In that instant, the crewman felt as if he was seeing the end of his life, his heart filling with helplessness and despair.

A holy light appeared in his vision. It was an Angel’s summons, the path to the Celestial Kingdom.

The crewman’s voice was faint and trembling, yet it carried a hint of relief and release.

"I... I see an Angel coming for me. The gates to the Celestial Kingdom are opening... I’m going on ahead, everyone!"

"Fuck! Grab the rope, you son of a bitch!"

But just then, a full-throated curse rang out.

The shout was like a clap of thunder, echoing across the sea.

’Why would an Angel be cursing?’

’Am I not devout enough?’

The crewman, drifting numbly in the icy water, lifted his head, only to find that a large ship had appeared before him at some point.

The great vessel was like a ship of hope that had suddenly emerged from the darkness, its tall hull standing steady amidst the surging waves.

Then, seven or eight flashlight beams cut down, their bright rays instantly piercing the darkness and illuminating his pale, exhausted face.

Each beam of light was like a warm ray of sunshine, dispelling the fear and despair in his heart.

"Shit, what are you all staring at?! Grab the ropes!" the bosun yelled, throwing a lifebuoy tied with a rope. He then glanced at the sea in the distance where a massive wave was slowly building. "Hurry up, a wave’s coming!" he roared anxiously.

The other crewmen on the River Beach also threw out ropes, some tied to lifebuoys, others to life jackets.

Hearing the roars, the crewmen floating in the sea stretched out their frozen hands as if waking from a dream. Their bodies were exhausted, but their will to survive was incredibly strong.

They struggled to swim toward the nearest ropes or life-saving equipment.

The waves grew larger, and the River Beach rocked on the water’s surface.

The raging sea relentlessly battered the hull, creating a series of thunderous crashes.

The bosun ignored the danger, leaning over the ship’s rail and constantly shining his flashlight on the sea. Whenever he saw someone grab a lifebuoy, he would immediately turn his head and tell the crew to start pulling.

"Quick, pull the rope."

"Fuck, hold on tighter, goddammit."

"That’s it, get your head through the lifebuoy."

Urgent shouts echoed across the River Beach. The crewmen gritted their teeth, veins bulging on their hands, as they hauled on the ropes with all their might.

Thanks to their efforts, one of the men from the water was finally pulled aboard.

The crew immediately supported him into the cabin, where the ship’s medic and cook were already prepared.

"Bo Wen, get up there!" The sea had been lifted high by the waves. Seeing his crewmen being rescued one by one, Old Hughes swam with all his might to the last man in the water, a young crewman who had been injured. It was his first year on a ship, and he had a newborn daughter at home.

When abandoning ship, Bo Wen’s arm had been smashed by a Crab Trap. After falling into the water, he had held on until now solely through the thought of his daughter.

But faced with the lifebuoy, Bo Wen couldn’t get a firm grip.

His arm was severely injured, and every attempt was met with piercing pain. The icy seawater was also causing his body to gradually go numb.

Old Hughes swam to his side, his eyes filled with anxiety and concern. He helped Bo Wen get into the lifebuoy while comforting him.

"Don’t be afraid, kid. We’re going to be okay."

"Captain Hughes, don’t worry about me! Grab a rope!" Bo Wen looked anxiously at the sea piling up higher and higher before them.

If they delayed any longer, the captain might not be able to escape the coming monster wave.

"No, kid, I won’t leave you. Hold on tight." Captain Old Hughes checked the lifebuoy on Bo Wen, then raised his hand and waved at the River Beach. "Pull the rope, fellas!"

"Quick, pull the rope!" the bosun shouted back.

The crewmen pulled on the rope in unison. As Bo Wen was lifted from the water, he saw a relieved smile on Old Hughes’s face in the beam of a flashlight.

But in the next moment, his expression changed drastically.

Captain Old Hughes was swept away by a giant wave, vanishing instantly into the vast, churning sea.

Bo Wen’s heart filled with terror and despair. He screamed Captain Hughes’s name, but only the roar of the waves answered him.

"Captain Hughes!"

"Captain Hughes! Bastards, stop pulling! Save the captain!"

"Oh God, save him!"

The crew of the River Beach were also stunned by this sudden turn of events. They stopped what they were doing and stared blankly in the direction Captain Hughes had disappeared.

After a moment, the bosun issued another command.

He knew this was no time for grief. They had to get the crewman on board first, then figure out a way to search for Captain Hughes.

"Keep pulling the rope! Get him on board!"

The moment Bo Wen was pulled onto the ship, the wave that had swelled more than ten meters high finally crashed down.

Water cascaded down like a waterfall, slamming heavily onto the deck and sending up a massive spray.

The River Beach shook violently under the impact of the wave, like a leaf tossed about in a storm.

The crewmen clung tightly to anything fixed, struggling to keep their balance.

Once the water on the deck had receded, Bo Wen pushed away the crewmen who were shielding him and rushed to the rail. His eyes, filled with anxiety and worry, were glued to the churning waves.

By now, there was no sign of Captain Old Hughes.

In the vast sea, only the violent waves continued to surge, as if mocking the insignificance of humankind.

A wave of despair washed over Bo Wen. His body trembled slightly, and tears blurred his vision.

He couldn’t imagine that Captain Old Hughes, the man who had always looked out for him and protected him, had been swallowed by the waves just like that.

’How could he just disappear?’

The other crewmen gathered around, all staring silently at the sea, their hearts filled with sorrow and helplessness.

"Let’s go. This is the fate of a Crab Fisherman," the bosun said, patting Bo Wen’s shoulder and forcibly leading him away from the deck.

In the wheelhouse.

When the news that Captain Old Hughes had been swept away by the waves reached them, the atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

Although Alvin’s expression didn’t show any sadness, the hand he had on the helm was trembling slightly.

Old Hughes was normally a bit stingy, petty, and greedy.

But at critical moments, he would always fight for better benefits for his crew, and he would haggle over every detail just to catch a few more crabs.

He used to brag in bars that he’d been in the Bering Sea since birth and he’d die in the Bering Sea.

Who would have thought he’d get his wish today.

"Should we notify the Coast Guard?" Feng Shan had never met Old Hughes, but a death was still a major event.

Alvin took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"First Mate, contact the Coast Guard. Tell them we’ve rescued the crew of the Hollywood, and that Captain Old Hughes... is lost at sea!"

...

RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

An orange helicopter with its searchlight on arrived above the River Beach.

The helicopter lowered a rope, and with the help of the deckhands, a rescuer slid down onto the deck.

The First Mate and the bosun quickly explained what had happened.

The rescuer went to the crew lounge in the cabin. The rescued crewmen from the Hollywood were sitting on the floor, wrapped in blankets, with dazed expressions.

Their faces still showed terror and exhaustion, as if they had just survived a nightmare.

The rescuer walked over to them gently, comforting them in a soft tone, then found the First Mate.

"Sir, where is the captain? I need to speak with him."

"The captain and the boss are both in the wheelhouse. Please, follow me." The First Mate knew what the rescuer wanted and that he couldn’t give a definitive answer himself.

They arrived at the wheelhouse.

The rescuer first praised the actions of the River Beach, then sincerely requested that Captain Alvin take the ship back to Saint Paul Pier to bring the crewmen home.

The helicopter couldn’t take all the rescued crewmen at once, and the rescue team still had to search the area for any remaining men in the water.

Alvin turned his gaze to Feng Shan, who just pursed his lips.

"What are you looking at me for? We’ve already rescued them. A little more time doesn’t matter. Head back to the pier."

"Thank you, Boss!" Alvin’s voice was filled with gratitude.

The main purpose of this voyage was to catch Emperor Crabs. Losing an hour meant losing several hundred thousand US Dollars. Now, to save these men, not only had they lost their Crab Traps, but they also had to return to Saint Paul Island. The round trip would cost them millions.

"What the hell is there to thank me for? Just turn the damn ship around already." Feng Shan couldn’t stand such sentimental displays.

The rescuer studied Feng Shan’s face for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Sir, are you the Carnation Knight?"

"I am." Feng Shan rubbed his nose, a faint trace of pride on his face, though he remained very calm.

"Only a man of your noble character would extend a helping hand without hesitation in such a dangerous situation." The rescuer’s words were filled with admiration.

Feng Shan was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "I was just doing what I should. Out on the sea, we’re all family. We should help each other when we run into trouble."

"This year’s humanitarian award has to go to you." The rescuer gave a respectful salute. "My apologies, I have to go search for the other crewmen now. It was an honor to conduct this rescue with you. A true honor."

...