From the Ship of Fools to Earl of Wugang

On the day the Grey Swallow set sail, Edmund arrived at the international terminal in Eagle Harbour two hours early and bought a newspaper to pass the time.

The front page of the local morning paper was dedicated to the city council's fishing regulations, while the fire at the abandoned fish processing plant occupied the top half of the second page.

The report only mentioned that firefighters found several unidentifiable bodies in the ruins, and Hong Kong police initially judged that the case was related to an underground gang.

Edmund folded the newspaper and threw it into the trash can next to the dock entrance.

The dock was now under tight security. A temporary checkpoint had been added outside the departure hall, police officers patrolled back and forth at the entrance, and two police dogs sniffed at passing cargo containers by the railing.

Fortunately, he has already disposed of that Verdia M10 revolver.

Douglas had chased him all the way to the manor, and the gun was probably a suspect as well. When Edmund left the inn, he had completely disassembled and discarded the revolver, keeping instead the pistol he had seized from Dunn.

Adrian Cole's background documents were quite comprehensive, including not only identification but also several shipping documents that were still in use during the liquidation period of the trading company.

Edmund bought a ship electrical control box from a secondhand shop, disassembled the pistol and mixed it in, then handed it over to the Grey Swallow's cargo department at the cargo window as a "repair sample," and successfully passed the formalities.

Such goods are sent into the sealed cargo hold along with other commercial samples, posing a risk at least lower than customs officers finding a handgun in a suitcase.

As for the items that actually needed to be carried with him, Edmund had dealt with them one by one.

After successfully verifying his ticket and passport, Edmund's luggage and declared items were inspected. His suitcase was asked to be opened, and two inspectors searched through his clothes, documents, and tools one by one.

One of them picked up the stethoscope and squeezed the black tubing connected to the stethoscope.

"This is used to inspect water pumps and bearings," Edmund said, pointing to the listening head containing the tide-listening stone, "to determine the location of unusual noises."

The inspector put on earplugs, pressed the earpiece against the table to listen, then took them off with disdain: "I can't hear anything."

"The table has no bearing failure."

The staff member in charge of registration couldn't help but chuckle. The inspector threw the stethoscope back into the suitcase and then opened the box of "pipe sealing material samples" to take a look.

Inside were just a few grayish-white, foul-smelling blocks of wax, covered with a thin layer of ash, and next to them were old sample instructions from North Shore Company.

The port authority clearly had no interest in mobilizing its laboratory for a box of sealed materials from a bankrupt company; the inspectors began examining other items. Ultimately, Edmund obtained the stamped and verified suitcase.

The final checkpoint involves port authority personnel questioning one's occupation and purpose of travel.

A middle-aged man ahead of Edmund claimed he was going to Plichni to visit relatives, but was asked three times by officials because he couldn't give them the street address or phone number.

Because the other party's answers were slightly different each time, the two police officers quickly took the man away, and the line quieted down considerably.

Edmund took off his glasses and wiped the lenses with a handkerchief.

Adrian Cole's passport record is complete, but his age of thirty-five is inconsistent with Ryan Hall's overly youthful appearance.

To this end, he adopted a conservative slicked-back hairstyle and a dark coat, wore a pair of non-reflective, bowl-bottomed glasses, and deliberately left short stubble on his cheeks and chin, which also helped a little with the hoarseness caused by his vocal cord injury.

When it was his turn, the inspector took his passport and looked at the photo for a moment.

"Adrian Cole, thirty-five years old."

The official looked up and glanced at the photo in the passport again: "Well maintained."

The photo was originally from Evan Black's ID, but it has been re-cropped and processed, with his hairstyle, stubble, and glasses now resembling his current appearance.

"The job mainly consumes the company's resources, not the people's."

The inspector's lips twitched slightly as he began to examine the immigration records: "North Shore Shipping Equipment Trading Company, what is your company's main business?"

Edmund cleared his sore throat: "We are a ship electrical equipment agent, including power distribution control, communication electrical accessories and old equipment overhaul. We source from several fixed factories."

"The company is bankrupt, why are you still trying to leave the country?"

"We have some old customers who are in arrears on final payments, and the liquidator also needs someone to confirm the equipment status, the amount of debt, and the return list."

The ensuing questioning went exceptionally smoothly because Edmund had memorized his notes beforehand. At the end, the inspector asked, "What's wrong with your voice?"

"Pharyngitis." Edmund looked slightly exasperated. "You don't have a window for receiving written responses."

The officer pressed the passport firmly under the stamp: "Unfortunately, we don't have it. Next."

Edmund took the passport and suitcase and walked forward following the signs on one side of the hall.

An hour later, the Grey Swallow sailed away from Eagle Harbor. Edmund stood on the starboard deck, watching the shoreline slowly recede towards the horizon, until only a thin, slightly darker line remained.

This is a passenger and cargo ship that has been in service for more than 20 years. The lower cargo hold is loaded with mechanical parts and daily necessities, while the upper deck has only a dozen or so passenger cabins. It mainly serves small merchants, relatives, and crew members traveling between Veridiasia and Prishini.

The booked ferry ticket was for a single cabin near the stern, which was only big enough to fit a narrow bed. It wasn't comfortable, but it offered some privacy.

After he settled in, he opened his notebook and tried to recreate the detective stories. Not long after, there was a knock on the hatch.

Upon opening the door, a young woman in a dark blue uniform, holding a stack of documents, was standing outside.

The visitor introduced herself as customs broker Nora Kane. After going through a process similar to a customs inspection, she left a customs declaration form and a sentence.

"The equipment on the Grey Swallow is probably no younger than your company. If you hear any strange noises during the voyage, please inform the crew in advance so that we don't find out that it needs repairs only after we arrive at Cape Loch."

Edmund agreed, feeling that his current situation was somewhat delicate.

The first day after departure was relatively peaceful. Passengers gradually became familiar with the ship's environment, gathered in the lounge to play cards or sat in sheltered spots to sunbathe. Several women who had brought their children to visit relatives were busy preventing them from approaching the ship's side.

Edmund slowly circled the upper deck, observing the structure of the Grey Swallow and testing his navigational instincts at sea.

On land, roads are usually attached to streets and people, and even when entering a completely unfamiliar city, the roads still have a clear shape. The paths at sea are more loosely connected, perhaps composed of shipping routes, ocean currents, lighthouses, and wind direction.

As Edmund stood near the bow, he could vaguely sense that the Grey Swallow was moving along a course.

This road has no surface and no clear boundaries; it is maintained by nautical charts, compasses, captains, and passing ships.