Chapter 237: A Small Experiment Before Communicating with the Living Yama

Chapter 237: Chapter 237: A Small Experiment Before Communicating with the Living Yama

Hearing Liang He mention Chief Ao Ke, Huo An guessed she likely had something to confirm with him. He suggested President Lucas contact Deputy Governor Goring to have the man brought over.

"Alright, I’ll have them come over right away," President Lucas agreed. He was incredibly fast at summoning people. Before long, Deputy Governor Goring arrived at the lounge with Ao Ke in tow, bringing along the freshly prepared brunch for Lanton.

"Liang He, you were looking for me?" Ao Ke asked, making a beeline for her the moment he walked through the door. He was probably the most anxious to save the missing people out of everyone present. As soon as he heard Liang He was looking for him, he immediately dropped his work and rushed over.

"Yes, there are indeed a few things I’d like to ask you, but it’ll have to wait a moment."

Nothing was more important in the world—as a breeder, feeding her fluffy charges was Liang He’s top priority. She first got Lanton settled with his meal before sitting back down and turning her attention to the impatient Ao Ke.

"Ao Ke, based on your line of work, you should be the person here most familiar with these waters, right?" Liang He asked.

Logically, the most knowledgeable person should have been the Guard Team captain in charge of the G Sea Area. However, since he was currently missing, they couldn’t exactly ask him for information. Deputy Governor Goring was mostly responsible for coordination—effectively an office-bound leader—so his familiarity with the sea couldn’t compare to Ao Ke’s.

"Yes. Furthermore, I specifically went and thoroughly familiarized myself with the G Sea Area’s situation for this rescue mission," Ao Ke replied. On this point, he was truly worthy of the title.

"Good. Mainly, I want to ask what kind of marine life frequents this sea area?"

Since the Mysterious Sea Area was located within the G Sea Area, it would naturally be most reliable to seek help from the "local" animals. Liang He might even be able to gather some direct information from them, which would greatly benefit their subsequent investigation and rescue efforts.

"If you’re talking about the most common appearances, aside from the regular sea fish, it would be killer whales," Ao Ke answered. One could even say that the G Sea Area was originally the territory of killer whales.

"That’s quite promising." Liang He was actually rather interested in killer whales.

Back on Blue Star, fishing boats would sometimes use light to gather microorganisms and attract fish. However, if they were unlucky enough to run into mischievous dolphins, they would end up returning empty-handed. In such situations, if there were killer whales nearby, they would help drive the dolphins away. Then, after the crew finished fishing and turned off the lights, the killer whales would charge directly into the school of fish to enjoy a sumptuous feast.

"When I was on Blue Star, I heard many stories of killer whales cooperating with humans to fish. Their intelligence is very high," she added. This tacit cooperation made the interactions between killer whales and humans surprisingly harmonious, and incidents of killer whales hurting people were exceedingly rare—provided, of course, that humans hadn’t harmed them first.

"...Ahem. Liang He, I feel the need to remind you that the killer whales here might not be as easy to get along with as you imagine," Ao Ke warned. Based on his past experiences, the killer whales’ title as the Living Yama was certainly not an undeserved reputation.

"It’s fine. We have to try everything. If it doesn’t work, we’ll just look for other animals," she replied calmly.

Deputy Governor Goring shot Ao Ke a mild glance, silently warning him to watch his words so he wouldn’t scare off the reinforcements they had worked so hard to invite.

Compared to Goring, Ao Ke’s thoughts were actually much simpler. He had genuinely taken Huo An’s words from the previous night to heart. When he returned to his room later, he had specifically searched for news reports related to Liang He. Naturally, he understood why Huo An placed such immense importance on her safety.

"Liang He, my team and I are incredibly grateful that you came to help, but we don’t want anyone else to pay with their life for this." Ao Ke and his team were stepping up out of camaraderie, while Leila and her squad acted out of duty as the Federation Army. Liang He was the sole exception. She had absolutely no responsibility or obligation to risk her own life on a dangerous attempt.

"I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll act within my limits." Liang He wasn’t a fan of playing the lone hero. She knew her own capabilities very well and would never push herself beyond them, much less joke around with her own life.

"Then what do you plan to do next?" Leila asked. Having stayed silent until now, the Federal Colonel looked at Liang He with deep appreciation and full approval upon hearing her answer. Compared to a terrifying enemy, she was much more afraid of encountering an incompetent teammate with no self-awareness.

"I need a boat so I can go speak with the killer whales alone."

Since Ao Ke mentioned that the killer whales here were different from her expectations and might not communicate amicably, it was best for her to act alone to avoid unnecessary trouble. If the killer whales saw the sea ship or too many people and refused to approach, things would get complicated.

"No, that’s too dangerous!" Ao Ke was the first to object. In truth, Lick also felt that Liang He’s proposal was far too risky, but he didn’t dare utter a peep under President Lucas’s imposing presence.

"It won’t be. You’ve all forgotten that I have Lanton." The combat power of the Canglan Hunting Eagle couldn’t be underestimated, even out on the sea. "If worst comes to worst, I’ll just have Lanton grab me and fly back."

It wouldn’t be the first time she had been carried through the air by him, anyway.

"That... actually, that might work?" Everyone fell silent upon hearing her reasoning.

It was true. They had been evaluating the consequences using their own conventional mindset, forgetting the one crucial aspect that made Liang He different from ordinary people. She could command Beastmen in their Evolutionary Stage. The very presence of the Canglan Hunting Eagle was her strongest backing.

"That does sound feasible, but we need to conduct a test first," Leila stated, her style as a Federal Colonel leaning toward caution.

Everyone nodded in agreement, feeling it was better to play it safe.

"Alright, then I’ll have Lanton carry me for a lap later?" Sensing the importance everyone attached to her safety, Liang He didn’t want to disregard their good intentions and could only agree.

"No, for a better simulation, I will have you board the boat alone. Then, divers will pretend to be killer whales and attack the vessel. You just need to have Lanton pull you to safety," Ao Ke explained, having already formulated the exact procedure after Leila suggested the test.

Everyone thought his plan sounded quite solid. Even Huo An nodded in approval.

"Alright, we’ll do as Ao Ke suggested," President Lucas concluded, finalizing the plan.

Once Lanton finished his grand feast of sea fish, they began their preparations.

"AWOO!"

Left with no place to use his skills, Cedriel was currently sticking close to Liang He, acting like a spoiled child. He was already beginning to regret that he wasn’t an Ocean Beastman, or at least a Flying Beastman like Lanton.

"Alright, I know you want to help me too, Cedriel, but let’s give Lanton the spotlight this time, okay?" Liang He gently comforted the slightly crestfallen Mojin King Tiger.

Glancing at the crew members beside her who were already suited up in diving gear and ready to enter the water, she reminded Huo An to help keep an eye on Cedriel before boarding a small boat alone.

"Lanton, it’s all up to you now!" she called out.

"SCREECH!"

Seeing Liang He seated securely in the small boat, the Canglan Hunting Eagle rode the wind into the sky. His sharp falcon eyes locked fiercely onto the area below, awaiting her single command.