Trafford's Trading Club

586: Chapter 54: The Eternal Silence (Part 1) 586: Chapter 54: The Eternal Silence (Part 1) Due to the numerous incidents during the last voyage of the Baiyu Cruise, the cruise company was ultimately forced to refund all the passengers’ travel expenses.

This was already the last day of Golden Week.

Officer Ma still seemed dazed and listless, playing Minesweeper in his office…

It seemed he hadn’t had this much free time in a while.

The matter concerning the old captain was beyond his involvement; after bringing Mu Enli back on the return voyage that day, Ali took him away that afternoon—of course, accompanied by two other men with a rather intense air of danger, presumably people of the same nature as Ali?

Basically, everyone was under a gag order.

As for the old captain, he was probably already taken to the capital by now?

“Officer Ma.” Lin Feng knocked on the door as usual and then began reporting some trivial matters.

The lazy atmosphere was like the sunlight shining on the windowsill.

Listening to it, Ma Houde yawned and suddenly remembered something, “Oh right, how’s that Flying Eagle now?”

“Still detained in the holding room,” Lin Feng said helplessly, “That guy is really tight-lipped, not saying a word.

He boarded the ship with a fake ID, and we’re still interrogating him daily.”

“You can’t deal with people like him too harshly,” Officer Ma yawned again, “Didn’t we catch a couple of thugs before the holiday?

Lock them together, keep the air conditioning as cold as possible, serve cold meals, cold tea…

Oh, and don’t give them toilet paper.”

“Un…

understood,” Lin Feng swallowed hard.

Isn’t this already considered harsh…

…

…

The capital, an old alley residence.

The old courtyard was scattered with sunlight on this rare sunny day.

Mu Enli sat in the courtyard, covered with a light blanket.

Ali brought over a cup of hot tea, placing it on the small round table beside, “You seem to be in a good mood today.

Are you getting used to living here?”

Mu Enli slowly opened his eyes, took a sip of the hot tea, and calmly said, “Compared to that one time years ago, this place is heaven.”

Ali said seriously, “Mr.

Mu, thank you for your cooperation this time.

The data you helped us verify the other day was very useful.

By comparing the data, we’ve identified those mysterious figures who tasked you back then.

And fortunately, one of them is still alive…

We already have colleagues following up.”

Mu Enli suddenly frowned, “You suspect there’s more than just one box?”

Ali calmly replied, “Investments are also dispersed to mitigate risks.

There are several ships domestically brought in from that company, so we have to be cautious.

After all, not every box will have someone like you willing to cooperate.”

Mu Enli softly acknowledged and then closed his eyes again, suddenly uttering softly, “I don’t have much time left…

I hope you all can become better as well.”

Ali frowned, somewhat puzzled by Mu Enli’s words, “Mr.

Mu, we had a doctor check you; your health is very good, so why say that?

Are you worried about threats from abroad?

Rest assured, you’re absolutely safe here.”

“Ms.

Ali, I’m a bit sleepy,” Mu Enli spoke slowly.

Before long, the sound of soft breathing was heard.

Ali watched the old man lying on the rocking chair for a while, then helped adjust his blanket, before returning inside the house.

She had a long report to finish—of course, it wasn’t just Mu Enli in the courtyard; there was another man keeping watch, though seated in a not-so-conspicuous spot.

Ali sat by the window of the room, opened the computer, able to see Mu Enli even here, although only his back.

As the autumn breeze rose, Ali instinctively rubbed her fingers, feeling a chill.

She didn’t know that at this moment, in the courtyard, this old man was slightly opening his eyes, his hands under the blanket repeatedly caressing an old pocket watch.

Mu Enli’s gaze gradually dimmed; he felt his heartbeat slowing, sometimes only faintly discerning a weak beat after a long while.

He didn’t feel any pain.

Only his vision turned blurry, and everything around seemed to melt into a white expanse, except for a solitary figure standing before him.

“You’ve finally come to take me,”

Mu Enli softly said, then lowered his head and closed his eyes.

Time disappeared here, the autumn wind returned, rustling the fallen leaves in the yard, creaking, thickening the autumn ambiance.

Ali instinctively glanced out the window, looking at the unmoved old man, then took a sip of hot tea before burying herself back into work.

The yard was so quiet that almost no sound could be heard.

Until at an unknown time, the figure of Boss Luo from the club appeared in the courtyard.

For Luo Qiu, it was time, which meant Mu Enli had to pay up.

Though the new club owner hadn’t been in the position for long, he was well-versed in these transactions, having conducted quite a few.

After extracting Mu Enli’s soul from his body, Boss Luo didn’t leave immediately, instead lifting the blanket and taking the pocket watch from Mu Enli’s hands.

Luo Qiu opened it and took a look; though old, it was exquisitely crafted.

Luo Qiu pondered for a moment, looked at Mu Enli’s now empty husk, and suddenly reached out to cut a lock of the old captain’s hair, wrapping it in a handkerchief.

The boss gave one last look at the woman working by the window, smiled slightly, then vanished from the courtyard.

…

…

At sea, Shellfish Island.

It didn’t cost much lifespan for Boss Luo to revisit this place…

In fact, the new club owner generally remained in a state of surplus, naturally unconcerned with this minor expenditure.

The coordinates were beneath a small hill with a few old trees; when Luo Qiu arrived, You Ye was already waiting there.

The maid had even tidied the entrance to the small cave.

And the maid, who always had a liking for such things, had lined up numerous candles along the cave path—even scented ones.

Luo Qiu extended his palm, and a faint white orb of light emerged from his hand.

Luo Qiu smiled at You Ye, then walked into the cave.

As Luo Qiu walked, he gazed at the orb in his hand, speaking softly, “Once a long time ago, there was a retired navy man.

After retirement, his life was not going well…”

The orb quivered slightly.

Luo Qiu’s voice continued running through the cave, calm and clear.

“Later, he got a chance to change everything.

For this navy man, this chance was simply too rare, why not take it?

He then transformed overnight, becoming a captain.”

“Yet the captain was still too naive; those who ordered him around, how could they possibly entrust him alone?

So, the monitor was sent along.”

The orb trembled violently.

“The monitor lived by the captain’s side, loyal and dutiful.

Compared to the somewhat inexperienced captain, the monitor was a real professional…

Why?

Because the monitor had been cultivated from a young age, even brainwashed.”

The orb seemed eager to burst out of his hand, but it never could.

“The captain lived each day in fear.

But his luck seemed to turn when those people, due to political reasons, faced a purge.

For the captain, it was the best news possible.

But then came the problem, how would he deal with the monitor?”

“Kill her?

That would be difficult.

But letting her go?

The captain could never rest easy.

He then found the monitor’s behavior growing erratic.

Why?”

“The monitor was also pitiable, developed since childhood, serving as a monitor became her sole purpose.

Now, with her allegiance suddenly vanished, what was her purpose?

The monitor continued her work as always, day and night, and became even more intense.”

By now, the faint white orb turned ashen grey, gradually ceasing any movement.

“The captain could no longer control the monitor’s actions; she began wandering the ship, sometimes crying out loud.

Gradually, rumors of hauntings began to spread aboard.

Helpless, the captain seized a chance and confined the monitor completely.

Yet the captain kept trying to convince her that it was over.”

“So, the captain later thought of another plan…

That was to spread rumors of treasure aboard.

He wanted the monitor to know, through this rumor, whether her allegiance target would act.

The result went just as the captain hoped…

The target remained inactive, seemingly covered up, vanished as if it never existed.”

“The monitor went mad, started babbling nonsense.

The captain dared not release her, unsure what she might say or do outside; but keeping her confined wasn’t a solution either…”

It now turned completely dark.

Luo Qiu calmly said, “Hence, the captain planned to kill her…”