Chapter Forty-Five: The Ultimate Adventure (Part Two)

Everyone sprang into motion, and not a single person objected. There was no need for a vote, no need for prolonged discussion; the decision was accepted with startling ease. To Zhao Li, that was almost unbelievable.

Or perhaps, aside from their own lives, they simply cared nothing for anyone else’s, and that was why they could remain so calm. Only thus could such a reckless plan have been approved so swiftly.

But Zhao Li had no time for reflection. There was too much that needed doing. The logistics storehouse was thrown open, and ropes and various simple fastening tools were hastily hauled out. At the same time, James and several others had to finish modifying the single-man aircraft within a scant dozen minutes, stripping away at least some unnecessary modules.

When Zhao Li had seized control of the prison and rushed back here, he had already opened every gate and hatch along the route, so that now nothing would impede their movements.

Only at a moment of such urgent tension did Zhao Li truly realize that every one of these men possessed extraordinary skills. Even with their true energy sealed, they seemed scarcely inferior to those whose power remained unbound. The speed with which they carried those materials at a run was enough to leave him astonished.

And James’s work on the aircraft left Zhao Li utterly dumbfounded. His hands moved with incredible speed, yet without the slightest confusion, as though he himself had designed the craft and knew every part by heart. He checked the power, checked the flight status, and in less than five minutes had everything completely settled.

Only Zhao Li had been able to operate the single-man aircraft, so he had confidently let James handle it, without fearing that the man might seize the chance to flee alone.

It seemed as though the air itself carried the savage roar of raging waves. There were only ten minutes left. The sooner they could leave this cursed place, the greater their hope of survival. At such a time, there was no room for idleness; everyone was hard at work.

Though the idea had come from Zhao Li, once he had opened the passages and prepared the necessary supplies, there seemed to be little left for him to do. Since he could not help elsewhere, he simply hurried the legless Mr. Hans to the departure point.

“You can’t fasten them like that. Link the four rafts in a straight line. That gives the least resistance and the greatest stability in the water!” The moment he arrived, Mr. Hans saw several men trying to lash the four rubber rafts into a two-by-two square and immediately stopped them. Fixed that way, they would never gain any real speed.

“What else do you need me to do?” Zhao Li could not help shouting. This was the moment when his heart was most anxious, yet the steady movements of the others somehow soothed him and calmed him a little.

“Prepare more securing ropes. Everyone needs to be tied to the rafts,” Kang Hongyuan shouted back without even turning his head. Zhao Li said nothing and rushed off at once to fetch more rope.

Everyone moved with astonishing speed, a testament to human efficiency in the face of mortal danger. In less than ten minutes, the rafts had been inflated and secured, and the towing line had already been attached beneath the single-man aircraft. Those who had finished their tasks began boarding the rafts in orderly fashion and fastening themselves down.

“Sergeant, how much flight time do you have?” Kang Hongyuan was already preparing to direct their departure. Only Zhao Li could operate the aircraft, and since its flight concerned the life and death of everyone present, they could not afford carelessness.

“Less than four hours,” Zhao Li answered.

The moment the words left his mouth, even those already seated on the rafts cried out in alarm. With only four hours of flight time, the chances of carrying everyone safely to freedom seemed all but nonexistent.

Zhao Li understood his own weakness. He glanced at James, the flight expert beside him, then gritted his teeth and asked, “James, if I hand control of the aircraft over to you, can you promise you won’t abandon everyone when things turn critical?”

James looked at him expressionlessly, then replied with quiet pride, “I may be a criminal, but I have never once left my brothers behind on a battlefield.”

“Good.” Zhao Li hardened his heart. “You fly the aircraft. I’ll stay with everyone else.” As he spoke, he pulled out his military identification tag, preparing to verify his fingerprint and voiceprint.

At Zhao Li’s gesture, James, who had kept a stern face until now, seemed to reveal the faintest trace of a smile. “No need to go through all that trouble.”

Under Zhao Li’s stunned gaze, the aircraft that Simpson had sworn could be activated and controlled by Zhao Li alone began to start up under James’s hands.

Listening to the familiar whine of the engine, Zhao Li could scarcely believe what he was seeing. In only a few short minutes, after removing some modules to increase power, James had somehow gained complete control of the aircraft. Zhao Li had truly believed he alone could command it, and that had been why he had so boldly handed it over. If James had harbored any other intention at all, Zhao Li would not even have known where to begin regretting it.

“What are you staring at? Get on the raft!” James shouted, then lowered the cockpit canopy. Zhao Li started as though struck and leapt quickly aboard.

After fastening himself in place, he thought for a moment, then grabbed another rope and tied the legless Mr. Hans to himself. With a longer rope, he also linked Kang Hongyuan to his body. Of everyone here, those two were the weakest. If anything went wrong, they would not even be able to save themselves. Zhao Li’s true energy was not sealed, and he was likely the only one who could hold out for long.

Everything was ready. They checked the lashings on the rafts once more and found no problems. Only then did Kang Hongyuan signal to James that they could depart.

At once, everyone tightened their grip on whatever they could cling to and waited for James to begin.

Under the fervent gaze of all, the aircraft rose slowly into the air, then edged forward, gradually drawing the towing line taut. Flying low over the surface, it showed not the slightest sign of jolting. Zhao Li could not help but marvel inwardly: an expert pilot was an expert pilot indeed. Had it been him at the controls, that departure alone would probably have frightened everyone half to death.

The rope tightened more and more, and then they all felt a force dragging them backward. Everyone clung desperately to their handholds, lest they be flung off. If that happened, there would be nowhere to cry for help.

And at the instant the rafts and the people upon them had only just begun to gather speed, a thunderous roar of waves erupted behind them. As one, they all turned their heads.

A monstrous wave, more than a hundred meters high, like a colossal wall, was crashing savagely toward the ocean platform where they had been staying.