CHAPTER 692: THE HOWLING DEPTHS (III)

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The acting captain had no idea what their client’s aim was by doing this, and to be honest, he wasn’t really interested to know.

It’s already weird enough that he went out without any security measures, submerged himself in the waters, closed his eyes for a bit, and then returned with an order like this. The acting captain wasn’t a stranger to clients demanding things from him, and honestly, this was pretty tame compared to most.

He studied the path that the client wanted him to follow. Since this wasn’t his first time leading an entourage on a tour to the Howling Depths, he recognized the path enough to know that it wasn’t really that dangerous. And since this was the case, he really didn’t have any reason to deny the request. Especially since his client this time was truly a big shot, and has been an incredibly pleasant passenger so far.

And so, he adjusted their route according to the request of the client. But of course, he didn’t forget to inform the rest of the entourage’s members about this. They were a team, after all. They deserve to know this changes as much as he does because all of them carry the same burden of pleasing the client.

About an hour after they began following the route according to the client’s request, the acting captain started noticing something strange about the environment.

At first, he couldn’t put a finger on it; he just felt it gnawing at the back of his mind. But as time passed, he eventually discovered the pattern.

The route that their client requested them to follow was actually a tricky one. It consists of many sharp turns, pauses, and so on. It wasn’t really difficult for the acting captain to follow it and control the submarine according to it, but it does pose a challenge.

At first, he thought that it was weird. But the further along they followed the path, the smoother everything got.

The acting captain could swear that he had never had such a smooth and easy time controlling the submarine. It’s like the vessel had grown a sail and was being carried by the wind with how smooth it was.

There was practically no resistance, which was strange because he could have sworn that, with the constant turns and shifts he did with the vessel, they had gone against the current about a hundred times at this point. Yet not only were they fine, they’re even moving faster than before with less power needed.

This doesn’t make sense. The acting captain knows it, and the whole entourage knows it too. But none of them had the audacity to demand answers from their client. They’re smart enough to realize that whatever it is that this client discovered was a huge secret that they had no business knowing, and it would be better for them to keep their mouths shut and just obey orders.

But just as they had this unsaid agreement among them, something happened that threw them off their silence.

Hu! Hu! Hu!

Chills ran down the acting captain’s spine. The same goes for the rest of the crew. That sound wasn’t made by the strong currents or any other living creature they could sense around them.

It sounded like somebody was sobbing. The sound was carried by the waves, permeating through the entire realm. It echoed everywhere, making it impossible to pinpoint where it actually originated.

Everything would’ve been fine if that’s all there was to it, but no, it’s not that simple. The grief, agony, and pain accompanying that sound were contagious. So much so that it’s affecting the entire crew.

One must know that the crew of this little entourage weren’t some ordinary sailors, no. They were experts in their own right. The acting captain himself was an Immortal who had worked with so many people before. He had seen monsters capable of ending multiple realms. He had seen so much that it’s hard to move him at this point.

And he wasn’t the strongest in this team. The only reason why he’s in this position is because this was his work all along, and he had the richest experience amongst them.

So, for this sound to affect him and the crew was a sign that they’re not dealing with something ordinary here.

’I guess I should’ve seen this coming.’ The acting captain inwardly sighed. ’He’s a client after all; of course his interests are far more strange than ordinary people’s.’

This basically means that in his mind, their client this time wasn’t any different from the other unreasonable ones he had the misfortune of working with. Maybe his politeness earlier was just a form of mercy to prepare them for the worst.

But then, as if proving him wrong and slapping his face for his quick and discriminatory judgement, a gentle yet comforting fluctuation pulsed, originating from the client’s room.

That brief pulse was enough to flush out any influence that sobbing sound had on them. What’s even more astonishing is that the pulse didn’t disappear after passing through them once. It lingered, rippling through the walls of the submarine, making sure to stay behind and guard from the follow-up, because there will certainly be some.

And to prove that, the sobbing sound echoed once more. And this time, because of the lingering pulse of wellness protecting them, none from the crew were affected. The pulse guarded them well from that sound.

’Keep going. We’re close.’

The voice of the client echoed in their ears. It was pleasant, kind, and serene. It gave them the impression that with him around, nothing will go wrong.

Because of this, the acting captain could only obey. Who was he to deny? In fact, even if the client hasn’t protected them, he will still obey because that’s what they’re here to do.

And so, the submarine kept moving along the path Cedric made.

The sobbing sound got louder, more ominous, and stronger the further they went, making everybody realize that they were approaching it.

Somehow, their client tracked its location. They don’t know how, and they dare not ask. They could only follow.

But as luck would have it, they were protected by the client. The pulse he left behind still remained. Even though it felt faint and weak, the ominous sobbing, as well as its contagious effects, had no match for it.

Because of this, the entourage was spared from suffering. And due to the strange route they’re following, the journey was unexpectedly smooth.

And as they approached their destination, they saw a shape from a distance. And those with sharp eyes couldn’t help but mutter:

"What in the world is that?"

It wasn’t some celestial body. Whatever it was, it’s definitely large and pulsating. It’s shrouded by a whirlpool that had gaps large enough for them to see through it at some parts; even then, none of them could see through its immensity.

The acting captain also noticed that they entered some kind of a hidden space at some point. Meaning that wherever they are now isn’t somewhere that any ordinary people could reach. He had certainly not been in this place, ever, and he had brought hundreds of clients on tour around this place. So that’s saying a lot.

Boo hoo! Hoo! Hoo!

The crew swallowed nervously. They all realized it now. Whatever that thing is, it’s definitely the source of the weeping sound they’ve been hearing around for some time now. And being this close to it, the sound was definitely louder and more dangerous to their well-being.

But the echoing pulse of wellness that their client left behind held strong even with all this. The weeping sound couldn’t do anything to wear it down, so it kept the crew protected from the contagious effects of the sound.

"Park the ship here. Let’s go out for a walk."

The crew hasn’t even moved on yet, but here their client goes, urging them to move, this time with him.

While none of them were particularly thrilled to follow him out, leaving the safe confines of the ship where the sobbing couldn’t influence them, they can’t exactly deny the request.

And so, they geared up. Even the acting captain did because their client sent that message to everybody, including him.

By the time they all got out of the ship, their client was already waiting for them. He teleported outside, still with no gear, just his clothes and bare flesh enduring the pressure of the environment.

However to their surprise, it seems that they’re overgeared. Because the pressure and strong currents they were expecting weren’t here.

It’s like they’re soaking in a warm, still lake, which certainly doesn’t look like one. Everything around here behaved as if it were underwater, but they could breathe just fine in here as if they were on solid land.

’What in the world...? ’

Everybody was rightfully confused. Furthermore, the sobbing disappeared as soon as they got out, so the client didn’t even bother protecting them.

They had too many questions and no answers, and to make matters worse, their client wasn’t interested in waiting for them because he was already on the move.

And judging by the direction he’s going, they were sure that he’s approaching that giant thing.