Soul Trigger

Chapter 645 Interlude

By the time training ended, the sun had already set.

Aiguirre and Jili returned home bathed in the shimmering gold light.

Angelica, who went to Senator Clint Gary to try her luck, naturally found nothing amiss, and the sailing race will officially begin tomorrow afternoon.

Their efforts were not in vain; Clint Gary eventually agreed to add a speedboat to the race, carrying up to two members of the Knights team to help prevent the risk of losing control.

But for Ji Li, this doesn't change anything.

The rest of the time until tomorrow afternoon belongs to Ji Li. He can monitor the movements of the tomb keeper, especially the person behind him, so that he can make some preparations for the future.

Unlike Ji Li, who was contemplating and comfortably steering the ship, Aigui'er lay listlessly on the gunwale:

"...With this level of training, there's simply no way we can face the finals..."

Ji Li steered the ship with ease:
"Wasn't today going pretty smoothly?"

"Going with the flow is just the basic requirement; the real difficulty lies in judging the wind and waves. But tonight the sea is unbelievably calm, so it hasn't had much of an effect on the training..."

"You should have more confidence in your brother."

Ji Li replied casually.

Whether tomorrow's match can proceed as scheduled is still uncertain, but if the match isn't stopped due to unforeseen circumstances, he wouldn't mind winning a championship for his stepsister.

As long as he uses his spiritual energy, there are countless ways to win this sailing race, which he sees as nothing more than child's play.

Aiquier scoffed at Ji Li's answer. But after glancing at Ji Li, something felt off.

“Pulitzer, I just realized something. When did you stop wearing glasses?”

“I forgot, it must have been a long time ago.” Ji Li raised an eyebrow.

"Is it?"

Aquil felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she simply sat down against the ship's railing.

Ji Li glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable.

Although their time together that night allowed Ji Li to bring Ai Guier back from her "breakthrough," Ai Guier's gaze towards Ji Li has not been as pure as it once was since then.

Ji Li had no answer yet as to the reason for this impurity.

Perhaps the effects of the Crimson Ritual on her had become less stable after her initial "breakthrough," or it could be due to a change in her opinion of her brother, Pulitzer.

However, the former situation has not yet reached the point where Ji Li needs to resolve it immediately.

"I know you've been learning fast lately. To be honest, I find it hard to believe that even seasoned helmsmen who have been driving since elementary school can't keep up with you."

But this town-level qualifying round is different; the top performers here possess a wealth of experience, which often provides an overwhelming advantage in the ever-changing arena…

Can the arena still be as unpredictable as the battlefield? Ji Li chuckled to himself:

"You possess spiritual power, so why would you be afraid to face a group of ordinary people?"

Aquil reluctantly raised his right hand, which was wearing the red glove:
"This glove only adds strength to my hand. Aside from using it to play ball and throw things, I have no idea how else to use it, especially since this is a sailing competition, not a rowing competition..."

She let out a long sigh:

"This ability is utterly useless."

"You threw a shot put that smashed a bear's head, and you still think it was useless?"

"Of course it was useless, and Jason's shot also contributed to it..."

Since I can't reach Ms. Laurent's level, I'd rather have the Midas touch; at least then our family can eat better.

Suddenly, Aquile's phone rang, interrupting her grumbling.

She initially thought it was a message from Aunt Duke urging them to come home for dinner, but when she picked it up and looked at it, her expression changed instantly:
"Pulitzer, turn around, let's go back the other way!"

Ji Li didn't understand: "Why?"

Aquile had a look on his face as if he'd seen a ghost:

"Don't ask so many questions, just turn around!"

But it seems it's too late:
A two-person sailboat bathed in the setting sun was rapidly approaching the two of them, and Aquile's expression changed drastically:
"Damn it... this guy only sent the message after seeing it; he'd been waiting here for ages?!"

"Do you have a grudge against me?"

"So..."

Aiguir urged Ji Li to speed up and leave, but the ship was moving extremely fast and was already close—

It was a golden trophy standing proudly at the bow of the ship in the setting sun, gleaming brightly.

The trophy is shaped like a golden sculpture with alternating oars and swords, and it is placed at the front of a gold and red two-person sailboat.

Although the two-person sailboat is very small, there is not much difference between the models and brands.

However, due to its overly flamboyant appearance and uniquely designed hull aesthetics, this boat looks larger than a regular sailboat, giving it a somewhat chubby appearance and making it appear more imposing than a typical two-person sailboat.
"Hey! Look who I've been waiting for!"

It was a shirtless teenager with blond dreadlocks.

He wore a gold pendant matching the one on the statue, black shorts, and his skin bore obvious tan lines from years of seafaring. He was munching on an orange.

For his age, his muscular physique looked a bit too explosive, and his blond dreadlocks were as flashy as his gold and red boat with its "trophy" ramming horn.
“My dear Miss Aquile Wright…”

"Ignore him and drive past."

Without a word, Aquile raised the sails again, and the sailboat sped forward, passing by the fat boat.

But to her surprise, the man leaped across and landed on their boat in a single bound.
"Variable speed sails, thick deck, useless ram, heavy steering... I never expected you to have this kind of taste, nor did I expect you to buy a luxury sailboat for 50,000 pounds..."

You were trying to run away, weren't you? Am I that scary to you?

Ji Li cast an inquiring glance at Aiguir:
Who is this idiot?

Aquil, momentarily ignoring Ji Li, directly commanded:
"Gregory, get down here!"

"Hey, hey, hey, it's been months! Is this how you treat your old comrade-in-arms?"

"I don't know you, understand? Go back to your own ship and don't bother us!"

Gregory crossed his arms, a strange expression flickering across his flamboyant face:

“I sent you a water bottle sailboat, and you sent it back to me. I sent you a real sailboat, and you sold it.”

I invited you to join my team, and we'd win the championship together; all the prize money would be yours, but you refused.

As he spoke, the color became increasingly clear—

It was hostility directed at Ji Li:

"But now, I'm still wondering who's driving this £50,000 but impractical junk. Turns out it's you."

Training with a teammate whose steering skills are so amateurish, and then telling me to get off the ship right away... Don't you think you owe me a proper explanation?"

"I have nothing to explain to you, and this is my brother's boat. If you don't get off, I'll personally ask you to get off!"

"Your brother?"

The teenager named Gregory froze, looking at Ji Li, who was at the helm:

"Elder-brother? But you two don't look alike at all... Wait, isn't he just a bookworm who only knows how to do math Olympiads?"

"Are you done?"

"No."

Gregory strode toward Jili, but was stopped by Equiel.

He wasn't angry. Across from Aiquier, he called out to Ji Li, "Hey dear brother, hello! I'm from the Howard family. We own two estates and four companies. I've just won six town-level tournaments, two city-level tournaments, and three overseas invitational tournaments..."

"Sir, what are you doing boarding our boat?"

"What I'm trying to say is, could you withdraw from this competition and let me partner with Aquile?"

"Fuck you, Gregory."

Aiguir cursed and walked to Ji Li's side:
"You suddenly appeared here, just to sabotage my partner?"

So aren't you going to explain?

Faced with Ji Li's questioning gaze, Aigui'er quickly offered an explanation:
Gregory Howard, whose ancestors were lords but later became commoners, still possessed a vast fortune and was a rich second-generation heir. She was a formidable rival to Aquile in several previous sailing races, and Aquile had only beaten Gregory once.

But that one time made this man really interested in Aquile, and whenever they competed together, he would try every means to pester her.

While expressing his appreciation for Aquile's sailing technology, he is also pursuing a kind of "pursuit" in what he considers a special way.

To Aquile, they were as annoying as flies, and Aquile hated arrogant people.

Despite Aquile's disgust, Gregory displayed an extremely thick skin:

“Of course I’m here to participate in the town qualifiers, so I need a partner with your skills.”

Ji Li tilted his head to the side:
"And where is your partner?"

You came to participate in the competition; you couldn't have come alone, could you?

Gregory shrugged:
"She was supposed to come by speedboat, but for some reason she's already an hour late."

"Then why didn't you wait a little longer? Maybe you got lost."

"No, that's not the point. I was just making up an excuse. Even if she arrived today, I would still come to you on my own initiative."

"why?"

"Of course, it's to win."

Gregory chuckled:
"As you can see, your sister does have a special attraction for me."

But I'm very focused when I do things. During a competition, I absolutely won't be a fly, and when I'm a fly, I absolutely won't talk about the competition..."

Aquile's temples bulged with veins:
"You really are a man of principle..."

"Of course, I'm not here to cause trouble today."

Because you absolutely cannot win tomorrow's match, even I am not 100% confident of winning the championship..."

Aquil was even more annoyed:
"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you seen the new entry list yet?" Gregory asked gravely.
"Because the competition was moved up, the runner-up of the county competition who failed to qualify in the previous year had to start over from the town competition."

He wasn't originally scheduled to participate in the town selection competition in Red Maple Town, but the time was moved up, and he happened to be nearby, so he participated as well.

He hasn't lost a single match since the beginning of this year, making him a truly formidable opponent. I'm not confident I can beat him, but my club contract includes a winning streak requirement so I can participate in a subsequent high-level commercial cup match with my team.

So this time I absolutely cannot lose, I need a strong enough teammate to guarantee my win rate..."

"Your chances of winning will be zero."

Just as Equalon was about to speak, he turned his head and saw Ji Li idly twirling his slightly numb ears.

"You're destined not to win the championship tomorrow, so stop trying and stop waiting. You can go home now."

Ji Li couldn't guarantee what the scene would look like once the psychic artifacts were activated tomorrow.

However, it is foreseeable that an ordinary person like Gregory is destined to miss out on tomorrow's match.

Gregory, upon hearing this, was not angry, but instead glanced at Aquile:

"Can I take this as a rejection?"

"Yes, yes, you'd better get out of here."

Gregory shook his head: "In that case, you'll lose to me again, Equal. Are you really content with third place..."

Ji Li yawned and raised three fingers: "You've already wasted a lot of my time with too much nonsense. Now you can only waste three more seconds of my time at most."

Gregory glanced at Ji Li's fingers as he was closing them one by one, and smiled at Aquile: "Are all math students this arrogant?"

"Time's up." Ji Li lowered his hand and walked towards him, Gregory's explosive muscles bulging:
"Believe me, Aquile's brother, you don't want to humiliate yourself...Fuck!!"

The figure streaked across the water in a beautiful parabola before crashing in.

Under the somewhat stunned gaze of Aquile, Ji Li walked towards the helm.

From the splashing water came Gregory's angry voice: "Damn it, I'm not going to let the water out tomorrow!"

"Idiot." Aiquier covered her mouth and chuckled, while the image of Ji Li throwing Gregory into the water flashed through her mind, and she burst out laughing.

“Aquil… don’t forget, you’ve already lost to me twice, and there’s only one more time left…”

Upon hearing this, Equalton's expression changed—

"...Don't forget our promise!"

Ji Li tilted his head and looked at Aiguir:
"What agreement?"

Without saying a word, Aiguir grabbed Ji Li's hand:
"There's still time, let's practice one more round..."

"Come on you."

Ji Li shook off her hand.

……

Back on his ship, Gregory glanced at the time, his brow furrowing even deeper:
"That's strange... This guy said we'd meet in the afternoon, then changed it to the evening. Didn't we agree to go through today's race route first?"

Although the resort town where he lived was not as large as Red Maple Town, it was inhabited by dignitaries and business people, mostly from the middle class, including his partner.

So when he arrived in Red Maple Town, his partner had just returned from a special leave and would arrive a little later.

Although the two have such good chemistry that no training or practice is necessary, he thinks Aquile is a perfect fit to be his partner.

But they haven't appeared yet, and we can't get in touch with them, which is rather strange.

He dialed the number again, and was about to give up after a long busy signal, when suddenly the call was answered:

"Hey? Alisa, where the hell are you? I've been waiting for you here for almost two hours. If you're not planning to train today, then get up early tomorrow. We need to familiarize ourselves with the route map first..."

Hello? Hello?

There was no sound from the other end, and Gregory frowned.

No, it's not that there's no sound, but rather a very strange sound, a gurgling sound, like...

Blowing bubbles in the water?

Just as he was listening intently to the sound, his sailboat suddenly rocked violently, startling him so much that he cursed and hung up the phone.
"Damn it... what the hell is going on..."

Meanwhile, somewhere on the seabed, a light was shimmering.

It was a cell phone, and the screen displayed the words "Call Ended".

Not far from the phone, three pieces of wreckage lay submerged: a small passenger boat, a two-person sailboat, and a speedboat.

There were also several skeletons.

As a reef broke through the seabed, a thick fog rose from the surface, followed by the sound of something inhaling and a strong wind blowing.
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P.S.: I probably tortured myself too much the past two days, I'm incredibly sleepy tonight and in terrible condition, so I'll only post one update for now.

(End of this chapter)