CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 202: SAN JOSE

A deep-sea exploration robot, resembling a mechanical spider, slid into the water along the track, adding another image to the laptop screen.

Mike placed the computer on the console, holding the device to control the robot in his hands.

The robot continued to descend, getting closer to the shipwreck-like object. When it arrived nearby, under Mike’s control, the high-pressure water gun at the front suddenly activated, instantly washing away the muddy sand and revealing a section of barnacle-covered wooden ship hull.

"It’s really a shipwreck!" Mike shouted excitedly.

Jeff and Frank also looked thrilled, as often some treasures could be salvaged from these shipwrecks.

If the treasures were valuable enough, the employer would usually also give the crew a bonus.

Although Qi Yun already knew the result, he still showed joy on his face.

As everyone was excited, the image on the screen suddenly shook violently.

In the robot’s camera, a dark shadow slowly emerged from the crack in the shipwreck, and the suction cups covered with slime looked somewhat unpleasant under the spotlight.

"Not good! It’s an octopus!" Frank had just finished speaking when the robot’s mechanical arm was suddenly entangled by the shadow, making the metal joints emit a twisting sound under heavy strain.

The octopus’s eight arms spread out as large as half a ship, with serrated edges of the suction cups as thick as fingers!

"Hurry and retrieve the robot!" Jeff shouted anxiously.

But it was already too late, as the giant octopus’s ink instantly shrouded the screen, and the camera image turned into snowflakes, losing the robot’s signal.

From another hooked camera, they could see the huge octopus directly wrapping up the robot and then returning to the crack in the shipwreck.

"That octopus treated the robot as prey..." Mike smacked his lips and said.

Jeff sighed, looking somewhat gloomy.

The robot lost just now was worth sixty thousand USD; once the company knows about this, a scolding is definitely unavoidable.

Qi Yun observed everyone’s expressions carefully, patting Jeff’s arm and asking, "Are there any more robots on the ship?"

Jeff nodded, "There are two more, but unless we drive that octopus away, any robot we send down will still be attacked by it."

"Is there any solution?" Qi Yun asked.

"We’ve never encountered an octopus this big before, as for solutions..." Jeff rubbed his chin and frowned in contemplation.

Mike and Frank also remained silent.

Just then, Ah Jiao, who had been quietly standing in the back, suddenly said, "Boss, I remember during college, my professor once mentioned that octopuses have extremely sensitive olfactory systems; the larger they are, the more sensitive. They really dislike the smell of industrial chemicals."

"Why not try spraying some preservatives or paint on the robot’s shell?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun’s eyes lit up, turning to Jeff and asking, "Captain Jeff, is it feasible?"

Jeff frowned and replied, "Sorry Mr. Qi, I’ve never heard of this saying. I’m aware of the octopus’s sensitive smell, but whether they dislike the smell of industrial chemicals..."

Qi Yun interrupted with a wave of his hand, "Do you have any other solutions?"

"Not at the moment." Jeff sighed.

"Then let’s do what she says, try it with one first; I’ll cover all losses."

Seeing Qi Yun’s determination, Jeff could only agree, nodding in response, "Alright, Mr. Qi, I’ll have someone execute it now."

With that, he grabbed the intercom nearby and gave a few instructions.

After about ten minutes, Jeff received a reply, then turned to Mike and said, "The robot is ready."

Upon hearing this, Mike pressed the button on the console again, sending another robot into the water, and video signals appeared on the screen.

This time the operation went smoothly; until the robot reached the edge of the shipwreck, the octopus did not appear again. It might indeed have been driven away by the chemical smells.

Qi Yun turned and gave a thumbs up to Ah Jiao, who responded with a gracious smile.

Jeff leaned closer to the computer, pointing to a spot on the shipwreck on the screen, saying, "Clean this place with the high-pressure water gun and see which ship it is."

Mike controlled the mechanical arm, with the high-pressure water gun spraying water to peel off the barnacles and algae layers attached to the ship’s hull.

As the water swept over a mottled bronze nameplate, everyone in front of the screen practically held their breath simultaneously.

The seaweed wrapped around the nameplate was washed away, revealing a few letters—SAN JOSÉ.

It was precisely the legendary treasure-laden "San Jose" shipwreck!