There are many creatures in the deep sea—especially fish and eels. If you look at them up close, they can seem terrifying. But from a distance, they're really not much to look at.
Living in the pitch-black depths, these sea creatures have evolved uniquely. Their eyes are enormous, designed to capture even the faintest traces of light. Their gaping mouths, jagged teeth, and twisted forms make them look like monsters from a nightmare. But who would ever get close enough to examine them carefully?
Certainly not Jiang Hai. He had no interest in studying strange fish.
He had just reached the second level of the ship's hold—the first deck below the main armor-plated deck. It was once the sailors' quarters. Though this ship was slightly smaller and newer than the last one he'd explored, it was better preserved.
Still, what should have rotted had rotted. The rooms were empty except for warped wooden beams and rusted metal scraps. Jiang Hai tossed a fluorescent stick into each room as he passed. Once he confirmed there were no traps or threats, he stepped in, gave the room a quick search, and moved on.
This floor wasn't profitable—he only found a few scattered gold coins.
Reaching the end of the second floor, Jiang Hai descended to the third level—the one where treasure was usually stored.
Typically, a Spanish galleon used for trade had only two armored decks. But once converted into a pirate ship, they often added a third—or even more. Jiang Hai didn't know the maximum number, but the one before him definitely had three layers.
And the third deck was heavily secured.
As he approached, he noticed the entry hatch was sealed shut. Likely, no one had opened it since the ship sank. Jiang Hai gripped the edge and used brute strength to pry it loose. The moment it popped open, a rush of decaying wood dust and debris surged out.
He instinctively backed away, waiting for the cloud of ancient particles to settle. When visibility returned, he peered inside—and immediately felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Piled at the entrance were dozens of human skeletons, tangled and lifeless. Years of saltwater had stripped them of flesh. They lay scattered in eerie stillness, their mouths agape, hollow eye sockets seemingly locked onto the hatch—as if waiting for someone to open it.
Jiang Hai frowned.
He suspected the fourth deck, likely the water storage area, had been breached—possibly by cannon fire—causing the ship to flood and sink rapidly. The pirates had probably rushed here, hoping to guard the treasure or escape with it. But someone—or something—had sealed the third-deck hatch.
They never made it out.
The floodwaters poured in and drowned them. Judging by their final expressions, they had died in sheer panic.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Hai steeled himself. Treasure lay beyond those bones, and he hadn't come this far to back out now.
He descended into the third level, gently kicking aside the skeletal remains on the stairs. Inside, the layout was familiar—much like the pirate ship he'd explored before.
Unlike the cluttered second deck, the third had only two large rooms, each likely a vault.
Following the same routine, he opened one of the rooms and tossed in a glow stick. Light spilled over the space—revealing a mound of gold coins and assorted jewels.
Not bad.
He moved to the second room, hoping for more—perhaps a legendary item like last time. But it too held a mountain of coins and gems. No priceless relics, no king's armor, nothing unique. Still, the volume was substantial.
Jiang Hai exhaled slowly.
Disappointed? A little. But this was still a fortune. He estimated the haul here alone would be worth at least $500 million.
And he wasn't going to stop at just one ship. With two wrecks like this, he could be looking at a billion-dollar payday.
Of course, his next concern was logistics. Could his yacht hold that much weight? And even more pressing—how to sell it?
He wasn't about to partner with anyone. He had Moses Adams to handle the legal side, and that was enough. He didn't need to split the money.
For now, he packed a single bag with a representative sample—gold coins, gems, and trinkets—enough to get appraised, not enough to raise alarms. If someone tried to rob him, or if the U.S. Coast Guard got involved, he could pass it off as a private collection purchase.
With the bag secured, he left the treasure vaults behind, launched himself upward from the deck, and surged toward the surface.
Just as his figure vanished into the distance, something massive stirred in the dark behind him.
A colossal shadow emerged, silent and slow, drifting toward the shipwreck. Despite its size, it slid through the open hatch with surprising ease—like it belonged there.
Next time Jiang Hai returned… he wouldn't be alone.
But for now, oblivious to the new guest, Jiang Hai continued upward.
After about 30 minutes, he broke the surface. The ocean was calm. His yacht sat quietly in the distance. He climbed aboard, slipped into his room, changed clothes, and dropped the bag of treasure on the floor with a satisfying thud.
Then he called Darlene and Marianne over, and the three of them examined the haul.
The coins were Spanish—gold doubloons from when Spain was the reigning superpower. Back then, Spanish currency was like the modern U.S. dollar: dominant, respected, and everywhere.
Compared to British or French coins of that era, Spanish coins were far more valuable. Of course, by the 18th century, things started shifting.
South America was rich in silver—Chile and Peru especially. Gold came more from North America, the U.S., South Africa, and China. Today, China ranks first in gold production but has started limiting mining to preserve resources.
After admiring the coins and gems, Jiang Hai pulled out a camera and snapped detailed photos. He sent them to Moses Adams via satellite.
It was past midnight, but Moses was a consummate professional—and well aware of the perks of working for Jiang Hai. He immediately contacted a few experts.
Soon, confirmation came in: these were genuine Spanish-period gold coins. The gems matched those from Jiang Hai's previous find. Experts estimated the small sample at around $1 million.
Jiang Hai raised an eyebrow.
That was just 1% of a single room. Which meant each room held roughly $100 million. Two rooms? $200 million.
He smacked his lips, a little disappointed. He'd hoped the ship was worth $500 million, but maybe that was optimistic.
Still, Moses assured him the auction value could raise it by 20–30%. That would push the total to between $240–260 million. Not bad.
Money might just be numbers in a bank account, but Jiang Hai wouldn't mind a few more digits.
After storing the treasure securely, Jiang Hai restarted the yacht's engine and began heading back to the town from the previous night. He dozed briefly in the captain's cabin.
By the time they arrived, it was past 7 a.m.
Waiting at the dock were Kevin and the three girls, who'd begun to worry they'd been abandoned. But unwilling to leave, they waited—and were rewarded when Jiang Hai's yacht appeared on the horizon.
When they saw it approaching, they waved excitedly from the dock.
Jiang Hai washed his face, walked out to the deck, and called down with a grin.
"Ladies, where are we going today?"
He smiled, ready for whatever came next.
(To be continued.)