"Of course, I also know that this is just the beginning," Bernhard's voice lowered slightly, "There are many things to come, and we must... cooperate with each other, really, cooperate."
Hesta still didn't answer. She looked at the dial: "How long will it take for your people to come back?"
"If the hidden deck is exactly the same as the sixth floor we are on, then in less than twenty minutes-"
"Then we'll wait here for twenty minutes."
Bernhard's lower eyelids twitched slightly, but he did not dare to refute directly. He sat down again and moved his gaze away, his fingers pinching the fabric of his clothes in his pocket uneasily.
Nine minutes later, soldiers entered the restaurant.
"Why so fast?" Bernhard immediately turned his head, "Did you find any useful clues above?"
"Not yet, sir," the soldier said with an ugly look on his face, "The reason for the quick search is... the upper deck is completely empty."
"What are you talking about? There's no one there?" Bernhard frowned, "Of course there's no one up there during the day when it's not the time for those monsters to be active -"
"No, there is no furniture, such as tables, chairs, counters...there is nothing on these things, just an empty room."
"What about the walls? Have you checked the walls? Walls and partitions. Pay special attention to whether there are any hidden compartments!"
"These are still under inspection, sir. The final results are expected to be available in half an hour."
"The final results haven't come out yet, why are you here to report!" Bernhard's voice suddenly rose, "Go back!"
"……yes."
The soldier left quickly, and Bernhard slapped his palm on the table. He looked at Hesta from the corner of his eye - there was no reaction there.
About three minutes later, the same soldier returned, only this time he looked much more panicked.
"What are you doing here again?" Bernhard stepped forward and grabbed his subordinate's collar. "Is the final result coming out or something? You'd better spit out something useful-"
"Everyone... everyone is gone, sir!"
Bernhard was stunned for a second, "...what?"
"I brought another group of people up just now. I wanted to... speed up the inspection, but... there is no one on the deck above. I have searched everywhere, and the equipment is all there..."
"Where are our people?"
"...I don't know," the soldier replied tremblingly, "Damn this place-"
"Wait a minute," Si Lei suddenly interrupted, "When you went in to search at first, there was nothing unusual and everyone was there, right?"
"right……"
"Then you decided to inspect the wall and come down to report the progress, is that right?"
"Yes." The soldier nodded repeatedly, "When we go up again, everyone will...just..."
"How do you check the walls?"
"...Demolish. Use machines."
Si Lei and Li Ge glanced at each other in unison, and both of them thought of the strange closed corridor last night.
"You just said you brought a new group of people over to help. Where are these people?"
"Everyone has come down. They are all at the elevator entrance now..."
"Let me go over and take a look." Si Lei looked at Hesta, "I can't ask for more details here."
Hesta patted the back of Si Lei's hand and said, "Be safe."
The Bishop restaurant became quiet again. Bernhard was lost in thought for a long time before he slowly turned around and said, "...Why are you so calm, Hesta?"
"You are too stubborn," Hesta whispered, "Si Lei has stopped you before, but you didn't listen."
"...but why did you say you had to wait for twenty minutes when you came up?" Bernhard's voice sounded like he was talking in his sleep, and his cheeks twitched slightly, "Did you -" from the beginning?
"Bernhard!" Rico suddenly yelled.
Bernhard woke up as if from a dream. He stopped approaching Hesta. His whole body was like a machine that suddenly lost its power. He curled up helplessly on his seat and held his head tightly with both hands.
Hesta pushed his wheelchair to Bernhard's side.
"What did you want to say just now, Bernhard? Did I know from the beginning that sending people up would lead to death?" Hesta whispered, "Then I can tell you clearly, I don't know."
Bernhard slowly raised his head. His face was red and veins were pulsing on his forehead.
At this moment, continuous gunfire came from outside, and Bernhard shivered instinctively.
"It should be Si Lei who is doing sabotage experiments." Rico glanced at the ceiling, "Should we follow him and have a look?"
"No need," Hesta replied softly.
She looked in the direction of the corridor, "Listen, Bernhard, but I know you are frightened. There is no point in talking about anything now. I have to wait for twenty minutes. Everyone who originally wanted to wait for you has come down. , I would like to remind all of you one thing..."
The corners of Bernhard's mouth were extremely exaggerated and he was almost crying, but he still tried his best to endure it and waited for Hesta's next words.
"In addition to strictly abiding by the existing rules in the "Bylaws"," Hestad looked sideways at Bernhard, "Tonight, after dark, all inhabited decks are best to lock your stair doors securely. .”
Bernhard's features twisted together again, in pain and confusion.
"Can't you figure out why?" Hesta continued, "There is a banquet, and there are guests attending the banquet. You destroyed the elevator, so where do you think they are going to get up from?"
Bernhard's face turned from red to purple, then gradually faded away, becoming panicked and haggard. It was only at this moment that he suddenly realized many worse possibilities.
"You... you mean... you mean... those monsters tonight, tonight..."
"I advise you not to have too many unrealistic illusions, because we happened to be on a cruise ship that eats people."
As he spoke, Hesta's upper body tilted slightly towards Bernhard's direction.
"Since I can't get off the boat, I can only... wish for happiness."
Hesta shook the fingers of her left hand quickly, and Rico understood and pushed her out without saying a word.
When Hestad was almost leaving Bishop's, Bernhard shook his head in pain.
"Wait...wait a minute..." Every word he said and every breath he exhaled seemed to be forcefully taken out of his throat.
"What's wrong?"
"Gobelin disappeared again..." Bernhard whispered, "Do you know...where he went?"
"This question is really interesting. How did we know the whereabouts of Gobelin?" Hesta turned his face half-way, "You are the partner who fought alongside him. How could you not know where he went?"
"I really don't know..." Bernhard pinched his hands together tightly, "I don't know anything at all!"
(End of chapter)
