The moment He Yuan heard the words “high tide,” the clues in his mind instantly connected.
That bastard Old Qian specifically chose this remote and dangerous reef forest as a rendezvous point—he definitely wasn’t here for the scenery.
Could the time marked on that microfilm be referring to the high tide?
He immediately realized: “Everyone, listen up. Old Qian isn’t trying to hide—he’s planning to escape by boat during high tide.”
Zhao Qiang and the others understood instantly.
That’s right. This reef forest is usually deserted.
But when the tide rises, the water level increases, allowing small boats that are usually stranded or hidden to slip out. Once they mix into the open sea, they’d be nearly impossible to find.
“Regiment Commander, what should we do now?” Zhao Qiang asked urgently.
He Yuan’s eyes sharpened as he quickly issued orders: “He just retrieved the item, so he can’t have gone far. He’s most likely hiding in some rat hole nearby, waiting for high tide!”
“Group One, with me—continue searching the sea caves ahead that could hide someone! Group Two, take up positions along the high points of the coastline and keep a close watch on the sea. Report any suspicious boats immediately! Group Three, search all possible boat docking areas! Move!”
The soldiers sprang into action immediately.
He Yuan, along with Zhao Qiang and a few others, treaded carefully over the slippery reefs, inspecting each of the dark caves one by one.
The roaring of the waves largely masked the sound of their footsteps.
Meanwhile, hidden in a narrow sea cave, Old Qian was nervously clutching a hard piece of flatbread, taking small bites along with some stolen salted fish.
The fish was so salty it made his throat burn, but he had no choice but to endure it.
He strained his ears, listening for any movement outside while mentally calculating the time.
If he could just hold out a little longer, until the tide rose a bit more, the person sent to retrieve him would give the signal…
Suddenly, he faintly heard footsteps and commands outside that were distinct from the sound of the waves!
Old Qian’s heart sank, and he immediately held his breath, not even daring to chew the bread in his mouth.
Had they found him? How could they be so fast?
Tensely, he shrank into the deepest part of the cave, his palms sweaty as he clutched the small key and the route map.
This was his only hope of escape.
The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by the beam of a flashlight sweeping across the cave entrance.
“Regiment Commander, this cave looks pretty deep!” It was Zhao Qiang’s voice.
Old Qian’s heart leaped into his throat!
He Yuan’s cold voice sounded from outside: “Go in and check! Be thorough!”
A beam of flashlight suddenly pierced into the cave, so bright that Old Qian could barely keep his eyes open.
In despair, he realized he could no longer hide.
Just as the soldier was about to enter the cave, Old Qian, as if making a desperate move, lunged out from the cave.
He was still clutching half a piece of hardened salted fish, looking both wretched and ridiculous.
“Don’t move! Come any closer and I’ll jump into the sea!”
Old Qian bluffed fiercely, but his eyes were filled with terror as he stared at He Yuan and the muzzles of the guns behind him.
He Yuan raised a hand, stopping the soldiers.
He looked coldly at Old Qian, as if watching a clown: “Jump into the sea? With your skills? Drowning would save us the trouble. Hand over what you’re holding.”
Trapped with his back against the cold reef, the raging waves behind him and He Yuan’s cold gun muzzle in front, Old Qian had no way out.
The muscles on his face twitched, and he suddenly let out a mad laugh.
“He Yuan! So what if you’ve won? I’ll have you know, I’ve already sent out the most critical intelligence! Catching me is useless!”
He Yuan wasn’t buying his bluff. “Still talking tough when you’re cornered! Seize him!”
“Wait!”
Old Qian suddenly raised the small key and the route map, threatening to throw them into the sea.
“If you push me, I’ll throw them in! You’ll get nothing!”
He Yuan narrowed his eyes but before he could speak, a local soldier suddenly pointed toward the sea and shouted, “Regiment Commander! A boat! There’s a small sampan heading this way!”
Upon hearing this, Old Qian’s face instantly lit up with wild joy and hope! The person picking him up had arrived!
Seizing the moment when He Yuan and the others were distracted, he abruptly turned and tried to leap into the sea, intending to swim toward it.
BANG!
A gunshot rang out, hitting the reef right beside his feet, sending stone fragments flying!
Old Qian shuddered in fear, freezing mid-action.
He Yuan, holding the gun, spoke in a voice colder than the sea: “Move again, and the next bullet won’t be aimed at the rock. Tie him up!”
Zhao Qiang and several soldiers immediately rushed forward, swiftly binding the completely limp Old Qian.
The small key and the crumpled route map fell into He Yuan’s hands.
He Yuan glanced at the small sampan, which, realizing it had been spotted, was now frantically turning to flee, and let out a cold laugh.
“Think you can escape? Notify the patrol boat to intercept it!”
He weighed the key in his hand, then nudged Old Qian, who lay collapsed on the ground like a dead dog, with his foot.
“Was this your last hope? It seems your life isn’t as valuable to your backers as you thought, huh?”
Old Qian’s face turned ashen, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.
His last hope of escape was utterly shattered.
He Yuan ordered Old Qian to be taken back and placed under strict guard, then looked at the peculiarly shaped small key, frowning slightly.
What does this key… unlock?
Old Qian risked everything to retrieve it—it couldn’t just be for the pickup route.
Could there be a bigger secret behind this?
He pocketed the key, deciding to return immediately and reunite with Ji Shuyu.
Old Qian was captured, but it seemed things were far from over.
This small key might be the key to uncovering everything.
…
He Yuan escorted the thoroughly deflated Old Qian back to the base, directly tossing him into the most heavily guarded detention cell. He posted double guards to watch him around the clock, ensuring not even a fly could get in to coordinate stories with him.
Clutching the peculiarly shaped small key, He Yuan hurried back to his office.
Ji Shuyu was indeed waiting there, her face filled with anxiety and anticipation.
“How did it go? Did you catch him?” she asked, stepping forward as soon as she saw He Yuan.
“We got him. He tried to escape during high tide, but we cornered him.”
He Yuan handed the key to Ji Shuyu, his tone slightly lighter but his brow still furrowed.
“This was confiscated from him. Take a look—what does this key unlock?”
Ji Shuyu took the key and examined it carefully.
The key was small, even smaller than a typical drawer key, made from what seemed to be a special alloy, gleaming with a cold, hard gray-white luster under the light.
On the bow of the key was an extremely faint mark, as if intentionally worn down, nearly undetectable without close inspection.
“This material… doesn’t seem like it’s for an ordinary lock.”
Her professional knowledge made her keenly aware of something unusual.
“It looks more like… a key for some precision instrument or a specially made safe. This mark…”
She moved closer to the light, straining to identify it. “It looks like a worn-down number or the letter ‘S’?”
“A specially made safe?” He Yuan pondered.
“Are there any places in the research institute or important departments on the island that use such special locks?”
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