18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 435

Jasper was still reeling from Blue Blue's astonishing behavior. "Maybe," he muttered, half to himself.

Blue Blue, the Queen of the Ocean, knew these waters like the back of her fluke. Blue whales were not just massive; they were brilliant too, with memories that rivaled the best of us. And this one? She could hold a grudge like no other. The scars she bore were likely from a solo showdown with some thugs.

She wasn't just after revenge for her calf; she remembered the exact aircraft that had attacked her. That's why she rammed it to smithereens. Capturing a blue whale wasn't something a couple of scrawny boats could pull off.

So, Blue Blue's vengeance quest had only just begun.

True to form, as the submarine tailed her, Blue Blue didn't glance back but moved forward at an unhurried pace.

Stella couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. "It saw us fighting those thugs yesterday. Is it coming to us today for an alliance?"

Jasper pondered. "If Blue Blue can really find their hideout, an alliance is definitely on the table."

Marine life never failed to amaze.

Sub 2688 trailed Blue Blue for hours. Stella noticed the currents shifting. Perhaps the unusual underwater terrain was causing the water to slow down. Soon, the sub's alarm system beeped, warning of the seabed getting shallower and the risk of running aground.

No wonder the current slowed; a submarine mountain was redirecting the flow.

Blue Blue surfaced to breathe, showing no desire to go further. Had they arrived?

Stella and the crew observed from the ocean floor but saw no sign of the thugs' aircraft or human activity. She activated the periscope, quietly scanning the surface. The feedback was quick, and she zoomed in on the footage of the sea.

Far in the distance, dark dots resolved into a massive cargo ship. Nearby were two fishing boats, not particularly large but ominously occupied.

The thugs, armed and covered in unsightly lumps, were crawling all over the deck. Was this their hideout, or were they hijacking another ship?

"Big sis, that's one of our ships," Rosie exclaimed, pointing at the lettering on the cargo vessel.

Stella zoomed in, confirming Rosie's observation. No wonder Blue Blue had slowed down; they had stumbled upon a crime in progress.

With the target locked, the periscope relayed the clearest image possible. The cargo ship held people with Eastern faces, all gaunt and emaciated. The thugs were herding everyone onto the deck, cursing and yelling. One person tried to negotiate but was met with violence.

Their faces twisted and grotesque, the thugs looked like demons from hell.

Jasper watched the screen, his expression growing darker. "They're our people, unarmed survivors," he said after a long pause. He was good at reading lips and could roughly understand the captives' pleas.

They must have come from an official base to have a cargo ship and so many survivors.

Stella thought of the Thai fishing boat. After the thugs caught them, the fishermen either became appetizers or pawns, used as bait to rob other ships. Their fate was sealed.

For a moment, the three of them and the dog fell silent.

The sub shook gently. Blue Blue was nudging them again.

Stella thought for a second. "How many thugs are there?"

Jasper's memory was impeccable. "From what we can see, there are 23 on the two fishing boats and the cargo ship. There might be more off-camera; I'd estimate around 50."

Just 50 thugs to hijack a cargo ship? Survival was indeed cruel.

Stella's face hardened. "How many people are on that cargo ship?"