Chapter 019 Contact

The distant island was faintly visible in the distance.

A burly figure appeared at the bow, clad in a plain work uniform that seemed tight on him. He paced the deck restlessly, glancing intermittently towards the direction of the island.

"Grigg, you're too anxious, relax a bit. This is just a routine mission,"

a woman's voice rang out.

The speaker was a middle-aged woman, who looked around 40, with glittering short blonde hair and a lean face that spoke of efficiency.

The ravages of time and hard work had left deep marks on her face, but her figure was well-maintained, indicating that she must have been a stunner in her youth.

"What if that guy runs?"

the burly man named Greg said roughly.

He had a robust build and a thick beard, which, based solely on his appearance, would make anyone think of a thug at first glance.

"Take it easy, pal."

"It's an island, where can he go without a boat?"

"Grow a pair of wings and fly away?"

Another voice chimed in, belonging to an older man in his fifties with a red face.

"The only small boat on the island was smashed to pieces in the last storm, and since then, that guy has hardly ever left the island."

"But aren't you guys mistaken?"

the old man questioned doubtfully.

"As far as I know, Kant is a good guy. He might be reclusive, but he's actually warm-hearted."

"Working on this island for so many years, he's never made a single slip-up. To say such an honest man could commit murder,"

the old man shook his head.

"I don't believe it."

"What do you know?!"

Greg said loudly, "I've been a cop for many years and have seen too many vicious criminals. Let me tell you, it's often those you think are honest who turn out to be the most despicable monsters!"

"Those guys hide in the crowd, revealing their fangs only at specific times!"

"Heh."

The old man chuckled softly.

"Give it a rest, Greg."

"I've watched you grow up. When has there ever been a psycho killer in our Baytown?"

"The last murder case dates back three years."

Greg's face turned red as he forced a retort, "The cases I've worked on have lots of records."

What followed was a back-and-forth between the two, debating Greg's embarrassing past and the town's security, each adamant in their position, resulting in a heated argument.

But just then, the blonde woman standing to the side with a look of helplessness on her face suddenly changed expression.

"Shut up!"

"Look over there!"

She pointed, and the two men arguing followed her finger.

Looking against the light, the scorching sun hit their eyes; but even so, the three of them could clearly see the charred lighthouse standing on the island.

"Full speed ahead!"

The old man jumped into the cockpit and pushed the boat to its limit.

Meanwhile, Roger took off the pendant hanging near the lighthouse. He put it around his neck, carefully rehearsing in his mind the various ways he would present himself next.

Watching the boat approach rapidly, he silently psyched himself up.

"Roger, let the performance begin!"

After much consideration, Roger decided it was best not to distort too many facts. He hadn't taken much care of his appearance in recent days, so he looked disheveled and dirty.

Summoning his emotions, Roger put on an appearance of surviving a disaster, stumbled towards the docking boat, and yelled as he ran:

"A boat! There's a boat!"

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"I'm saved, I'm finally saved!"

But just at that moment, Roger saw a burly figure on the boat suddenly pull out a gun, the dark muzzle aimed straight at his chest.

"Don't move!"

"Stay where you are!"

Roger was dumbfounded. What happened to the rescue? What about the supply ship?

What kind of twist was this?

"Put the gun down!"

"Look carefully, he's just a child!"

A sharp female voice came through.

Roger looked in the direction of the voice and saw a blonde woman leap from the ship, wading through the water at the shore and striding toward him.

There was unmistakeable concern on the beautiful woman's face, and she opened her arms to appear as non-threatening as possible.

"Listen to me, child, we mean no harm."

She turned back, pointing at the ship's logo, "As you can see, this is a supply ship. My companion is just a bit too nervous, don't worry."

As she spoke, she frantically gestured for Greg to put his gun away.

Approaching Roger slowly, "My name is Adeline, and you?"

A glint of suspicion flashed in Roger's eyes. A sense of caution suddenly rose in his heart because the woman in front of him and the man on the ship were acting strangely, not at all like the ship's crew.

Yet he still responded according to the script set in advance: "Me?"

"I only remember my name is Roger, the rest... I can't remember anything else."

While saying this, he held his head, pretending to be in pain.

"A castaway?"

Adeline quietly exhaled, then continued to ask, "Are you alone on the island?"

"What about the Meteorological Surveyor from the lighthouse?"

"You mean Kant?"

Roger's face showed panic, "He saved me, but then... then, there was a fire, a huge fire!"

"I didn't dare go near it, and I haven't seen him since!"

Squeezing out a sobbing tone in his throat, Roger swore that he was pushing his acting to the limit at this moment.

"Quick, Greg!"

Adeline waved her hands frantically, and upon her command, Greg jumped off the ship and sprinted to the shore, then raced toward the lighthouse.

Adeline's face was tender, "Don't worry, Roger, you are saved, and soon you'll be able to return to town on our ship, and I think it won't be long before you can return home to the arms of your parents."

As she spoke, a flicker of unnaturalness crossed her face, returning to normal quickly after.

Soon a grimy Greg came running back.

His face was solemn.

"Found a charred body, must be that Kant, dammit, did the guy off himself in a fire?"

Greg clenched his fists tightly. Catching a murderer and finding a murderer's body had significantly different implications both in terms of recognition and news spread.

"Hey, kid, you've been with that Kant all this time, haven't you noticed anything?"

Roger retreated a step back in fear, and Adeline stepped forward to shield him.

"Watch your tone, he's a child, not your criminal!"

Greg gave an awkward smile, "Alright, I was just too anxious. I just find it strange. Considering his behavior when he killed Nick, he doesn't seem like someone who would kill himself..."

Seeing the sharp look in Adeline's eyes, Greg seemed to understand something and closed his mouth.

Standing behind Adeline, Roger's eyes revealed a hint of sudden realization.

"What have they discovered? It seems they came to capture Kant."

Reorganizing the information in his mind, Roger pondered his next course of action.

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