot for them.
Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir lay down together, while the two little rascals were still outside setting traps everywhere.
Charles Yin, Earl Field, and Jiro Hirayama, all men of high status, were still busy helping everyone prepare for the storm.
After all, organizing all this isn’t something just anyone can handle.
Rona Muir spoke up, "I'm afraid it's not peaceful at all. Guess what Captain Hans and his crew are doing right now? Do you think they aren't on guard against us at all?"
Cecilia Gu was startled, her mind racing. She quickly replied, "You mean the hostages are mixed in with their bodyguards and brought onto this island?"
Rona Muir rested her hands behind her head and said, "Hans is a sly man, known as the Sea Fox. Cici, think about it—a fox is naturally suspicious and unpredictable, and he's also brutal. Would someone like him leave his most important things somewhere out of reach?"
Cecilia Gu's eyes flashed. She whispered, "Right, when we tested his limits, he reacted fast and immediately brought up his past. That means he isn't as fearless as he seems. Actually, he's afraid of a fight to the bitter end. So, what's Hans's real weakness? The hostages? Or something else? Is there something on his boat he doesn't want anyone to see?"
Rona Muir shook her head. "No way to guess! But I have a feeling—even if the hostages aren't on this island, they can't be far. Look, there are three small islands nearby, all full of people. The closest one to Hans's camp is occupied by his men. The other two are ours, but if a fight breaks out, only the people on the island nearest Hans can reinforce quickly."
Cecilia Gu studied the situation and realized Rona was right.
"Do you think he suspects we're already getting ready?" Cecilia Gu couldn't help but ask.
"Who knows?" Rona Muir rolled over. "Get some sleep. We have to wake up early for the next shift."
Cecilia Gu responded softly, forcing herself to fall asleep quickly.
But with so much on her mind, sleep just wouldn't come.
Rona Muir reached out to Cecilia Gu, a bright pill resting in her palm.
"I knew you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, so I got a sleeping pill from Jiro Hirayama," Rona Muir said with a smile. "I took one too. Rest well—the real fight starts tomorrow night."
Cecilia Gu trusted Rona Muir, so she took the pill and swallowed it without a word.
Jiro Hirayama's medicine worked wonders. In no time, Cecilia Gu felt her mind grow foggy, her eyelids heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.
The sea breeze was gentle, and the forest echoed with the sound of waves.
If it weren't for the looming storm tomorrow evening, this would be the perfect spot for camping and a picnic.
By the middle of the night, the medicine wore off, and Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir woke up almost at the same time.
She checked her watch. It was already 2 a.m.
"How did we sleep so long? Weren't we supposed to switch shifts at midnight?" Cecilia Gu yawned as she got up.
Rona Muir quickly tossed her a set of outdoor gear.
Outdoor gear keeps out sweat, moisture, and rain—perfect for wilderness wear.
The two quickly changed into their clothes and shoes, then hurried toward the tent.
Charles Yin stood with his back to them, listening as someone reported to him.
Charles Yin nodded and said, "Keep moving. This storm looks like it's really going to hit hard! The sturdier our work here, the easier things will be later."
"Yes, President," the man replied, taking the blueprints from Charles Yin and quickly leaving.
Hearing Cecilia Gu and Rona Muir approach, Charles Yin turned and looked at them, his gaze landing on Cecilia. "Why are you up so early?"
Cecilia Gu glared at him. "We agreed you'd switch out and rest at midnight!"
Charles Yin stepped forward and hugged Cecilia. "I'm a man, missing a night or two of sleep is nothing. When the storm hits, none of us will get any rest."
Cecilia Gu looked at the cave, which was already big enough to hide three hundred people, but the machines kept running, digging even more.
Cecilia Gu couldn't help asking, "Why are you still digging?"
Charles Yin cast a deep look at Hans’s camp in the distance and said quietly, "Do you really think I only brought fifty bodyguards? Hans didn’t stick to the agreement—why would I be foolish enough to follow it?"
Cecilia Gu looked at Charles in surprise. "Hans is moving people around too?"
Charles Yin nodded. "I suspect the hostages were moved here later. The speedboats haven’t stopped all night."
Cecilia Gu thought for a moment. Looks like a rescue is absolutely necessary!
"Hans doesn’t trust leaving the hostages on other islands. In the jungle, anything can happen. If my people attack, his side might not be able to hold out. Plus, those experts are all older—if gunfire scares them and their hearts give out, it’s a loss for everyone. Keeping them close is actually safest, because none of us dare risk Hans dying now. A one-thousand-ton explosion could strip all the vegetation off this island. Unless we want to die too, nobody will go after Hans lightly."
Cecilia Gu thought about it and realized he was right.
No wonder they call him the Sea Fox!
On their side, with both the elderly and children, there were even more worries.
As long as they didn’t go after Hans directly, he wouldn’t care if the other islands were attacked.
Even though Hans is a pirate, it’s impossible to believe he doesn’t have a base on land!
Cecilia’s own family did research and had to set up camp on a nameless island in Indonesia, building their lab underground.
So how could Hans not have his own base?
Thinking about it, there’s really nothing they can do to him without risking everything.
"Is there a way to rescue the hostages without killing him?" Cecilia Gu bit her lip. "Now that everyone’s on this island, it’s a rare chance!"
Charles Yin gently touched Cecilia’s forehead. "Of course I know it’s a rare chance. But first, we have to survive the storm. After that, we can battle it out!"
Cecilia Gu nodded. "You all go rest. I’ll keep watch here."
"It’s fine, just a little more and we’ll be done. Once the cave is cleared, we’ll move everything from the boat over. There’s too much and it’s complicated—you can’t handle it alone," Charles Yin said. "I’ve already moved Jiro Hirayama’s things, and he’s guarding you four. If there’s any danger, follow him! As long as he’s around, you’ll be safe."
"Why do you say that?" Cecilia Gu asked curiously. "Wouldn’t it be safer with you?"
Charles Yin chuckled. "Unless Jiro Hirayama lets you, nobody else can get close to him that easily. He’s a biochemical expert!"