Chapter 2: The Call from the Ocean

  June 2007, Heidelberg, Germany.

  What does summer mean?

  Scorching sun, high temperature, air conditioning, ice cream and a long vacation?

  When another cool summer arrives, the tens of thousands of students studying at this famous university all have their own plans. Working part-time can not only alleviate the burden on their families but also gain beneficial exercise, so it has become the first choice for most students. However, for some senior students, especially those like Zhang Hainuo who plan to return home immediately after graduation, if they don't take advantage of this opportunity now, they may never have another chance to tour Europe!

  In the sweltering summer heat, under the scorching sun, this German land was equally sizzling. Between his native Eastern soil and this economically developed foreign land, Zhang Hainuo's emotions undoubtedly leaned towards the former, but like most military enthusiasts, especially World War II enthusiasts, he had another special feeling for this land. Wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of sneakers, he walked on the streets filled with rich classical style, thinking about his life over the past few years, a rather complex nostalgia suddenly surged up in his heart.

  Unconsciously, Zhang Hainuo arrived in front of a familiar second-hand store. The so-called second-hand store is a place where second-hand goods are placed and sold, but this store does not have the messy old goods that people imagine, on the contrary, under the owner's careful management, it gives people a feeling more like an antique shop, a low-end but unique antique shop.

  It was this small shop that truly introduced Zhang Hainuo to Germany, and made him truly understand the country's modern history. It is not simply a glorious history, nor is it filled with sorrow and regret as some people imagine, but rather a combination of both.

  From the second month after arriving in Germany, Zhang Hainuo spent most of his leisure time here - he was fortunate to get a stable, long-term, and decently paid part-time job from the owner Hansen. The 56-year-old Hansen is a native German, and like most men of this age group, his hair resources are quite poor, and he has a big beer belly. Interestingly, Hansen has the same surname as the infamous Hermann G?ring, but he dislikes being called Mr. G?ring by others.

  "Just call me Hansen! And by the way, our family and that G?ring of the Third Reich have no relation whatsoever, we just happen to share the same surname!"

  The first time Zhang Haino met the owner, he was introduced in this way. Later, he found out that Hansen was also a military enthusiast. He himself did not approve of Germany's two wars launched in the last century, nor did he agree with the Nazi's extreme ideas, especially their racial policies. However, whenever they talked about the German army's weapons, tactics, spiritual qualities and some battles and campaigns in history, he even seemed more professional than a professor from Heidelberg University's History Department.

  "This is the most valuable collection in our family!"

  Hanson loved to hang this sentence on his mouth, referring to a German naval officer's command dagger, which was said to have been "collected" by his father after the war when he collected old goods and scrap. After expert appraisal, it was found to be the sword of General Stranta von Graf, Deputy Commander of the Second German Empire Navy, who had served as captain of the famous "Seydlitz" battleship and participated in the famous Battle of Jutland! However, how this war knife ended up in civilian hands is unclear even to experts. After all, during the Allied bombing campaign at the end of World War II, countless houses were destroyed, and military and civilian casualties exceeded one million. Perhaps the general's descendants did not survive either.

  "Welcome! Please feel free to select the items you need!"

  Hanson, who was checking accounts at the cash register, did not immediately lift his head when he heard someone open the door.

  "Hey... Mr. Hansen, it's me! How come, can't balance the account again?"

  Zhang Hainuo smiled and walked to the front desk, this gentle shop owner had a very obvious weakness, that is, he was not good at arithmetic, as he himself said, "until middle school, he often failed in arithmetic". When Zhang Hainuo, an economics major, was around, Hansen would always hand over all the accounts to him with a wave of his hand. Hainuo asked if he wasn't afraid that he would embezzle money while working part-time at the small store, and he would just laugh and say, "I can see through a person's appearance and know whether their heart is beautiful or ugly, and you are a traditional Easterner who values reputation as life!"

  For such an absurd interpretation, Zhang Hainuo could only smile and let it go. Indeed, he was not the kind of person who would take advantage of small benefits, just as his mentor had said, "People who study economics are most afraid of using their knowledge to deceive and cheat in their work, I don't want to see any of you spend your most precious years in some prison!"

  At the sound of Zhang Hainuo's voice, Hansen finally took his eyes off the screen of the cash register.

  "Oh, it's Heino! You've come just in time, this week's accounts... Ugh, what a mess again!"

  Heino is a fairly common name in Germany, and Zhang Heino also thinks that "Heino" is more approachable than just "Zhang", so people who know him basically call him that.

  "Mr. Hansen, settling accounts only once every half month is prone to errors! It's best to settle them every day after business hours, but you always...” Zhang Haino shook his head kindly, knowing that Hansen would rush to drink and chat with his old friends every night after closing the door, where did he have time for daily settlement.

  "Hansson said with a self-deprecating tone, "If I have to settle accounts every day, it'll be the death of me! Alright, Haino, stop talking nonsense and come help me calculate quickly!"

  "Alright then!"

  Zhang Hainuo has done this hundreds of times over the past few years, and it's become incredibly easy for him.

  "Alright then, it's up to you, Haino!"

  Hanson cheerfully walked into the back room, followed by the familiar sound of opening the refrigerator door.

  "Beer or mineral water?"

  Although this question has been asked nearly a thousand times and always gets the same answer, Hansen asked it again.

  "Mineral water, thank you!" Zhang Hainuo gave his only choice without thinking. Taking advantage of the computer system running data, he said: "Mr. Hansen, do you still remember that I told you I was going to travel? I'm preparing to leave today and will be back in about a month and a half! During this time, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you!"

  "Remember, of course I remember! More than half the places you're going to are my recommendations!" Hansen walked out from behind the curtain with a small bottle of mineral water in one hand and an already opened can of beer in the other. "I can handle the account matters myself with a bit more effort, kid, have a great vacation!"

  "Thank you!"

  Haino was quickly checking Hansson's messy accounts, frowning from time to time and occasionally flashing his signature smile. After putting down the mineral water bottle, Hansson didn't say much either, alone with a beer in this not-so-large room inspecting his "collection".

  A nearly new piano, two large clocks that are quite old, several pairs of half-old wooden tables and chairs, some used electrical appliances, more than a dozen vases of various shapes and sizes, three bookcases full of old books and records that occupy several long shelves, as well as some things that can be considered antiques - medals, awards, commemorative plates, old coins, and some yellowed books, certificates, etc. placed on glass shelves in multiple layers. The walls are hung with various musical instruments and picture frames, and the corners against the wall have several large barrels of other miscellaneous items.

  Half an hour later, Haino finally let out a long sigh of relief.

  "OK! Mr. Hansen, the accounts up to yesterday's closing have been cleared out. Excluding the cost of goods and some labor costs, your profit last month was 5,760.50 euros, haha, more than twice the average income in Germany!"

  "It's just another antique deal!"

  Hansen turned around, with a nonchalant expression. His two children were doing their own things in the big city, and since his partner passed away, he only had to support himself, so income was no longer a big deal for him. Enjoying life comfortably was his sole purpose at this stage, as for wealth, if he wanted to, he could exchange the medals and awards he collected for stacks of cash at any time. In the early years, someone offered tens of millions of marks to buy his treasured war sword, but he refused without hesitation.

  For this very particular old man, Zhang Hainuo is grateful, not only because he gave himself a long-term and stable part-time job, but also because he made himself feel a warm family affection in this distant foreign land. Of course, he also learned rich historical knowledge from Mr. Hansen, if it wasn't for his own major being economics back home, Zhang Hainuo even thought of switching to study history, because there are just too many fascinating things in it.

  When... when... when...

  The clock on the opposite side rang in time, and Zhang Hainuo suddenly remembered that he had already bought a train ticket to Berlin. His journey would start from the city that witnessed countless historical events, followed by Prague, Vienna, Rome, Athens...

  "The train departs in an hour, I have to rush to the station now! See you next month, Mr. Hansen!"

  Zhang Hainuo was about to pick up his own luggage when he was stopped by Hansen.

  "Hainuo, take this!"

  Hanson pulled out an envelope from under the counter that had been prepared long ago.

  Haino took over the envelope with some puzzlement, opened it and found a thick stack of euro banknotes inside.

  "This... Mr. Hansen, I don't want this! You've already paid me my wages, and I'm helping you today completely voluntarily, for free!" Zhang Hainuo hastily pushed the envelope back to Mr. Hansen.

  "Take it, Haino!" Hansen suddenly had a very serious expression. Having been here for several years, Zhang Haino also knew that once he put on this expression, no one could change his mind. Now the best solution was to take the envelope obediently.

  "You're an honest and hardworking kid!" Hansen put the beer can on the counter, saying in a relaxed tone: "You can take this as an extra reward from your employer to his employee, or you can see it as a subsidy from an old friend. The money isn't much, but I hope you have a great summer! If you get the chance, go diving on Crete Island, the seawater there is very blue, and the underwater world is one you've never seen before, with endless secrets hidden inside!"

  "Endless secrets..."

  Zhang Hainuo shouldered his luggage and smiled as he waved goodbye to Mr. Hansen. At this moment, he didn't truly understand the meaning of these words.

  Half a month later, near the waters of Crete, Greece.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, today's sea conditions are very suitable for diving. However, I still hope that everyone can remember our three basic principles: First, do not go to places that are too deep or too dark; Second, do not go to places with too much seaweed or rocks; Third, after entering the water, you must return to the surface within an hour! Has everyone remembered?"

  The Greek female tour guide with a beautiful face and good figure is the most popular task on this ship. She instructed a dozen tourists from different countries on the cruise ship in fluent English. Although everyone had practiced scuba diving equipment and basic knowledge indoors for two days before, when it was time to dive into the sea, the tour guide and staff still repeated the key points and precautions of sea diving several times.

  On this not-so-large yacht, the tourists who were diving for the first time in the sea were all very excited, including Zhang Haino, who was already fully equipped. The weight of the oxygen tank on his back wasn't enough to render him immobile, but it did make Zhang Haino's shoulders, which weren't used to physical labor, feel somewhat oppressed. The diving suit, the specialized snorkel, and the large diving goggles all made him feel both novel and slightly uncomfortable.

  After checking the equipment on each person, the sturdy and enviable staff member nodded to the beautiful female tour guide that everything was ready. Next, led by a staff member, the tourists dove into the water one by one in a reverse onion posture, splashing like a group of penguins setting out to hunt for food.

  Although the posture was not aesthetically pleasing, at the moment of entering the water, Zhang Hainuo had an unprecedented comfortable feeling. The cool seawater made him feel extremely refreshed from head to toe, and the skin on his face and hands that were not covered by the diving suit felt this coolness from the sea even more closely. A few seconds later, his eyes adapted to the light under the sea surface, and when he saw clearly the underwater world, Zhang Hainuo finally understood Mr. Hansen's words that often hung in his mouth: The seabed is indeed a fascinating world!

  Before long, a dozen or so tourists wearing full diving gear came to the surface of the water one after another. After checking the number of people, the staff member who went into the water first made a "follow me" gesture and led the way to the bottom of the sea. Zhang Hainuo turned his head to look around and found himself surrounded by a group of tourists, so he felt much more at ease. At this time, he didn't care whether his movements in the water were clumsy or not, and he followed the staff member to the deep sea with both hands and feet.

  The real seabed may not have the good lighting and colors as on TV, but the sense of reality is something that cannot be obtained from the TV screen. This 20-meter-deep seabed is a bit dark, but those coral reefs and fish of all sizes still excite these tourists, everyone touches here and there, even a stone half-buried in the mud can arouse their interest, because most of them have heard stories about the treasure of the Aegean Sea. Whether or not they came specifically for those elusive treasures, people hope to find something here, even if it's just a coin or a fragment.

  Scuba diving tourists are having the time of their lives exploring the underwater world, while the beautiful female tour guide and the captain with a bushy mustache and a sailor's hat but wearing a floral shirt and beach shorts on board the cruise ship are also enjoying this rare leisure time.

  "Come into my cabin and have a drink!"

  The captain, who was over 40 years old, had no depth in his words at this time that matched his age. His eyes, full of provocation, kept wandering between the female tour guide's long legs, slender waist, and the prominent and sensual collarbone at her neckline, occasionally lingering regretfully on her slightly flat twin peaks.

  "In half an hour, someone will be coming up!"

  The young female tour guide said so with her mouth, but her right hand was extremely light and took off the hair clip on her head. A head of slightly curly brown hair suddenly fell like a waterfall on her delicate back. Undoubtedly, on this enchanting sea surface, in the situation where the two were alone, such an action was extremely tempting for a man.

  "It doesn't matter, today's weather is so good, let them play a bit longer! I can help you mix a cocktail to drive away your fatigue for the day!"

  The captain's left hand was now placed on the waist of the female tour guide, who did not refuse, and the two walked into the lower cabin with a tacit understanding.

  They were so focused on each other that no one noticed the faint black line at the horizon.

  After taking a good underwater photo with the tourists, the leading staff indicated that everyone can move around freely nearby, because in this season, there are no scary marine life such as sharks, jellyfish and giant squid in this sea area.

  Tourists who have gradually adapted to the underwater environment will not miss this opportunity. They either take up rented underwater cameras or photography equipment to capture things that interest them, or embark on their own underwater treasure hunt.

  Among these people, Zhang Hainuo should be more inclined to the latter. He is also very interested in those historical relics buried in the mud and sand under the influence of Mr. Hansen. As for the few staff members who dived together, they were now watching these happy tourists at a place closer to the sea surface. Their task was to ensure the safety of every person here and take them back to the boat after the activity ended.

  Before long, a dozen or so tourists dispersed into an area of tens of meters in diameter. The most people gathered near a relatively obvious protrusion, but what made them feel extremely disappointed was that it wasn't any wreckage of a sunken ship, but just a purely natural underwater rock.

  At first, Zhang Hainuo was more cautious and followed a tourist with a stronger build and better swimming skills, but not far away, a small thing that reflected the light from the sea surface caught his attention, and it was farther than he had estimated. Unbeknownst to him, the distance between him and the main group had opened up somewhat.

  At this time, the dark clouds on the sea surface were drifting at an extremely fast speed. The tourist boat was rocking and shaking with increasing amplitude on the sea surface, but the lively couple in the cabin had no perception of it, while the seabed was as calm as ever.

  It wasn't until dark clouds gathered overhead and the sky grew noticeably darker that the people on the ship felt a sense of foreboding.

  "Terrible!"

  Captain Húzi rushed to the porthole with his buttocks exposed, the sky that was sunny just a short while ago had been completely dominated by darkness, the wind force on the sea surface had obviously increased, and the fish-scale-like waves were becoming more and more turbulent.

  "Oh no, will we make it in time to get everyone on board? Won't there be some big trouble?"

  The female tour guide was hastily putting on her pants while asking Captain Húzi, but the captain had no time to pay attention to her and quickly picked up the walkie-talkie that had been turned off since earlier.

  "Come on, come on! There's a storm! Everyone get up!"

  Because the only people with walkie-talkies were staff members, after receiving the captain's instructions, they had to swim over one by one to inform each of the tourists here. Although they were all good swimmers, the tourists had already dispersed quite a bit by then. Going back and forth, precious time was lost in large quantities.

  The surface of the sea was changing suddenly, but Zhang Hai didn't notice at all. At this time, he was holding a handheld underwater flashlight in one hand and trying to pull out the soft mud from the seabed with the other hand. Gradually appearing in front of him was an object that was spherical on top and columnar below, resembling the tip of an enlarged scepter. Its surface was covered with thick attachments, making it impossible to see any patterns or text, but it should be made of some kind of metal.

  Zhang Hainuo pulled hard, but the thing didn't budge, and it seemed like there was still a long way to go before it was fully uncovered from the mud and sand. What on earth was this thing? His intense desire for knowledge stirred up his curiosity. So, he continued to dig away at the surrounding mud and sand with great effort.

  On the sea, waves were getting bigger and bigger, and the tourist boat was shaking violently. After a few flashes of lightning, a loud thunderclap shook the sea surface, and big raindrops poured down. The captain, tour guide, and tourists who had already boarded the ship were helping to pull those who had just floated up to the surface onto the ship. When the last crew member finally climbed aboard panting, the tour guide counted again and found that four people were still missing!

  Helpless, three workers carrying diving equipment had to dive into the water again to find the remaining four unlucky eggs.

  Actually, at the moment when the thunder sounded, Zhang Hainuo at the bottom of the sea finally found that the situation had changed. Even with the help of a flashlight beam, he could only see a few meters away. In this case, his brain made a judgment: must abandon this new discovery and return to the ship!

  However, Zhang Hainuo was shocked to find that he couldn't float up no matter what. The rod-shaped object was emitting a mysterious blue light in the darkness. Suddenly, a tingling sensation like an electric shock spread throughout his body, and Zhang Hainuo immediately lost consciousness...