My Manor

Gun, no problem... Spear gun, no problem... Protective clothing, no problem... Anti-stab gear, no problem..." Jiang Hai muttered quietly as he surveyed the items laid out on the bed before him.

That afternoon, he had spent hours playing with Darlene and the others. Time always seemed to fly when he was with them. Before he knew it, night had fallen. For dinner, Jiang Hai and the group made a pot of seafood porridge.

After all, the barbecue grill had been running all afternoon, and they had essentially been eating the entire day. By evening, their appetites had dwindled, so they simply had some porridge. After dinner, at around eight o'clock, Jiang Hai sent them back to their rooms with strict instructions: no matter what noise they heard outside, they were not to come out unless he called for them.

Each room had a private bathroom, and Jiang Hai had thoughtfully prepared snacks and water, ensuring they had everything they needed. There was absolutely no reason for them to leave their rooms. Afra and the others didn't question his instructions. They neither wanted to know nor understand the reason behind his caution.

Their only task was to listen to Jiang Hai. If he told them the moon shone in the daytime and the sun at night, they would believe him without hesitation. This unwavering loyalty was precisely why Jiang Hai had brought them along instead of Moses Adams.

Once the girls were settled in their rooms, Jiang Hai turned his attention to the gear he had prepared. Most of it was the same as last time, but he had also brought several large bags, a long rope reinforced with metal wire, and a sizable oxygen tank.

Anyone watching would have been puzzled. Carrying bags made sense—he needed something to store his findings. But the oxygen tank and the rope? That was harder to explain. Jiang Hai, however, had no intention of providing answers. He gathered his equipment and headed to the deck.

After scanning the area to ensure there were no other boats nearby, he secured one end of the rope to the vessel with a metal clasp, took hold of the rope and his gear, and plunged into the sea.

The splash of his dive echoed in the quiet night. Inside, Afra and the others, though worried, followed his instructions and remained in their rooms.

Unlike before, Jiang Hai didn't use an underwater engine to propel himself forward—it wasn't necessary. The oxygen tank's weight alone was enough to pull him downward. As he sank, the water's buoyancy slowed his descent slightly, but he was already accustomed to diving beyond a thousand meters. Water pressure didn't affect him, and since he didn't need to breathe, speed wasn't a concern.

Within minutes, Jiang Hai had plunged several hundred meters below the surface.

At this depth, caution was crucial. While he could ignore the crushing pressure, he still had to be wary of deep-sea creatures, especially giant squids. Fortunately, nothing posed a threat on his way down. Soon, he reached the sunken ship he had visited last time. The steep cliffs on either side remained covered in massive deep-sea lice.

This time, Jiang Hai remained calm. He had learned that these creatures were harmless, though still repulsive to look at. He moved past them swiftly, climbed onto the wreck, and secured the rope to the ship with a metal clasp. Satisfied with his setup, he left the oxygen tank on deck and, gripping his weapons, cautiously entered the hold. In such a place, it was always best to be careful.

Though only a few days had passed since his last visit, the ship's interior had already changed. Likely due to his previous intrusion, more marine creatures had taken up residence. However, despite their grotesque appearances, none were a real threat to Jiang Hai.

Navigating carefully, he made his way to the third floor, where the treasure was stored. The squid he had previously pinned to the wall was gone, though his arrow remained. Whether the squid had escaped or been devoured by deep-sea fish was unknown—and irrelevant. Jiang Hai was here for one thing: profit.

Using his cane, he prodded the pile of gems, checking for any hidden creatures. Fortunately, none were present. With that assurance, he began scooping the jewels into his bag without sorting them.

Before long, one large black bag was filled. He didn't overstuff it—though he was incredibly strong, even underwater, the ship had weight limits. A fully loaded bag weighed over 200 kilograms, and with buoyancy only slightly reducing the burden, it was best to proceed cautiously.

Back on deck, the oxygen tank proved its usefulness. Jiang Hai tied another bag to the first, secured them to the rope, and inflated the sealed bags with oxygen. Slowly, his makeshift balloons began carrying the heavy load toward the surface.

Once he confirmed everything was secure, he returned to the hold to gather more treasure. His method may have seemed crude, but it was effective. Without the ability to command deep-sea creatures to help, this was the best strategy he could devise.

Bag after bag, he worked tirelessly, determined to retrieve every last bit of gold, silver, and jewels from the warehouse. Initially, he had estimated the haul to be around one ton, but as he packed, he realized he had underestimated—by a lot.

In total, he filled fourteen large bags. Each weighed at least 100 kilograms, meaning he had secured approximately 1,500 kilograms—over 1.5 tons of treasure.

Last time, he had retrieved just over eight kilograms of jewelry and sold them for over two million dollars. If ten kilograms were worth three million, then this haul, at 1,500 kilograms, could be worth a staggering 450 million. Even accounting for discounts due to the presence of gold and silver coins, he estimated at least 200 million in value.

Jiang Hai couldn't help but grin. Who would ever complain about having too much money? Certainly not him!

From eight in the evening until past two in the morning, Jiang Hai worked relentlessly. Every piece of treasure had been lifted to the surface. Now, only one task remained—the final hold containing the armor.

After reorganizing his gear, he made his way to the last room. But the moment he pushed open the door, a massive creature swam into view.

"Shark? A shark?!" Jiang Hai muttered in shock.

Of course, no one could hear his voice underwater, but his sudden movement stirred the water, catching the shark's attention. The creature turned its massive head, locking its cold, emotionless eyes on him.

In the deep sea, there was only one type of shark that could appear here—the six-gill shark, a species that had barely changed in over 200 million years. It was a relic of ancient times, a living fossil.

Jiang Hai had studied this species before coming here. It primarily fed on squid, cephalopods, crustaceans, various fish, and even marine mammals. Supposedly, it wouldn't attack humans unless provoked.

Then again, people said the same thing about great white sharks. Yet, if you encountered one in the ocean, your chances of survival weren't exactly promising. And what exactly counted as "provoking"? Would hunger be enough?

The six-gill shark before him was around five meters long. Jiang Hai had no idea how it had ended up in this small hold, but one thing was clear—the shark wasn't friendly.

Their eyes met.

For Jiang Hai, it was a moment of surprise.

For the shark, it was a moment of delight.

(To be continued...)