Strange New World: The Six Dragons, #4

By Lin Musen

When the problem of kidnapping one of their friends has not been resolved, an additional problem arises, namely the mysterious disappearance of their leader. Yihshyong, who suddenly has to replace Shannchyuan to lead his friends, often can not hide his panic when he has to make a quick decision at a crucial moment.

Meanwhile, Chioujen has to rack his brains in such a way as to guess the actual intentions of the kidnappers who always change their plans. How quickly the kidnappers catch wind of all the changes, making him feel he has enough reason to suspect that the main perpetrators of the events are someone around them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AutoWiny Press
• Release date: Dec 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215702901

Book preview

Prologue

Achubby young man looked at his friend with a look of annoyance in his eyes. His eyes were wide. He pointed at a wet bundle. Water was still dripping from it onto the floor.

Don't ask me. One of his friends, who was standing near to him, immediately shook his head with a powerful movement. He was a young man wearing a dark green shirt. He was wearing glasses with very thick lenses.

Then, who should I ask? The young man who was upset earlier said that sentence in an irritated tone.

Ask him. The young man in the dark green shirt immediately pointed at the other person, who was also there.

Eh? I know nothing about this matter either. The person he pointed at instantly showed a displeased face. He was a young man who was almost thirty years old. He wore a hat that was strangely shaped. Such a strange hat further added to his peculiarity. He was wearing a bright yellow shirt.

Of course you know. The young man wearing thick glasses let out a voice with a tone that was no less rude. You've been at sea with those people since yesterday.

I only went on the boat with them. But I don't take part in fishing. While they were busy working, I was busy with my own business. Most of the time, I was just in the cabin. I did not know what was going on out there.

But the fact is that you went out to sea with them. So, among the three of us, you know the most about this.

I told you I don't know anything. The young man wearing the hat remained adamant. There's nothing I can explain to you!

What's all the fuss about? Another young man suddenly entered the room. He was dressed very neatly. Much neater than the three people who had been in the room.

I just want to know why this thing had to be placed here. The chubby young man, once again, pointed his index finger at the wet bundle lying there.

Ah! The young man who had just arrived tilted his head. He observed the object. Something like this shouldn't be here. Won't it just make this place dirty?

Then you agree with me. The face of the chubby young man still hadn't changed.

So, why was it placed here? The well-dressed young man looked at the three people who were there.

That's exactly what I've been asking about. The chubby young man snorted loudly. But he won't explain at all. He pointed at the hat-wearing youth.

This thing came from that ship, right? The well-dressed young man looked straight at the young man with the strange hat.

The young man with the hat nodded. But I don't know anything about this.

Since you were with those people yesterday, you are obliged to tell us. I know you don't know much about their activities. But at least, there are things you must have observed before.

Okay. The young man took off his hat. He placed it on the table to his right.

The other three waited for the young man to continue.

They didn't manage to catch many fish. I don't know why, but it seems like the fish that were supposed to be there have migrated elsewhere.

So? The young man in the dark green shirt looked impatient.

They only caught a few fish. They said it was only one-tenth of what they usually get.

Then, this package? The gaze of the stocky young man's eyes was still piercingly sharp.

They got some other stuff. Somehow, there were some things that got caught in their nets. This bundle is one of those things.

Then why did they put this thing here? The well-dressed young man moved closer to one chair.

I don't know. The young man in the yellow shirt shrugged. They took all the things with them, except this bundle. I don't know why they put this thing here. Maybe they thought I was also asking for a share of the things they got.

What's in this package? The young man wearing thick glasses crouched down to inspect the package.

Shall we open it? The well-dressed young man spoke while sitting on a chair that looked so comfortable to sit on.

The young man with glasses opened the package. His friend, a heavyset young man, also helped. There were layers of plastic wrapped around the object. When they finally opened the last layer, they found a completely dry box.

How do we open this box? The young man with glasses frowned. This is a locked box. And I don't see any key here.

Witnessing this, the other two people, the young man in the yellow shirt and the well-dressed young man, came over. The four of them sat on the floor, surrounding the object.

Maybe this is the key. There was a voice.

The four people looked up. They saw a young girl enter the room. She held up a key.

Where did you get that key? The young man in the dark green shirt looked over with a sharp gaze.

Those people gave it to me. The girl walked over. They said this key was tied to the bundle. Accidentally, this key was carried away by them.

Okay, let's try it. The young man in the green shirt extended his hand.

And it was true. The key was indeed the key to the box. Very carefully, they opened the box made of such hard wood.

Eh? It contains books! exclaimed the young man with glasses.

What are these books? The young man in yellow reached out to take one book.

Let's read it first. The young man in green also picked up one book.

After that, the other three people did the same. The number of books in the box was exactly the same as their number. An instant later, each of them had started to turn the first page.

Eh! It seems that these books are books that belong together. We should read them from the beginning. Who's holding the first volume? The chubby young man turned his head left and right.

Never mind. The young man in yellow shook his palms. You just read the book in your hand. We'll exchange books later.

How can that be? The plump young man looked so annoyed.

Would you like to exchange books with me? The girl, who came last, extended her hand.

Is the book you're holding the first volume?

The girl shook her head.

Ah! Alright! The plump young man finally relented.

Chapter 01 : Jenqyih

Dongfang Jenqyih and his friends were sitting in a restaurant in a mall not far from their house. They all couldn't understand the behavior that their dahge had just shown. Shannchyuan, the eldest among them, suddenly did something strange and childish. He just left them. Their leader suddenly ran after a girl Jenqyih had never seen before. What was worse than that was that Shannchyuan said nothing at all before leaving.

Iren's confession that he had seen the girl before made everyone there listen carefully. Such a thing was not something they could simply pass up. They were not people who liked to gossip, but there were things they really needed to talk about more deeply.

Iren told the things he witnessed at dusk four days ago and in the morning three days ago. Jenqyih, who had previously heard Iren's story, just smiled. Tsaehorng and Chioujen listened to what Iren had to say with very serious faces.

Who do you think that girl is? Jenqyih looked straight at Chioujen after Iren finished telling the things he had witnessed a few days earlier.

Why did Yihge ask me? Chioujen looked back at Jenqyih with a surprised look.

You've known Dahge since you were very young. You are close to Dahge's cousin's family. So, I think you know more about Dahge than we do, Jenqyih said.

I was a child when I first met Beaushu, so, of course, I paid little attention to his private life. I had absolutely no idea who Beaushu's girlfriends were. Chioujen sighed as he said those words. Perhaps he regretted why he had paid no attention to the private lives of his surrounding people.

I don't think we can blame Chioujen. Iren opened his mouth again. Decades ago, Chioujen would not have been familiar with this kind of thing. Children and adults have different priorities.

Even if Uncle Jongharng had known Uncle Duanmuh's female friends decades ago, I don't think it would be of much help. The woman we saw earlier was very young. There is no way she is an old friend of Uncle Duanmuh. Instantly, Tsaehorng continued Iren's words.

Regarding that, Iren apparently hadn't finished commenting yet. There's no way she's an old friend of Dahge's. But she could be related to an old friend of Dahge's. She could be the daughter or niece of an old friend of Dahge's.

Jenqyih, Chioujen, and Tsaehorng nodded quickly. Iren's words made sense.

Since we left our hometown, Jenqyih said. I've never seen Dahge show such special concern for a woman. How about you guys?"

Iren shook his head. So far, there's been no sign of anyone important to Dahge. He then looked at Chioujen.

Chioujen laughed. I haven't lived in this city for the past six months. It's clear what I know about Dahge's association is not as much as you know."

Did Dahge never say anything about it? Iren asked.

All this time, whenever I called home, you, or at least one of you was always at home. Did you ever hear Beaushu tell me about his girlfriend over the phone?

Jenqyih and Iren simultaneously shook their heads. The atmosphere was silent for a moment.

Has Uncle Duanmuh never called Uncle Jongharng in the past six months? Tsaehorng joined in on the conversation. He could have called Uncle Jongharng not from home, so the other uncles didn't hear what you were talking about.

Chioujen nodded. Beaushu did call me four or five times. But the duration was so short. We only talked about important things. No talk about personal issues related to women.

But didn't Dahge come to your place about three months ago? Jenqyih said. At that time, he accompanied his boss, who owns the bookstore, to live with his relatives there.

We did talk about a lot of things at that moment. But Beaushu didn't mention the women he'd known all his life. Chioujen uttered those words at a slow tempo. That way of speaking, to Jenqyih's ears, sounded like someone who wasn't sure what he was saying.

This is completely Dahge's personal business, said Iren. But do you think it's wrong to be a little curious about this? After all, we live in the same house.

Telling about things like that to friends is normal, said Jenqyih. But we can't force other people to say that. If Dahge wants to talk, of course we'll listen. But if he doesn't, we can't pressure him to say things he doesn't want to say.

I know that, said Iren. But it's impossible to expect that Dahge will come clean with us. He's one of those people who only says what he needs. Maybe only a cataclysmic event would make him consider sharing what he feels with us.

Never mind, said Chioujen. It's not good for us to gossip like this. Let's just wait for Beaushu's explanation. And whatever he has to say later, we should just accept it. Don't let anyone pressure Beaushu to say more than he wants.

Jenqyih and Iren nodded. Meanwhile Tsaehorng was silent. Perhaps the young man felt out of place if he commented on the matter.

But, said Jenqyih. Wouldn't it be better if one of us, right now, get out of here to chase Dahge? He looked at his friends one by one.

What for? Iren raised his eyebrows. After this, Dahge will definitely be back here again. He knows well that he must be home before twelve o'clock.

Soon, the food we ordered will be ready. So, we better just wait here. Chioujen added to Iren's words.

Jenqyih said nothing else. He knew that what his friends were saying made sense. But there was an uneasy feeling in Jenqyih's mind. He was worried that something terrible would happen. Something Jenqyih couldn't explain.

After a while, the waiter came to bring the package of food to their table. The smell of food tickled Jenqyih's nose. He looked around. Everyone sitting there had facial expressions like they wanted to pounce on the plastic food bag. While rubbing his nose, Jenqyih opened his mouth again. Now what? The food's ready, but Dahge hasn't shown up yet.

We don't know where Dahge is after that woman. If we decide to leave here to look for him, we may not necessarily be able to find him. After all, if Dahge came back here later but didn't find us, wouldn't that make things even more complicated? Iren let out those words with a fast tempo.

Chioujen looked at his watch. Let's just wait a little longer. If Beaushu doesn't show up in five minutes, then our team will be divided into two. Some are looking for Beaushu. The other is waiting here. Also, we need to limit the time. If ten minutes later we still can't find Beaushu, then we go straight to the car. Beaushu will definitely head straight for the car when the time is up.

If we still don't meet Dahge in the parking lot, what then? Jenqyih still couldn't shake off the anxiety in his heart.

We'll think about that later. When we're in the parking lot. Chioujen answered quickly.

Five minutes later, Shannchyuan was still not back.

Yihge and I will go find Dahge. Chioujen and Tsaehorng wait here. Iren stood up in a flash.

Jenqyih also stood up. He followed Iren, who moved to the entrance of the restaurant right away. Just as they passed through the door, they saw people running. Iren turned to Jenqyih.

Something dangerous must have happened!

Chioujen and Tsaehorng seemed to be aware of that, too. The two of them stood up and ran towards Jenqyih and Iren. It wasn't lunchtime yet, so there weren't many visitors at the restaurant. Some visitors were still enjoying their food, but some got up and ran outside to see what had really happened.

A restaurant employee came out of a door that might lead to the room where the workers in the restaurant rested. From the clothes he