Strait of Gibraltar in the morning.

On the Mediterranean side, many ships are docked at the port of the coastal city of Gibraltar.

They were all ships preparing to travel from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, waiting to pass through this strait.

Before the Suez Canal was built.

The Strait of Gibraltar is the lifeline of the maritime economy of the Mediterranean coastal countries.

Even now the Mediterranean has another outlet, the Suez Canal, which provides the shortest route from Europe to lands near the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific.

However, considering the distance and cargo capacity, the Strait of Gibraltar still plays an important role in the world's maritime economy.

After all, the man-made Suez Canal is too narrow and too shallow, and it is impossible for ships wanting to go to the Atlantic Ocean to exit through the Suez Canal and then go south around the entire African continent to the Atlantic Ocean.

This is not realistic.

so.

In an era when maritime shipping was still needed.

The Strait of Gibraltar is always crowded with ships.

It will always be an important hub for maritime shipping among the countries located at the junction of the three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.

And this morning.

Many ships are still docked in the port of Gibraltar, waiting for the release notice from the Gibraltar Strait Authority.

Next to a cargo ship anchored at the port.

Several yellow-skinned Chinese seamen gathered in a small restaurant near the port, eating breakfast and chatting with each other.

They were a cargo ship coming to the Mediterranean for trade, preparing to go south from western Africa through the Strait of Gibraltar to trade with some African countries.

Then, after going around the entire African continent, we returned home via the Strait of Malacca.

Only this morning.

The people from the Strait of Gibraltar Authority were reluctant to let us go.

So much so that now a bunch of ships from various countries in the Mediterranean are crowded in the port of Gibraltar waiting.

Several sailors who had drunk some wine and had not eaten last night also got off the ship and found a place to eat something.

"The Spanish and the British are just being pretentious. They want to send people to investigate the fog situation on the spot for such a simple task as real-time satellite photography."

The unshaven sailor took a bite of the paella and couldn't help complaining.

Sailors who frequently enter and exit the Strait of Gibraltar know that heavy fog is prone to occur here in spring and autumn, and that exploration is required before deciding whether to allow passage.

This procedure is indeed necessary.

After all, heavy fog is still a relatively troublesome thing for maritime shipping, and there is a certain degree of danger involved.

But these people from the Strait of Gibraltar Authority.

We insist on using the old method that has been used for hundreds of years, which is to have humans confirm the fog conditions.

Although the commissioners responsible for confirming the fog conditions will live directly in specific houses on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar in spring and autumn, so that they can survey the sections they are responsible for as quickly as possible every day.

But this is still a relatively long process.

The survey usually starts before dawn in the early morning and is completed around seven or eight in the morning.

"To be honest, no matter how slow the manual survey is, it should have been finished by now."

"Is it going to be allowed or restricted? If it is restricted, what time will it be allowed?"

"Why wasn't there any notice?"

Another sleek seaman wearing glasses frowned, sensing something was wrong.

Looking out through the restaurant window.

There are countless ships docked in the port of this city waiting.

Sailors from various countries strolled around this port city, trying to relieve the boredom of their sea voyage.

He ignored the lively scenes for the time being.

Look a little further.

Leaving the port, head towards the Strait of Gibraltar and the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

There seems to be a vague feeling.

This made the bespectacled sailor frown.

"Dachun, give me the telescope your mother gave me."

The sailor with glasses patted his companion who was busy eating beside him, and extended his hand to him.

The man called Dachun was stunned.

Then he put down the Iberian ham in his hand.

After wiping the fragrant grease off his hands, he took out a palm-sized monocular from his pocket and handed it to his partner.

The spectacled sailor took the telescope.

Then he put it on and looked through the window into the distance that had seemed a little hazy before.

This time.

The scene that seemed hazy at first suddenly became clear.

The long distance is shortened.

The sailor with glasses saw a faint mist spreading across the horizon, while the fog further away was even thicker, whiter and denser.

A cursory look.

The entire area behind the Strait of Gibraltar, the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, seemed to be completely covered by fog.

This has never been seen before.

The Strait of Gibraltar does produce heavy fog in spring and autumn.

In spring, heavy fog occurs due to the temperature difference between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and the convergence of warm and humid air currents overhead.

but.

This is just foggy weather, which reduces visibility and makes navigation dangerous.

It's not the fog of war.

It doesn’t mean your vision will be completely deprived.

But no matter how impossible it is, what you see with your own eyes will not lie.

The Strait of Gibraltar in the distance.

Maybe it was because we really encountered some special circumstances.

There was a fog so thick that it took away all vision.

It even spread all the way to the entrance in the distance.

This means that this kind of heavy fog may exist throughout the entire section of the Strait of Gibraltar after the entrance.

This special situation has left the people at the Gibraltar Strait Authority with no time to take care of the ships waiting to enter.

Silent.

The bespectacled sailor swallowed.

With a hint of confusion, he said, "Guys, I think something big has gone wrong."

Speaking of.

He handed the telescope to his companion.

After watching this, everyone subconsciously stopped eating.

"What is this situation?"

"Why don't we contact the people at the Strait of Gibraltar Administration and ask them?"

The unshaven-bearded sailor swallowed the Spanish-style paella in his mouth, and then made this suggestion with a serious face.

As an old man who has sailed on the sea for many years.

He knew all too well the impact of natural phenomena on ocean-going vessels like theirs.

Even an aircraft carrier.

We have to take a break even when encountering a super typhoon.

Of course.

The aircraft carrier has a group of frigates, a group of drones, and satellite guidance to provide real-time assistance in avoiding typhoons.

There is no way it could sink in a typhoon.

But it’s different for their ordinary ships. No matter how large their tonnage is, they are afraid of extreme weather.

If you are not careful.

Maybe it will become a skeleton in the vast ocean.

As an old sailor who has experienced many rainstorms, sudden cyclones and heavy fog.

He swore by his beard.

No celestial phenomenon should be underestimated.

It would be best to find out the situation now and then contact the captain to return to the Mediterranean.

"I know a Strait Inspector who never sets. Let's try to contact him."

The bespectacled seaman tried to make contact by phone.

Select the contact in your phone with the note "Gibraltar Hunt" and make a call.

But I don't know what happened.

There was no response for a long time.

Hearing the busy tone of the missed call, the faces of the people around became a little nervous.

In silence.

I heard many people in the port outside the window exclaiming.

The surroundings suddenly became quite noisy.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.

It turned out that the fog was so thick that it could be seen with the naked eye.

The people in the port of Gibraltar city could clearly see the entrance pass to the Strait of Gibraltar in the distance being swallowed up little by little by the fog.

Such a pervasive fog.

It made everyone feel a little uneasy.

Depressed emotions spread.

Fortunately, the fog stopped after it blocked the entrance pass.

It no longer spreads and swallows like before.

Many people who knew the staff of the Strait of Gibraltar Authority tried to call.

However, there was no response.

………………………………

Strait of Gibraltar Administration·Entrance Pass.

There were originally several hundred staff members stationed here, responsible for managing the ships coming from the Mediterranean and passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Their job is to carry out registration, payment, qualification review and maintain order in the Strait.

But now.

Everyone looked at the thick fog outside the closed doors and windows and fell into deep thought.

certainly.

In addition to contemplation, there was more fear.

Because they were in the fog, all communication tools seemed to be useless.

This fog can really make people trapped in it and unable to come out.

This situation seems to be more than just a matter of thicker fog that can be explained.

It seems that someone had anticipated such a future.

In that person's description.

It seems that in addition to this strange fog, there is also a miraculous wall? Some people were afraid and did not dare to go out.

Staying in the room with closed doors and windows, all kinds of thoughts kept flashing through everyone's mind.

Especially those who had come into contact with Rip Hunter earlier, their eyes frequently looked towards a lounge not far away.

However, under the gaze of a fat and big-eared leader, everyone lowered their heads and remained silent.

…

In the early hours of this morning.

In fact, there was a channel inspector who came here trembling with cold sweat on his forehead and his whole body soaked.

His name is Rip Hunter.

One of the employees here.

However, this morning, he was supposed to be patrolling on both sides of the strait, but he appeared at the entrance gate in a disheveled state and covered in dust.

He shouted that there was an important message to be conveyed.

According to him, he lost his cell phone after the earthquake and could only run over to pass on this information.

After the staff on duty let him in, they heard some outrageous information from him.

[A giant wall appears out of nowhere like a miracle]

[Along with this came an extremely dense and ever-spreading strange fog. Staying in the fog for a while would make one feel exhausted, and the fog seemed to block signals. Rip Hunter did not dare to try to have any other reactions, so he immediately left the fog and continued to rush over.]

Such a description confused the staff on duty.

According to Rip Hunter's description, the giant wall is at least several hundred meters high and more than ten kilometers long.

But that's totally impossible.

Even though it is impossible to verify it now because of the foggier weather in the middle section of the strait than ever before, the staff on duty can be sure that this is an impossible story.

I have been in the Strait of Gibraltar for so many years.

Have you ever seen such a majestic building? !

Even if we look back through the entire history of mankind, it is impossible for there to be such a huge wall made of bluestone that is at least ten kilometers long and several hundred meters high.

If any.

That is definitely a miracle!

As for the so-called strange fog, there is absolutely no need to worry about it.

In the Strait of Gibraltar.

Heavy fog is common in spring and autumn.

Although it seems to be stronger this time, there is no need to worry.

It's just a fog.

The worst that could happen is a temporary ban on ships entering and leaving.

What impact could it have? Combined with Rip Hunter's crazy and mentally ill appearance, the staff on duty decisively concluded that Hunter was fooling around.

After several unsuccessful persuasions.

The staff on duty locked him up in a lounge.

Later, this Rip Hunter shouted that he saw a ship that was secretly blown into the channel by the huge wall, which could be used to prove that what he said was true.

It's just that when it shouted out the number and characteristics of the ship.

A fat and big-eared Spanish leader from a certain management office immediately walked into the lounge with a gloomy face.

Then.

Rip Hunter, who had one hand simply handcuffed, had his mouth gagged with cotton cloth by the fat and big-eared leader.

Then the leader ordered: "It is a no-travel period at dawn. There can be no ships in the Strait of Gibraltar. This man is obviously mentally ill!"

"Anyone who comes into contact with this psychopath needs to report to me!"

Since then.

Everyone returned to their work state.

Forget about the mentally ill person who came over in the early morning, covered in dust, nervous, and talking nonsense.

Nobody cares about that guy.

No one cared about those words.

Until later.

When the thick and indeed unusual fog spread to a nearby place.

When the other strait inspectors in the fog still did not respond.

Those who have met Rip Hunter and know the situation couldn't help but feel a pang in their hearts.

Everything seemed to have come true? The gradually spreading fog made all those who knew about it shudder.

Even the leader who was worried that his bribery would be exposed and therefore gagged Rip Hunter couldn't help but have an absurd idea.

perhaps……

Is everything Rip Hunter said true?

Silence.

The fat and big-eared leader with a background sent an uninformed staff member into the fog.

But the staff never came back.

There was no response when contacting using communication equipment.

Those who knew the situation understood everything immediately.

There was no need for the fat and big-eared leader to yell at everyone to close the windows and doors, they just rushed back into the house frantically and closed all the doors and windows.

The other members also realized that something was wrong and immediately followed him into the house.

Everything happened so fast.

There is no time to sail away from here.

They only had time to send a text message for help to the outside world before the fog completely covered the area, and then they all rushed into the house where emergency isolation measures had been taken.

soon.

The fog spread and covered all the houses, shrouding the entire Gibraltar Strait Administration and Entrance Pass.

Let everything around be shrouded in rich white.

Time passed in panic.

…

Soon, it is now.

Most people were waiting for rescue in panic.

They tried repeatedly to contact the outside world but failed.

They looked at the fog outside the window and felt a little at a loss.

Those in the know frequently looked towards the closed lounge.

In the early hours of the morning, they thought that Rip Hunter, who was locked up in the lounge, was a mental patient, so they did not listen to his so-called information.

But now.

They were very curious about what Rip Hunter had seen and heard, and were eager to learn from him about their current situation.

However, the fat and big-eared leader kept glaring at them with vicious eyes and quietly stopped them from taking any action to approach the lounge.

Those in the know were not quite sure why their leader did this, and could not help but secretly glance at the lounge while their leader was trying to stop them.

Only leaders understand.

This situation cannot last long.

The leader understood that sooner or later these people's fear of the fog would exceed their fear of themselves.

In the face of life and death.

His father, who is very successful in politics, doesn't have such a strong deterrent effect.

Sooner or later, these staff members who knew the truth would rush into the lounge to ask Rip Hunter for clarification.

actually.

Even he himself was trembling all over at this moment, and wanted to ask Rip Hunter in fear.

What was the exact situation now? But he could tell from the part of the ship number that Rip Hunter had mentioned in a desperate attempt to find a cure.

Rip Hunter must have known that he had accepted bribes to allow ships to pass through the entrance pass into the Strait of Gibraltar during the ban period.

If these insiders were to communicate with that Rip Hunter.

Because the ship has some connection with the miraculous giant wall he mentioned, it will inevitably be mentioned again by Rip Hunter.

It is inevitable that the fact that I took bribes will be exposed.

When the matter is settled later, you will definitely not suffer any harm.

His fear of being exposed for taking bribes.

Beyond the fear of the strange fog outside.

Entering that strange fog means you don't know whether you will live or die. After your bribery is exposed, you will definitely be living a life worse than death.

His father's political opponents will definitely seize this opportunity to bring down their family.

He doesn't want to become an ordinary person because of this.

Thinking.

The fat and big-eared leader looked at the few people on duty in the early morning who knew the situation.

An idea slowly solidified in my mind: Anyway, I had already contacted the outside world before the fog completely blocked this place, and now I just had to stay in the room and wait for rescue.

There was no need to ask what was going on with Rip Hunter.

I will definitely be rescued and return to a peaceful and prosperous life!

Just secretly emphasize the conclusion that "he will definitely be saved" to a few people who know the situation.

Tell them that you will still be in charge of them from now on.

Let them think it over.

In that case.

Naturally, he could also rely on his previous prestige to prevent those insiders from paying attention to Rip Hunter who was locked in the lounge.

Of course.

besides.

After being rescued, there is a possibility that they will be investigated and interrogated one by one by the military.

Once this bribery incident is exposed during the interrogation.

All the things I have done over the years might be revealed.

The more I think about it.

The look in the fat and big-eared leader's eyes as he looked towards the lounge became increasingly gloomy.

It would be best if that Rip Hunter wasn't kept.

He tried to restrain the idea of ​​these insiders from looking for Rip Hunter, so as to avoid exposing his bribery at this moment.

He also wanted Rip Hunter to keep the secret during the subsequent military interrogation.

As for how to keep a secret...

Leaders firmly believe:

Only the dead can keep secrets best.

(End of this chapter)