Chapter 33: Please Call Me Pirate Captain

The fuse of the anti-submarine depth charge detonated about 30 meters underwater; the explosive force of the ten-plus kilograms of explosives inside exceeded that of a 155mm howitzer shell.

The massive shockwave created a brief cavity in the seawater, then transformed into a shockwave that radiated in all directions.

The yacht was hit by the first wave of impact; the listening officer very accurately removed his headphones, then put them back on.

Compared to the active detection waves of the sonar, the ripples of the explosion were countless times more intense, and the echo was greatly amplified after hitting objects on the seabed.

The listening officer's recording actions accelerated rapidly, occasionally writing something quickly on the paper.

About ten minutes later, he put down his headphones and used a pencil and calipers to mark several directions on the coordinate chart.

Tang Yi immediately began precise searches in every direction, turning on the high-power metal detector to patrol back and forth.

"Beep—"

"Stop the ship!"

Tang Wen steered the yacht to slow down and turn, quickly stopping at the spot where the detector emitted a sharp beep.

The sailor began turning the winch to release the grappling hook, while Tang Yi said nervously:

"Commander, the warship is an extension of your mind and body; carefully feel the material at the other end through the grappling claw."

Tang Wen nodded, closed his eyes, and merged with the yacht, including the winch installed on the hull.

He could feel the grappling claw passing through bubbles stirred up by the seawater as it sank rapidly toward the seabed.

In a short while, the grappling claw landed on the soft sand and gravel of the sea floor.

"Found anything?"

Seeing Tang Wen shake his head, Tang Yi immediately said:

"Descend again, repeat ten times, do not adjust the position."

The grappling claw was lifted and dropped again and again, but it either hit rocks or sand, and even crushed a crab to death.

The metal detector's threshold was set very high; a reaction was definitely not a false alarm, so Tang Yi did not give up but instead began circling the designated point repeatedly, dropping the hook at various spots.

After a full hour and more, when the grappling claw touched a hard surface, the system finally reacted:

【Aluminum alloy detected: 2782 kg (recovery rate 92%), recover?】

【Titanium alloy (containing rhenium) detected: 502 kg (recovery rate 81%), recover?】

【Rubber detected: 15 kg (recovery rate 94%), recover?】

【...】

【Recovery successful!】

【2259 kg aluminum alloy, 406 kg titanium alloy, 14 kg rubber... and other supplies have been stored in the warehouse】

"..."

Tang Wen opened his eyes and said to Tang Yi, whose face was full of expectation:

"It's a piece of aircraft wreckage; it should still be an early jet, not sure if it's an F4 or an F86."

"..."

Hearing the material ratio, Tang Yi believed this judgment, sighed, and decisively headed toward the next suspicious direction.

An hour and more of effort yielded several tons of aluminum alloy... well, it was acceptable; at least they didn't come up empty-handed.

It was already two in the morning; sunrise would come around four on the sea, leaving them little time.

It was proven that historical resources were abundant near Pratas Island.

Since it lay at the exit below the strait, whether in wartime or peacetime, a large number of ships and aircraft routes passed through.

There were quite a few human-made objects on the seabed nearby; aircraft wreckage and shipwrecks were truly numerous.

By five in the morning, the people on the yacht had fought through the night and searched four locations; although they hadn't come up with nothing, they still hadn't found the Oak.

At this moment, the sun had completely risen above the horizon; the orange-red sunlight shining on their bodies produced no heat, only the chill brought by the water vapor.

The boat carried sweet potatoes and a stove; everyone was given two roasted sweet potatoes for breakfast.

Tang Wen already felt tired, but swallowing two and a half undercooked sweet potatoes made him feel slightly better; he shook his head and stared at the wake generated by the gasoline motor.

There were still two final directions; if the Oak was still not found, then the data before departure might have been wrong.

Tang Yi had no mind to eat; after swallowing half in a few bites, he threw the remaining sweet potato into the sea, then turned back to pore over the nautical chart.

Although the plan allowed for a whole day, he still couldn't help feeling somewhat anxious.

The entire outline of the Pratas Islands had already appeared clearly in their field of vision; 10 nautical miles was less than 20 kilometers; if the guys in the watchtower on the island just looked a few more times, the coast guard boat might already be on its way.

"Drop the hook!"

As Tang Yi's voice fell, everyone, ignoring their fatigue, immediately began working nervously again.

Tang Wen entered the bridge to control the yacht, while also vigilantly observing the surroundings.

After entering the third-person perspective, he also discovered a function similar to a telescope; from the current position, he could basically see the general shape of Pratas Island clearly.

The routine ten hook drops had just reached the halfway point when Tang Wen suddenly felt movement on the control interface.

He opened the panel map, where a flashing red dot was marked in the northwest direction.

He quickly opened the telescope and immediately saw a shadow rising and falling in the waves; a rough judgment indicated it was smaller in volume than the Y1.

【Target detected!】

【Mark as enemy target? Yes, immediately enter combat mode.】

Tang Wen could already see the searchlight on the other ship's bow, and even faintly heard the sound of the motor working at full capacity.

A mere few nautical miles away; at most ten minutes.

At this moment, everyone noticed the disturbance, but the search had just gotten into the swing of things.

Tang Yi merely glanced, then said gloomily:

"Everyone, put on face masks, raise the black flag!"

The prepared crew members promptly pulled out face-covering scarves, wrapped them around their heads, and put on straw hats, leaving only their two eyes exposed.

Two crew members carried a Type 92 heavy machine gun out of the engine room, while another climbed the bridge and tied a black flag to the bare top of the flagpole, depicting a skull on it.

—This is why the Y1 yacht had no hull number painted and no name.

Knowing in advance that they were highly likely to encounter the coast guard on the opposite shore, this boat was destined to be recovered and destroyed; to be safe, no one would show their face.

Now, there was no salvage team from the Golden Can Shipyard, only a band of audacious pirates.

As time passed, Tang Wen had clearly made out that the approaching vessel was a small white boat, with a displacement of at most a dozen tons, equipped with only a single gasoline engine.

The number PP-3563 was printed on the side of the hull.

The coast guard patrol boat was heading straight for Tang Wen and his group, showing no intention whatsoever to slow down.

After making out the style of the Y1 and its six outboard engines at the stern, the coast guard also took it for a yacht.

However, the Y1 had no hull number, and they had received no record of its passage, so they would certainly have to approach and search it.

"Sir, six engines!"

"Nonsense, a full row of them; it certainly isn't some poor water ghost's fishing boat."

"But since it hasn't been sprayed with a hull number, it's a wild boat. Sergeant Yang, observe whether they have weapons when we get close!"

"Yes!"

Inside the open bridge of boat number 3563, the two men who were conversing wore uniforms and were actually not very vigilant.

The lighthouse had spotted this yacht early in the morning; originally thinking it was another mainland fishing boat, boat 3563 had rushed over in a hurry to prepare to make an arrest.

But after seeing the yacht, they relaxed considerably; perhaps it was a gang or some Young Master out to play, though they didn't know why there was no hull number and no prior radio notification.

The Pratas Islands are near a combat zone; being caught slacking off means getting kicked by boots.

"Wait, why are they flying a black flag on their boat?"

Sergeant Yang suddenly shouted, causing the lieutenant steering the boat to look up, snatch the binoculars, take a look, and then jump up as if startled, cursing:

"Idiot, that's not a black flag; there's a skull painted on it. This is a pirate flag!"

"All hands prepare! We've encountered pirates!"