Chapter 133: Inside the Warship

Chen Cao swung himself onto the deck of the dilapidated warship, clutching a rusted chain. He had expected Hua Fo to rush into the cabin in a frenzy for the treasure, but instead, the man was waiting for him on the deck. It appeared he had been waiting for quite some time. As soon as he saw Chen Cao, a broad smile spread across his face. "You’ve finally made it up, partner. Let’s head inside!"

"Wait!" Chen Cao frowned, stopping him. "What kind of game are you playing?" He noticed that Hua Fo’s attitude had shifted significantly, becoming more hypocritical and untrustworthy. Logically, since Hua Fo held the advantage on this abandoned ship, he had no reason—and no real possibility—to curry favor. Such behavior could only mean one thing: he had an ulterior motive.

Hua Fo kept his smile fixed. "Treasure hunting, of course!"

Chen Cao retorted, "That excuse sounds rather hollow. Can you come up with a better one? Do you take me for a three-year-old?"

Hua Fo’s expression gradually darkened as he looked at Chen Cao. "I need an assistant. I know what is on this ship."

As they spoke, Stanny and the others climbed onto the deck, which proved less difficult than expected. Stanny, seeing the two men in a standoff and gazing toward the vast cabin beyond the deck, exclaimed in genuine awe, "Wow! I never imagined there were ships this huge in the world!"

Lu Tianming, having finally helped Karissa pull his wife up, heard Stanny’s exclamation. Thinking of the temporary shelter from the elements, he teased, "This is just an ordinary warship. The world has long since had motherships capable of carrying vessels like this one!"

Stanny was skeptical. "Nonsense. This is already the biggest thing imaginable. Where could you find a ship larger than this? How many people would it take just to feed the crew?"

Hua Fo, perhaps to divert Chen Cao’s attention, smiled at Stanny for once. "You think your Odelu holy war leaders have that much money? Follow us, and you'll get to see a different world soon enough!"

Stanny glared at Hua Fo and muttered, "I’m not following you. I just need to get a few gemstones to take to Mainz and ransom my wife, and that’s it."

Chen Cao watched the group as they arrived, listening silently to the exchange. Now that they were on the ship, even if he couldn't force Hua Fo to reveal the secrets he was hiding, he was determined not to become a pawn in his game. He tightened his grip on his rifle, looked at the darkening sky, and said to the group, "I think everyone is exhausted after the day’s ordeal. Let’s rest here on the deck for now."

Stanny, still caught up in the thrill of potential riches, asked, "Boss, why aren't we going inside..." Before he could finish, Chen Cao silenced him with a sharp, stern glare.

After glaring at Stanny, Chen Cao ignored the rest of the group and Hua Fo alike. He walked across the deck, leaned against the cabin wall, and sat down with his rifle in his arms.

In truth, the courage Chen Cao had shown over the past few days, along with his efforts to save others in danger, had made him the benchmark for the group. Even though they were cold and hungry, no one complained. Seeing Chen Cao resting against the cabin wall, they followed suit and sat down nearby.

Hua Fo shook his head in frustration. He knew Chen Cao was highly guarded and difficult to persuade. He realized he would have to prove himself through action to win Chen Cao’s trust. With that in mind, he clutched his submachine gun and walked slowly toward the cabin. As he passed Chen Cao, he leaned in and whispered, "Don’t you want to know what’s actually inside?"

Chen Cao opened his eyes halfway and looked at him calmly. "You already said it—there’s treasure. But I’m not interested in it. I came here for my own reasons, and the small box of gems you gave me is more than enough. So, Mr. Hua Fo, other than our agreement to break out together, don’t expect me to lift a finger for your treasure."

Hua Fo gave a cold laugh. "Is that so, Chen? It seems you’ve gotten what you wanted, but others haven't!" He glanced toward Stanny, who was waiting expectantly nearby. Indeed, no one ever complains about having too much money.

Chen Cao replied flatly, "He and I are in an employer-employee relationship. He came here for the same purpose as I did, so I have no right to interfere with him. Please, go ahead."

"Hmph." Hua Fo didn't respond further and walked straight into the rear of the cabin.

Stanny watched Hua Fo’s figure disappear into the corridor, then looked at Chen Cao, who had closed his eyes again. He shifted uncomfortably but ultimately stayed put.

Watching Hua Fo walk into the cabin without fear, Wu Ji crept up to Chen Cao’s ear. "Sir, we must leave here quickly. This is the sacred ground where the God of the Jungle dwells, protected by a divine beast. Staying here without being summoned will bring down punishment!"

"A divine beast?" Chen Cao looked at Wu Ji and couldn't help but chuckle. Having seen much of the world, he viewed such beasts as mere biological entities. However, he didn't want to shatter Wu Ji’s faith. "Wu Ji, don't you realize we are lost? Do you think we can just swim out of here? The only reliable person right now is Hua Fo. Don't you understand? We can only leave once he gets what he’s looking for!"

Before Chen Cao could finish, a roar of rage erupted from deep within the cabin: "Damn it! Damn it! Where is the box? Where are the gems... Ah!..."

Hearing Hua Fo’s scream, Wu Ji swallowed his words. The others held their breath. Stanny felt relieved that he had stood his ground and hadn't followed Hua Fo inside. Lu Tianming, who only wanted to return to civilization, felt that after his ordeal with the indigenous people, nothing was more precious than the freedom he had regained with his wife.

Chen Cao stood up, pulled out his pistol, and handed it to Stanny. "I’m going in to check. Remember, no matter what happens, stay alert!"