??486: Chapter 486 Unfortunate On
486: Chapter 486 Unfortunate On
This was a giant ship, more than six hundred ters in length.
Its hull was shaped like a long ellipse, spread across ten floors, each progressively smaller in size as one went upwards.
However, the vertical distance between each floor remained consistent, and both the front and back ends featured an extendable circular deck that could double the available space on its existing base.
Worth noting was that, from the fourth floor upwards, each layer could be rotated along the central spindle, ensuring all floors could freely enjoy sunlight.
Additionally, on the left and right sides, the ship had small escort cabins intended for ergency escapes.
From a distance, the ship looked like a horizontally positioned boiled egg with a skylight, a perfect embodint of the ultimate simplicity sought in an era of technological advancent.
Xu Huo was Ran Ying’s companion.
When boarding the ship, the steward handed him a White Bracelet, whereas Ran Ying received a black one.
“What is this bracelet for?”
“It’s for distinguishing identities,” Ran Ying said, “You’re the companion I brought along without an official invitation, so yours is a White Bracelet.”
“All doors inside the ship require a bracelet to open.
The White Bracelet only restricts access to the ninth and tenth floors; otherwise, there’s no difference.”
Xu Huo glanced around and noticed that most of the people boarding as female or male companions were holding White Bracelets.
As soon as the electronic clasp closed, a series of numbers flashed across the narrow screen.
“That’s the number of the bracelet,” Ran Ying explained, “It’s used to count the number of people on board.
Let’s move forward and check out the rooms since many people have already arrived.”
They were currently on the fourth floor, which one could access any elevator to go up when all floors were closed.
Ran Ying led him to the seventh floor.
“Room 705,” Ran Ying used her bracelet to open the door, signaling him to place his onto the sensor, authorizing through her own bracelet, “Afterwards, you can enter and leave this suite using your bracelet.
There are two rooms; you can live in one by yourself if you want.”
She paused here, hooked her hand around Xu Huo’s collar, “How about taking a bath?”
Xu Huo didn’t rebuff her gesture but smiled and said, “Weren’t you about to go greet an acquaintance?”
Ran Ying’s elegant brows lightly lifted, “You n really know how to keep soone in suspense.”
“I’ll be on the ship, I won’t run off.” Xu Huo walked to the bar and poured her a glass of wine, “Care for a drink?”
Ran Ying walked over, lifted the glass with his hand, and downed the wine, then began to remove her coat as she walked toward the bathroom, “We’ll talk when I return.”
After ten minutes, Ran Ying erged from the bathroom, casually grood her short hair, put on a n’s suit, and said to Xu Huo, “I’m going out.
Don’t go wandering aimlessly if there’s nothing necessary.
There are players all over the ship, and if sothing happens, I might not be able to rush back and save you.”
“Is there any particular the for this trip?” Xu Huo asked, sitting on the sofa.
“Just the usual program,” Ran Ying replied, “It happens every year.
The upper-class society gathers together, exchanges emotions – it’s quite boring, but I can’t just not show up.
If you find it dull, you could eat sothing, watch a performance, or attend a concert.”
“I don’t appreciate highbrow stuff,” Xu Huo paused, “Are there other leisure activities?”
“Playing cards, playing billiards,” Ran Ying paused, “You can ask Duke Tal if he’s willing to take you.
Use the phone in the room to call the front desk, and they’ll transfer you.”
Before leaving, Ran Ying again reminded him not to wander around until she returned.
Xu Huo verbally agreed, but after contacting Bai Kou with the communicator, he left the room and headed to the fifth floor.
The first three floors of the ship were underwater and off-limits to non-staff, effectively making the fourth floor the first level for guests.
Every floor had dining rooms, guest rooms, and places for relaxation, but the main entertainnt facilities were concentrated on the fifth floor – theaters, concert halls, casinos, eting rooms, and expensive wines were everywhere.
Professional snack chefs were available twenty-four hours to provide desserts, each place had exquisite setups, fine decorations, and so even used special effect props, like mirrors that beautified one’s appearance, potted plants that blossod automatically when soone passed by, self-playing musical instrunts, and so on.
Even the inconspicuous corners were adorned with masterpieces by renowned artists.
However, what caught Xu Huo’s attention was the decorative pattern on the walls, which sowhat resembled a type of seaweed.
Not only the walls, but the ceilings and floors covered with carpets also had the sa pattern etched into them.
Upon closer inspection, there was a faint fishy sll.
“What is this pattern?” soone suddenly spoke beside him – a man with long blond hair, wearing a robe similar to those of Christian priests, inquiring of a passing steward.
“It’s a type of seaweed called ‘sea demon’.” The steward gestured while explaining, “If you look at just this small piece, it resembles an eye, but if you expand your view a bit, it’s like a bizarre ghost hand.”
The blond man clenched his right hand into a fist, thumb extended, tapped twice on his chest, then said, “I always hear it’s bad luck to place objects that invite disaster on a ship at sea.
Since this seaweed is so inauspicious, why cover the entire ship with its pattern?”
The steward kept his professional composure and smiled, “That, I’m not sure about.
But in the past ten years, there has never been an incident with this ship.”
The blond man’s solemn face carried a trace of amusent, “That’s just a personal observation.
If you could, please pass it along to the captain.”
“Certainly, sir,” the steward bowed and left.
Now only Xu Huo and the blond man remained in the corridor.
Xu Huo observed the man produce a book, muttering as he opened it – not for prayers or blessings, but to retrieve three silver nails, each as long as a palm, and stab them into the wall in a triangular formation.
Noticing Xu Huo’s gaze, the blond man turned and said with a smile, “Every misfortune has its ons before occurring; it seems I’m not the only one who has sensed this on.”
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow, “Are you a cultist?”
The blond man put away his book and gesticulated dismissively, “Hardly a cultist, I haven’t gone through any religious initiation or baptism; I rely follow in the steps of religion.”
“Belief makes it real.
If you hold a god in your heart, then that god exists, without needing anyone else’s acknowledgnt,” Xu Huo said.
“Well said,” the blond man ca forward to shake hands, “I’m Selin, from Zone 009.”
“Xu Zhi, Zone 011,” Xu Huo introduced himself and then asked, “Do you think there’s sothing wrong with these patterns?”
“Considering the ship is full of props and the decorative patterns could stem from those props or certain features, it’s not unusual,” Selin said.
He covered the spot where he had inserted the nails with a painting from the side, then turned to Xu Huo, “You’ll keep this a secret, right?”
“Don’t worry,” Xu Huo nodded with a smile.
Selin made a fist with his thumb touching his chest once more, nodded, and then walked past Xu Huo and away.
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