The cockpit fell into a strange silence.
Just when Nelly began to question whether everything she saw before was fake, Han Lu spoke first.
"I'm sorry. My companion went missing while diving. We were worried that it was just an accident, and we couldn't convince the Self-Defense Forces to help us search for him. That's why we made up such a bizarre story, hoping to attract your attention. I asked a friend who is very good at Photoshop to forge the photos."
"That explains everything." The naval chief nodded. "Although you lied to us, as I said, for humanitarian reasons, we are still willing to help you search for him. Now, can you tell me where your companion went missing?"
"Of course." Han Lu pointed in a direction.
The patrol boat then turned around and headed in the direction she said. When they arrived, several frogmen equipped themselves with breathing equipment and dived into the water. However, they couldn't find Zhang Heng's shadow until sunset.
"It seems that we won't find anything today, but we will keep a close eye on the nearby coastline. Maybe the tide will send your companions' bodies back. By the way, how many days are you going to stay on the island?" Han Lu and Nelly asked.
"I will stay until my visa expires," Han Lu said.
"Okay, I will send someone to the hotel to inform you as soon as I get any news," the naval chief replied.
After that, the patrol boat sent both Han Lu and Nelly back to the island.
Nelly looked at Han Lu. There were a lot of questions that she wanted to ask, but she didn't know where to start. She hoped that Han Lu could take the initiative to explain to her what she said on the boat.
The Self-Defense Forces were the best chance to find Zhang Heng, but in the end, Han Lu just pointed to a random place and wasted the opportunity. About the photos, Nellie finally realized what was going on. If everything she saw before was just an illusion, how could she explain the photos on the wall?
Now that these photos fell into the hands of the Self-Defense Forces, Nelly suddenly realized that the only thing that could prove that she was not lying was gone.
She somewhat understood why Han Lu cared so much about those photos before. However, Han Lu never mentioned it again after that, which also puzzled Nellie.
Nellie hoped that Han Lu could explain these problems to her, but the latter just said to her, "It's getting late. I have to go back to the hotel. You should go home too. Thank you for your help today."
Nellie was stunned when she heard this. "That's it? What are your plans after this?"
"As I said, I will stay here for a while and wait for any news," Han Lu said.
"Then … I wish you good luck. If you need any help, you can come to me. You know where to find me." Nelly said. In the end, she did not ask the question in her heart. She went home worriedly.
Han Lu turned around and walked back to the hotel.
After returning to her room and closing the door, Han Lu immediately took out her phone and found Shen Xixi's contact information in her address book.
She and Shen Xixi were introduced by Zhang Heng during the Dreamland of Death incident. She was also the only person that Han Lu could contact who knew about the dark world. As for Meinan, although Han Lu had spent a few days with her, she did not leave any contact information.
So now, Han Lu could only count on Shen Xixi.
Fortunately, the phone did not ring for long before it was picked up. Shen Xixi's voice came from the other end. "Hello?"
Han Lu closed the curtains, walked into the bathroom next door, and turned on the faucet. She tried her best to make sure that no one else could hear her voice. After that, she told Shen Xixi everything that happened on the island.
Shen Xixi, on the other hand, quietly listened to Han Lu without interrupting.
However, Han Lu could clearly feel that Shen Xixi's breathing had become rapid. The latter seemed to be adjusting her emotions. After a while, she said, "It seems that you did encounter a supernatural event, and your suspicion is not unreasonable. The Self-Defense Forces on the island are probably in cahoots with those monsters. I suggest you take the flight tomorrow morning and leave as soon as possible."
"No, I need to find Zhang Heng before I leave." Han Lu paused and added, "I don't care if he is dead or alive."
"But according to your description, you are not in a safe situation now. Let us handle this matter. If you are really worried, you can wait for news on Ishigaki Island," Shen Xixi advised.
"If you know me, you know that I am never a passive person who waits for news," Han Lu said. "My life creed is to embrace risk, control risk, and reap the benefits from the risk. I will wait for you here. You still need me to lead the way to the underwater palace."
Shen Xixi knew that Han Lu was telling the truth, and she could only agree. "In that case, at least ensure your own safety before we arrive. Don't contact the Self-Defense Forces again. Well, the rest of the people on the island better be careful," Shen Xixi said. "We will be there as soon as possible."
…
After hanging up the phone, Han Lu sat by the bathtub in a daze.
She had done everything she could, but she still couldn't accept the reality that Zhang Heng was dead. Looking at the water flowing from the faucet, Han Lu's mind was filled with the scene of the three of them jumping out of the water, Zhang Heng throwing her and Nelly onto the reef, and then being dragged into the water by those monsters.
After some time, Han Lu suddenly heard a few knocks on the door.
"Who is it?" Han Lu turned off the faucet, got up, walked out of the bathroom, and looked out through the peephole.
However, the other side of the peephole was dark, and she couldn't see anything. After that, Han Lu opened the door again. The corridor outside was still lit, but no one was there.
At the same time, she also noticed that someone had stuck a band-aid on the peephole on the outside of her door. She had no idea who was playing a prank on her.
This made Han Lu a little nervous.
Although Han Lu told Shen Xixi on the phone that she would stay on the island until Zhang Heng was found, she was indeed alone until Shen Xixi and her people arrived. Not only did she have to face the monsters at the bottom of the sea, but she also had to deal with the Self-Defense Forces with a weird attitude.
Han Lu didn't know who else on the island she could trust.
This was also why she didn't even want to explain to Nelly.
Han Lu only stayed in the corridor for less than half a minute, tore off the band-aid on the peephole, and returned to the room.
This time, not only did she close the door, but she also bolted it.
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