Chapter 962: Chapter 955: Destruction
Inomata Naoki and Minami had absolutely no idea how much of a ripple their actions had caused in this world. They were still leisurely enjoying the two-person paradise at the seven-star hotel ticulously arranged for them by Chen Yu.
Now that the knot in their hearts had been untied, there was no awkwardness or barrier between them. Of course, neither of them harbored any romantic thoughts at this mont.
At this ti, they were simply enjoying the Maldives’ beaches, ocean, and the seafood feast the hotel presented, like a pair of good friends.
Sitting at the dining table, savoring a sumptuous and intricate seafood dinner, the sea breeze gently caressing, candlelight flickering, and a lovely companion across from him—no doubt, for a man, this was the perfect opportunity to deepen the relationship or even propose.
However, for Naoki and Minami, one of them already had a girlfriend, while the other was deceased. In their hearts, there wasn’t any intention to develop feelings at this mont, which seed to waste this beautiful evening and everything before them.
“Speaking of which, Mr. Naoki, why did you ask out today? And why did you prepare all this? If you just wanted to clarify things with , there was no need for all this, right?” Minami, slightly tipsy, her cheeks flushed, asked Naoki with a curious look.
Minami had a faint smile on her face, her eyes curved into crescents. The candlelight added a touch of allure to her presence.
Although she had no intention of developing feelings for Naoki, certain experiences she had never attempted while alive were beginning to stir in her heart.
But for Naoki, since everything had already been cleared up, he truly had no such thoughts. So he explained directly, “This hotel was actually arranged by Brother Yu. I initially planned to book a four-star hotel, have dinner with you, and then head back. I didn’t expect Brother Yu to go ahead and arrange the room.”
Hearing Naoki’s explanation, Minami’s expression subtly shifted into sothing resembling a hint of grievance. It seed she found this man a bit lacking in sensitivity.
Yet she quickly corrected her mindset, extinguishing the thoughts that shouldn’t exist, instead feeling Naoki’s actions more befitting the image of a good man.
Whether Naoki’s actions at this mont t the standard of a “good man” was a rather subjective judgnt. Perhaps, in Minami’s view, the fact that he could face her without any impure thoughts already placed him in the realm of a good man.
But if the perspective shifted to Tokairin Yuko’s point of view, then having a girlfriend yet inviting another woman to the Maldives was undoubtedly an act of betrayal, even if Naoki’s purpose was simply to clarify so unresolved matters with Minami.
Regardless, Naoki clearly had no intention of letting anything happen between himself and Minami. After finishing their dinner, they each went their separate ways.
Following a lavish candlelit seafood dinner, Minami returned to the room at the island hotel, while Naoki chose to head back to Star Sea Island.
The hotel Chen Yu booked for them was, of course, a standalone villa with a warm, comfortable king-sized bed—enough for Naoki and Minami to have a fierce ga of “friendship.” But Naoki, being soone who had a girlfriend, had no intention of engaging in anything that could cause public scrutiny or accidental transgression.
In fact, before coming, he had already agreed with the captain who brought him over to pick him up again that evening.
Although sailing at night was a bit risky and troubleso, after Naoki paid double the usual fee, the boatman was more than willing to make the trip.
In the Maldives, the entire nation is composed of small islands; transportation, apart from sea planes—which are expensive for locals—relies solely on boats.
From primitive wooden canoes to modern speedboats, various kinds of boats are the most common mode of travel for locals in the Maldives. Tourists, however, mostly use yachts.
Naoki had booked a yacht. After picking him up at the hotel pier, it began heading towards Star Sea Island.
Because of the low visibility at night, the yacht didn’t directly pass through the deep-sea area as it had earlier in the day. Instead, it navigated along a chain of islands, using their lights as guides.
Naoki didn’t mind this at all. Night was different from day; relying on island lights for navigation was perfectly normal with lower visibility.
As the yacht passed one of the islands and continued forward, Naoki suddenly noticed a reddish glow gradually erging on the horizon, growing more distinct as the yacht moved ahead.
Seeing the red-tinted night sky, Naoki, curious, asked the captain, “What’s over there? Why is it so bright?”
In the Maldives, where everything is surrounded by ocean, such brightness seed improbable unless an entire island was ablaze.
When Naoki posed the question, the captain glanced briefly and casually replied, “That’s Salvic Island. They’re burning garbage there, which is why it’s so bright.”
“Burning garbage?” Naoki repeated, feeling a strange sense of incongruity. Though he understood that even the Maldives generated waste, recalling the pristine scenery he had seen earlier during the day, he found it difficult to associate garbage incineration with such a beautiful place.
The captain, however, showed no sign of finding it strange. Perhaps for the Maldivian people, they had long grown accustod to such phenona.
He simply explained to Naoki, “Every day, the Maldives sends its waste to Salvic Island. In the past, it was buried in pits, but with increasing tourist numbers and growing piles of garbage, they started burning it instead. The fires burn around the clock; you just don’t see it during the day.”
Naoki nodded in understanding, thanked the captain for the explanation, and couldn’t help but reflect inwardly. Behind beauty, there’s always filth; even a paradise as stunning as the Maldives has its hidden blemishes.
While Naoki was lost in thought, he also noticed that the captain was steering the yacht closer toward the source of the red glow. “Are we going to pass near there?” he asked.
“Not directly past Salvic Island, but we’ll go near an adjacent island where Salvic is visible from,” the captain answered, seemingly unfazed by the effort required for night navigation. He even pulled out a cigarette and lit it with ease.
Naoki watched as the captain smoked while steering the boat, unconcerned, rely sitting by the rail and letting the ocean breeze tousle his hair.
The yacht quickly reached the neighboring island ntioned by the captain. Naoki gazed toward the flickering flas and could indeed discern a distant outline of Salvic Island, where a raging fire was consuming sothing.
Seeing this, Naoki couldn’t help but feel a mont of despair, a sense that humanity’s impact on this world might have been far too destructive.
However, as Naoki continued staring at the burning garbage on Salvic Island, he failed to notice a shadow moving below the surface, slipping silently beneath the vessel.
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