Heroes Return

"Very good! Agent Gray, congratulations on successfully completing the mission." A man with a scar on his face appeared on the screen. Lin Jie recognized him, as he was a high-ranking official from the World Government's Defense Department who frequently appeared on television news: "Are you currently in Sea King Capital?"

“Yes, sir!” Gray said.

“Wait at the embassy! We'll send someone to meet you soon,” the man said. “Who is the man with you?”

“He’s Lin Jie, a newly appointed combat instructor at the World Hero Academy. He was unintentionally drawn into this incident,” Gray said. “He’s also the one who protected me and got me here safely.”

"I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you, Mr. Lin." The man said to Lin Jie, "But now that you've arrived at the Sea Clan's consulate, it means you're safe. We'll send someone to take you to the Hero Academy. However, I still hope you can sign a confidentiality agreement regarding this incident. Of course, we will also give you appropriate compensation."

“It’s alright…” Lin Jie said.

"Next, I hope to have a few words with my agent alone."

"Okay," Lin Jie said. "What is the compensation?"

"A decent hush money payment."

"Really?" Upon hearing that he would be paid, Lin Jie immediately perked up and left the room without saying another word: "You two can chat slowly."

After Lin Jie left the room, the man finally asked, "How is Agent Swain doing now?"

“He’s already been captured by the admiral,” Gray replied. “I hope I can go back and rescue him; after all, he knows a lot about us.”

“I think I already know what happened,” the man said. “We just investigated the people on the admiral’s ship, and I can authorize you to rescue them.”

"Thank you, sir!" Gray said with delight.

“But everything is based on that sensitive issue!” the man said. “If necessary, we can kill Agent Swain.”

"This……"

“This is an order! That reverse scale has considerable value. If it falls into the hands of the Salvation Army, the consequences will be unimaginable. The problems they cause will be many times greater than the deaths of a few high-society figures!” the man said.

“Understood!” Gray replied immediately.

"And that Mr. Lin Jie, if necessary, find a way to deal with him," the man said. "Remember, in everything, you must prioritize dealing with his enemies! That's an order!"

"Yes, sir!"

……

Not long after Gray and the man finished their conversation, Thomas received orders from his superiors to fully cooperate with all of Gray and Lin Jie's actions.

Meanwhile, World Government intelligence personnel within Poseidon Capital also began investigating information regarding the Future Ship.

Meanwhile, Lin Jie and Gray, who were in the waiting period, took over Mr. Thomas's computer and desk.

"That Thomas the Tank Manager looks so respectable, I never imagined he had so many movies stored on his computer!" Lin Jie said to Gray while looking at the movies on Thomas's computer, "Look at this one, it's actually a movie about sea creatures! Amazing! I'll definitely save this one."

“…Shouldn’t we be looking at strategy now, and then selecting some equipment?” Gray asked. “Are you sure we should be looking at these things now?”

……

Just as the two were talking, a crystal on the desk suddenly lit up, and the faces of Thirteen and a beautiful sea girl suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Huh? Lin Jie?" Thirteen on the other end of the communicator was clearly taken aback when he saw Lin Jie, then said, "Great! Brother's in trouble, come and save him!"

"Damn, what happened?" Lin Jie couldn't help but ask.

"We've been attacked! Come help us quickly!" Thirteen said to Lin Jie, "We're currently in the princess's quarters in the palace..."

Before Thirteen could finish speaking, the image in the crystal vanished instantly.

"What's going on? Did he get caught cheating on his date with his old flame?" Lin Jie asked. "By the way, where is the Sea Clan's royal palace?"

“At the highest point in the entire city,” Gray said instinctively.

"Thanks." Lin Jie said his thanks, then jumped out of the window and flew away into the distance.

"You should at least make a plan first! Are you just going to barge into the Sea Clan's palace like this? Are you out of your mind?!" Gray shouted out the window, but Lin Jie had already disappeared.

"..."

"Where is Mr. Lin Jie?" Thomas rushed in, looking flustered. "I just received news! The Sea Clan's city guard has suddenly started gathering in our direction for some unknown reason! I need to contact the government leadership immediately and get in touch with the Sea Clan's high-ranking officials!"

……

Let's turn back time a little.

Thirteen, led by a group of sea creature soldiers, arrived at a room in the new Sea King's Palace, where a sea creature girl was standing quietly.

"You may all step back," the girl said to the sea creature soldiers beside Thirteen.

After the soldiers had all left the room, the girl smiled and said to Thirteen, "We meet again, Heina."

"why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you here at this time?" Haina looked at Thirteen with some excitement: "You clearly said you couldn't be by my side, so why did you come back at this time!"

"What happened?" Thirteen asked, somewhat puzzled.

"I just made up my mind not long ago, so why are you showing up in front of me at this crucial moment?" Haina continued, seemingly out of nowhere.

"What exactly happened to you?" Thirteen looked at Haina in confusion. "Is it because of that sea creature named Karu?"

"Did you know?" Haina asked.

"I've heard some things," Thirteen said. "That's why I'm here now. You're in a dangerous situation, Haina! That guy named Karu is looking for the Dragon God's reverse scale, and he might very well launch a coup in the Sea Clan!"

"What did you say?" Hearing Thirteen's words, Haina was completely bewildered: "Impossible! I just agreed to marry him not long ago! Why would he launch a coup?"

Hearing Haina's words, Thirteen was also taken aback: "What did you say? You're actually going to marry that guy?"

“Yes,” Haina said. “This was arranged a long time ago.”

"Why did you agree to marry him? You're the only member of the royal family; no one should be able to force you," Thirteen asked anxiously. "Do you really like him?"

“No, there is absolutely no affection between us,” Haina said. “But for the future of the sea race, I must marry him.”

"What kind of bullshit is this? Demanding that a future person marry someone they don't like?" Even the usually gentle Thirteen couldn't help but change his expression at this moment.

"This is fate's arrangement, and there's no escaping it," Haina said sadly. "But I'm still very happy to see you one last time before our wedding."

"What a joke!" Thirteen said angrily, "I absolutely disagree with this kind of bullshit marriage!"

“You know absolutely nothing,” Haina said.

“But I know that no matter what the reason, it can’t be like this. The fate of no country can be easily decided by a marriage,” Thirteen said.

"Since you so vehemently oppose my destiny!" Haina glared angrily at Thirteen. "Then why didn't you take me with you when we were on the island? You were clearly saying back then that your destiny would bring disaster to others! What right do you have to deny my destiny now!"

"..." Thirteen was speechless for a moment.

At this moment, Haina hugged Thirteen again: "Even so, perhaps meeting you was fate's arrangement. At least I can see you one last time, and I am already very happy."

"What a joke!" Thirteen clenched his fist and said, "You absolutely cannot marry that Karu! He has already reached an agreement with the Dragon God. He will help the Dragon God retrieve his own reverse scale! In return, the Dragon God is willing to help him become the rightful king of the sea tribe."

"How did you know?" Haina asked, somewhat surprised.

"Because the ship I was on was the one that transported the Reverse Scale," Thirteen said to Haina.

Chapter 20

"What exactly happened?" Haina asked.

“I didn’t know you were getting married, Haina,” Thirteen confessed. “I was on a cruise ship when I was inexplicably taken to the Fantasy Sea. We encountered Karu’s men there and heard from them about Karu’s plan to help the Dragon God retrieve the Reverse Scale.”

"Then why do you say he would hurt me?" Haina asked in surprise. "Karu is the most outstanding warrior in the entire Fantasy Sea, and our child will become the next Sea King. Why would he hurt me?"

"It seems that Karu isn't content with just the title of a sea race prince," Thirteen said to Haina. "His condition for helping the Dragon God retrieve the Reverse Scale is..."

"It's about getting the Dragon God to help me become the rightful Sea King." A man's voice reached Thirteen's ears, while Heina looked at the newcomer with some surprise.

"You're Karu?" Thirteen looked at the man who had suddenly appeared at the door.

"Karu, why did you enter my room without permission!" Haina questioned him with a somewhat unfriendly expression.

"Would anyone stop me from entering my future wife's room? Those old geezers are just waiting for me to get you pregnant," Karu said with a hint of contempt. "But you, my future wife, are seen making out with another man in her room."

"Karu! My affairs are none of your business!" Heina shouted angrily.

“I can ignore your affairs! But you must hand over the Reverse Scale!” Karu looked at Thirteen: “I know that the Reverse Scale is in your hands and your sea beast hunter companion’s hands. As long as you hand over the Reverse Scale to me, you can leave here with this woman.”

"What are you planning to do? Use the Dragon God's help?" Kana asked at this moment.

"What to do? Do you even need to ask?" Karu said, "Of course, it's to use the Dragon God's army to deal with those old immortals who control large armies, and then become the true king of the sea race, instead of a puppet on the table."

"Just for this? Do you know how many of your people will die if that happens?"

“Many of our people have died in the past!” Karu said. “That’s why I want to rule the sea people again and reclaim the glory that belongs to us.”

"You want to start another war against humanity?" Haina looked at Karu in surprise. "Have you forgotten the war seven years ago? You actually want to challenge the Black Death?"

“Kana, it seems you know absolutely nothing about human intelligence,” Karu said. “The Black Death has disappeared! And disappeared for a full five years! Now is the time for us to take our revenge on humanity.”

"You're insane! Karu!"

"I'm not crazy, I'm perfectly lucid! It's you who are all lucid! Have you forgotten Prince Helen's death seven years ago? Have you forgotten the suffering humanity has brought us?" Karu shouted at Haina. "Have you forgotten that we were forced to sign some peace treaty as the defeated? You cowards who only know how to enjoy peace! Now the Black Death is gone! There's nothing that can stop our sea race's army. But you and those old idiots just know how to live this peaceful life!"

"Karu! Do you know how many lives are lost in a pointless war?" Haina didn't back down this time: "And the Black Death is only missing, but that doesn't mean he's dead! Do you know the consequences of angering the Black Death again?"

“How could it be a meaningless war? It represents honor! You have no idea how humiliating it is to lose to the weak!” Karu said. “I think about washing away this humiliation every day, and that Black Death God too. As long as I can get the Dragon God’s help this time, even if he comes back, I will defeat him as well.”

"For that meaningless glory, are you prepared to trample on countless lives once again?" Haina stared intently at Karu. "Having just experienced five years of peace, I absolutely will not allow you to plunge the country into war again. Karu, I will convene a council of elders to try you!"

"Do you think you still have a chance to leave this room?" Karu had barely finished speaking when a squad of sea creature soldiers rushed in.

"If you want to leave safely, hand over your Achilles' heel to me."

"I'd rather die than let you get away with this!" Haina said angrily.

“I’m not asking about you.” Karu said, then looked at Thirteen, who had been silent all along: “It seems you like her very much. As long as you hand over the Reverse Scale to me, I will let the two of you leave here safely, how about it?”

"Thirteen, don't give it to him!" Haina also looked at Thirteen.

Thirteen didn't speak at this moment, but seemed to be thinking about something.

“Okay, I agree, but the problem isn’t with me, it’s with my friend.” After a moment, Thirteen finally spoke: “Give me a communicator, he’s at the embassy right now.”

After hearing what Thirteen said, Karu gave a wink to the people around him, and soon several sea creatures obtained a communication crystal and contacted the embassy official's communication crystal.

Just as the call connected, Haina excitedly leaned in to try and stop Thirteen, but the next moment a face that made Thirteen cringe appeared in the crystal.

"Huh? Lin Jie..." Thirteen was completely dumbfounded when he saw that face. In fact, he thought it would be the person in charge of foreign affairs answering the phone. If that were the case, he could say some words with hidden meanings, and those people would surely be able to easily understand his current predicament.