Chapter 203: Lying in Wait
"Miss Bai, don’t blame yourself. Since things have already happened, we have to figure out a solution, right?" Lin Tian patted Bai Shishi’s shoulder, comforting her.
"Solve! How to solve it?" Bai Shishi didn’t want the beautiful woman to bear the crime of smuggling artifacts.
"Wait!" Lin Tian said just one word!
"Wait?" Bai Shishi was stunned.
"That’s right, just wait. If I’m not mistaken, Wang Quan will definitely come to this red warehouse. As long as he comes, it means he’s leaving by boat!" Lin Tian calmly analyzed.
"But what if Wang Quan doesn’t come?" Bai Shishi thought waiting wasn’t a very good idea.
"If he doesn’t come, if Wang Quan escapes, so be it, but these artifacts can’t run away. We knock out the guards, and then just call the police!"
For now, Lin Tian could only think of this wait-and-see approach, after all, no one knew where Wang Quan was right now.
But leaving by plane is definitely impossible now because an ID is required.
The only other way is by boat, hiding inside a box, and following the cargo to Sakula Country.
As for a car, it’s not considered.
The sea between Celestial Dragon Continent and Sakula Country is vast and driving is impossible.
"Alright, let’s do as you said!" Bai Shishi nodded in agreement with Lin Tian’s idea.
"I’ll wait here, Miss Bai, find a way to get a car!" Lin Tian said in a deep voice, "Otherwise, the port is so big, if we just stand here stupidly, Wang Quan will surely not come!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Shishi knew Lin Tian wanted to wait inside the car, so she readily said, "That’s simple, I’ll go to the branch office now and drive a car over!"
"Don’t alert the people at the branch office. Who knows if Wang Quan has any confidants there? If the news gets leaked, someone might notify Wang Quan and make him suspicious!" Lin Tian cautioned.
"Alright then, I’ll just rent a car!" Bai Shishi said helplessly.
"Go ahead!"
After Bai Shishi went to rent a car, Lin Tian squatted at the main entrance of Xinhai Pier waiting, later feeling it was too conspicuous, so he found a corner, squatting there, smoking while waiting for Wang Quan.
Two hours later, Bai Shishi parked a Volkswagen at the entrance, Lin Tian got in and started waiting.
The two chatted while observing the surroundings, and three more hours passed.
It was now around seven in the evening.
"Grrr..."
Finally, Lin Tian’s stomach couldn’t suppress its hunger and began to rumble.
Bai Shishi turned to look at Lin Tian, who explained embarrassedly, "I didn’t eat lunch, I’m starving!"
"Should we go eat first?" Bai Shishi suggested.
Lin Tian pondered a moment, then asked, "Miss Bai, how long does it take to drive from Kanyue City to Waihai City?"
Bai Shishi thought for a moment, "About eight hours, if fast, seven hours can do it!"
"Logically, Wang Quan escaped last night, and more than eight hours have passed, so why isn’t he here yet?"
Lin Tian tightly pursed his lips, pondering inwardly, "Could I have been wrong again? Or is Wang Quan planning to come when the cargo ship arrives tomorrow?"
In the pitch-black night, the sea breeze relentlessly blew, the port lights were bright, and in the small car at the entrance, Bai Shishi and Lin Tian continued waiting.
Meanwhile, a car got off the highway at Waihai City’s exit, Wang Quan paid the fare, then stood by the road waving for a local Waihai City taxi.
Frequenting changes of cars helped keep his whereabouts hidden.
He was now deeply anxious, terrified at the sight of police.
"Where to?" The taxi driver asked as soon as Wang Quan got in.
"Xinhai Pier!" Providing the address, Wang Quan took out his phone with low battery to call Meichuan Kuzi.
"Mr. Wang, you’ve arrived in Waihai City?" Meichuan Kuzi asked enthusiastically when the call connected.
"Yes, I’m here!"
"Where are you? I’ll come pick you up now!" Meichuan Kuzi pressed.
"I’ll first go to Xinhai Pier to drop things off, you come to Xinhai Pier to pick me up!" Wang Quan said in a serious tone.
Since his bag contained artifacts, Wang Quan planned to pack them overnight, otherwise by tomorrow when the cargo ship reaches port, they will be transported from the warehouse.
Acting only at that time would be too late.
"Alright, Mr. Wang, we’ll meet at the warehouse?" Meichuan Kuzi provided an address.
"No problem! My phone’s battery is low, I’m hanging up now!" Wang Quan said and ended the call.
Taking a deep breath, gazing at the bustling Waihai City nightscape, Wang Quan suddenly felt lonely and helpless.
Over fifty years old, he once had food, drink, and business, now living the life of a fugitive.
Thinking back, had he known this outcome, why engage in such deeds initially?
His current predicament made Wang Quan deeply self-reproach, but having walked this path, turning back was impossible.
"Celestial Dragon Continent, I apologize!" Wang Quan inexplicably murmured in his heart.
"I can’t take it anymore, I’m starving!" Bai Shishi clutched her stomach, having felt her stomach growl loudly just minutes ago.
"Let’s wait another half hour, if Wang Quan doesn’t come, we’ll eat first, then return!" Lin Tian also felt a bit overwhelmed.
As the saying goes, food is as essential as steel, missing a meal makes one hungry.
Regardless, eating was a must.
"Okay!" Bai Shishi continued fidgeting with her nearly dead phone while Lin Tian kept watching the port entrance.
Time passed second by second, with five minutes left in their agreed half-hour, Bai Shishi’s phone had long run out of battery.
At this moment, distant dim headlights approached.
A taxi sped towards them.
"Car incoming, duck down!" Lin Tian signaled Bai Shishi in the driver’s seat to lower her head, for being close to the window, what if someone in the taxi saw them?
Both lowered their heads, only their eyes exposed, watching the approaching taxi.
The taxi stopped at the main entrance of Xinhai Port, shortly after, a weary middle-aged man stepped out.
"Wang Quan!" Seeing the man’s appearance, Lin Tian was inwardly thrilled.
Perseverance paid off, they’d finally waited him out.
The taxi left, Wang Quan slowly entered Xinhai Port.
"Was that Wang Quan just now?" Bai Shishi asked Lin Tian with uncertainty.
"Exactly! That’s him!" Lin Tian exclaimed excitedly, "Once I catch him, we’ll feast!"
"So you mean I have to keep waiting in the car?" Bai Shishi said with resignation.
From afternoon until now, being holed up in the car for so long, any normal person would want to get out, walk, and breathe.
"Yes! I can move more freely alone, if something happens, I have to protect you!" Lin Tian advised, then opened the car door and got out.
He quickly walked into Xinhai Port, squinting slightly as he looked through the containers piled high, seeing Wang Quan heading towards the red warehouse...