Chapter 0008: The Dock

Bai Xiaoting curiously gazed southward, but her view was obstructed by the layers of intertwined tree trunks and branches, making it impossible to discern any clues.

Ordinary police are only equipped with handguns, while submachine guns are considered heavy equipment in police gear. Given the strong vitality of insects, it seems rather unreliable to use light weapons against giant bugs.

It is possible, very possible! Professor Qin nodded emphatically, "The giant insect cannot grow this large out of thin air; it must consume a sufficient amount of food"

Bai Xiaoting stepped over a section of gnarled tree roots that protruded from the ground and curiously asked, "Grandpa, why are there red cloth strips tied to these trees?" Although the forest was dense, it lacked underbrush, providing excellent visibility, allowing one to see far without any concern about giant insects hiding nearby

Ye Han nodded: "This place usually has quite a few people, but today there isn't a single one, which is very unusual." It was only now that he realized something was amiss, having been too focused on escaping earlier.

Everyone was taken aback, and Bai Xiaoting anxiously grabbed Professor Qin's arm, while Wu Liang's face turned pale: "What should we do, what can we do?"

"Who is joking with you!" Ye Han was seething with anger, "Don't you even think about checking the surveillance of the island in the lake? If that doesn't work, then contact the military, use drones, use helicopters, use military satellites!"

After a moment of silence, the other party said, "I understand!"

"Go to the dock, there are boats there, we will run as far as we can!" Wu Liang said eagerly, "I don't want to stay here for even a minute or a second longer"

"What are you arguing about? Haven't we already called the police!" Zhang Yang unconsciously raised his voice, "At that time, we will leave on the police boat"

The path is concealed among the lush trees, and the cool shade almost instantly dispels the sweltering heat of midsummer, invigorating everyone.

Professor Qin angrily said: "How can you be a biology student and not know how strong the vitality of insects is?"

Zhang Yang pondered and asked, "Professor, where do you think the giant insects come from?"

"One should do their utmost and leave the rest to fate." Ye Han said with a bitter smile, "This is indeed a bug, the most resilient of all bugs"

The path is not long and the slope is gentle; in the midst of conversation, several people have crossed the ridge, and everyone looks down from a height, with the dock on the island in the lake visible in the distance

Ye Han suddenly waved her hand: "Stop!"

Professor Qin's voice was deep, "Where shall we go?"

"There!" Ye Han's eyes lit up, "The Lakeside Hotel, it must be the most solid place on the island!"

At a critical moment, Professor Qin calmly patted his granddaughter's small hand and said, "Xiao Ye, is there a sturdier building on the island? Let's find a place to take shelter for now."

Wu Liang defended himself, saying, "How can such a giant insect be compared to a small one?"

"Is it feasible?" Bai Xiaoting asked

Zhang Yang jumped up excitedly: "Yes, yes, it must be that something has happened for someone to call the police!"

Step aside, step aside, what can you see with those two big lenses? Look at mine! Wu Liang pulled Zhang Yang aside and glanced towards the dock, exclaiming in surprise: "Where is the ship? Where has the ship gone?"

What? Are you joking?

Wu Liang sneered: "I don't know whether the trees have become spirits, but I do know that all the bugs have become spirits, ready to shoot Starship Troopers, and they don't even need special effects."

The dock on the island in the lake connects to a small square, with the farthest point from the water being over 100 meters away. If the giant worm cannot come ashore, there would definitely not be so many bloodstains at the edge of the square

This is a century-old tree. The customs vary in different places; in some areas, red cloth strips are tied for blessings, while in others, it is to prevent the old tree from becoming a spirit, Professor Qin explained

What are we going to do? Are we just going to wait here to die?" Wu Liang shouted anxiously.

"Xiaoting!" Professor Qin glared at her with dissatisfaction, "Xiaoye, please lead the way."

Bai Xiaoting was extremely surprised: "Is there a hotel on such a small island?"

Are you crazy

"How do you know that giant insects are different from small insects?" Professor Qin retorted

Wu Liang's opinion received unanimous approval from everyone, and Ye Han, being the most familiar with the situation of Huxin Island, took the lead without hesitation.

Ye Han took out a pocket-sized telescope from the small bag at her waist and held it up to her eyes to carefully observe the situation at the dock: "There is blood on the dock, a lot of blood, but no bodies."

Ye Han was taken aback and said, "Professor Qin, then do you mean that the fish in the lake have been completely eaten by these insects?"

It may be genetic mutations caused by chemical pollution, or it could be genetic mutations induced by radiation. However, there is currently too little known, and without investigation, one cannot speak authoritatively. It is difficult to ascertain the exact cause," Professor Qin said cautiously

Wu Liang pressed his lips together in silence, while Ye Han put down the binoculars and said: "Professor, there are also bloodstains by the square; it is possible that the giant worm can come ashore!"

Zhang Yang quietly reminded: "No one believes in giant worms!"

The hearts of several individuals sank in unison

"I will say it again, this is a terrorist attack, the situation is extremely serious, if we do not want to sacrifice the police in vain, heavy firepower must be deployed!" Ye Han shouted frantically into the phone, "What are you babbling about? Hurry up and report to your superiors as I instructed. If something happens and you haven't reported it, you will bear full responsibility. Once you report it, you will have no responsibility. Do you understand?"

"Why aren't you going yet!" Ye Han angrily hung up the phone, her face stern as she returned the phone to Bai Xiaoting.

The area of the island in the center of the lake is not large, only about 1 square kilometer. However, this island was originally a mountain peak, so the terrain is complex with both mountains and valleys. Not far from the lake shore, one can enter a mountain path leading to the dock.

Professor Qin sighed, "We have been too presumptuous; the giant insect must have come here. With such an astonishing occurrence, how could the ship possibly remain at the dock?"

Ye Han steeled her heart and exclaimed, "This is not an accident; this is a terrorist attack. We must deploy heavy firepower. The special police are insufficient; hurry and contact the armed police and the People's Liberation Army."

"As long as we have guns, that's enough. This isn't Starship Troopers, is it? Can’t we kill the bugs with guns?" Wu Liang said, glancing sideways at Ye Han.

Having read a plethora of fantasy novels, anyone encountering such a predicament today would undoubtedly experience a mental breakdown

The dock is paved with bluish-gray stone slabs, and the bloodstains congealed on the slabs are particularly conspicuous

No problem. Ye Han nodded readily, "The hotel is at the southernmost point of the island in the lake. Just keep going south, and the tallest building is it."

Ye Han looked at her in surprise, wondering when it was that she could still think of such things? Wasn't a woman's nerve too thick?

Ye Han's gaze was distant: "Could it be that the fish, having eaten everything and feeling famished, have come ashore to eat humans?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Zhang Yang, who was following Ye Han, asked softly: "What happened?"

"Professor, let me say something," Ye Han advised, "There are others who have called the police, something must have happened on the island, this place is not safe, we must leave immediately!"

What are you looking at?" Zhang Yang asked curiously, peering in.

Look! Ye Han pointed towards the dock